VeniceIndianFan

A journey that began in late 1998, a year before Rick Darlington became head coach, ends tonight. I will attend the Apopka vs Wekiva game at Wekiva this evening with a somewhat heavy but also happy heart. Heavy because, a chapter of my life that's lasted 26 years is about to end. Happy because despite a very bad season this year, I have been blessed to be a fan of a team that made the playoffs 24 consecutive years and in that time period won three state titles from seven tries. While there are teams that have done better over that period, I can honestly say that it gratifies me that my beloved Blue Darters did it the right way.
If we win tonight and make the playoffs I shall not attend if we draw Venice. I can't bring myself to make the long drive for a game that we would have, at best, a 5% chance of winning. If we make the playoffs and draw a Tampa Bay area team, most likely Plant City, I will attend game one of the playoffs as the commute would be significantly shorter and Apopka, while it would be an underdog, would at least have better odds of winning.
In my humble opinion, the school's brain trust (coaches and administration) need to take a hard look at this season. For I believe that for the future success of the program some bold, hard decisions will need to be made. Regardless, I will always have a special place in my heart for the Apopka football program and though I will be far away, I will watch my fair share of games online from a distance. 
Go Darters, so long and fare well!!

I said before the season started that Vero Beach was the darkest horse in 7A. Vindication feels good. If playing @ Dr. Phillips is the end of the road for them, then this was a great year, and they have a ton of good to build on. But they will be a tough out. 

I said before the season started that Vero Beach was the darkest horse in 7A. Vindication feels good. If playing @ Dr. Phillips is the end of the road for them, then this was a great year, and they have a ton of good to build on. But they will be a tough out. 

What about Oakleaf defeating the #1 overall seed in the FHSAA rankings regardless of class, Nease by the score of 31-14!!   Quite a statement as Oakleaf was ranked by the same system as #60......how can that be.  Talk about an upset. 

That game got a lot of people’s attention. Gadsen proved through out the season, it was no fluke. 

For those interested in data, here are some numbers to consider:
460 teams played under the FHSAA umbrella this year.  240 (52%) teams qualified for the state playoff series.  That seems like a lot.  My view is that if you didn't make the playoffs, look in the mirror first before blaming others.
Here is the breakdown of quarterfinal games across classes 1A-7A:
#1 seed vs. #8:  28-0 #2 seed vs. #7:  25-3 #3 seed vs. #6:  21-7 #4 seed vs. #5:  18-10 higher seed vs. lower seed:  overall 92-20; about what you expect.  This suggests that the seeding system is fairly accurate, especially not giving a top 4 seed and home game automatically to district winners.  You don't deserve an automatic top 4 seed by winning a piddly 3- or 4-team district.  It would be a different story if districts had 7 or more teams. Comparing this year's quarterfinals under the enrollment-based classes vs. last year's Metro-Suburban classes, the median (half higher/half lower) margin of victory in both years across all quarterfinal games was 26 points.  In 2023, 30% of the quarterfinal games had a running clock, whereas the total was 34% in 2024.  It will be interesting to see if the remaining games are more or less competitive than last year.
On to the region semifinals...
  
  

I posted this information last year and haven't gone back to adjust for the '24 season.  I'll do that as time permits.  At any rate, I'm a strong supporter of going to a single class (as if my opinion carries weight) and if the lower number of schools that participated is any indicator that things need to chance, this is it.  District champs only from a 64 district system based on geography.  6 round playoff system.  Runner-ups can have whatever consolation bowl they desire.  Below is sample of what the post season could've looked like based on this year's playoff results for all the teams that reached the semifinals.
 
