PALM BEACH COUNTY – As we get closer to the end of the regular season, there is plenty of good news to share in our area.

Anywhere from 12 to 15 area teams may end up qualifying for the postseason. Of course, it depends on what transpires between today and Saturday, Nov. 3.

With that said, the FHSAA has released its most recent points system for the 1A through 8A classes. It focuses on a team’s strength of schedule, strength of victory, quality wins, and quality loss(es).

For example, if a team has a winning record but has played a relatively soft schedule, then that team in question might not be in a great playoff position. But if a team had a tough schedule, but played well even in a loss or two, that factor will get looked at in a more favorable light.

Anyway, here’s where our potential FHSAA playoff teams stand if the season ended today.

CLASS 1A

PAHOKEE (5-3): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 4 with 40.38 points. It’s down from the 41.14 points this team had last week, due to its close 21-20 loss to 8A Seminole Ridge in Week 9.

Key wins for Pahokee: Every win is a key one for the 1A team because they have played everyone in a much higher classification (3A, 6A, and 8A). The Blue Devils have three losses, but they were to potential 8A No. 1 seeds Vero Beach (Region 3) and Delray Beach Atlantic (Region 4), as well as to a potential 8A playoff qualifier in Seminole Ridge (Region 3).

Remaining schedule: Week 10
vs. Cocoa (4A), Week 11 vs. Glades Central in annual Muck Bowl (4A)

CLASS 2A

GLADES DAY (4-4): Would now be No. 2 seed in Region 4 with 38.88 points. This team was the projected No. 1 seed in Region 4 with 39.71 points last week, but lost almost a full point due to its 42-19 blowout loss to 3A Cardinal Newman in Week 9.

Key win for Glades Day: Between Glades Day and Moore Haven (now No. 4 at 38.29 points, down from last week’s No. 2 spot in Region 4 with 39.67 points), the Gators have an arguably tougher schedule than the Terriers. This may be really unfair though, because Moore Haven did beat Glades Day, 22-21, in Week 6. But let’s remember that the regular season doesn’t end today, and this is only a potential situation.

Remaining schedule: Week 10 at Southwest Florida Christian (2A), Week 11 vs. St. John Paul II (3A)

CLASS 3A

KING’S ACADEMY (8-1): Would be No. 2 seed in Region 2 with 38.44 points. This team gained more than half a point from last week’s score, which was at 37.63 points.

Key win: Relative to most teams in Class 3A, the Lions actually have a respectable schedule. As crazy as this sounds, their close 35-28 loss to Gulliver Prep (4A) in Week 8 may have helped them more than any of their eight blowout wins, including a 26-0 win over Glades Day in Week 3. We can’t say this enough; play a tough schedule, and you’ll get rewarded for it.

Remaining schedule: Week 10 vs. Benjamin (3A) – Regular season finale

CARDINAL NEWMAN (7-1): Would be tied with Father Lopez as No. 3/4 seed in Region 2 with 36.75 points. This team made gains from last week, when it had 36.29 points.

Key win for Cardinal Newman: The regular season schedule because this team is not afraid to play anyone, regardless of whatever perception may be out there about them. There has not been a team in recent memory that would schedule to play all three Muck teams in the regular season (Pahokee, Glades Day, and Glades Central). It takes a lot of guts to do that, and if we were the FHSAA, we would reward them for that as well.

Cardinal Newman is now 1-1 against the Muck, with an early season loss to 1A Pahokee and a blowout win in Week 9 over 2A Glades Day.

Can the Crusaders pull off a shocking upset in Week 10 at Glades Central? We’ll find out tomorrow night if this team can finish the year 2-1 against the Muck.

Noteworthy: Cardinal Newman beat Spanish River (8A), Jupiter (8A), Suncoast (6A), Olympic Heights (7A), and Royal Palm Beach (7A) earlier this season, which has helped a lot in that this team has taken down five larger schools in the area.

