District: 2S-6

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

Being the only school in the county, Bradford has to travel outside the county regarding road games, resulting in miles added on the bus trips during the season. The shortest road trip will be the jaunt to Middleburg, just over 20 miles at 20.3 miles. The season’s longest road trip will come in Week 5 when the Tornadoes visit Munroe Day to Corry Field in Quincy, which will be 169 miles one way or 338 miles. Overall the Tornadoes will rack up over 570 miles round trip in their road trip travels for away games during the 2023 season.

To Baldwin: 26.2 miles
To Middleburg: 20.3 miles
To Munroe Day (Corry Field): 169 miles
To Oakleaf: 28.8 miles
To Tocoi Creek: 41.8 miles

One-Way: 286.1 miles
Round-Trip: 572.2 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.

After reaching the state semifinals, the Tornadoes made one replacement to the schedule, with Dunnellon being replaced by Oakleaf, which is coming off a .500 season, just missing the playoffs. With that said the Tornadoes keep the same schedule that saw them get to the heights they reached in 2022 in head coach Jamie Rodgers’ first season with the Tornadoes.

When looking at the schedule deeper, Baker County, a huge rival that the Tornadoes saw twice last season (once in the regular season and in the regional finals), Suwannee, and Munroe Day are the three best opponents that will be on the schedule. Suwannee reached the regional finals last season, while Munroe Day had a historic season, reaching the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Those opponents alone boost the Tornadoes’ strength of schedule significantly.

Other opponents on the schedule for Bradford that reached the playoffs in 2022 include Baldwin, Middleburg, Eastside (another team that Bradford ended up playing twice last season), and Palatka, giving the Tornadoes seven of ten opponents that are coming off playoff appearances last season. That alone helps boost the schedule even further for the Tornadoes. Of the three non-playoff teams on the schedule for Bradford, only Keystone Heights finished the 2022 season with a non-winning record.

As we look at the weight strength of the schedule, our formula gives Bradford a .656 strength of schedule coming into the 2023 season. That means Bradford has a schedule that will challenge them with seven playoff teams on the schedule but also has games that will be winnable. This should be boosted well for the Tornadoes regarding the FHSAA power rankings, but ultimately the team’s destiny will be controlled on the field.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/13 – Tocoi Creek: While it came down to the game against Palatka last season for the district championship, in all honesty, Bradford dominated the district. However, Tocoi Creek showed vast improvement from year one to year two, and in the first year of their district, even with a new head coach coming in, they will be even more prepared to take on the Tornadoes this season. As such, this is the crucial district game that the Tornadoes need to be ready for because if Tocoi Creek comes out of the gate with solid wins early in the season and they pull off the upset victory, it will significantly impact playoff rankings.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

8/25 – Baker County: We could put a lot of the non-district games as a key non-district game, but any rivalry, especially those in a non-district slot, has a great impact on a team, and this game has no short of the effect it has on the Bradford community. This game was crucial not once but twice last season for the Tornadoes, and with this being the season’s opening game, this game will set the tone going into the following week against another long-standing rival in Baldwin waiting on deck. Win or lose, this game will have a significant impact on the direction of what the 2023 season will look like in Starke.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With Bradford’s schedule mainly remaining the same as last season, the Tornadoes know what it will take to repeat the performance from last season. With many of the athletes returning once again and Coach Rodgers back for his second season with the Tornadoes, there should be very little to no drop-off when going against the teams on the schedule. If there is one game that Bradford wants to play better in this season is the season finale against Suwannee, a game that they dropped that cost them a chance at a perfect regular season. Overall, Bradford has a great chance of another deep playoff run, but will any teams on the schedule this season stand in the way of that happening? That is a question the season will tell us more about pretty soon.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Bradford seeks another deep playoff run after successful 2022 under Jamie Rodgers appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 3S-10

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

Despite three of the five road games for the Mustangs staying inside Brevard County, there will still be some road-tripping this season. The shortest road trip of the season will clock in at a nice 4.9 miles when the Mustangs cross the Indian River to take on Rockledge in one of their district contests near the end of the season. Meanwhile, the longest road trip will come at the end of the season when a trip to Eustis will be so that it will tally up to 87.9 miles. It is also interesting that the second longest and the longest road trips of the season for Merritt Island are bookends to the start and end of the regular season.

To Deltona: 66.8 miles
To Heritage: 31 miles
To Rockledge: 4.9 miles
To Satellite: 17.3 miles
To Eustis: 87.9 miles

One-Way: 207.9 miles
Round-Trip: 415.8 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.

As we look at the schedule for the Mustangs, seven of the ten teams reached the playoffs last season, boosting the strength of schedule alone for the Mustangs. However, looking at things further among the playoff teams, they still needed to advance deep into the regional playoffs or go past the regionals, which could have further boosted the schedule’s strength.

The best opponents on the schedule for the Mustangs appear to be Rockledge, a team always in the mix for deep playoff runs every season, along with Melbourne, which has also shown great achievements over the last couple of years. When looking deeper, of the three non-playoff teams on the schedule, Deltona boosted a .700 winning record, adding to the overall weighted strength of schedule that Merritt Island will have to enter the season. The worst team on the schedule is Astronaut, which will be heralding in a new head coach after suffering back-to-back losing seasons. Depending on the improvements made, Astronaut could help with the strength of schedule boost toward FHSAA power rankings during the regular season.

