FLAG FOOTBALL: Class 2A-Region 2 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 2 which includes Districts 5, 6, 7, and 8.

DISTRICT 2A-5

PLAY IN-GAME
at Higher Seed
Monday

No. 9 Winter Garden West Orange (2-6) at No. 8 Orlando Evans (2-9), 6

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Orlando Evans
Tuesday

Winner of West Orange/Evans vs. No. 1 Orlando Dr. Phillips (12-1), 5
No. 5 Celebration (5-5) vs. No. 4 Windermere (6-8), 8
No. 7 Ocoee (3-6) vs. No. 2 Apopka (12-3), 6
No. 6 Orlando Olympia (4-5) vs. No. 3 Apopka Wekiva (10-5), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Orlando Evans
Wednesday

Winner of Play-In/Dr. Phillips vs. Winner of Celebration/Windermere, 7
Winner of Ocoee/Apopka vs. Winner of Olympia/Wekiva, 6

FINALS
at Orlando Evans
Friday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: Once again Dr. Phillips showed why they are usually a solid girls flag football program not to take lightly and that includes a decent strength of schedule this season. Apopka, which struggled last season, has made a nice bounce back this season but currently sits 10th in Region 2 which means at least reaching the district championship round will be imperative to potentially have a chance at an at-large playoff berth. Wekiva and Windermere could be dark horses in this tournament as Windermere shocked everyone last season working their way through the district tournament to get to the district championship game. If either one of those two makes a deep enough run, it could make things interesting for whoever emerges as district champion and what seeding they get.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Dr. Phillips – District Champion

DISTRICT 2A-6

PLAY IN-GAME
at Seffner Armwood
Tuesday

No. 9 Dover Strawberry Crest (0-9) vs. No. 8 Tampa Gaither (2-7), 6:15

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

Strawberry Crest/Gaither winner vs. No. 1 Seffner Armwood (8-1), 7
No. 5 Plant City Durant (4-6) at No.4 Plant City (7-6), 7
No. 7 Tampa Bay Tech (4-5) at No. 2 Valrico Bloomingdale (10-4), 7
No. 6 Tampa Wharton (7-7) at No. 3 Tampa Hillsborough (7-3), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Higher Seed
Wednesday

Winner of Play-In/Armwood vs. Winner of Durant/Plant City, 7
Winner of Bloomingdale/Tampa Bay Tech vs. Winner of Wharton/Hillsborough, 7

FINALS
at Higher Seed
Friday
District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: Armwood, who struggled at times last season, as made an impressive comeback this season going 8-1 in the regular season, but will that be enough for them to outright win the district championship? It could be as they already have beaten what was projected to be the favorite in this district, Bloomingdale in the regular season. However, Tampa Hillsborough, who has also played well this season, is the only loss that Armwood has suffered to this season. Overall, do not be surprised if at least two or three teams from this district emerge into the regional playoff bracket.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION

Armwood – District Champion
Bloomingdale – At-Large Berth
Hillsborough – At-Large Berth

DISTRICT 2A-7

PLAY IN-GAME
at Tampa Alonso
Monday

No. 9 Largo Pinellas Park (2-8) vs. No. 8 Tampa Leto (2-9), 6

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Monday

Winner of Pinellas Park/Leto at No. 1 Tampa Alonso (14-1), 7:30
No. 5 Palm Harbor University (7-4) at No. 4 Lutz Steinbrenner (8-7), 7
No. 7 Tampa Sickles (3-8) at No. 2 Tampa Plant (8-5), 7
No. 6 Tarpon Springs East Lake (6-6) at No. 3 Largo (8-1), 7

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

Winner of Play-In/Alonso vs. Winner of Palm Harbor University/Steinbrenner
Winner of Sickles/Plant vs. Winner of East Lake/Largo

FINALS
at Higher Seed
Thursday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: This district is all but Alonso’s to lose, one of the top teams in the state over the last 5-6 years, and only has one loss on the season to Lithia Newsome which came in the Gold Bracket Championship at the Capital City Classic in Tallahassee. Tampa Plant which is the No. 2 seed in the district is sitting at No. 9 in the region and could play themselves into an at-large playoff berth but will need a strong showing in the district tournament for that to happen.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Alonso – District Champion

DISTRICT 2A-8

PLAY IN-GAME
at Lithia Newsome
Monday

No. 9 Bradenton Manatee (1-9) vs. No. 8 Palmetto (7-8), 5:30

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
at Higher Seed
Monday

Winner of Manatee/Palmetto at No. 1 Lithia Newsome (13-1), 7
No. 5 Gibsonton East Bay (9-6) at No. 4 Bradenton Braden River (10-0)
No. 7 Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (8-7) at No. 2 Riverview (12-3)
No. 6 Riverview Sumner (5-10) at No. 3 Ruskin Lennard (11-4)

Remaining Schedule

SEMIFINALS
at Higher Seed
Tuesday

Winner of Play-In/Newsome vs. Winner of East Bay/Braden River, 7
Winner of Lakewood Ranch/Riverview vs. Winner of Sumner/Lennard, 7

FINALS
at Higher Seed
Thursday

District Championship, 7

QUICK ANALYSIS: This is the district of death in Class 2A. This district has four teams with at least 10 wins or more this season plus one more lurking just win away from 10 wins if they win their quarterfinal matchup on Monday. Newsome has been a dominant team most of the season with the only loss coming to the hands of Riverview who is holding the No. 2 seed, while Lennard who had an impressive season last year falling short of a district championship is very much in the hunt for their first playoff berth. Braden River who is undefeated has played by far one of the weakest schedules of any team in the district and it would take them winning the district championship to make the playoffs as they sit outside currently of the top eight for Region 2.

PLAYOFF TEAMS PREDICTION
Newsome – District Champion
Riverview – At-Large
Lennard – At-Large