GAINESVILLE-In a rather surprising move today, the Florida High School Athletic Association released its tentative new football district/regional assignments for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
As voted on back in September, the FHSAA will be going to a new playoff format starting in 2017 and continuing in 2018. As part of the new format, teams in Class 1A-4A voted not to be in districts, while teams in Class 5A-8A voted to remain in districts.
Here are the tentative changes for the next two years. Schools will have a chance to appeal their placements and then put it their respective region or districts based on geography.
Park, Menendez, Palatka and Ridgeview
Class 5A
For now the districts are the same but things could change as teams appeal going up or down.
District 3-5A still consists of Ribault, Paxon, Stanton, Suwannee and Yulee.
District 4-5A still consists of Bishop Kenny, Ponte Vedra, Wolfson, Parker and Westside.
District 5-5A still consists of Baker County, Clay, Orange Park, Palatka, Pedro Menendez and Ridgeview.
We could easily see Raines move up to 3-5A and join rival Ribault in that district. While Bolles would be a good fit in 4-5A and could play old arch rival Bishop Kenny again.
Class 6A
For now the districts are the same but things could change as teams appeal going up or down.
District 4-6A is still Ed White, Englewood, Middleburg, Nease and St. Augustine
District 13-6A is still Deltona, Mainland, Matanzas, New Smyrna Beach, Pine Ridge and Seabreeze.
Class 7A
For now the districts are the same but things could change as teams appeal going up or down.
District 2-7A consists of Atlantic Coast, Columbia, Fletcher, First Coast and Lee.
District 3-7A consists of Bartram Trail, Buchholz, Creekside, Fleming Island and Oakleaf.
Class 8A
For now the districts are the same but things could change as teams appeal going up or down.
District 1-8A consists of Deland, Mandarin, Palm Coast, Sandalwood and Spruce Creek.
What’s new ?
While the districts may be the same the playoff format wont be. Only the 4 district champions for each region are guaranteed playoff sports.
Between the four districts in each region, four wild cards spots will be rewarded to the four teams with the highest point averages. The tougher the schedule you play, the higher your point average goes up.