As we look at the weighted strength of schedule formula, the formula shows that Merritt Island will enter the 2023 season with a strength of schedule of .625. What that shows is that Merritt Island has a schedule that will challenge them and give them competition that is comparable to the level of competition they are accustomed to while also having some contests on the schedule that will allow them to have a way to winning games as well. Overall, the Mustangs will be battled tested if a playoff berth occurs in November.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/20 – Rockledge: This will be the most critical district game for the Mustangs, like last year, as this game will most likely be for the district championship. The critical thing for Merritt Island will not to allow Rockledge to get out into an early lead that is hard to come back from, as the Raiders will be well-coached and well-prepared coming into the game. Overall, this will be a challenging game from start to finish, with a district championship and a playoff berth on the line.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

9/1 – Melbourne: A variety of games could be slotted into the key non-district game for the Mustangs, but Melbourne is the best team of the non-district opponents on the schedule. As such, this game should give the Mustangs an early indication of who they are as a team and what direction they will need to go in as they prepare for the district slate starting Week 6. If anything, win or lose should give Merritt Island many answers about who they are as a team.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

While the Mustangs are now a couple of seasons removed from their run to the state championship game in Fort Lauderdale, the Mustangs are still a playoff-caliber team that can cause opponents trouble along the way. The Mustangs have a quality schedule, and the district slate will give them all the challenges they want in competing for a possible district championship. Merritt Island has a schedule that can win them games and be playoff ready, but it will also take worthy consideration to keep an eye on teams on the schedule that could cause an issue with their FHSAA power ranking. Ultimately, Merritt Island will control its destiny as to what the 2023 season looks like.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Merritt Island looks for district championship with competitive schedule appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4S-5

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

This season, the road trips will be an adventure for Lake Minneola, with all their road trips outside of the East Ridge trip going over 40 miles one way on each of the four contests. The longest road trip will be a 118-mile trip to Fleming Island at about the season’s midway point. The shortest road trip of the season will come in Week 4 when the Hawks travel to rival East Ridge, just a quick 4.1 miles down Hancock Road. Overall, fans should buckle up and get ready to see the various sights of Florida with Lake Minneola’s road schedule in 2023.

To East Ridge: 4.1 miles
To Mainland: 74.3 miles
To West Port: 57 miles
To Fleming Island: 118 miles
To Lake Gibson: 44.4 miles

One-Way: 297.8 miles
Round-Trip: 595.6 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.

When looking at Lake Minneola’s schedule, there is a lot to love about this schedule with how balanced it is with competitive competition while also having a few games that should be automatic wins for the Hawks. The competitiveness will start with five playoff teams gracing the schedule, including a state runner-up for last season in that conversation.

Teams like Manatee, Vanguard, Wekiva, and Lake Gibson were all regional playoff teams from last season. Still, out of the five playoff teams that are a part of the schedule for Lake Minneola, Mainland is the biggest one that helps the Hawks’ strength of schedule coming into the season. Mainland, who finished as the Class 3S state runner-up last season, provides the biggest boost to the strength of schedule and will be a tough opponent for the Hawks this season.

Games against West Port and South Lake, both district opponents, should be the easiest games for the Hawks to secure victories this season. The other district game against Forest will need a watchful eye on as it is expected that Forest will be even more improved in 2023 after finishing last season with a non-losing record despite not reaching the playoffs.

As we look at the strength of schedule formula, Lake Minneola will have a .586 strength of schedule coming into the season. That number tells us that Lake Minneola has themselves in a position to compete with quality opponents on the schedule, but also has a schedule that they should be able to win the games they are predicted to win while keeping things balanced as they seek out a second straight district championship. This comes on the heels of finishing last season with a deep playoff run that got them to the regional finals before falling to eventual Class 4S state champion Lakeland.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/20 – Forest: Forest showed they were a much-improved team last season and will be a team that should rise even further in 2023. As such, this is the district game we feel the Hawks will have to worry about most this late in the season. With it being a home game, the Hawks should have an advantage, depending on where things stand when Week Nine rolls around.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

9/22 – Mainland: A lot to love about this game as Mainland returns a lot of talent from last year’s state runner-up team, and with the talent that has been coming through Lake Minneola over the previous few years, this will be a competitive matchup as the Hawks seek revenge. Lake Minneola fell to Mainland 39-26 last season in a competitive battle at home.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Lake Minneola head coach Walter Banks has shown he can build a program and has been able to develop solid talent that wins games. Over the last few years, the Hawks have been consistent winners on the field, with state runner-up and regional finalist finishes coming over the previous few years. As such, the schedule for this year is very much geared up again for the Hawks to have another deep playoff run. However, they must keep an eye on Forest in the district as they will undoubtedly be much more competitive. If the Hawks can continue to do what they have done best under Coach Banks, there is no other reason not to think Lake Minneola will have another deep playoff run in 2023.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Lake Minneola looks for third deep playoff run in four years with competitive schedule appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4S-14

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

The Rams will take four road trips this season, with two inside Sarasota County, one to neighboring Manatee County, while the longest road trip of all four games on the road will be to Hillsborough County to play Berkeley Prep. That trip to Tampa for the Rams will come in at almost 70 miles one way but will also come in as one of the crucial games for the Rams in 2023. The shortest road trip of the season will be a jaunt just to the east over to Cardinal Mooney to take on another team from the regional playoffs in Class 1S last season.

To Cardinal Mooney: 6.6 miles
To Venice: 15.1 miles
To Berkeley Prep: 69.7 miles
To Manatee: 17.8 miles

One-Way: 109.2 miles
Round-Trip: 218.4 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.

When looking at the schedule for Riverview, there is a lot to like about the schedule for the 2023 season, as very few changes compared to the schedule last season have been made. That starts with a state runner-up and a state semifinalist taking two placements on the schedule. At the same time, seven overall teams that reached the playoffs last season are a part of the schedule, while another team has had winning seasons for the previous five years and currently plays an independent schedule.

