DRIVE TO STATE: Class 7A playoff road map heading in to Week 7

The halfway point of the regular season is here and it is that time where teams start to jockey their way into prime playoff position with either a district title or an at-large bid on the line. The Drive To State is well underway so we will provide a road map, going district by district showing you the ins and outs of who we think has the inside track to a playoff berth. The star next to each district indicates an updated look at the district race.

District 7A-1

Here’s the reality of the situation, the automatic bid will come down to Creekside and Atlantic Coast two weeks later on October 10. The Creekside Knights with the home field should have the inside track to claiming the district title and comparing the schedules of the two teams gives the Knights more mileage in the gas tank for a ticket to the playoffs. Atlantic Coast survived a scare by Sandalwood in district play and that may be a telling sign.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Atlantic Coast at Creekside

On the Highway: Creekside

In Traffic: Atlantic Coast

In the Parking Lot: Sandalwood

District 7A-2 *

For all intents and purposes, it appears as if the Week 12 showdown on November 6 between the DeLand Bulldogs and Spruce Creek Hawks will be for the district championship. Flagler Palm Coast, since winning their opening game of the season, has struggled to find their footing since then but the Bulldogs do have the potential to play a spoiler role in the district race. If things play out the way it appears, the district has two playoff teams on the highway.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Flagler Palm Coast at DeLand

Nov 6 - DeLand at Spruce Creek

On The Highway: DeLand, Spruce Creek

In Traffic: Flagler Palm Coast

In The Parking Lot: University (Orange City)

District 7A-3 *

In the opening week of district play, Seminole defeated Lake Brantley and Lake Mary defeated Hagerty. After considering the results, Lake Brantley transitioned from being the front runner to being in traffic. The October 10 match between Seminole and Lake Mary looms extremely large because the winner will have a distinct advantage heading into the final round of games on October 24.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Seminole (Sanford) at Lake Mary; Lake Brantley at Hagerty

Oct 24 - Hagerty at Seminole (Sanford), Lake Mary at Lake Brantley

On The Highway: None

In Traffic: Lake Mary, Seminole (Sanford), Lake Brantley, Hagerty

In The Parking Lot: None

District 7A-4 *

Boone has started off 6-0 to start the season and if things work the way they should, the Braves should roll into Week 11 with an epic showdown against Edgewater with a pair of undefeated records on the line. Timber Creek losing at home to Olympia in Week 4 doesn’t bode well for the district chances to get two teams into the playoffs with Freedom (Orlando) and Winter Park having their own struggles. Winter Park is on the outside looking in and a strong non-district schedule plays in their favor making their Week 10 showdown with Timber Creek all the more important.

Games of Note:

Oct 24 - Winter Park at Timber Creek

Oct 30 - Edgewater at Boone

On The Highway: Boone

In Traffic: Timber Creek, Winter Park

In The Parking Lot: Freedom (Orlando)

District 7A-5 *

The reality is that this district is a two horse race with Ocoee and West Orange getting the inside track at a playoff berth. Apopka is playing its way out of the district race with a 51-0 loss to West Orange. The question remains whether the district gets two playoff spots or just one.

Games of Note:

Oct 24 - West Orange at Ocoee

On The Highway: Ocoee, West Orange

In Traffic: None

In The Parking Lot: West Port, Apopka

District 7A-6 *

All four teams in the district have shown very little in terms of standing out amongst the pack. That being said, Winter Haven has been the only team showing any signs of life. The Blue Devils started the season with back to back shutouts before getting pounded by Osceola (Kissimmee). All signs are pointing to this district being Winter Haven’s district to lose. Ridge Community has a chance to play their way into a playoff spot by win

ning the majority of their non-district games and at least winning the October 10 game against Haines CIty.

Games of Note :

Oct 10 - Winter Haven at George Jenkins; Haines City at Ridge Community

On The Highway: Winter Haven

In Traffic: Ridge Community

In The Parking Lot: George Jenkins, Haines City

District 7A-7 *

Alonso remains the only undefeated team in the district after Sumner defeated Plant City on September 26. Sumner and Alonso still looms very large on the district calendar as it could be for the district title. Sumner with a 2-0 district mark, may have played their way into the driver’s seat for the district title and a big non-district game against Lakeland could show the leverage the Stingrays have in the region.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Strawberry Crest at Plant City

Oct 17 - Plant City at Alonso; Sumner at Strawberry Crest

Oct 24 - Alonso at Sumner

On The Highway: Sumner

In Traffic: Alonso, Plant City, Strawberry Crest

In The Parking Lot: Newsome

District 7A-8 *

There is no reason to believe that Venice will be on the outside looking in at the playoffs, barring a monumental collapse of epic proportions. This begs the question of whether 7A-8 will get one or two more playoff teams. Of course this also depends on the way the 7A-7 race takes form. In the rear view mirror of Venice lies Sarasota and Riverview (Sarasota). RIverview defeated Sarasota on September 26 by a significant margin. If there is an at-large bid that needs to be won, the game on Halloween night between Riverview Sarasota and Manatee will loom large in more ways than one. Sarasota is not completely out of it, but winning against Venice on October 24 could be a tall order. The loss to Riverview gives the Sailors a rocky road ahead.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Riverview (Sarasota) at Venice

