PALM BEACH COUNTY – We have a total of 12 teams in this year’s FHSAA playoffs, with nine of them playing first round games tonight.

Of those nine teams, at least one will be eliminated once the final buzzer sounds. Even though we won’t see every one of our teams moving on to the second round, the fact we have up to 11 area programs playing next week is salaciously satisfying in more ways than one.

First, let’s list the teams who are playing tonight:

Class 8A – Region 3: No. 2 seed Atlantic (10-0), No. 3 seed Palm Beach Central (9-1), No. 6 seed Wellington (6-4)

Opponent for Atlantic: No. 7 Western (8-2) at home

Opponent for Palm Beach Central: Wellington at home

Opponent for Wellington: Palm Beach Central on the road

Class 7A – Region 4: No. 2 seed Dwyer (9-1), No. 6 seed Palm Beach Lakes (7-3)

Opponent for Dwyer: No. 7 West Broward (7-3) at home

Opponent for Palm Beach Lakes: No. 3 McArthur (9-1) on the road

Class 4A – Region 4: No. 3 seed Glades Central (7-3)

Opponent: No. 6 Coral Springs Charter (7-1) at home

Class 3A – Region 2: No. 4 seed Cardinal Newman (8-2)

Opponent: No. 5 Holy Trinity (5-4) at home

Class 3A – Region 4: No. 3 seed Delray Beach American Heritage (7-3)

Opponent: Calvary Christian (5-5) at home

Class 2A – Region 4: No. 3 seed Glades Day (6-4)

Opponent: No. 6 Naples First Baptist (3-5) at home

We will also list the teams with a first round bye:

Class 3A – Region 2: No. 1 seed King’s Academy (9-1)

Class 3A – Region 4: No. 2 Benjamin (9-1)

Class 1A – Region 4: No. 2 Pahokee (5-5)

NOTES: King’s Academy and Benjamin will be enjoying a much-envied two weeks off from playing any football games. They will play again next Friday night (Nov. 16; 7:30 p.m. kickoff) in the 3A regional semifinals.

King’s Academy will face off against the 3A first round playoff winner between No. 5 Holy Trinity (5-4) and No. 4 Cardinal Newman (8-2).

Benjamin will play against the winner of No. 6 Calvary Christian (5-5) and No. 3 Delray Beach American Heritage (7-3).

Pahokee will play its next game on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a home contest against tonight’s 1A playoff winner between No. 6 Wildwood (5-5) and No. 3 Frostproof (6-4).

PREDICTIONS

8A – Region 3

No. 2 Atlantic 24, No. 7 Western 14
No. 3 Palm Beach Central 38, No. 6 Wellington 24

7A – Region 4

No. 2 Dwyer 45, No. 7 West Broward 7
No. 6 Palm Beach Lakes 28, No. 3 McArthur 26

4A – Region 4

No. 3 Glades Central 38, No. 6 Coral Springs Charter 14

3A – Region 2

No. 4 Cardinal Newman 28, No. 5 Holy Trinity 20

3A – Region 4

No. 3 Delray Beach American Heritage 40, No. 6 Calvary Christian 12

2A – Region 4

No. 3 Glades Day 31, No. 6 Naples First Baptist 6

Check back to see if we got our predictions right or wrong. Enjoy these playoff games tonight, everyone!