Marcus Benjamin @_BenjaminReport
The ever changing population in schools has caused a shake-up in the world of high school football in Florida. Th Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has moved some teams to different classes this week which has shifted paths to the state championships next season. Some rivals will no longer play each other in the playoffs, but some new potential playoff match-ups will generate quite the intrigue in the eight classifications.
Dismantled 16-6A
The district known as one of the best in all of high school football is no longer. Miami Central, Miami Carol City and Miami Central will all play in different classes starting next season. Central remains in 6A, 2-time defending 6A champion Miami Northwestern drops down to 5A and Carol City drops down to 4A. The potential of having all three teams in Orlando is a real possibility. The chances that at least one of these Dade County teams reaches the FHSAA championships on a yearly basis with this alignment is a pretty safe bet.
Champions Trading Places
Northwestern will not be the only one switching classes as 5A champion Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) drops down to 4A and 4A champion Raines (Jacksonville) moves up to 5A. Remaining 2018 champions Mandarin (Jacksonville), Lakeland, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) and Madison County all remain in their respective classes.
The Crowded 7A
The class that is has been mostly dominated by Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) now have Armwood (Seffner), Atlantic (Delray), Crestview and Wekiva (Apopka) to battle for the class crown. The 6A runner-up Armwood moved up and 2018 8A title contenders Wekiva and Atlantic moved down. Crestview, who lost in the state semifinals to Armwood, also moves up.
Rivalry Renewed
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) moves back down to 3A from 5A. The Conquerors move down to a class that they once dominated but have to deal with the likes of the new kings of that class in Chaminade-Madonna. Depending on the brackets and history, it is very likely that these two will decide the 3A title for years to come.
Way Too Early Contenders For 2019 And Notable Team Moves For Each Class
8A
Apopka
Columbus (Miami)
Deerfield Beach
Deland
Dr. Phillips (Orlando)
Mandarin
Miami Palmetto
Osceola (Kissimmee)
Riverview Sarasota
Piper (Sunrise)
Tampa Plant
South Dade (Homestead)
Vero Beach
Winter Park
7A
Atlantic (Delray)
Armwood
Bucholz (Gainesville)
Crestview
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens)
Edgewater (Orlando)
Fletcher (Jacksonville)
Hialeah
Homestead
Lakeland
Lincoln (Tallahassee)
Manatee (Bradenton)
McArthur (Hollywood)
Miramar
Navarre
North Miami
Plant City
Plantation
St. Thomas Aquinas
Tampa Bay Tech
Viera
Wekiva
6A
Barol Collier (Naples)
Belen Jesuit (Miami)
Braden River (Bradenton)
Charlotte (Punta Gorda)
Columbia (Lake City)
Deltona
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)
Escambia (Pensacola)
Gainesville
Jefferson (Tampa)
Lee (Jacksonville)
Mainland (Daytona)
Miami Central
Miami Southridge
Miami Norland
Palmetto
5A
American Heritage (Plantation)
Baker County
Bishop Moore
Dunedin
Dunnellon
Godby (Tallahassee)
Hallandale
Tampa Jesuit
Orlando Jones
Miami Jackson
Miami Killian
Miami Northwestern
Miami Springs
North Marion (Citra)
North Miami Beach
Raines (Jacksonville)
Rockledge
Vanguard (Ocala)
4A
American Heritage (Delray)
Bolles (Jacksonville)
Cardinal Gibbons
Cocoa
Gulliver (Miami)
Glades Central (Belle Glade)
Miami Carol City
Monsignor Pace (Miami)
University School (Davie)
Tampa Catholic
Miami Booker T. Washington
3A
Benjamin (Palm Beach)
Bishop Verot (Fort Myers)
Chaminade-Madonna
Miami Edison
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)
No Major Changes In 2A or 1A
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