PALM BEACH COUNTY/TREASURE COAST – We crowned five district champions from our entire area last night (April 20).
All of the district championship games were competitive, to say the least.
Here are the results below.
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 11 FINAL: No. 1 seed Lincoln Park Academy (12-2) held on tight for a 7-6 win over No. 3 seed Fort Pierce Westwood (9-4).
Difference in this district title game: Two big ones
Lincoln Park Academy stopped a potential extra point by Fort Pierce Westwood late in the second half. Also, LPA prevented a Westwood score in the second half by way of a goal-line stand at the 1-yard line.
The Lincoln Park Academy defense came through, even as the game was paused due to a lightning delay.
As a result, Lincoln Park Academy has clinched a spot in the Class 1A state playoffs.
Meanwhile, Fort Pierce Westwood may earn an at-large bid in the 1A postseason. We will find out soon enough.
CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 12 FINAL: No. 2 seed Somerset Academy Canyons (12-5) edged No. 1 seed Suncoast (8-4) by a score of 7-6.
Somerset’s score was made possibly by a touchdown pass from quarterback Ava Wotipka (2027) to wide receiver Jayda Simmons (2025) in the first quarter. The ensuing extra point proved to be the difference maker in this one.
As a result, Somerset Academy Canyons earned its first district title in school history and has clinched a spot in the Class 1A state playoffs.
@CougarsFlag @CoachQuincySC @CoachNickSC @AvaWotipka #DistrictChamps pic.twitter.com/7Q7hrehzpx
— Greg Tinsley (@CoachTinsley_SC) April 21, 2023
Meanwhile, Suncoast may earn an at-large big in the 1A postseason. We will find out sometime soon.
CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 10 FINAL: No. 2 seed Fort Pierce Central (11-7) earned an 18-0 win over No. 4 seed Vero Beach (7-3).
@cobraflag IS YOUR 2-A DISTRICT 10 CHAMPION
— July Sanchez (@JulySanProd) April 21, 2023
Fort Pierce Central took a 18-0 win over Vero Beach in the district final@Whatthomassayss @EraPrep pic.twitter.com/aLyN6RCrAW
Fort Pierce Central scored its 18 points against Vero Beach by way of three touchdown passes from quarterback Adrienne Rivera (2025), two of which came in the third quarter.
Q1: @cobraflag scores a touch down, misses extra point pic.twitter.com/GVoiftXOtf
— July Sanchez (@JulySanProd) April 20, 2023
Q3: @cobraflag SCORES A TOUCHDOWN AGAINST @VBFootball BUT LOSE THE EXTRA POINT pic.twitter.com/WBziDIaMek
— July Sanchez (@JulySanProd) April 21, 2023
Q3: @cobraflag SCORES A TOUCHDOWN BUT FAILS TO RECEIVE THE EXTRA POINT pic.twitter.com/vBsWEGU1Ly
— July Sanchez (@JulySanProd) April 21, 2023
As a result of this, Fort Pierce Central has clinched a spot in the Class 2A state playoffs.
Work hard! Play hard!
— Fort Pierce Central Flag Football (@cobraflag) April 21, 2023![]()
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#CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/LwwxY0aNi6
@CoachNClements postgame championship interview @FPCentralCobras @cobraflag @EraPrep @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/0Fpaiqf41Y
— Whatthomassays Media (@Whatthomassayss) April 21, 2023
Meanwhile, Vero Beach has a chance to earn an at-large big in the 2A postseason.
The FHSAA should seriously consider making this happen for Vero Beach, considering the fact it earned a 32-12 win over previously unbeaten – and likely at-large selection – Martin County in the 2A-District 10 semifinal round.
CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11 FINAL: No. 1 seed Wellington (13-2) earned a 20-6 win over No. 2 seed Seminole Ridge (11-3).
FINAL: No. 1 seed @WHS_FlagFB (13-2) wins the @FHSAA 2A-District 11 title by way of a 20-6 triumph over No. 2 seed @SRHSHawks (11-3)
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 21, 2023@keelin_coleman & crew: Won first district title in @WHSFLAthletics history@Coach_Sime81 @Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball @FHSAA @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/RUIsJ7tgEV
The scoring opened up with a pick-six from Hailey Guzik (2023). This happened at the 8:00 mark of the first quarter.