In talking about the state runner-up and the state semifinalist gracing the schedule for Riverview, that is with Venice, the Class 4S state runner-up last season. In contrast, Buchholz, who ended up falling to Venice in the state semifinals, is the state semifinalist that is a part of the schedule. These two teams alone provide the Rams a massive boost to their strength of schedule. We will talk about more in a moment.

Other playoff teams from 2022 that are a part of the Riverview schedule include Palmetto, Cardinal Mooney, Berkeley Prep, Manatee, and Sarasota. Clearwater Academy International, which plays an independent schedule, has been a consistent winner on the field over the years and also boosts the Rams’ strength of schedule.

Looking at the strength of schedule generated by our strength of schedule formula, it gives Riverview a strength of schedule of .742 coming into the season. That is important to remember as Riverview, which went 3-6 during the regular season, shocked the state as they reached the regional finals, giving it all their best against Venice in that regional final game. That said, Riverview could finish the regular season with a losing record but make the playoffs as an at-large team again.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

9/29 – Venice: This game is the game that will be the toughest test for Riverview for the entire season, as this is the game that will determine who will be the district champion. Last year the Rams only lost this game by 10 points, which is significant because if the Rams are improved by the time this game comes about, they should give the Indians all they got once again.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

9/1 – Buchholz: This game scheduled for Week 2 will give Riverview their first challenge of the season as they host the back-to-back state semifinalists from Gainesville. With Buchholz under a new head coach and some talent losses coming into the season, a win for the Rams in this game could go a very long way and give the team a huge with some big games to follow with Palmetto and Cardinal Mooney on deck following this one.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With one of the toughest schedules in the state coming into the season, the Rams will have their work cut out for them. Under head coach Joshua Smithers, Riverview believes in challenging his team with quality opponents and making the most of opportunities given to them. While getting to a winning record will be tough once again, the path to achieving that is not impossible at all. It will take a strong team and keeping talent losses to a minimum if the Rams want to gain some wins with this overall impressive schedule for the 2023 season.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Riverview (Sarasota) faces tough schedule once again this fall appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4M-7

2023 SCHEDULE

*  – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

Traveling will be easy during the season for the Panthers as all road trips will be confined inside Hillsborough County. The longest road trip for Plant will be to Plant City on the far eastern side of Hillsborough County for a district contest, a 29.4 miles jaunt. The shortest road trip will be down the street to neighborhood rival Robinson, a short distance of just 4.3 miles south on Dale Mabry Highway near MacDill Air Force Base. Only 173.8 miles of travel will be needed for Plant for the 2023 season.

To Tampa Bay Tech: 12.3 miles
To Robinson: 4.3 miles
To Strawberry Crest: 20 miles
To Plant City: 29.4 miles
To Steinbrenner: 20.9 miles

One-Way: 86.9 miles
Round-Trip: 173.8 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.

When looking at Plant’s schedule, despite it being filled with all Hillsborough County teams on the schedule, the Panthers draw in some very formidable opponents once again that will allow them to compete for a second straight district championship with five playoff teams, along with a couple of other teams that just missed the playoffs last season but finished the 2022 season with winning percentage of .500 or above.

The strongest opponents that will grace the Panthers’ schedule include Tampa Bay Tech in Week 1 and Berkeley Prep in Week 2. Both teams are two seasons removed now from playing for a state championship and have been consistent winners among teams located in Hillsborough County. Those two teams provide the most significant boost to the strength of the schedule, which we will talk about in a moment.

It should not be surprising that King does not add much to the strength of the schedule coming into the season for Plant, despite King reaching the playoffs as a district champion. King made the playoffs with just the necessary wins in a weak district to secure the championship. However, to counterbalance that thought, teams like Strawberry Crest and Alonso, which saw improvement last year, help boost the Panthers’ strength of schedule coming into the season.

Overall, when looking at the strength of schedule, our formula gives Plant a strength of schedule of .636 going into the season. That tells us that Plant will have a tough enough schedule to be competitive and playoff ready while also being able to win the games they are expected to win. That is important as the Panthers look for their second district championship in 2023.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/27 – Alonso: As Alonso showed the most improvement of all the teams in the district, this should be the critical district game that will decide the district championship. The Panthers, who dominated the district last season, could dominate this game or see Alonso give them the biggest game of the season. This one is one to keep an eye on.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

8/25 – Tampa Bay Tech: Several non-district games could be considered the key non-district game, but to open the season with Tampa Bay Tech, one of the teams that have been in the state championship hunt the last few seasons, will give the Panthers a big test to start the season. This game will tell Plant and head coach Hank Brown what direction they will need to go quickly, with Berkeley Prep looming on the schedule the following week.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Despite the centralized scheduling in Hillsborough County and the fact that the schedule consists of all teams inside Hillsborough County, we like how Plant’s schedule is situated for the 2023 season. There is a good mix of challenging teams like Tampa Bay Tech and Berkeley Prep on the schedule with winnable games like King and Strawberry Crest that gives the Panthers a way to build a winning season, but not maximize all their strength too soon that could be needed later if a deep playoff run were to develop. Overall, expect Plant to be a playoff team once again in 2023.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Plant seeks second straight district title with strong schedule for 2023 appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 1S-5

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

With just four road games on the schedule, the Storm will not have to travel many miles for three of their four road games, as the road trip to Golden Gate down in Naples to open the season will rack up 79.3% of the mileage traveled for the season. The shortest road game of the season for the Storm will be a quick jaunt from the school grounds (remember, the Storm plays home games at Victory Field on the campus of Southeastern University), which is just 3.7 miles away on the other side of Interstate 4.

