Hwy17

I like most of it and think its a move in the right direction. Like you said, its not a perfect solution, however some of those items proposed have been around before. I like the idea of 4 district champs and 4 wildcards and we had something similar to this in the early 2000s. I don't think its right when a 3 team district has a 1-9 team as runner-up automatically getting in the playoffs while a good 7-3 team in a 6 team district sits out. I think a district should have 4 teams minimum. Looking at some regions, I don't understand why some small and large districts are back-to-back. Playoff pairings and brackets: I don't like the system of district vs district in the early rounds. I get it that its done for travel, but I've seen one-sided brackets were a 10-0 team plays an 9-1 or 8-2 team in the first round while in the other side of the bracket has a 5-5 team playing that 1-9 team referenced above, so what happens is the 3rd round match-up is a joke. Point system for strength-of-schedule: First off, I think points should be awarded for how many games your opponent won, followed by a factor for class; fraction of a point. As proposed, no class 8a team will want to play down. Likewise, If i was in a small class, I'm scheduling a weak team from a large class because its easy points, why would I play a power from another small class? Again, I like most of it but some of the details I feel deserve needed debate.

More power to them!

Here's how I'd do it: 1a - Public schools - 0-500 2a - Private Schools - 0-500 3a - Private Schools - 501-1000 4a - Public Schools - 501 - 1000 5a - Public Schools - 1001 - 1500 6a - Public Schools - 1501 - 2000 7a - Public Schools - 2001 - 2500 8a - Public/Private - 2500 and over Public Schools and Privates over 1000 This would take the few private schools currently in 5a-8a and put them in the largest classification. In my opinion, they would have no problem competing there. Secondly, it takes the few private schools in 4a down to what is currently 3a. Class 2a is mostly private anyhow. Independents and Conferences: By voluntary election; let them form a bowl game or playoff system and govern themselves. Regular season non-district games between public and private schools or between independent and playoff eligible teams is fine. IMG - remain independent, but I'm not so sure they would have advanced past the 3rd round in class 5a-8a this year anyhow.

There is a photo of the 1909 Wauchula football team which was made in Arcadia. But it appears that over the next several years it was hard to field a team. I have seen reference to a 1917 game. The two counties split in 1921 and the rivalry dates back to then although I can't find a score for either the 1921 or 1922 games. Officially Wauchula High School didn't begin football until 1923, so games before then were club league or something like that.

How long did it take you to compile that? You don't know how lucky you are to have access to records that far back. I attempted to do the same for Hardee, going back to 1909. I used old year books and newspapers as my sources. Spent about 3 months going to the local library 2 days a week and hours on microfilm researching and only could get 1930 to present (2007). Anything prior to 1930 was hit and miss. I documented some games in the 1920's but very few. One thing I found interesting was that in the 1930's, Hardee vs Winter Haven was more of a rivalry than Hardee vs DeSoto !

Lakeland has a booster club that raises money for them so they can travel, also they pay good for other teams to come to them. The other Polk county schools aren't so lucky. Miami Columbus came to Winter Haven this year for a kickoff classic. But yes, others can come to them. Hillsborough schools have a centralized AD so the schools are limited on who they can and can't schedule.

I went and looked at their schedules. Plant went to Georgia this year. Armwood played AHD last year but the game was in Armwood. Perhaps Hillsborough county has let up on its restriction on travel but its been their policy for years not to allow public schools to go out of county unless its a district game or a playoff game. Polk county has a similar rule, but will allow travel to a neighboring county only. The school boards cite budget restraints as the reason. Did Plant get help from the Georgia school with travel or their booster club do a fundraiser to get the Hillsborough SB do make an exception?

http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/sports/central-rallies-past-south-20151215/

If I'm not mistaken, Hillsborogh County School District restricts out of county travel except for district and playoff games.

Anybody besides me miss having Lakeland and Aquinas in the championship every year?

7a championship game was last week against Braden River.

This Sunday, 12/13/2015 the South-Central All Star Game will be played in Sebring. http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/sports/south-central-game-moved-to-sunday-20151211/

Yes it was but there was a lot of offense in that game too. But each time one team made a big play and get in the red zone, the other would come up with a defensive stop. Both teams scored in the first quarter and then the defenses took over. Rockledge had a chance to kick a game winning field goal but went for it on 4th down with seconds left. Hardee stopped them and we went into OT. The first OT ended with neither team scoring. In the 2nd OT, Hardee held Rockledge on three plays before they kicked the fg. Then Hardee ran three straight power sweeps getting 3 yards and the game winning TD. Great overall game and the crowd was estimated to be around 6000.

1995 Regional Final Hardee 13 Rockledge 10 in 2 OT.

Like Miami Norland in 2011?

2011 - Palmetto 2013 - East Lake

I wasn't there but I followed on twitter and have heard a lot about it from friends who were. STA scored on a big pass play to go ahead 14-10 then STA scored off a fumble by the BR quarterback that put them up 21-10 before halftime and BR never could come back. The 3rd quarter was a defensive battle. BR had an opportunity after their defense made an interception. Next play, STA's cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. made a phenomenal (every bit as good as his dad) interception getting the ball right back for STA. IMO that play was the play of the game. I've seen a clip of that play and the BR quarterback pass was right on the money. Any other time that would have been a BR score and would have got them right back in the game. Late in the game, STA made the final td to put it away. A BR player was hurt and had to be carried off the field. Hopefully its not too serious.

The way things have been going, we have seen the end of small town football in Florida. Aside from Class 1a with is exclusive to small rural high schools, those programs that have to play in 4a and up can't compete in this environment.

Established with big game experience vs Up and coming with something to prove! Which one wants it more?

I have utmost respect for STA but don't be underestimating Braden River. I would say BR is every bit as good as Deerfield Beach.

5th time making the playoffs. They made the playoffs their 2nd varsity season in 2008, again in 2009, and in 2010 with a losing record. No playoffs in 2011-2013, then back in last year. Never been past the 2nd round before now. I read an article in the Herald Tribune that a some of the seniors on this team played as freshmen on the 2012 team that went 2-8. The school is located in a high growth area and gets most of the east Manatee county kids too. Potentially, they could replace Manatee as the new power in that county.

This is good for 5A. No longer just one dominate team like the last couple of years.

I forgot about last year's playoff game. Bishop Moore beat an 8-5 Jesuit team twice last year, 25-17 regular season and 30-29 in OT in the playoffs. Jesuit won the 2013 game 14-10. So these two know each other with recent history showing it to be a close game. What impresses me about Jesuit has been their defense, and what peezy28 said, a really good running game.

Bishop Moore beat Hallandale; Jesuit steamrolled Dunbar. These two split regular season games the last two years. I'm going with Jesuit in a close game.

Should be a close game, but I'd go with Bishop Moore as well with home field advantage. I wouldn't read too much into the loss against Lake Brantley.