With the penultimate week of the regular season here, Week 11 looks to be a good one for area football, highlighted by two key games.
On Thursday, Choctaw hosts Booker T. Washington at Joe Etheredge Stadium. The game, moved back from Week 9 because of Hurricane Isaias, will decide the Class 4A, District 1 championship after the Wildcats beat Fort Walton Beach last Friday.
On Friday, South Walton hosts Pensacola Catholic in the Hawks’ Nest, in what looks to be an absolutely critical game for the Seahawks’ playoff hopes.
Here’s the full schedule:
Week 11 schedule
All games at 7 p.m. CT unless noted.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
- Pensacola at Freeport, 6 p.m. CT
Thursday, Oct. 29
- Booker T. Washington at Choctaw (district)
Friday, Oct. 30
- Pensacola Catholic at South Walton
- Baker at Jay
- Crestview at Dothan
- Central at Walton
- Bozeman at Destin
Bye: Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Rocky Bayou
Week 11 predictions
Last week: 7-2. Season: 50-24.
Pensacola 21, Freeport 17
While Pensacola handled Gulf Breeze, Freeport needed overtime and a game-winning two-point conversion to finish off the Dolphins 36-35 on Sept. 4. This one should be close, but I think the Tigers get the win and deny Freeport coach Bobby Johns the chance to finish above .500 in his first year.
Choctaw 49, Booker T. Washington 14
Choctaw has every advantage here, and I believe the Wildcats are a product of an easy schedule. The Indians get a running-clock victory to secure their fourth straight district title and guarantee at least one home playoff game at Joe Etheredge Stadium.
South Walton 31, Pensacola Catholic 28
This is likely to be South Walton’s Super Bowl. If the Seahawks lose again, they are likely out of the playoffs, so I think South Walton finds a way to get it done with the game in the Hawks’ Nest.
Baker 21, Jay 14
Even though the Royals won the first meeting earlier in the year, I think the Gators are a much better team than they were in Week 1.
Crestview 42, Dothan 35
Despite playing on the road, Crestview catches a Dothan team that has had a rough year. With the Bulldogs at full strength, I expect them to get the win and end their season on a high note in the regular-season finale.
Walton 56, Central 0
Simply put, the Braves are the better team by far. Expect them to come away with the win.
Destin 42, Bozeman 7
The Sharks will be eager to bounce back after last Friday’s 35-34 loss to Freeport, and Bozeman feels like the perfect opponent for it. No need to overthink this one.
Playoff picture
Open Division
- St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
- Columbus (Miami)
- West Boca Raton
- Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
- Central (Miami)
- The First Academy (Orlando)
- Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach)
- Lakeland
Area teams most likely to be affected: Choctaw, South Walton
Class 5A, Region 1
- No. 1 Mandarin vs. No. 8 Ponte Vedra
- No. 2 Buchholz vs. No. 7 Bartram Trail
- No. 3 Nease vs. No. 6 Oakleaf
- No. 4 Pace vs. No. 5 Evans
Niceville sits at No. 11 in the region and must win a district championship to qualify. Crestview sits at No. 14 and has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Class 4A, Region 1
- No. 1 Columbia vs. No. 8 Clay
- No. 2 St. Augustine vs. No. 7 Rickards
- No. 3 Mosley vs. No. 6 Lincoln
- No. 4 Ed White vs. No. 5 Choctaw
If the season ended today, Choctaw would host by virtue of being district champion. Fort Walton Beach sits at No. 19 in the region and has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Class 3A, Region 1
- No. 1 Raines vs. No. 8 Palatka
- No. 2 Godby vs. No. 7 Bay
- No. 3 Baker County vs. No. 6 Bishop Kenny
- No. 4 Pine Forest vs. No. 5 Wakulla
South Walton sits at No. 8 in the region, 0.17 points from the final at-large spot.
Class 2A, Region 1
- No. 1 Bolles vs. No. 8 Rutherford
- No. 2 Pensacola Catholic vs. No. 7 Destin
- No. 3 Florida High vs. No. 6 Andrew Jackson
- No. 4 Walton vs. No. 5 Gadsden County
Freeport sits at No. 10 in the region, 1.8 points from the final playoff spot.
Class 1A, Region 1
- No. 1 Madison County vs. No. 8 Northview
- No. 2 Blountstown vs. No. 7 Marianna
- No. 3 Fort White vs. No. 6 Taylor County
- No. 4 Holmes County vs. No. 5 Baker