Region 1
District 1
Tate (Cantonment)
Escambia (Pensacola)
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
Washington (Pensacola)
Pensacola
Pensacola Catholic
West Florida (Pensacola)
Northview (Century)
District 2
Gulf Breeze
Milton
Navarre
Pace
Niceville
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach)
Fort Walton Beach
Jay
District 3
Crestview
Walton (DeFuniak Springs)
South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach)
Rocky Bayou Christian (Niceville)
Baker
Freeport
Holmes County (Bonifay)
Vernon

District 4
Cottondale
Sneads
Marianna
Graceville
Chipley
Gadsden County (Havana)
Munroe (Quincy)
Blountstown
District 5
Mosley (Lynn Haven)
Arnold (Panama City Beach)
Bay (Panama City)
North Bay Haven (Panama City)
Rutherford (Panama City)
Bozeman (Panama City)
Port St. Joe
Wewahitchka
District 6
Wakulla (Crawfordville)
Franklin County (Eastpoint)
Liberty County (Bristol)
Rickards (Tallahassee)
Florida High (Tallahassee)
Maclay (Tallahassee)
FAMU (Tallahassee)
St. John Paul II (Tallahassee)
District 7
Chiles (Tallahassee)
Godby (Tallahassee)
North Florida Christian (Tallahassee)
Leon (Tallahassee)
Lincoln (Tallahassee)
Taylor County (Perry)
Aucilla Christian (Monticello)
Jefferson County (Monticello)
District 8
Hamilton County (Jasper)
Suwannee (Live Oak)
Madison County (Madison)
Bell
Branford
Lafayette (Mayo)
Dixie County (Cross City)
Trenton
District 9
Columbia (Lake City)
Fort White
Union County (Lake Butler)
Gainesville
Bradford (Starke)
Santa Fe (Alachua)
Hawthorne
Newberry
District 10
Buchholz (Gainesville)
Eastside (Gainesville)
P. K. Yonge (Gainesville)
Dunnellon
Trinity Catholic (Ocala)
Bronson
Chiefland
Williston
District 11
Forest (Ocala)
West Port (Ocala)
Vanguard (Ocala)
Palatka
North Marion (Citra)
Crescent City
Lake Weir (Ocala)
District 12
Fleming Island
Oakleaf (Orange Park)
Middleburg
Orange Park
Ridgeview (Orange Park)
Clay (Green Cove Springs)
Baker County (Glen St. Mary)
Keystone Heights
District 13
North Florida Educational (Jacksonville)
University Christian (Jacksonville)
Baldwin
Fernandina Beach
West Nassau (Callahan)
Yulee
Hilliard
District 14
Wolfson (Jacksonville)
Ed White (Jacksonville)
Riverside (Jacksonville)
Westside (Jacksonville)
Christs Church Academy (Jacksonville)
Providence (Jacksonville)
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)
District 15
Terry Parker (Jacksonville)
Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville)
Raines (Jacksonville)
Ribault (Jacksonville)
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville)
Bolles (Jacksonville)
Episcopal (Jacksonville)
District 16
Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville)
Mandarin (Jacksonville)
Sandalwood (Jacksonville)
Englewood (Jacksonville)
First Coast (Jacksonville)
Fletcher (Neptune Beach)

