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Flag football district tournaments: A preview of what’s ahead for local teams

With the regular season in the books, every local flag football team begins its pursuit of a district title and an automatic playoff bid.
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With the flag football regular season concluding Wednesday night, it’s now districts time, as every area team will compete for the coveted district title and the automatic bid to the playoffs that comes with it.

3A District 1

  • No. 1 Niceville — Bye
  • No. 2 Pace — Bye
  • No. 3 Gulf Breeze vs. No. 6 Tate
  • No. 4 Navarre vs. No. 5 Crestview

The Lady Bulldogs open their district path on the road at Navarre, while Niceville, as the top seed, awaits the winner in the district semifinal. The winner of that game advances to the district championship to face the winner of the other side of the bracket, which pits Pace against the winner of Gulf Breeze-Tate.

The Lady Eagles are assured a playoff berth thanks to their regional ranking, currently sitting as the No. 4 seed in one of the deepest regions in the state. Still, a district title would allow Niceville to avoid a road trip in the opening round of the playoffs. Crestview, meanwhile, must win the district to keep its season alive.

2A District 1

  • No. 1 Choctaw — Bye
  • No. 2 Booker T. Washington vs. No. 7 Pensacola
  • No. 3 Fort Walton Beach vs. No. 6 Pine Forest
  • No. 4 South Walton vs. No. 5 Escambia

South Walton opens its district path against Escambia, with the winner traveling to Joe Etheredge Stadium to face top-seeded Choctaw. Fort Walton Beach hosts Pine Forest at Steve Riggs Stadium, and the winner will meet the winner of the Booker T. Washington-Pensacola quarterfinal, with Booker T. Washington favored to advance. The two semifinal winners will meet in the district championship.

The Lady Indians have a playoff berth locked up as the No. 1 seed in the region, but an early exit at districts could push them onto the road in round one and jeopardize that top seed altogether. Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville sits just 2.224 points behind Choctaw in the regional standings. For Fort Walton Beach and South Walton, the path forward is simple: win the district or the season ends here.

1A District 1

  • No. 1 Florida High — Bye
  • No. 2 Destin — Bye
  • No. 3 FAMU DRS vs. No. 6 Rutherford
  • No. 4 Gadsden County vs. No. 5 Freeport

Destin opens with a first-round bye and will host the winner of FAMU DRS-Rutherford, with FAMU DRS favored to advance. Freeport opens on the road against Gadsden County, and the winner will face Florida High, the region’s top seed. The two semifinal winners will meet in the district championship.

As the No. 4 seed, Destin is likely assured of a playoff berth, with the remaining question being whether the Lady Marlins will host a first-round game. For Freeport, the math is straightforward: win or go home.

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