Remaining schedule: Week 10 at Glades Central (4A), Week 11 vs. West Boca Raton (7A)

BENJAMIN (9-0): Would now be No. 2 seed in Region 4 with 41.22. This team gained more than a full point due to its 44-0 win over St. Andrews in Week 9. The Buccaneers were last week’s No. 3 seed with 40.13 points, which means they jumped American Heritage in the process.

Key win for Benjamin: The Buccaneers have beaten every single team on their schedule. You simply can’t penalize a team for going undefeated at this juncture of the season. You just can’t do that, even if you want to. With that said, the Bucs have two big wins this season over Glades Day (30-8 in Week 1) and Gulliver Prep (22-14 in Week 4).

Remaining games: Week 10 at King’s Academy (3A) – Regular season finale

DELRAY BEACH AMERICAN HERITAGE (5-3): Would now be No. 3 seed in Region 4 with 39.13 points. The former projected No. 1 seed was heavily penalized in its 34-16 road loss to 4A Glades Central in Week 9, losing more than two points in the process.

Key win for American Heritage: Like Cardinal Newman, this team has a relatively tough schedule in comparison to its 3A counterparts. Unlike Newman and everyone else in Palm Beach County, only one team on its schedule was against a Palm Beach County team (4A Glades Central in Week 9). For playing anybody at any location and any given Friday, the FHSAA has rewarded the Stallions handsomely, despite their current three-game losing streak. They almost always play above their competition, win or lose.

Much respect to American Heritage for that.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs. Key West (4A), Week 11 vs. Everglades Prep Academy (3A)

ST. ANDREWS (5-3): Would be No. 6 seed right now with 35.00 points

Key win for St. Andrews: To be honest, it’s all about the FHSAA’s decision to expand the small school regional seedings (1A-2A-3A-4A) from four to six playoff teams this year. The move allows two more teams to qualify for the postseason, as St. Andrews could turn out to benefit from it in a big way. It provides some suspense for the mid-tier teams, which is a good thing.

Concern: St. Andrews must win its final two regular season games to hold on to that coveted No. 6 spot. Even that may not be enough, as the team is only .12 ahead of Everglades Prep (34.88 points; No. 7 in Region 4), which may be sensing an opportunity to steal a playoff spot with its current 3-5 record but arguably tougher schedule.

Remaining games: Week 10 at Coral Springs Charter (4A), Week 11 vs. Pine Crest (4A)

CLASS 4A

GLADES CENTRAL (5-3): Would be No. 3 seed in Region 4 with 38.50 points. This team moved up from last week’s No. 4 spot at 37.14 points. A 34-16 win over 3A Delray Beach American Heritage in Week 9 helps a lot.

Key win for Glades Central: Say whatever you want about the Muck’s highest classification team. Talk about the blowout losses to University School (35-6 defeat in Week 1) and Dwyer (42-14 defeat in Week 3). Go ahead and talk, talk, talk about the Raiders.

But what absolutely nobody can say is that Glades Central is scared to play anybody. Of any team in Palm Beach County, the six-time state champion is most willing to play anyone, anywhere, and anytime – regardless of classification. They have the wins and losses to prove it over the years, and that’s what the FHSAA loves about this team.

Sure, Glades Central lost 29-22 to defending 4A state champion Cocoa at home in Week 6. But this team has scheduled current and former powerhouses Dwyer (7A), University (4A), American Heritage (3A), and Pahokee (1A) for the regular season.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs. Cardinal Newman (3A), Week 11 at Pahokee for annual Muck Bowl (1A)

CLASS 7A

DWYER (8-1): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 4 with 44.56 points, .06 ahead of current No. 2 seed and national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. This team was No. 2 last week with 43.50 points and gained 1.06 points due to its 48-0 win over Royal Palm Beach (7A) in Week 9. With the victory, Dwyer will repeat as the District 13-7A champion.

Key win for Dwyer: It’s all about the overall execution in each win.