Region 2
District 17
Bartram Trail (St. Johns)
Creekside (St. Johns)
Nease (Ponte Vedra)
Ponte Vedra
Menendez (St. Augustine)
St. Augustine
Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine)
St. Joseph (St. Augustine)
District 18
Flagler Palm Coast
DeLand
New Smyrna Beach
Spruce Creek (Port Orange)
University (Orange City)
Matanzas (Palm Coast)
Atlantic (Port Orange)
Taylor (Pierson)
District 19
Lake Mary
Seminole (Sanford)
Deltona
Mainland (Daytona Beach)
Pine Ridge (Deltona)
Seabreeze (Daytona Beach)
Father Lopez (Daytona Beach)
Halifax Academy (Daytona Beach)
District 20
East Ridge (Clermont)
Lake Minneola
South Lake (Groveland)
Leesburg
Tavares
Eustis
Mount Dora
Umatilla
District 21
Apopka
Evans (Orlando)
Lake Brantley
Hagerty (Oviedo)
Lyman (Longwood)
Oviedo
Winter Springs
Wekiva (Apopka)
District 22
Ocoee
West Orange (Winter Garden)
Horizon (Winter Garden)
Jones (Orlando)
Foundation Academy (Winter Garden)
Orangewood Christian (Maitland)
Trinity Preparatory (Winter Park)
District 23
Colonial (Orlando)
Timber Creek (Orlando)
University (Orlando)
Winter Park
Boone (Orlando)
Cypress Creek (Orlando)
Freedom (Orlando)
District 24
Lake Nona (Orlando)
Oak Ridge (Orlando)
Dr. Phillips (Orlando)
Olympia (Orlando)
Windermere
East River (Orlando)
Lake Howell (Winter Park)
District 25
Edgewater (Orlando)
Bishop Moore (Orlando)
Lake Buena Vista (Orlando)
First Academy (Orlando)
Orlando Christian Prep
District 26
George Jenkins (Lakeland)
Kathleen (Lakeland)
Bartow
Fort Meade
Mulberry
Tenoroc (Lakeland)
Lakeland Christian
Victory Christian (Lakeland)
District 27
Lake Gibson (Lakeland)
Lakeland
Haines City
Winter Haven
Auburndale
Lake Region (Eagle Lake)
Discovery (Lake Alfred)
District 28
Ridge Community (Davenport)
Celebration
Tohopekaliga (Kissimmee)
Davenport
Gateway (Kissimmee)
Lake Wales
Frostproof
District 29
Osceola (Kissimmee)
St. Cloud
Harmony
Liberty (Kissimmee)
Astronaut (Titusville)
Holy Trinity (Melbourne)
Melbourne Central Catholic
District 30
Heritage (Palm Bay)
Melbourne
Viera (Melbourne)
Bayside (Palm Bay)
Eau Gallie (Melbourne)
Merritt Island
Okeechobee
Cocoa
District 31
Centennial (Port St. Lucie)
Fort Pierce Central
Vero Beach
Rockledge
Satellite (Satellite Beach)
Palm Bay (Melbourne)
Space Coast (Cocoa)
Titusville
District 32
Martin County (Stuart)
Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie)
Belleview High
Fort Pierce Westwood
Jensen Beach
Port St. Lucie
South Fork (Stuart)
John Carroll (Fort Pierce)

Region 3
District 33
Springstead (Spring Hill)
South Sumter (Bushnell)
Villages
Weeki Wachee
Wildwood
Citrus (Inverness)
Lecanto
Crystal River
District 34
Hernando (Brooksville)
Central (Brooksville)
Nature Coast (Brooksville)
Land O Lakes
Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel)
Fivay (Hudson)
Bishop McLaughlin (Spring Hill)
Hudson
District 35
Sunlake (Land O'Lakes)
Gulf (New Port Richey)
River Ridge (New Port Richey)
Cypress Creek (Wesley Chapel)
Pasco (Dade City)
Wesley Chapel
Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills Christian
District 36
Anclote (Holiday)
East Lake (Tarpon Springs)
Palm Harbor University
Calvary Christian (Clearwater)
Indian Rocks Christian (Largo)
Mitchell (New Port Richey)
George Steinbrenner (Lutz)
Sickles (Tampa)
District 37
Clearwater
Dunedin
Countryside (Clearwater)
Largo
Osceola (Seminole)
Seminole (Seminole)
Pinellas Park (Largo)
Clearwater Central Catholic
District 38
Hollins (St. Petersburg)
Northeast (St. Petersburg)
St. Petersburg
Boca Ciega (Gulfport)
Gibbs (St. Petersburg)
Lakewood (St. Petersburg)
Northside Christian (St. Petersburg)
St. Petersburg Catholic
District 39
Alonso (Tampa)
Plant (Tampa)
Plant City
Strawberry Crest (Dover)
Durant (Plant City)
Newsome (Lithia)
Riverview (Riverview)
Sumner (Riverview)
District 40
Armwood (Seffner)
Freedom (Tampa)
Tampa Bay Tech
Wharton (Tampa)
Gaither (Tampa)
Hillsborough (Tampa)
Jesuit (Tampa)
Leto (Tampa)
District 41
Bloomingdale (Valrico)
East Bay (Gibsonton)
Lennard (Ruskin)
Spoto (Riverview)
Brandon
Chamberlain (Tampa)
King (Tampa)
Middleton (Tampa)
District 42
Blake (Tampa)
Jefferson (Tampa)
Robinson (Tampa)
Tampa Catholic
Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
Cambridge (Tampa)
Carrollwood (Tampa)
Seffner Christian
District 43
Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton)
Manatee (Bradenton)
Palmetto
Braden River (Bradenton)
Parrish
Southeast (Bradenton)
Hardee (Wauchula)
Bayshore (Bradenton)
District 44
Riverview (Sarasota)
Sarasota
Venice
Charlotte (Punta Gorda)
Port Charlotte
Booker (Sarasota)
DeSoto County (Arcadia)
Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota)
District 45
Immokalee
Sebring
Avon Park
Clewiston
Lake Placid
Lemon Bay (Englewood)
Moore Haven
District 46
Ida Baker (Cape Coral)
Riverdale (Fort Myers)
Cape Coral
Island Coast (Cape Coral)
Mariner (Cape Coral)
North Fort Myers
District 47
Cypress Lake (Fort Myers)
Dunbar (Fort Myers)
Fort Myers
Bishop Verot (Fort Myers)
Gateway (Fort Myers)
Evangelical Christian (Fort Myers)
District 48
Lehigh (Lehigh Acres)
East Lee County (Lehigh Acres)
South Fort Myers
Bonita Springs
Estero
Southwest Florida Christian (Fort Myers)