To Golden Gate: 186 miles
To Ambassadors Christian Academy: 39.4 miles
To Kathleen: 3.7 miles
To Lakeland Christian: 5.3 miles

One-Way: 234.4 miles
Round-Trip: 468.8 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.

When looking at the schedule for Victory Christian, the schedule looks like a mishmash of teams that the Storm could get placed on the schedule. However, some of this is no fault of the Storm, who are already in a small district and had to add one more non-district game going into the upcoming season as Bishop McLaughlin has declared to play an independent schedule.

Looking at the schedule further, the best games that stand out for the Storm include state semifinalist John Carroll and regional finalist Lakeland Christian, which stand out the most. Fort Meade, a team that stays consistent on the schedule for Victory Christian, continues to be on the schedule and will provide the Storm with a quality opponent.

The biggest concern to the schedule for Victory Christian includes games like Ambassadors Christian Academy and A’kelynn’s Angels Christian, two teams that have not consistently won games or played a complete schedule over the last few years. How both of these teams perform in 2023 could seriously impact what position in the playoff seeding the Storm have at the end of the season.

As such, looking at what we discussed above, the new Strength of Schedule formula from FloridaHSFootball.com gives Victory Christian a strength of schedule of .544 going into the season. This means that Victory Christian has a schedule that will be winnable and should get them into the playoffs. Still, it also could be a schedule that could hurt them depending on a team that is expected to perform well during the season and takes a step back. This could be an issue for the Storm when the playoff seeding is announced in early November.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/13 – Lakeland Christian: With only two required district games, this game was the one that decided the district championship and once again decided who advanced to the regional finals last season, with both meetings being very competitive and tight, with the regular season meeting resulted in overtime. Expect this year’s regular season meeting to be a battle again between the two programs that are starting to develop a bit of a rivalry after meeting for the first time last season.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

10/20 – John Carroll: The Golden Rams were state semifinalists last season, and this will mark a solid matchup for the Storm that gives them their most significant boost to the strength of schedule. With this being a home game, the Storm will hope to provide them with enough edge to get them a win and a significant boost in the power rankings with just a few weeks to go before the playoffs.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

As mentioned earlier, this schedule for Victory Christian is a mishmash of teams that the Storm could get on the schedule to fill in open holes after some spots from last season’s schedule came open. While the Storm has some decent opponents, scheduling opponents of a lower tier quality will impact the Storm. Given the tradition of the Storm looking to win games and have deep playoff runs, this is not what we would expect from them in the scheduling process. Based on the schedule presented here, it will remain to be seen just how well Victory Christian will do in 2023.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Victory Christian seeking district title with shifting schedule in 2023 appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

Region: 1R-2

2023 SCHEDULE

* – Game at Glynn County Stadium, Brunswick, Ga.

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

The Cowboys will take five road trips this season, resulting in some mileage being put on the buses used to get them to games, along with mileage of parents and fans who are loyal followers of the team. The longest road trip will be to Brunswick in September when the Cowboys take on Fitzgerald in the Border War Classic at Glynn County Stadium. That trip will be 183 miles one way for the game, which also comes with a kickoff time outside the usual 7:30 PM kickoff that the Cowboys are typically used to. The shortest road trip to neighboring Jefferson County will clock in at 27.9 miles one way. Overall, the mileage round trip will add up to a whopping 834.8 miles for the five games on the road this season, meaning that Madison County will see much scenery this fall.

To Godby: 58.7 miles
To Fitzgerald (Glynn County Stadium): 183 miles
To Jefferson County: 27.9 miles
To Chiefland: 91 miles
To Rickards: 56.8 miles

One-Way: 417.4 miles
Round-Trip:  834.8 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.

Looking at the Cowboys’ strength of schedule, some notable things that stand out include games with Fitzgerald, Georgia, who finished as the Class 2A state runner-up last season, and Florida High, which ended the 2022 season with the Class 2S state runner-up trophy. These two programs give the Cowboys a considerable boost in strength of schedule. Another program that boosts the schedule is Columbia which is coming off a run to the state semifinals in Class 3S.

Other teams that grace the schedule include Carrollwood Day, Suwannee, Chiefland, and Rickards. These four programs reached the regional playoffs last season and are quality opponents that give Madison County measuring sticks to show them where they are as a program. Of those programs, Suwannee reached the regional finals last year, while Chiefland is just two seasons removed from a run to the state semifinals.

Overall, as we look at our weighted strength of schedule formula, the formula gives Madison County a strength of schedule of .743 coming into the 2023 season. A tough strength of schedule is nothing new for the Cowboys program, and head coach Price Harris has undoubtedly kept that tradition since taking over as head coach last season. Even if the Cowboys were to finish slightly below .500 like last year in the regular season, the strength of schedule is one thing they can count on to help them reach the postseason again in 2023.

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

KEY GAME NO. 1

9/8 – Fitzgerald, GA: As one of several games that are a part of the Border War Classic in Week 3, this game will test the Cowboys as Fitzgerald is coming off a GHSA Class 2A state runner-up finish. The nice thing about this game is that it is at a neutral site, and thus the home-field advantage impact will not be present. However, depending on the talent on the roster for Madison County this season will determine what kind of game plan will be needed to get a victory over the Purple Hurricanes.

