Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams

January 11, 2018

The Florida Athletics Directors Advisory Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay high schools.

If approved at a future date by the Florida High School Athletic Association, six teams would qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.

The first and second seed would receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team would host the sixth seed and the fourth seed would host the fifth seed.

Currently four team from each region qualify for the playoffs. There is no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change would allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff.

According to the Athletics Directors Committee, there is a built-in extra round for Class 1A-4A and allowing more teams to earn a playoff spot would not affect the current playoff structure. This would also allow the third and fourth seed teams to host a playoff game, earning more revenue for those schools.

“I think there are positives and negatives,” Northview High School Coach Derek Marshman said. “Obviously, more teams will be allowed to participate in the post season. The reason the FHSAA eliminated districts was to eliminate blowouts in the first round. I could see fifth and sixth place teams struggling. That is obviously a case-by-case situation. I do think overall that it is a good thing to allow more teams in the post season.”

“The most beneficial thing is eliminating the bye week the week before the championship games. It could definitely throw a kink into the rhythm of a team if they have the bye week immediately before the state championship game,” Marshman continued.

The proposal was previously unanimously approved by the 1A-4A coaches council and must next be approved by the FHSAA board of directors.

Pictured: Action from last year’s Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams”

  1. Chiefs Fan on January 11th, 2018 5:35 am

    Follow the money. More teams qualifying to play in the play-off equals more games which results in more revenue for FHSAA. IT’S A WIN – WIN FOR MORE $$$$$! LOL

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