Oct 31 - Riverview (Sarasota) at Manatee

On The Highway: Venice

In Traffic: Riverview (Sarasota)

In The Parking Lot: Sarasota, Lehigh

District 7A-9

In 7A-9, the inside track goes to both Dr. Phillips and East Ridge for the automatic bid. Both should be in the running for a potential at-large bid too. This of course depends on the way the ball bounces within the other three districts in the region. The reality of the district centers on the October 10 match up with Dr. Phillips making the trek to East Ridge. It is not expected that Celebration nor Olympia are to contend for a playoff spot. For Dr. Phillips, the late season games against Edgewater and West Orange could be vital for an at-large bid, should they need it. East Ridge, based on the schedule, will likely need to win out with a 9-1 record for a playoff at-large bid.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Dr. Phillips at East Ridge

Oct 17 - Dr. Phillips at Edgewater

Oct 30 - Dr. Phillips at West Orange

On the Highway: None

In Traffic: Dr. Phillips, East Ridge

In The Parking Lot: Olympia, Celebration

District 7A-10 *

St. Cloud winning their game against Lake Nona gives the Bulldogs a significant edge in the way the district title picture takes shape. Since getting their doors blown off by Windermere in the opening week, Lake Nona still has the inside track to an at-large bid if it comes down to that, but their games against Lake Nona and Tohopekaliga become a bigger focus. Harmony can play their way in with three wins out of their last four.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Harmony at Lake Nona

Oct 24 - Harmony at St. Cloud; Lake Nona at Tohopelika

On The Highway: St. Cloud

In Traffic: Lake Nona, Harmony

In The Parking Lot: Tohopelika

District 7A-11 *

Vero Beach should win this district and anything short of that statement will be a shock to the entire Florida high school football ecosystem. Fort Pierce Central lost to Vero Beach 21-13 on September 26, and should be on track for an at-large bid but their non-district game against Jensen Beach looms large towards their progress. Neither Treasure Coast nor Port St. Lucie Centennial expects to be a factor in the district race.

Games of Note:

Oct 17 - Jensen Beach at Fort Pierce Central

On The Highway: Vero Beach

In Traffic: Fort Pierce Central

In The Parking Lot: Treasure Coast, Port St Lucie Centennial

District 7A-12 *

Jupiter is a heavy favorite for the 7A-12 title and Palm Beach Lakes’s 19-12 win over Wellington certainly gives the district a new outlook. The Rams have a date with Jupiter on October 23 in what could be a very pivotal game for both teams in terms of the district and regional playoff picture.

Games of Note: Oct 10 - Jupiter at Wellington

Oct 23 - Jupiter at Palm Beach Lakes

On The Highway: Jupiter

In Traffic: Wellington, Palm Beach Lakes

In The Parking Lot: Palm Beach Central

District 7A-13 *

If there is anything that gives 7A-13 some credence, it should be a very competitive district in terms of the district title race. The chance for an at-large bid from 7A-13 will be a long shot to say the least. Every team in the district has a win in district play with the exception of John I. Leonard at the bottom of the district standings. Santaluces expects to play a factor for the district title alongside Lake Worth with Forest Hill being the potential spoiler. The key game for Santaluces and Lake Worth will be held October 24 at Santaluces. If Forest Hill wants to play spoiler on Santaluces, that game will be a week earlier also at Santaluces. Park Vista at 1-0 in the district will need to win out in district play to make the playoffs.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Santaluces at Park Vista

Oct 17 - Forest Hill at Santaluces

Oct 24 - Lake Worth at Santaluces

On the Highway: None

In Traffic: Lake Worth, Santaluces, Forest Hill, Park Vista

In The Parking Lot: John I. Leonard

District 7A-14 *

The 7A-14 race between four teams should come down to an October 24 match up between Boca Raton and Spanish River. Anything less, would be a big surprise. However, counting out and overlooking Coral Glades would be a big mistake by either of the top two contenders. Spanish River and/or Boca Raton should play a factor for an at-large bid, if they can build their non-district resumes.

Games of Note:

Oct 9 - Boca Raton at Coral Glades

Oct 24 - Spanish River at Boca Raton

On The Highway: None

In Traffic: Boca Raton, Spanish River, Coral Glades

In The Parking Lot: Stoneman Douglas

District 7A-15

The Goleman Gator are the favorite to win the district title and it should be of no surprise to anyone. The rest of the district is showing no signs of being a threat to the Gators atop the district. Western has a gauntlet of a non-district schedule and is not the same Western team from a year ago. If there is a chance Western to make a run, they must do it in district play and it began with a trip to Taravella on September 19 where they won 72-0.

Games of Note:

Oct 10 - Western at Goleman

On The Highway: Goleman

In Traffic: Western

In the Parking Lot: Taravella, Cypress Bay

District 7A-16 *

Miami Palmetto called their shot in the first game of district play against the Columbus Explorers and won 24-21. Along with Columbus, the South Dade Buccaneers should appear to be a big factor in the race for the district crown but Columbus with a win over South Dade make this district all the more interesting. A tough non-district schedule along with an incredibly weak region, gives the Explorers some hope to capture an at-large bid in the event of not getting a share of the district title. South Dade draws Miami Palmetto early in district play so we should see the big picture quickly.