KEY GAME NO. 2

9/22 – Florida High: This is another game that is just as key as the Fitzgerald game, as Florida High is coming off a historic season that finished 14-1 with a Class 2S state runner-up finish. This will be a very tough game that the Cowboys would like to win at home at Boot Hill when the Seminoles come to visit. As with any game at Boot Hill, the fans will be packed in, ready to support their team; that is Madison County’s pride.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

As most football fans in Florida know, Madison County plays a very tough football schedule year in and year out, and this year’s schedule is no different with the teams that are a part of the schedule. Teams like Fitzgerald, Columbia, Florida High, and others like Suwannee and Chiefland are also on the schedule. The question that looms will be if the Cowboys can achieve more than four wins in the season, which marked the lowest win total for the Cowboys in decades last season. We will get answers to that question when the season starts. Overall, Madison County will be a team not to take lightly and will be one that head coach Price Harris will have ready come the start of the season.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Madison County looks to bounce back with tough schedule on deck appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4M-11

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

For Boca Raton, they will see four of their five road games stay inside the boundaries of Palm Beach County, with the most extended road trip among those four games being 19 miles one way. However, the one road trip outside Palm Beach County will clock in at 87 miles one way when the Bobcats go to Fort Pierce to play Westwood to close out the regular season. Overall, the Bobcats will not have to spend much time on the bus mileage, but that depends on traffic conditions on game day when they hit the road.

To Atlantic: 8.6 miles
To Olympic Heights: 5.5 miles
To Park Vista: 18 miles
To Lake Worth: 19 miles
To Fort Pierce Westwood (at Lawnwood Stadium): 87 miles

One-Way: 138.1 miles
Round-Trip: 276.2 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.

Boca Raton has taken some measures to improve its schedule, which is usually tightly controlled by the Palm Beach County School District. However, even with those measures taken, more is needed to offset that some weaker opponents will still grace the schedule regardless due to the school district having their say.

That said, Boca Raton found a great matchup to fill a slot on their schedule with Cardinal Gibbons. This team has won multiple state champions over the last few years and is among the perennial playoff contenders in Florida. Palm Beach Central is another team that graces the schedule and made its deepest playoff run last season when they reached the state semifinals.

The two teams that will hurt the Bobcats the most when it comes to getting into playoff position, depending on how they start the season, will be Olympic Heights and Spanish River. Both of those programs have been struggling for the last few years and have struggled to show improvement. If those two programs show any improvement in 2023, that could help Boca Raton get in position for a higher playoff seed.

Overall, with our weighted strength of schedule, Boca Raton will enter the 2023 season with a strength of schedule of .606. This means that the Bobcats have some quality opponents that can work in their favor to reach the playoffs while having winnable games that should be winning for the Bobcats when those matchups occur. However, if Boca Raton were to lose any of the games deemed winnable could significantly impact their positioning for the playoffs.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/13 – Santaluces: This game decided the district championship last season, and it should once again, as the visiting Chiefs showed improvement last year and will be strong again in 2023. Fans will need to create a loud atmosphere that can throw Santaluces off balance to make this game everything it can be. The question will be where the Bobcats will be when this game is played.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

10/20 – Cardinal Gibbons: This was a hard decision to make as both Cardinal Gibbons and Palm Beach Central are two key non-district games for the Bobcats, but Carbondale Gibbons makes the cut given that the Chiefs will be once again in the mix to make a run in Class 2M. With this game being a home game, if the Bobcats are playing superb football by the time this matchup comes about, they could make a name for themselves if they pull off an upset. Nonetheless, this matchup should tell the Bobcats where they stand with just a few weeks left before the playoffs come knocking on the door.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With Boca Raton being limited by the scheduling process with Palm Beach County, it is harder for the program to get more competitive teams on the schedule to make them more competitive among the top-tier programs in South Florida. However, with that said, they made the most of what was given to them and sought out a couple of quality opponents to provide the team with the tests they needed to see what kind of program they would be in if they wanted to reach the playoffs again in 2023. Bobcats have much potential but must execute and make a few mistakes to be fruitful this fall.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Boca Raton looks to continue playoff streak with solid schedule appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4S-12

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

In typical Vero Beach fashion, the schedule has been set up for the Indians to where they will end up hosting seven home games. This has been typical for many years, as the Indians can bring teams from across the state to play at the wonderful confines of the Vero Beach Citrus Bowl. As such, the Indians will only have to get on the bus three times during the 2023 season, with their shortest trip coming against Fort Pierce Central at Lawnwood Stadium, while the journey to Wellington will mark the shortest road trip of the season. Overall, the mileage for the team and fans will not be much this fall.

To Fort Pierce Central (Lawnwood Stadium): 16 miles
To Wellington: 84 miles
To Treasure Coast (South County Stadium): 29 miles

One-Way: 129 miles
Round-Trip: 258 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 the Indians hosting seven home games compared to three games, the schedule will not be a cakewalk in 2023. Eight of the ten teams on the schedule for Vero Beach this season are teams that reached the playoffs in 2022. That is important as the Indians look to be a contender for the district championship in their district along with other foes, including Martin County, Treasure Coast, and Centennial, who made the playoffs last season.

Gracing the schedule will include a state semifinalist in John Carroll from last season, while perennial contenders in the mix for runs to the state championship game include Miami Northwestern and Seminole (Sanford). With that combination there, the Indians will find some tough competition coming their way.

Other teams that reached the playoffs in 2022 are on the schedule in Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington. Those two teams give the Indians some South Florida competition to help raise the stakes along with Miami Northwestern. This will provide Vero Beach with the measuring sticks they need to see if they are in the mix for contending for a state championship in 2023.