8:00 1st: @WHS_FlagFB is up 7-0 over @SRHSHawks
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
Hailey Guzik with the pick-six@keelin_coleman: 1-pt. conversion pass@Coach_Sime81 @Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/2t3wr81hR0
Then with less than two minutes left in the first frame, Keelin Coleman (2024) threw a short touchdown pass to Samantha Ellis (2026) on a fourth-down play.
End 1st: @WHS_FlagFB extends its lead to 13-0 over @SRHSHawks @keelin_coleman: TD pass on fourth down to Samantha Ellis with less than two minutes left in the opening quarter@Coach_Sime81 @Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball @FHSAA #FHSAA pic.twitter.com/pZfzNrLaxs
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
These two scores – plus an earlier extra point pass from Coleman – made it 13-0 in favor of Wellington.
But Seminole Ridge was not about to let this one get out of hand, as it cut the Wellington lead to 13-6 at the 2:56 mark.
2:56 2nd: @SRHSHawks cut the lead for @WHS_FlagFB to 13-6@Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/giIyPZVquV
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
Neither team would score again until late in the fourth quarter, when Manuela Reyes (2023) scored off a direct snap play with 2:33 left.
2:33 4th: @WHS_FlagFB extends lead further to 20-6 over @SRHSHawks
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 21, 2023
TD run off direct snap on this play by Manuela Reyes!
Next play: 1-pt. conversion pass by @keelin_coleman @Coach_Sime81 @Andy_Villamarzo @FlaHSFootball @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/CWephAjwIM
A one-point conversion pass from Coleman – followed by her defensive interception – sealed Wellington’s first district title in program history.
As a result, Wellington has earn an automatic bid to the Class 2A state playoffs.
PART 1: @WHS_FlagFB head coach Robert Callovi spoke on how his team earned their first district title in school history over a historically tough team in @SRHSHawks and more.@Coach_Sime81 @keelin_coleman @WHSFLAthletics @PrincipalHayden @WellingtonHSFL pic.twitter.com/t6uWBEfGeN
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 21, 2023
Meanwhile, Seminole Ridge should be in great position to earn an at-large bid in the 2A postseason. Stay tuned for an update on that one.
CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 12 FINAL: No. 2 seed Spanish River (12-4) earned a close 7-0 win over No. 1 seed Park Vista (14-2).
District Champions
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
Spanish River Flag Football pic.twitter.com/9Ae2W0taqe
Here is how it happened.
With 2:42 left in the fourth quarter, quarterback Gianna Pacitti (2023) made a timely throw in the end zone to give her team the lead. A one-point conversion proved to be the difference maker here.
Touchdown Spanish River
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
Extra point is also good
Spanish River 7- Park Vista 0
2:42 left on the clock pic.twitter.com/dri9OOnFLu
Park Vista attempted to tie the game or win it in its final possession, gaining at least one first down in the process. But time ran out with the Spanish River defense holding it down to seal the program’s third straight district title.
As a result, Spanish River earned an automatic bid to the Class 2A state playoffs.
Sr. QB Gianna Pacitti speaks on team resilience and getting the win
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
Gianna’s season stats
2530 passing yards
279 completions
38 Touchdowns pic.twitter.com/h2o1hLSmaW
Post Game Interview 2
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) April 20, 2023
“Defense wins championships”- Coach Drewpic.twitter.com/psRpMr4Qij
Meanwhile, Park Vista has an excellent chance at earning an at-large bid to the 2A postseason.
FINAL NOTE: Here’s hoping that all 10 of our district finalists from both Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast make the FHSAA state playoffs in Class 1A and Class 2A.
To every Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast flag football team: Great season, young ladies and coaches.
PHOTO CREDITS: David Duong, Thomas Allen, and Casandra Clayton
VIDEO CREDITS: Fort Pierce Central Football, Thomas Allen, July Sanchez, and Greg Tinsley