Region 4
District 49
Gulf Coast (Naples)
Palmetto Ridge (Naples)
Barron Collier (Naples)
Golden Gate (Naples)
Lely (Naples)
Naples
Community School (Naples)
First Baptist (Naples)
St. John Neumann (Naples)
District 50
Royal Palm Beach
Palm Beach Central (Wellington)
Wellington
Seminole Ridge (Westlake)
Glades Central (Belle Glade)
Kings Academy (West Palm Beach)
Glades Day (Belle Glade)
Pahokee
District 51
Jupiter
Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Lakes (West Palm Beach)
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens)
Inlet Grove (Riviera Beach)
Suncoast (Riviera Beach)
Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens)
Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach)
District 52
Forest Hill (West Palm Beach)
John I. Leonard (Greenacres)
Lake Worth
Park Vista (Lake Worth)
Atlantic (Delray Beach)
American Heritage (Delray Beach)
Boynton Beach
Somerset Canyons (Boynton Beach)
District 53
Boca Raton
Santaluces (Lantana)
Olympic Heights (Boca Raton)
West Boca Raton
St. Andrews (Boca Raton)
SLAM (West Palm Beach)
St. John Paul II (Boca Raton)
District 54
Coral Springs
Douglas (Parkland)
Monarch (Coconut Creek)
Coral Glades (Coral Springs)
Coconut Creek
Deerfield Beach
Coral Springs Charter
North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek)
District 55
Taravella (Coral Springs)
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach)
Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes)
Piper (Sunrise)
Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale)
Northeast (Oakland Park)
Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale)
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
District 56
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)
Fort Lauderdale
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
Nova (Davie)
Plantation
South Plantation
Hollywood Hills
Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale)
District 57
Western (Davie)
Flanagan (Pembroke Pines)
American Heritage (Plantation)
Cypress Bay (Weston)
Cooper City
South Broward (Hollywood)
Avant Garde (Hollywood)
Pembroke Pines Charter
District 58
Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines)
West Broward (Pembroke Pines)
McArthur (Hollywood)
Everglades (Miramar)
Miramar
Hallandale
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Somerset Academy Key (Deerfield Beach)
District 59
Dr. Krop (Miami)
American (Hialeah)
Miami Carol City
Miami Norland
Monsignor Pace (Miami)
North Miami Beach
Dade Christian (Miami)
True North (Miami)
District 60
Goleman (Miami)
Hialeah
Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens)
North Miami
Miami Central
Miami Edison
Miami Jackson
Miami Northwestern
District 61
Doral Academy
Miami
Miami Beach
Miami Springs
Washington (Miami)
Columbus (Miami)
Belen Jesuit (Miami)
District 62
Coral Gables
South Miami
Immaculata-LaSalle (Miami)
St. Brendan (Miami)
Westland Hialeah
Florida Christian (Miami)
District 63
South Dade (Homestead)
Miami Palmetto
Miami Killian
Westminster Christian (Miami)
Southwest Miami
Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest)
Archbishop Carroll (Miami)
District 64
Homestead
Miami Southridge
Somerset Charter (Silver Palms)
Palm Glades Prep (Miami)
Palmer Trinity (Miami)
Somerset Academy Charter South Homestead
Key West

