2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Suwannee aims higher after regional final run last fall

SUWANNEE BULLDOGS

District: 2S-3

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

This year the Bulldogs will only need to leave Suwannee County four times for games, with road trips slated for Chiefland, Taylor County, Madison County, and Bradford. However, none of these will be quick rides of under 10 miles as the shortest road trip will be to Madison County in mid-October, clocking in at 34 miles one-way. The longest road trip will be the last game of the regular season, with a road trip to Starke to take on Bradford. That road trip will come in at 63.7 miles one-way.

To Chiefland: 61.6 miles
To Taylor County: 47.1 miles
To Madison County: 34 miles
To Bradford: 63.7 miles

One-Way: 206.4 miles
Round-Trip: 412.8 miles

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

FloridaHSFootball.com has developed a weighted strength of schedule formula that weighs a team’s strength of schedule using data trends from the previous five seasons to measure a team’s overall strength of schedule. This includes all team records for all opponents and other weighted factors given about the teams on a schedule.

With Suwannee keeping most of the schedule intact from last season, the Bulldogs will be familiar with the opponents again, which helped them reach the playoffs as a district champion. The only major change on the schedule is the replacement of Wildwood with Munroe Day, which gives Suwannee a boost in strength of schedule for the season. Munroe Day is one of two teams on the Bulldogs’ schedule that reached the state semifinals in Class 1S last season while with the other being Bradford, which reached the Class 2S state semifinals.

Other teams that grace the schedule for the Bulldogs that are perennial playoff contenders include Flagler Palm Coast, Chiefland, North Marion, Madison County, and Wakulla. All five of the teams give the Bulldogs a nice boost on the strength of schedule, especially since Madison County is just two seasons removed from a state championship run, while teams like Chiefland and Wakulla have had recent deep playoff runs as well.

Overall, our weighted strength of schedule gives Suwannee a strength of schedule of .648 to open the 2023 season. This is significant given that the Bulldogs were regional finalists last year before falling to eventual state runner-up Florida High. With some of the key athletes returning that made the Bulldogs excel, the favorability is in the odds for Suwannee to reach the playoffs once again while adding a competitive team to the schedule to replace another competitive team.

MORE: Find all the links to all the schedule breakdowns published here

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/27 – Wakulla: This was the key district game last season and will be once again for the Bulldogs. After shockingly pulling the upset on the favorite in the district, the Bulldogs got hot from the victory that led them to the regional finals. The War Eagles are going to look for revenge on this game, but Paul Langford Stadium should be very loud for this one, with all of Live Oak showing up for what should be for the district championship with a ticket to the playoffs on the line.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

11/3 – Bradford: Yes, the key non-district game will come late in the season, but this is a game that the Bulldogs won last season, shutting down the hopes of Bradford having an undefeated season. The Tornadoes are expected to be loaded once again this season, so this Week 11 regular season finale will be a huge on in Starke, with fans from both teams packing David Hurse Stadium.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

After the improvements the Bulldogs made last season, Suwannee should be in position for the playoffs once again in 2023. With most of the schedule intact from last season, the continuity of familiarity will be there for the team. The only thing we wish was on the schedule was a regular season meeting with rival Columbia from Lake City. Hopefully, that rivalry for the regular season can return eventually down the road. Otherwise, the Bulldogs are set to have a solid 2023 season given their schedule.