FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 2A-Region 1 districts preview

District tournament week is here for Flag Football and there is a lot of exciting action about to go down in all 32 districts in two classifications across the Sunshine State with the preparation of regional playoffs starting next week.

Here is a look at the districts in Class 2A-Region 1 which includes Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

DISTRICT 2A-1

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Monday

No. 8 Pensacola Escambia (0-7) at No. 1 Pace (13-2), 6 CT
No. 5 Navarre (6-7) at No. 4 Cantonment Tate (7-3), 6 CT
No. 7 Pensacola Booker T. Washington (3-9) at No. 2 Crestview (8-6), 6 CT
No. 6 Fort Walton Beach (0-13) at No. 3 Niceville (5-6), 6 CT

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS & FINALS
at Highest Remaining Seed
Wednesday

Winner of Escambia/Pace vs. Winner of Navarre/Tate, 4 CT
Winner of Booker T. Washington vs. Fort Walton Beach/Niceville, 5:30 CT
District Championship, 7:30 CT

QUICK ANALYSIS: Pace has played exceptionally well this year and could be a threat to make a run deep into the playoff regardless of their finish in the district tournament as they have won every game except a 13-7 loss to Ocala Trinity Catholic at the Capital City Classic in Tallahassee earlier this month. Crestview has seen its ups and downs but stands to get a potential spot in the regional tournament if they don’t drop a game prior to the championship game. Niceville is currently the first team on the outside looking in in the regional bracket but a strong showing in the district tournament would bolster their chances to get in the regional tournament if they don’t win the district championship. Navarre, a Class 2A state semifinalist last season, has struggled this season but will be looking to possibly pull off an upset or two in the tournament.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Pace – District Champion
Crestview – At-Large Berth
Niceville – At-Large Berth

DISTRICT 2A-2

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Monday

No. 9 Jacksonville Englewood (2-8) vs. No. 1 Chiles (11-3)
No. 5 Orange Park Oakleaf (1-5) at No. 4 Neptune Beach Fletcher (6-5)
No. 7 Jacksonville First Coast (3-5) at No. 2 Jacksonville Sandalwood (7-3)
No. 6 Tallahassee Leon (6-5) at No. 3 Tallahassee Lincoln (9-6)

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Jacksonville Sandalwood
Tuesday

Winner of Play-In/Chiles vs. Winner of Oakleaf/Fletcher, 7
Winner of First Coast/Sandalwood vs. Winner of Leon/Lincoln, 5:30

FINALS
at Jacksonville Sandalwood
Thursday
District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: Tallahassee Chiles has been one of the top teams in the Tallahassee area for a long time and likely could be the favorite to win this mix of a region that stretches from Jacksonville to Tallahassee. Sandalwood has had a great showing this season under freshman quarterback Ashley Purdy, but will it be enough to take the Saints over the top? That is the biggest question, but the thing is here with at-large berths now a factor, Sandalwood still has a great shot to reach the regional playoffs barring a catastrophic breakdown early on. Lincoln is sitting in the No. 10 spot in its region despite 8 wins this season, but the final games of the regular season plus any wins in the district tournament should help push them towards an at-large berth.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Chiles – District Champion
Sandalwood – At-Large Berth

DISTRICT 2A-3

PLAY IN-GAME
at Higher Seed
Monday

No. 9 DeLand (3-7) at No. 8 St. Augustine (3-5), 7

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Flagler Palm Coast
Wednesday

Winner of DeLand/St. Augustine vs. No. 1 Fleming Island (10-1), 6
No. 5 Orange City University (3-5) vs. No. 4 Jacksonville Mandarin (8-5), 6
No. 7 Jacksonville Atlantic Coast (4-8) vs. No. 2 Port Orange Spruce Creek (10-1), 7:30
No. 6 Flagler Palm Coast (6-5) vs. No. 3 New Smyrna Beach (9-6), 7:30

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS & FINALS
at Flagler Palm Coast
Thursday

Winner of Play-In/Fleming Island vs. Winner of University/Mandarin, 6
Winner of Spruce Creek/Atlantic Coast vs. Winner of New Smyrna Beach/Flagler Palm Coast, 6
District Championship, 7:30

QUICK ANALYSIS: Fleming Island has been one of the top teams in Northeast Florida for the last few years and has done so consistently in that manner. The Golden Eagles are currently ranked the top team in Region 1 and as long as they win the district will likely garner the top seed for the regional playoffs. Spruce Creek emerged last season as a team to watch and reached the regional playoffs as a district champion, so keeping an eye on the Hawks will be a must as they could test Fleming Island in a potential district championship matchup. New Smyrna Beach which is currently ranked No. 8 in the region could get hot in the district tournament and potentially upset the regional playoff order.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Fleming Island – District Champion
Spruce Creek – At-Large Berth

DISTRICT 2A-4

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

No. 8 Orlando University (1-7) at No. 1 Orlando Timber Creek (10-1), 6
No. 5 Orlando Edgewater (8-6) at No. 4 Orlando Boone (8-6), 6
No. 7 Orlando Oak Ridge (3-6) at No. 2 Orlando East River (11-3), 6
No. 6 Orlando Colonial (6-6) at No. 3 Winter Park (8-3), 6

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Orlando Edgewater
Wednesday

Winner of University/Timber Creek vs. Winner of Edgewater/Boone, 6
Winner of Oak Ridge/East River vs. Winner of Colonial/Winter Park, 7:30

FINALS
at Orlando Edgewater
Thursday

District Championship, 6

QUICK ANALYSIS: This district is interesting as there are two teams with double-digit win totals contending for the district championship or at least a possible at-large berth. While East River currently ranks 10th in the regional rankings if they pull an upset to win the district, that could change the course of how the seeding could playout for the regional. However, Timber Creek, who is a defending district champion from last season is the favorite here, having played a much better schedule this season and is more experienced. Keep an eye on dark Horse Winter Park, who could play spoiler to either Timber Creek or East River’s playoff hopes depending on how the rest of the region shakes out.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Timber Creek – District Champion