When looking at the overall strength of schedule when it comes to our weighted strength of schedule formula, Vero Beach will enter 2023 with a strength of schedule of .714. This is important to keep in mind that the Indians traditionally win seven to nine games a year on average. A strength of a schedule like this speaks just how it will test the Indians. With four teams alone that have reached the final four or further over the last few years, the Indians know that they will have to play their best football to keep their winning ways going this fall.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/27 – Treasure Coast: If you have been sleeping under a rock for the last few years, you have missed one of the hottest games on the Treasure Coast. This game has determined a district champion over the last couple of seasons; even rematches in the playoffs have been highly contested. Expect this meeting to be no different, and it will take everything by the Indians to make sure this rivalry game goes into the win column for a possible district championship.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

8/25 – Miami Northwestern: Several games fit the bill for this key non-district contest, but coming out of the gate with one of the top teams from Miami-Dade County, this one will undoubtedly be a test for the Indians. With the Bulls coming in with a new head coach, head coach Lenny Jankowski must have his team prepared in what is expected to be one of the top games of the week in Florida to open the season. The atmosphere will be electrified at the Vero Beach Citrus Bowl because it is a home game.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

While some will criticize Vero Beach’s scheduling methods, the Indians have upgraded some of the schedule to give the Indians more ways to measure themselves. This is a testament to that the playoff power rankings with the strength of schedule matter. That thought can also be coupled with the fact that playing quality opponents in the regular season can come to help you during the playoffs when you are matched against a quality opponent that could be in the way to a deeper playoff run, something that the Indians look to achieve year-in and year-out. Time remains the only factor if the Indians successfully make some changes to who is on the schedule in 2023.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Vero Beach beefs up schedule for a potential deep 2023 playoff run appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4S-13

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

Traveling for the Tigers this season won’t be extensive, with the longest road trip extending into Sarasota County with the road trip to Venice in the later half of the schedule coming in at 38 miles one way. The shortest road trip for Palmetto will be a quick 6.5-mile jaunt down the road to rival Southeast during the season’s midway point. When looking at all the road trips, three of the five road games will require a travel distance of at least 20 miles, but certainly not as long of road trips as other teams face during the season. Palmetto will travel 217 miles round-trip this coming season, with all five road games only traversing through Manatee, Sarasota, and Pinellas counties.

To Gibbs: 21 miles
To Riverview: 28 miles
To Southeast: 6.5 miles
To Lakewood Ranch: 15 miles
To Venice: 38 miles

One-Way: 108.5 miles
Round-Trip: 217 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.

For Palmetto, the strength of schedule is about where you expect it to be for a program that has been amongst the annual contenders in the FHSAA state series. The Tigers, which took home a district championship last season and has been competitive in playoff games over the last decade, the schedule will feature some solid programs that will test the Tigers in all directions.

When looking at the schedule, state runner-up Venice is a huge boost to the strength of the schedule for Palmetto, having been to the state championship game for the last two years with a 1-1 record in those games during that time. With Venice expecting to be just as tough again, this game will have much impact on the Tigers when it comes to the FHSAA playoff power rankings during the season.

Other teams that have boosted Palmetto’s strength of schedule include Braden River, Riverview (Sarasota), Sarasota, and Manatee. Those teams each reached the regional playoffs last season, with Riverview surprising many people as they reached the regional finals after playing a tough schedule. Between those teams and Venice, those teams had a combined winning percentage of 54.2 percent last season.

As such, our weighted strength of schedule formula gives Palmetto a strength of schedule of .624 entering the 2023 season. This means Palmetto is willing to challenge themselves for games but also knows a balanced schedule is necessary. While games like Southeast and Ida Baker are all right, there is a question if IMG Academy White helps in that balance when there are other quality programs that Palmetto could potentially play in the region. Despite that little factor, the Tigers should be in the mix for another district championship and a playoff berth this season based on their schedule.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/27 – Manatee: With only three teams in the district requiring only two district games, this one is the one that is circled on the calendar as it was this game that determined the district champion last season, and it should again. As a home game, this game should be packed as fans of the two oldest programs in Manatee County square off with everything on the line, including bragging rights and a playoff berth.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

10/20 – Venice: How could any other game be the key non-district game, given that Venice has been to the state championship for the last two years? There is no other game that will come close to this. Venice will be strong again, and the environment at Powell-Davis Stadium will be electrified. For the Tigers to win here on the road, they will need to play sound football, but this game will provide a huge lift toward playoff seeding for the Tigers.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Palmetto’s schedule is where we would expect it to be to enter the season, where they have a competitive schedule. Still, they did not overextend the schedule to where they could end up in trouble towards the end of the season, where playoff hopes could be jeopardized. While the Tigers enter the season with a new head coach, most of the schedule is a carryover from last season, which also helps tremendously in that regard. Overall, expect the schedule here to help carry Palmetto into another playoff berth and another district championship under the new leadership of Rashad West.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Palmetto aims for another district championship under new coach appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

Region: 1R-1

2023 SCHEDULE

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

Like for any rural Panhandle team, traveling for games is a way of life as many schools are spread out throughout the geography of the landscape, including programs that are like-minded and in the same classification. As such, the shortest road trip for Freeport is going to come in at 38.4 miles one-way to Vernon during the midway point of the season. The most extended road trip of the season will come on Week 11 when the Bulldogs hop on the bus and head to Sneads,  a 90-mile road trip just one-way. Overall, round trip miles for the season for Freeport checks in just a bit short of 600 miles total.

To Liberty County: 76.1 miles
To Vernon: 38.4 miles
To Holmes County: 39.9 miles
To Baker: 48.7 miles
To Sneads: 90 miles

One-Way: 293.1 miles
Round-Trip: 586.2 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.

For Freeport, their schedule is weaker compared to some other Class 1R programs in the Panhandle region, and that makes it easier to gain victories. Still, it makes it more challenging for the Bulldogs to make a postseason run, as they might be unprepared for the more challenging programs. That will be the case once again for the Bulldogs in 2023.

