
After tonight’s games, there are only two weeks left in the high school football regular season.
The regular season was supposed to end next week but due to weather issues the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) pushed the season back one week.
The FHSAA football state playoffs now begin on Friday, Nov. 15, with the final day of the regular season ending on Thursday, Nov. 7, and it could be a big day for one area team in particular.
As many as five Alachua County football teams are hoping to hear their name called when the FHSAA releases its postseason brackets in two weeks.
At least half need a win on Friday to keep those hopes alive.
Tonight, P.K. Yonge hosts Trinity Catholic (Ocala) for the 1A-District 4 title.
It’s cut and dry for the Blue Wave (5-2) and the Celtics (1-7) in this two-team district. Win, and you’re in.
P.K. Yonge is ranked 24th overall in Class 1A but they are fifth in 1A-Region 1 with one final game to go next Friday at home against Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville). However, they have a chance to lock down a postseason berth with a win.
Tonight, it’s all about a district title, which is a guaranteed spot in the postseason. You can listen to the game on Mainstreet Daily News starting at 6:45 p.m. with Cam Parker (Play-by-play) and Aiden Wacksman (Color) on the call. The kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Eastside (5-2), which has won four in a row including a 38-9 win last Friday against 7A Sandalwood (Jacksonville) and a 14-12 upset of district foe Dunnellon two weeks ago, needs to win tonight to keep its district championship hopes alive in 3A-District 5.
The Rams, who have won back-to-back district titles, travel to North Marion (Citra) at 7 p.m. for a key district game. They will close out their non-district schedule with a game at rival GHS next Friday.
If the Rams win tonight, that will set up a district championship game at South Sumter (Bushnell) on Thursday, Nov. 7. If Eastside wins the next two but loses the regular season finale, they still have a chance at an at-large berth as the Rams are currently No. 7 in 3A-Region 2 with the top eight teams advancing.
Buchholz should be a lock in 6A-Region 1.
Although the Bobcats (5-3) lost in overtime at Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6-0) in what was likely for the 6A-District 3 title, they are in great shape for an at-large bid. Thanks to a difficult schedule, the ‘Cats are currently ranked No. 3 in 6A-Region 1.
Buchholz will travel to Bartram Trail (St. Johns) tonight at 7 p.m. for the district finale, followed by the regular season finale at home next Thursday, Oct. 31, against unbeaten Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach), which is currently ranked No. 2 in Class 1A.
Hawthorne and Newberry are in.
Newberry won the Class 2A-District 5 title with an upset of Bradford (Starke) two weeks ago. The Panthers (6-2) have rebounded from a 1-2 start and have won five straight heading into tonight’s game at Williston (7:30 p.m.), which will be broadcast on 106.9 FM “I am Country” beginning at 7 p.m.
Hawthorne, which is ranked 46th overall in Florida, is ranked second in the Rural classification behind No. 1 Union County (Lake Butler), which is the last unbeaten team in the area.
The Hornets (6-1), who are off tonight, have quietly flown under the radar this season despite only one loss all season.
The two-time defending state champions won their 27th straight regular season game in the second week of the season with an overtime win at home against Newberry.
They lost the following week at 2A No. 11 Florida High (Tallahassee), 41-28, but they’ve reeled off four straight wins, including a Hail Mary pass play on the final play of the game against Oakleaf (Orange Park) in a 27-21 win against the Class 6A No. 9 Knights.
The team with a long shot to make the playoffs is Gainesville High.
After winning just one game the past two seasons combined, GHS is 5-3 with two games to play.
The ‘Canes, who lost a heartbreaker, 35-34, at Leesburg on Oct. 14, travel to 4A No. 3 Vanguard (Ocala) tonight for a district game. Although they have been eliminated from the district race, a win tonight and a win next Friday at home against Eastside would give them some hope.
However, GHS is currently 10th in 4A-Region 2.