GAINESVILLE – As we head into the final week of the regular season, everything counts now.

With only a few days to go before all FHSAA postseason bids and matchups are revealed, we will see teams from our area and beyond doing their very best to play past Week 11.

The current RPI rating for each school matters quite a bit. But most importantly, it is all about where a team stands in its classification and region.

Let us dive into the latest FHSAA RPI ranks that were released yesterday (Nov. 3).

CLASS 8A

Of our area’s 30+ high school football teams, Palm Beach Central (8-0) is in the best overall shape when it comes to its playoff standing.

At No. 13 overall, our No. 1-ranked team is also projected to be the No. 1 seed in Class 8A – Region 2. A win on Friday (Nov. 5) over Santaluces (1-8) will almost certainly clinch that coveted No. 1 seed for Palm Beach Central, who is certainly looking to host at least its first three playoff games (8A regional quarterfinals, 8A regional semifinals, and 8A regional finals).

Area teams in Class 8A that also look to qualify for the playoffs are the following:

•No. 4 Palm Beach Gardens (6-3): No. 134 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 6 seed in 8A – Region 2

•No. 5 Forest Hill (6-2): No. 137 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 4 seed in 8A – Region 2 due to winning 8A – District 8 title

•No. 7 Boca Raton (7-2): No. 85 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 6 seed in 8A – Region 4

•No. 10 Wellington (6-3): No. 193 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 7 seed in 8A – Region 2

PROJECTED: 8A – Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Palm Beach Central vs. No. 8 Lake Nona (Orlando)
No. 2 Treasure Coast vs. No. 7 Wellington
No. 3 Boone (Orlando) vs. No. 6 Palm Beach Gardens
No. 4 Forest Hill vs. No. 5 Vero Beach

PROJECTED: 8A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Western (Davie) vs. No. 8 Miami
No. 2 Palmetto (Miami) vs. No. 7 Coral Glades
No. 3 Deerfield Beach vs. No. 6 Boca Raton
No. 4 Dr. Krop (Miami) vs. No. 5 Columbus (Miami)

CLASS 7A

We have two teams that look to qualify for the 7A playoffs. They are as follows:

•No. 3 Seminole Ridge (8-1): No. 86 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 5 seed in 7A – Region 2

Atlantic (Delray Beach) (5-4): No. 172 in latest FHSAA RPI; currently projected to be No. 8 seed in 7A – Region 4

PROJECTED: 7A – Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Edgewater (Orlando) vs. No. 8 Bartow
No. 2 Lakeland vs. No. 7 Lake Gibson (Lakeland)
No. 3 Martin County vs. No. 6 Viera
No. 4 Melbourne vs. No. 5 Seminole Ridge

PROJECTED: 7A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) vs. No. 8 Atlantic (Delray Beach)
No. 2 Homestead vs. No. 7 South Broward (Hollywood)
No. 3 Fort Lauderdale vs. No. 6 Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)
No. 4 Miramar vs. No. 5 Doral Academy

CLASS 5A

We have one area team in Class 5A.

Boynton Beach (6-3) is currently at No. 257 in the latest FHSAA RPI ratings. It is Class 5A – Region 4.

At this time, Boynton Beach looks to be in good shape for the 5A playoffs. Let us see how it stacks up right now.

PROJECTED: Class 5A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Killian (Miami) vs. No. 8 Cypress Lake (Fort Myers)
No. 2 American Heritage (Plantation) vs. No. 7 Boynton Beach
No. 3 Miami Central vs. No. 6 North Miami Beach
No. 4 Estero vs. No. 5 Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale)

CLASS 4A

We have three area teams in Class 4A: American Heritage (Delray Beach), Glades Central, and Somerset Academy Canyons.

Of these three teams, two of them are in good shape to qualify for the 4A playoffs. The other one may not be in right now, but could be when the final FHSAA RPI ratings come out on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Let us see where the three 4A teams stand right now in the FHSAA RPI ratings.

•No. 9 American Heritage (Delray Beach) (5-4): No. 177 overall; currently projected as No. 4 seed in 4A – Region 3

•Glades Central (5-4): No. 240 overall; currently projected as No. 5 seed in 4A – Region 3

•Somerset Academy Canyons (3-5): No. 353 overall; just one spot out of the top six for 4A – Region 3 quarterfinal round (No. 7 in 4A – Region 3)

PROJECTED: Class 4A – Region 3 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Lakewood (St. Petersburg) – BYE
No. 2 Lemon Bay (Englewood) – BYE

No. 3 Clewiston vs. No. 6 Teneroc (Lakeland)
No. 4 American Heritage (Delray Beach) vs. No. 5 Glades Central

CLASS 3A

We have four area teams with winning records right now in Class 3A: Benjamin, Cardinal Newman, King’s Academy, and St. Andrews.

Of these four aforementioned area teams, three of them are in great position to qualify for the 3A playoffs next week.

Let us see where they stand right now.

•No. 6 Benjamin (6-3): No. 98 overall in latest FHSAA RPI ratings; currently projected as No. 2 seed in 3A – Region 2

•No. 8 Cardinal Newman (7-3): No. 119 overall in latest FHSAA RPI ratings; currently projected as No. 3 seed in 3A – Region 4

•King’s Academy (6-3): No. 185 overall in latest FHSAA RPI ratings; currently projected as No. 5 seed in 3A – Region 4

•St. Andrew’s (5-4): No. 213 overall in latest FHSAA RPI ratings; currently two spots out of top six for 3A – Region 4

PROJECTED: Class 3A – Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Lakeland Christian – BYE
No. 2 Benjamin – BYE

No. 3 The First Academy (Orlando) vs. No. 6 Lake Placid
No. 4 Frostproof vs. No. 5 Windermere Prep (Windermere)

PROJECTED: Class 3A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) – BYE
No. 2 Florida Christian (Miami) – BYE

No. 3 Cardinal Newman vs. No. 6 Palmer Trinity (Miami)
No. 4 Miami Edison vs. No. 5 King’s Academy

CLASS 2A

We have one area team in Class 2A.

Glades Day (8-1; No. 96 overall in latest FHSAA RPI ratings) is in outstanding position to qualify for the Class 2A playoffs next week. The Muck area team is in Class 2A – Region 4.

Let us see where Glades Day stands right now.

PROJECTED: Class 2A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Avant Garde Academy – BYE
No. 2 Champagnat Catholic – BYE

No. 3 Glades Day vs. No. 6 Archbishop Carroll (Miami)
No. 4 True North Classical Academy (Miami) vs. No. 5 John Carroll Catholic (Fort Pierce)

TRANSLATION: Glades Day is set to host its first round playoff game in the Muck next week.

CLASS 1A

We have one area team in Class 1A.

No. 2 Pahokee (6-1; No. 111 in latest FHSAA RPI ratings) is in outstanding shape to qualify for the Class 1A playoffs. It is projected as the No. 2 seed right now in 1A – Region 4.

Here is where Pahokee stands right now.

PROJECTED: Class 1A – Region 4 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Hawthorne – BYE
No. 2 Pahokee – BYE

No. 3 Bradford vs. No. 6 Fort Meade
No. 4 Newberry vs. No. Wildwood

TRANSLATION: If nothing changes when the final FHSAA RPI ratings are released on Sunday, Pahokee will have a bye for the 1A – Region 4 quarterfinal round and will be at home for the 1A – Region 4 semifinal round.

CONCLUSION: If the regular season ended today, a total of 15 area teams would qualify for the FHSAA playoffs.

NEXT AND FINAL FHSAA RPI RATINGS RELEASE: Sunday, Nov. 7

PHOTO CREDIT: FHSAA