PALM BEACH COUNTY – As we get closer to the end of the regular season, there is a lot of good news to share in our area.
Anywhere from 12 to 14 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 (5-2): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 4 with 41.14 points
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 two losses, but they were to potential 8A No. 1 seeds Vero Beach (Region 3) and Delray Beach Atlantic (Region 4).
Remaining schedule: Week 9 at Seminole Ridge (8A), Week 10 vs. Cocoa (4A), Week 11 vs. Glades Central in annual Muck Bowl (4A)
CLASS 2A
GLADES DAY (4-3): Would be No. 1 team in Region 4 with 39.71 points
Key win for Glades Day: Between Glades Day and Moore Haven (No. 2 in Region 4 with 39.67 points; just .04 behind GD), 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 9 at Cardinal Newman (3A), Week 10 at Southwest Florida Christian (2A), Week 11 vs. St. John Paul II (3A)
CLASS 3A
KING’S ACADEMY (7-1): Would be No. 2 seed in Region 2 with 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 seven 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 9 at Key West (4A), Week 10 vs. Benjamin (3A)
CARDINAL NEWMAN (6-1): Would be No. 4 seed in Region 2 with 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.
Much kudos again to Cardinal Newman, which also beat Spanish River (8A), Jupiter (8A), Suncoast (6A), Olympic Heights (7A), and Royal Palm Beach (7A) this season.
DELRAY BEACH AMERICAN HERITAGE (5-2): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 4 with 41.43 points
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 is 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. They almost always play above their competition and win.
Much respect to American Heritage for that.
Remaining games: Week 9 at Glades Central (4A), Week 10 vs. Key West (4A), Week 11 vs. Everglades Prep Academy (3A)
BENJAMIN (8-0): Would be No. 3 seed in Region 4 with 40.13 points
Key win: 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 9 at St. Andrews (3A), Week 10 at King’s Academy (3A)
CLASS 4A
GLADES CENTRAL (4-3): Would be No. 4 seed with 37.14 points
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 9 vs. American Heritage (3A), Week 10 vs. Cardinal Newman (3A), Week 11 at Pahokee for annual Muck Bowl (1A)
CLASS 7A
DWYER (7-1): Would be No. 2 seed in Region 4 with 43.50 points
Key win for Dwyer: It’s all about the 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 a impressive 40-6 victory over previous undefeated – and 7A playoff contender – Forest Hill. This team has been handing out more 40 pieces than Kentucky Fried Chicken and Popeyes, as last Friday was the seventh 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 seven wins have been by big blowouts. All of them.
How would that not impress the FHSAA?
Remaining games: Week 9 vs. Royal Palm Beach (7A), Week 10 at West Boca Raton (7A)
PALM BEACH LAKES (4-3): Would be No. 8 seed in Region 4 with 37.43 points
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 four 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 9 at West Boca Raton (7A), Week 10 at Forest Hill (7A), Week 11 at Suncoast (6A)
FOREST HILL (6-1): Would be eliminated from 7A playoffs this year at No. 9 spot; currently just .43 behind No. 8 spot with 37.00 points
Key win for Forest Hill: This team has won all of its games prior to the Week 8 game against Dwyer.
Concern: The Falcons really needed to beat the Panthers in Week 8, but it didn’t happen. Their 40-6 loss, plus a relatively weak schedule compared to Palm Beach Lakes, is why they are currently on the outside looking in.
Remaining games: Week 9 vs. Olympic Heights (7A), Week 10 vs Palm Beach Lakes (7A), Week 11 at Spanish River (8A)
NOTE: Forest Hill will be playing against Palm Beach Lakes in a likely elimination Week 10 game for both teams. The stakes can’t get any higher for these upstart programs.
CLASS 8A
DELRAY BEACH ATLANTIC (7-0): Would be No. 1 seed in Region 3 with 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 8 win against John I. Leonard in a 42-0 shutout victory on homecoming night.
Last year’s 8A state runner-up will have the opportunity to go undefeated in the regular season. They will look to handle business on the road against Lake Worth in Week 9.
Remaining games: Week 9 at Lake Worth (8A), Week 10 vs. Boca Raton (8A), Week 11 at Wellington (8A)
PALM BEACH CENTRAL (6–1): Would be No. 3/4/5 seed in Region 3 – most likely No. 4 – with 40.29 points; tied with Plantation and Western for now with that point total
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 six 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 9 at Jupiter (8A), Week 10 at Palm Beach Gardens (8A), Week 11 at John I. Leonard (8A)
WELLINGTON (5-3): Would be No. 7 seed in Region 3 with 37.75 points
Key wins for Wellington: 14-8 victory over Park Vista in Week 3; 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 9 vs. Palm Beach Gardens (8A), Week 10 – BYE, Week 11 vs. Atlantic (8A)
PARK VISTA (4-3): Would be No. 8 seed in Region 3 with 36.71 points
Key win for Park Vista: As crazy as this sound, the three combined losses are this team’s biggest accomplishment this season. Sure, the losses were disappointing. 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).
Park Vista’s four wins were convincing. But the FHSAA likes this team’s overall strength of schedule more. It may be just enough to reach the playoffs again.
Remaining games: Week 9 at Spanish River (8A), Week 10 vs. Santaluces (8A), Week 11 vs. Palm Beach Gardens (8A)
SEMINOLE RIDGE (4-3): Would be currently eliminated from playoff contention at No. 9/10 in Region 3 with 36.43 points; tied with Miramar, but only .28 out of No. 8 spot
Key win for Seminole Ridge: It’s the opportunity to play 1A powerhouse Pahokee in Week 9. This is arguably Seminole Ridge’s toughest game of the season, and the one most favorably looked upon 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). But these losses may have come at the worst possible time, at least in the eyes of the FHSAA.
Seminole Ridge is essentially in a must-win situation tomorrow night at home against Pahokee. Win, and this team may have a slight chance at sneaking into the playoffs. Lose to Pahokee, and the upstart program can kiss its playoff hopes goodbye.
It’s that simple.
Remaining games: Week 9 vs. Pahokee (1A), Week 10 vs. Jupiter (8A), Week 11 at Royal Palm Beach (7A)
Next FHSAA playoff contenders update: Wednesday, Oct. 25
