Seeding formula has new wrinkle
This year’s new Florida High School Athletic Association football formula seeds the playoff brackets based on a Ratings Percentage Index, and that will include next week’s state semifinal showdowns.
What is interesting, and likely to be a source of some offseason debate, is that results of the first three rounds of the playoffs will not be factored into the equation that determines who hosts next week. The champions from Region 1 and Region 2 will continue to meet in a semifinal, as will the winners from Regions 3 and 4.
In the past, the opportunity to host would rotate annually. Region 1 winners would host semifinals one year, and Region 2 would host the next. The new FHSAA football policy states that hosts for semifinals will be the teams with the highest regular-season RPI ranking.
Here’s how that shakes out for area teams that are in the hunt for FHSAA championships:
The winner of Friday’s Apopka (10-1) at Seminole (11-0) Class 8A, Region 1 final is guaranteed to be home for the semifinal against the winner of the Tampa Steinbrenner (11-1) at Kissimmee Osceola (10-1) Region 2 final.
Seminole had the best regular-season RPI number in all of 8A, and that puts the ‘Noles in position to host four straight postseason games in Sanford leading to the Friday, Dec. 13, state final in Daytona Beach.
Jones (11-1) is in the same enviable position as the toprated team in the North half of the Class 5A bracket. The Tigers are home for the third consecutive 5A region game Friday against Ocala Vanguard (9-2) and would be home again if they advance to a state semi against Wakulla (12-0) or Tallahassee Godby (6-6).
Class 7A Edgewater (11-1) also plays its third straight region home game Friday vs. Niceville (12-0). But the
Eagles would have to travel to reigning state champion Lakeland (12-0) or Seffner Armwood (11-1) of the Tampa area next week.
Lake Minneola (9-3), which travels to Tampa Gaither (11-1) on Friday in the 6A, Region 2 final, would have to hit the road again next week to play at Pensacola Escambia (12-0) or Jacksonville Lee (9-3).
The First Academy (6-5), which won at Melbourne Holy Trinity last week, is a 3A road underdog against Lakeland Christian (9-1) on Friday. A win would send the Royals to the Panhandle next week to play Pensacola Catholic (11-0) or Florida State University School (10-1) of Tallahassee.
Foundation Academy (9-2) is a seedings underdog on the road against Lakeland Victory Christian (9-1) on Friday night in 2A. With a win, Foundation would host Tallahassee Maclay (9-2) or travel to play Jacksonville University Christian (10-1).
Marquis Daniels auto accident: Former Edgewater High basketball standout Marquis Daniels, a 10-year NBA player, was injured in an Alabama auto accident Saturday night.
Al.com reported that Daniels underwent “successful” surgery in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday.
Daniels is an assistant coach for Auburn University. He played college basketball for the Tigers and returned to Auburn last season as a graduate assistant and was promoted to director of player development this season.
Metro vs. Florida comes early: The 10th annual Metro vs. Florida Challenge boys basketball tournament returns to its traditional Thanksgiving time frame next week after being played in January last season. The 23-game event will be played next Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Apopka High School.
The final game on the first day of play pits Oak Ridge against Daytona Beach Mainland at 8 p.m.
Other top teams on display Wednesday include Orlando Christian Prep vs. Jones, along with Windermere, The Master’s Academy, Edgewater, Seminole and Apopka. The Friday slate includes Dr. Phillips vs. Oviedo. Saturday’s big day includes Evans vs. Osceola, Windermere vs. Leesburg, and Ocoee vs. Central Florida Christian Academy on Saturday.
The entire schedule of games is posted at SentinelVarsity.com.
Extra points: Girls bowling state champ Shauna Rodgers and first-year head coach Zach Waters of Oviedo are recipients of the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers player and coach of the year honors .... The area’s two girls basketball state-title programs from last year meet in an early-season game when Wekiva hosts Lake Highland Prep at 6:30 Friday night.