When looking thoroughly at the schedule, the best teams on the schedule for the Bulldogs are Baker and Sneads, both teams that have made considerable playoff runs over the last few years. The only other teams coming off a playoff season from last fall are Cottondale, Bozeman, and Holmes County, which add a little bit of strength to the schedule for the Bulldogs. Outside of the four playoff teams from last season, the teams on the schedule for Freeport have been struggling outside of the reasonably new Destin program.

As such, looking at this schedule, our weighted strength of schedule gives Freeport a strength of schedule of .470 entering the 2023 season. With that strength of schedule, the Bulldogs should be able to win anywhere from six to eight games this season. They likely will qualify for the playoffs most likely anywhere from a No. 4 to No. 6 region in Class 1R unless some of the teams on the schedule show some significant improvements during the 2023 season.

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

KEY GAME NO. 1

11/3 – Sneads: This is probably the biggest game of the season for the Bulldogs, and it comes at the end of the season on the road. With Sneads being one of the solid teams in the Panhandle region over the last five years, scoring an upset victory here on the road would go a long way toward the playoff rankings when it matters most.

KEY GAME NO. 2

10/19 – Baker: Baker is now three years removed from winning a state championship but still has been one of the most consistent programs in rural football, which makes this game the second-best game on the schedule for Freeport and a key game as well. With Baker taking a slight slide back last season, if the Bulldogs are improved, they could make some waves with a win in this game.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Freeport has been a decent team, but their schedule has been something that has held the Bulldogs back over the years and will likely continue to hold them back as long as the schedule does not add a team from the rural classification that is stronger than one of their other opponents currently on the schedule would help greatly. The schedule for Freeport should help them reach the playoffs but no more than a mid-seed at best, but likely a lower seed depending on how things shake out in the region as there are no districts in Class 1R.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Freeport looks for another playoff appearance with favorable schedule appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4S-9

2023 SCHEDULE

* – District Contest

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

With six road games on the schedule, DeLand will be seeing a lot of time away from the beautiful grounds of Spec Martin Stadium. The shortest road trip for the Bulldogs will be the trip down the road to University in Orange City, just under 10 miles. The trip to Deltona will come in as the second shortest road trip, which is just two-tenths of a mile longer than the trip to University at 10.1 miles. The longest road trip of the season will be to Centennial at South County Stadium in Port St. Lucie, with the one-way trip will be 149 miles. Overall, a lot of miles will be added to the vehicles for fans traveling to the games, along with the miles put on the buses for the Bulldogs.

To Centennial: 149 miles
To Spruce Creek: 22.1 miles
To Deltona: 10.1 miles
To Seminole (Sanford): 27 miles
To University (Orange City): 9.9 miles
To Flagler Palm Coast: 36.5 miles

One-Way: 254.6 miles
Round-Trip: 509.2 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.

If anyone knows anything about head coach Rick Darlington, he looks for his teams to be competitive, including making sure his teams play a competitive schedule. That will be no different here in 2023 as DeLand will have the same schedule from last season but will be stronger with a state runner-up and a state semifinalist gracing the schedule along with three other playoff teams among the schedule as well, plus two teams that finished the 2022 season with winning records, but not reaching the playoffs.

With Class 3S state runner-up Mainland along with Class 3S state semifinalist Columbia on the schedule, this gives the Bulldogs their most significant boost in the weighted strength of schedule calculation. Both of these games will come early in the season, and that will undoubtedly give DeLand a measuring stick of where they are as a team, as their bye week will come in Week 4.

Teams like Centennial, Seminole, and Flagler Palm Coast also dot the schedule, which Seminole and Flagler Palm Coast games being considered rivalries boosting the strength of the schedule as well. These games will help the Bulldogs determine how to reach the playoffs for the second straight season under Coach Darlington’s leadership.

Overall, our weighted strength of schedule formula for DeLand gives them a strength of schedule of .696 coming into the 2023 season. This is thanks to the teams on the schedule we mentioned above, plus having other programs like Deltona and New Smyrna Beach, which did well last season, factoring into the calculation. This type of strength of schedule will test DeLand through and through, preparing them for various opponents should they reach the playoffs come November.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

9/29 – Spruce Creek: Despite being an off-type season for Spruce Creek, this will be the key district game for DeLand as the Hawks should bounce back, given the coaching staff and the quality athletes Spruce Creek will has. Also, with this being an away game, the Bulldogs will want to play hard to make a statement that the district will be theirs again in 2023.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

8/25 – Mainland: Not everyone gets to start the season with a team that reached the state championship game in the previous season out of the gate, but DeLand will be one of a handful of teams in the state that will get that opportunity here. This game will measure and tell us a lot about DeLand and its capabilities to compete, as many of the athletes that were a part of the run for Mainland in 2022 will return this season. As such, Bulldog fans will want to pack Spec Martin as a part of this classic rivalry game between two of Volusia County’s best-known programs.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With DeLand scheduling well last season, the schedule translating to 2023 for the second year of the two-year classification cycle works well for them. With no changes made to the schedule, the Bulldogs will enter the 2023 season with familiarity on the schedule with their list of opponents. Overall, DeLand has the chance to win anywhere from six to potentially ten games this season. That should give fans in the western part of Volusia County some joy that football season will be fantastic for them with the possibility of a deep playoff run accompanying it.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: DeLand looks for deep playoff run in 2023 after turnaround in 2022 appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

Conference: SSAC North

2023 SCHEDULE

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

This year, the Eagles will only travel for two games, which will come early in the season, with trips to St. Joseph and Bishop Snyder slated for the first two weeks. That said, the most extended road trip will come in the first week of the season with a trip to St. Joseph in St. Augustine, followed by a trip to Jacksonville to take on Bishop Snyder, their shortest road trip.