Yes, this powerhouse team lost to 8A Atlantic, 30-13, in Week 2. But guess what?

The Panthers have gone from good to great in a matter of weeks. They have been playing lights out on both sides of the ball. Dwyer posted an impressive 48-point margin of victory over Royal Palm Beach in Week 9. This team has been handing out more 40 pieces than Kentucky Fried Chicken and Popeyes, as last Friday was the eighth time Dwyer posted a victory with 40 points or more, while holding opponents to 14 points or less.

Let that sink in for a moment.

All eight wins have been by big blowouts. All of them.

How would that not impress the FHSAA?

Remaining game: Week 10 at West Boca Raton (7A)

PALM BEACH LAKES (5-3): Would now be No. 6 seed in Region 4 with 37.75 points. This team made gains from its previous spot at No. 8, when it had 37.43 points last week.

Key win for Palm Beach Lakes: Give the Rams a whole lot of credit this year for their regular season schedule.

All three losses were to true powerhouses in Pahokee (1A; 28-19
defeat in Week 1), Dwyer (7A; 41-13 loss in Week 4), and undefeated Trinity Christian (5A; 25-6 loss). These are called quality losses, folks. The FHSAA looks pretty highly on that.

The five wins, meanwhile, have been impressive. Best win for Lakes: a 25-0 victory over 8A playoff contender Seminole Ridge in Week 7.

Remaining games: Week 10 at Forest Hill (7A), Week 11 at Suncoast (6A)

FOREST HILL (7-1): Would now qualify for 7A playoffs as No. 7 seed with 37.38 points. This team was on the outside looking in last week at the No. 9 spot with 37.00 points.

Key win for Forest Hill: This team has won all of its games, except its Week 8 game against Dwyer.

Concern: The Falcons probably need to win out more than the Rams do. They will be at home for a possible playoff elimination game against Palm Beach Lakes (current No. 6 seed in 7A-Region 4) in Week 10, so we’ll tread to the safe side and say this counts as an absolute must-win for Forest Hill.

Their 40-6 loss to No. 1 seed Dwyer, plus a relatively weak schedule compared to Palm Beach Lakes, is why they must win out. The stakes can’t get any higher than that for last year’s surprise playoff team.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs Palm Beach Lakes (7A), Week 11 at Spanish River (8A)

CLASS 8A

DELRAY BEACH ATLANTIC (8-0): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 3 with 43.00 points. This is slightly less than what the Eagles had last week, when they scored 43.43 points.

Key win for Atlantic: Where do we begin?

Some people thought Atlantic would start the season at 0-4, with losses to Palm Beach Central, Dwyer, Pahokee, and Park Vista – and in that order.

Many others had them going 2-2 at best.

Almost nobody outside of the Eagles program thought they would go 4-0 to start the season.

But Palm Beach County’s No. 1 team went out and proved everyone wrong by taking down playoff contenders Palm Beach Central (8A; 14-0 win in Week 1), Dwyer (7A; 30-13 win in Week 2), Pahokee (1A; 35-21 win in Week 3), and Park Vista (8A; 21-6 win in Week 5).

What has happened since? The Eagles just keep rolling, as evidenced by their most recent Week 9 win against Lake Worth in a 38-6 blowout victory. Last year’s 8A state runner-up will have the opportunity to go undefeated in the regular season. They will look to handle business at home against Boca Raton on their Senior Night.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs. Boca Raton (8A), Week 11 at Wellington (8A)

PALM BEACH CENTRAL (7–1): Would now be undisputed No. 3 seed in Region 3 at 40.88 points. The repeat District 9-8A champion was tied with Plantation and Western at 40.29 points last week, but has slightly pulled away from both Broward County teams (Plantation now at No. 4 with 40.25 points; Western at No. 5 with 39.63 points).

Key win for Palm Beach Central: It’s all about the bounce back effort.

