There are two weeks left in the prep football season.
But this is the only week that means something.
Friday marks the final day of district games, and the playoffs are slated to begin Nov. 20. There are a number of pivotal matchups this week, all of which involve area teams.
Bayshore heads to Southeast with the Class 3A-District 11 title at stake. The Seminoles are 3-0 against district foes and can clinch a second straight championship, as well as a first-round home playoff game, with a win.
The Bruins (2-1 in district) can claim the crown if they win and Braden River (also 2-1 in district play) loses at Englewood Lemon Bay. If the Bruins and Pirates both lose, Braden River earns the district’s second playoff spot thanks to their victory over Bayshore earlier in the season, giving the Pirates two trips to the playoffs in just three full varsity seasons.
But a Bayshore win coupled with a Braden River win throws the teams into a three-way tiebreaker at 7 p.m. Monday for the district’s two playoff spots. The team with the best overall record hosts. Southeast and Braden River are 5-3, while Bayshore enters Friday at 4-4.
It’s simpler at Palmetto, where the Tigers host the Mustangs with the final Class 4A-District 11 playoff spot on the line. Punta Gorda Charlotte has already claimed the district title, which means the winner of Friday’s game heads to the postseason with the district’s second spot.
Whomever wins will have a good story to tell. Palmetto (4-4, 1-1) is looking for its third consecutive playoff trip after starting the season 0-3, while Lakewood Ranch (4-4, 1-1), which finished 1-9 last year, is hoping to get back to the regional tournament for the first time since 2006.
The Tarpons wrap their district slate against rival Port Charlotte. But since Charlotte has defeated Lakewood Ranch and Palmetto, and Port Charlotte already has two losses, that game has no district implications.
Manatee fell short in its quest to win the Class 5A-District 10 title with last Friday’s loss to Venice. But the Hurricanes (7-1, 2-1) have already clinched a playoff spot and will visit St. Petersburg Gibbs, the District 9 champion, for a regional quarterfinal Nov. 20.
Manatee heads to North Port on Friday.
Out-of-Door Academy has already clinched the Class 1B-District 6 title, the first in program history, and heads to Saint Stephen’s in the annual battle for the Headmaster’s Cup.
The regular season ends Nov. 13.
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