To St. Joseph: 82.1 miles
To Bishop Snyder: 64.4 miles

One-Way: 146.5 miles
Round-Trip: 293 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.

When looking at Oak Hall’s schedule, they have the typical eight-game schedule for the Sunshine State Athletic Conference, with the final two weeks of the season reserved for the SSAC playoffs that will be determined in mid-October. With that said, the schedule looks traditional, with all teams on the schedule from the Sunshine State Athletic Conference on the schedule.

One of the most significant changes to the schedule is that Saint Francis Catholic, a rival program is not on the schedule for this season. However, with that said, Oak Hall has picked up The Master’s Academy out of Oviedo, which will be a solid program to play that has been one of the better programs across the SSAC’s 11-man programs. Teams like Eagle’s View and Bishop Snyder remain on the schedule that has been competitive with Oak Hall over the last couple of seasons. Another program that will give Oak Hall some challenges that have been solid the last couple of years is Seven Rivers Christian.

Overall, our weighted strength of schedule gives Oak Hall a strength of schedule of .461 for the 2023 season. This means the eight games Oak Hall has for the season are all victories based on the schedule. However, the question remains if Oak Hall can get into double-digit wins in 2023, depending on the playoff games that Oak Hall draws in late October.

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

KEY GAME NO. 1

9/9 – Seven Rives Christian: This game was interesting last season, which saw Oak Hall win 48-21 last year. The question will be if the Warriors have a drop sharp off with graduation losses when this game is played and if the game will be closer or compared to last year. This game will impact the seeding for the SSAC playoffs later in the season.

KEY GAME NO. 2

10/20 – The Master’s Academy: This is a nice upgrade to the schedule for the Eagles, as they needed a solid game that could give them more weight to the SSAC’s power ratings for the playoffs later in the season. Given that neither team played each other last season, this should be a great test, as this will come right before the SSAC playoffs take place starting the week after.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

The schedule for Oak Hall is the same as last season outside the game with The Master’s Academy. The Eagles are looking to prove themselves again after getting bounced in the SSAC playoffs, which was later reversed to a forfeit win. With many of the athletes that were a key part of the team last year returning, this is a winnable schedule and could give Oak Hall momentum to go deep in the SSAC playoffs in 2023.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Oak Hall looks for deep SSAC playoff run in 2023 appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

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.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Suwannee aims higher after regional final run last fall appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.

District: 4M-11

2023 SCHEDULE

MILEAGE BREAKDOWN

All of Santaluces’ away games will be confined inside Palm Beach County this season except for one game. The most extended road trip will come in mid-September when the Chiefs take the trip to Louisiana to face national power John Curtis Christian. That road trip to Louisiana will be 822 miles long one way or 1,644 miles round-trip. The shortest road trip will come with the trip to Park Vista late in the season at 3.7 miles, while Boynton Beach will mark the second shortest trip of the season with just a tenth of a mile longer at 3.8 miles one-way.

To Boynton Beach: 3.8 miles
To John Curtis Christian: 822 miles
To Boca Raton: 18 miles
To Spanish River: 18.4 miles
To Park Vista: 3.7 miles
To Atlantic: 11 miles

One-Way: 876.9 miles
Round-Trip: 1,753.8 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.

While the schedule remains pretty similar to last year’s schedule, the Santaluces did receive an upgrade when head coach Hector Clavijo III landed national power John Curtis Christian on the schedule within the first half of the 2023 season. This is great as this boosted the strength of the schedule against what is a very weak schedule, especially in a very weak district. John Curtis Christian is coming off winning the Louisiana Division I Select championship, and they will give the Chiefs their biggest test to see where they are at as a team.

Looking at the rest of the schedule, four other teams reached the playoffs over the course of the last two seasons, which helped boost the strength of the schedule slightly, and that includes Pahokee, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, and Atlantic, all of which did not make it out of the regional bracket in their respective classifications. When stacking these four teams against the rest of the schedule, five teams alone have a combined weighted strength of schedule under .400.

Overall, the strength of schedule should be helpful for the Chiefs to win the District 4M-11 championship once again in 2023, but outside of playing one team from outside of Palm Beach County could ultimately hurt the Chiefs come time for the playoffs as they will not have faced any teams from Broward or Miami-Dade counties. These two counties have been sending multiple teams to the state championship game for a long time.

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

KEY DISTRICT GAME

10/13 – Boca Raton: This game last season determined the district championship, and it will likely be the same again. While Boca Raton was not as strong as last year, the expectation, at least coming into the season, is that they will be the one team that will challenge the Chiefs. However, the Chiefs will likely have the advantage on the road barring any catastrophic issues before getting to October.

KEY NON-DISTRICT GAME

9/14 – John Curtis Christian: This will be the biggest game all season for the Chiefs, getting a national power in John Curtis Christian that will challenge them. As the only defending state champion on the schedule, the Chiefs must be prepared for all the expectations of playing the game. Head Coach Clavijo should be able to do that through his experiences as head coach at Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah. This game will make the Chiefs a stronger team towards the second half of the season when district games come into view.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This schedule will help Santaluces reach the playoffs, but winning playoff games will be a huge question mark they must answer. The logic behind that thought is that the schedule needs to thoroughly test the ability outside of the game with John Curtis Christian to be prepared to win at least one playoff game. If the Chiefs do not fumble any games early in the season outside of the John Curtis contest, they should be setup for the second half of the 2023 season to not have any major issues. However, if the Chiefs do have some hiccups, other teams in the district could take advantage of any perceived weaknesses and make things interesting for the playoff race in late October.

The post 2023 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN: Santaluces looks to keep winning ways going this fall appeared first on FloridaHSFootball.com.