Divide the state into 3 major classifications: North, Central, and South. Let the South Florida juggernauts play for 1 state championship. Combine Sarasota County with Central Florida and let them play for one state championship. Let all of the North Florida rural schools play for their own championship. Districts of no fewer than 4 teams a piece. At the end of the season, the winner of the, "North," plays the winner of the, "Central" class. The winner of that game is to play the winner of the, "South," class, the following week. At the end of the season, we would have one true state champion. 

How can someone be so depraved that they would do this in school? And in front of the kids, no less? Christ... 

I just read this and I'm in total disbelief. I don't know the man and I've never attended Jackson but come on not at school. You could have done this in the privacy of your own house.

Durrant had flown under the radar all season. They’re solid. 

No country is perfect when it comes to equality, but people are leaving their homeland in droves (over 100 countries by last count) to make their way here for a reason.  I am hispanic and in our culture we have inequality based on class in most nations rather than race.  These are all human failings and though racism does exist, that sin isn't limited to one skin color.  We should all strive to find the best in each other rather than accentuating the bad.    

Hope you’re right either way LETS GOOOO

But they haven't played anybody near Dillard's level yet. They'll be overwhelmed early with the difference in speed and physicality. 

Idk they’re 10-0 and have been scoring dam near over 40 in the playoffs I can only pray the refs are unbiased 

Dillard names their score here. Yes, playing on the road stinks when you have a far superior resume, but at least you know the outcome isn't in any doubt.

PLAYOFF BRACKET ANALYSIS SHOW TONIGHT at 7:30 PM ET


“THE DRIVE TO STATE” will be THE SHOW you will want to watch during for the remainder of the 2024 high school football season in Florida as we look at the playoffs for all 8 classifications with the FHSAA reveal of the 2024 Playoff Brackets. Join hosts Joshua Wilson & Christopher Lyke along with selected guests with analysis and breakdowns of the brackets. Also, select special interviews from coaches of some of the state's top-ranked teams who will join us on this special "THE DRIVE TO STATE" SHOW! It will be a jammed packed show and lots of information to digest and breakdown.
Jon Santucci, Mike Ridaught, Bob Putnam and Larry Blustein will be special guests tonight!

So we gotta wait thru the entire playoffs to get the Raines/ NW matchup? My point was there will b little to no challenges until they meet. That might be a good matchup. Would hope anyhow…….

Northwestern is definitely in the drivers seat now. The only other school I could see is Raines.

NW becomes the new favorite, barring any visits from the FHSAA…….

The problem is Raines hasn't been tested since week 1 

2 teams in an entire classification. Thats just what I’m talking about! Gotta go back to 3 classifications & Rural. Look at 5a: Lakeland, Edgewater, TBT, Manatee, Atlantic, STA, Ely…..6a: Nease, Buchholtz, Mandarin, Armwood, Kiss Osceola, West Boca, South Ridge, Monarch, Homestead……That’s competition. 
At least before Central came clean with their 20 yr old, there was at least 1 game in 3a that woulda been competitive……SMH 

2 is the way to do it. Otherwise, regular season is pointless.
I could be convinced of 2, but definitely not 3. 

I like #3. Keep everyone involved till the end. Look how close the final tallies were. With #2 if you have a bad week you’re thru! Make the State semifinal & finals worth more so the middle of the pack have a chance to be the winner !