Since its season-opening 14-0 home loss to Atlantic, all seven wins have been legitimately convincing ones, and that looks good in the eyes of the FHSAA.

Palm Beach Central’s best effort was a 52-10 win over fellow 8A playoff contender Wellington in Week 4.

Remaining games: Week 10 at Palm Beach Gardens (8A), Week 11 at John I. Leonard (8A)

WELLINGTON (6-3): Would now be No. 6 seed with 39.44 points. This team has gained more than one full point and moved up from last week’s projected No. 7 spot, when it had 37.75 points.

Key wins for Wellington: 14-8 victory over Park Vista in Week 3; 24-13 win over Palm Beach Gardens in Week 9; scheduled games against Vero Beach (8A; 46-0 loss in Week 2), Palm Beach Central (8A; 52-10 loss in Week 4), and Dwyer (7A; 55-7 loss in Week 7).

Remaining games: Week 10 – BYE; Week 11 vs. Atlantic (8A)

SEMINOLE RIDGE (5-3): Would now be No. 7 seed in Region 3 with 38.50 points. This team gained a whopping 2.07 (!) points just for squeaking by Pahokee (1A) in a season-saving 21-20 home win in Week 9. Last week, this team was projected to be on the outside looking in at No. 9/10 in Region 3 with 36.43 points. Seminole Ridge was tied with Miramar, but only .28 out of No. 8 spot last week. Look at Ridge now!

Key win for Seminole Ridge: It’s quite simple. The Hawks toughed it out from start to finish and pulled out a shocking win over Pahokee to avoid near-certain elimination from playoff contention in Week 9. This was arguably Seminole Ridge’s most difficult game of the season, and this one was most definitely looked upon in a favorable light by the FHSAA.

Concern: Seminole Ridge’s three losses were to playoff contenders Wellington (8A; 22-21 loss in Week 6); Palm Beach Lakes (25-0 loss in Week 7), and Palm Beach Central (8A; 27-14 loss in Week 8). These losses may still haunt the Hawks, even if they win out. We don’t know what will happen with current No. 8 seed Piper (38.00 points), so Ridge cannot rest on its laurels at this time.

Solution: Win out and win big these next two weeks to potentially secure a playoff spot. It’s definitely possible, given Seminole Ridge’s next and final two opponents of the regular season.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs. Jupiter (8A), Week 11 at Royal Palm Beach (7A)

PARK VISTA (5-3): Would be eliminated from 8A playoff contention at No. 9 with 36.50 points. This team was last week’s No. 8 seed in Region 3 with 36.71 points.

Key win – and major concern – for Park Vista: As crazy as this sound, the three combined losses are this team’s biggest accomplishment and biggest failure this season.

How is that?

Sure, the losses were disappointing and can ultimately lead to Park Vista’s elimination from playoff contention this year. But they were to playoff contenders Dwyer (7A; 40-0 loss in Week 1), Wellington (8A; 14-8 loss in Week 3), and Atlantic (8A; 21-7 loss in Week 5).

What we said last week: Park Vista’s four wins (prior to the Spanish River game and Seminole Ridge’s win over Pahokee in Week 9) were convincing. But the FHSAA likes this team’s overall strength of schedule more. It may be just enough to reach the playoffs again.

What we’re saying now: Park Vista must have a sense of urgency in its final two regular season games, just like it did in Monday night’s 65-7 blowout win over Spanish River. The margin of victory in both games can be the difference between this team sliding into a playoff spot and sitting at home for the postseason. Also, Seminole Ridge’s one-point victory over Pahokee did Park Vista no favors whatsoever.

Suggestion for Park Vista: Instead of playing Pahokee in the kickoff classic (which it did win on the road), consider playing this Muck team in the regular season to earn FHSAA points.

Remaining games: Week 10 vs. Santaluces (8A), Week 11 vs. Palm Beach Gardens (8A)

Next FHSAA playoff contenders update: Thursday, Nov. 1