Playoff pairings unclear with a week to go
District titles in Broward and Palm Beach counties are mostly all settled. With one regular-season week remaining, we recap which teams earned those automatic bids and project the outlook for teams looking to earn regional wild-card playoff spots in Class 8A-5A.
Even for teams that have already clinched, first-round playoff pairings remain unclear as all seeding depends on the FHSAA’s new points system. Points can change drastically in Week 11.
The FHSAA will release official updated points standings Tuesday. District 12-8A Miramar clinched the district with the 27-25 win over Western on Friday.
Wild-card outlook: Plantation (8-1) and Western (7-2) remain in good shape to earn playoff berths. District 11-8A Deerfield Beach clinched with the victory over Piper on Friday.
Wild-card outlook: District likely to have no wild card get in. Douglas (5-3) may have an outside shot if the Eagles upset Plantation and get some help by way of a Western, Park Vista or Seminole Ridge loss. District 10-8A Atlantic clinched the district title with its 26-7 win over Boca Raton.
Wild-card outlook: Park Vista (6-2) is right on the bubble for the playoff spot. Entering the week, the Cobras were No. 8, but with other bubble teams behind them losing, they’re virtually assured of a spot with a win over Palm Beach Gardens next week. If the Cobras lose, it could get dicey. Boca Raton (5-4) has no shot following its loss to Atlantic. District 9-8A Palm Beach Central has already clinched the district title.
Wild-card outlook: Seminole Ridge (7-2) is in good shape heading into the final week of the year. The Hawks entered the week ranked No. 7 in the region and topped Jupiter on Friday. Ridge’s last game of the year comes against winless Royal Palm Beach. District 15-7A West Broward enters Monday (Saturday's game was postponed by rain) needing a win at Cooper City to clinch the district.
Nova wins the district if West Broward loses.
Wild-card outlook: Nova is in good position if the Titans don’t get the district crown. West Broward is unlikely to qualify as a wild card if the Bobcats don’t win the district outright. South Broward (5-4) is in on points for now but would like a win at Stranahan on Monday to solidify its position. The Bulldogs should also be rooting for the Cowboys to take down West Broward. Cooper City (4-4) is on the outside looking in, but has a major opportunity for points against Western. District 14-7A St. Thomas Aquinas wrapped up another district title with a 35-6 win at Blanche Ely on Friday.
Wild-card outlook: No other teams get in. District 13-7A Dwyer has clinched the district title following its 3-0 win over West Boca.
Wild-card outlook: Forest Hill (7-1) is nearly a lock for a playoff spot. A victory over Spanish River next week — the Falcons will be heavy favorites — essentially guarantees them a playoff spot. District 15-6A Dillard has already clinched the district.
Wild-card outlook: No other teams get in. The Miami-Dade County trio of Central, Carol City and Norland should all get in behind District 16-6A champ Northwestern while Matanzas has a hold on the other spot. District 16-5A American Heritage clinched with Friday’s 44-0 win vs. Hallandale.
Wild-card outlook: Cardinal Gibbons (7-1) will easily be the top regional wild card. As the No. 5 seed, the Chiefs are likely to visit Fort Pierce Westwood in regional quarterfinals. District 15-5A Although Westwood already clinched the district, Suncoast (7-3) is right on the bubble for a playoff spot at No. 8 in the region. The Chargers, who wrapped up the season on Friday, should make it in after Stranahan (No. 9) fell to Cardinal Gibbons. Region 4-4A University School (7-0) should finish as the region’s No. 1 seed regardless of result against Chaminade-Madonna on Friday while Key West and Miami Monsignor Pace currently hold the 2 and 3 seeds. Glades Central (6-2) and Miami Gulliver are in an extremely tight battle for the fourth and final playoff spot. Only .03 points separated the two entering the week, and both earned victories — but Central’s win over Cardinal Newman will be more valuable points-wise than Gulliver’s over lowly Miami LaSalle. A win over rival Pahokee could really bode well for the Raiders. Gulliver still has North Broward Prep on Tuesday and then Miami Westminster Christian on Friday. Region 4-3A Chaminade-Madonna appears to be locked in as the No. 1 seed. With No. 2 Benjamin , No. 3 St. Andrew’s and No. 4 Homestead Everglades Prep all losing this week, fifth-ranked Calvary Christian and sixth-place American Heritage-Delray now appear to be back in a good spot entering the final week. Region 2-3A Oxbridge Academy isa lock to make the playoffs right now and is currently slotted at three in the region. King’s Academy, currently No. 2, is virtually guaranteed a playoff berth regardless of the outcome of next week’s game versus Benjamin. Despite a great season, Cardinal Newman has no shot making it in on points. Region 4-2A Glades Day is in a battle for the final playoff berth in the region. The Gators entered the weekend tied with Community School at 35 points. Glades Day picked up a forfeit win over Village Academy, while Community topped LaBelle. Region 4-1A Despite its loss to Cocoa, Pahokee will retain a high seeding in the region. The Blue Devils, who entered the weekend No. 1, may have a spot in the next rankings’ but they’ll have a chance to make that up versus Glades Central in the season finale.
wdusenbury@sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @dusereport