With the playoff brackets released Saturday, Choctaw, Niceville and Destin all punched their tickets to the postseason, but the roads to Tampa vary for each.
3A Region 1
- No. 1 Ponte Vedra* vs. No. 8 Nease
- No. 2 Chiles* vs. No. 7 Lincoln
- No. 3 Niceville* vs. No. 6 Pace
- No. 4 Oviedo vs. No. 5 Bartram Trail
After a program-record 15 wins and a district title, Niceville finds itself as the No. 3 seed in a region that includes two of the nation’s top 10 teams. The Lady Eagles jumped Oviedo for the No. 3 seed and will host Pace at Eagle Stadium on Wednesday night.
If Niceville advances, it will play the winner of Chiles-Lincoln, with Chiles the likely matchup. Niceville lost to Chiles 19-0 on the road April 1 but defeated Lincoln 32-0 on March 12. A win there would set up a meeting with Ponte Vedra, the No. 3 team in the country.
It’s a tough road, but this historic season has shown the sky is the limit for the Lady Eagles.
2A Region 1
- No. 1 Choctaw* vs. No. 8 Menendez
- No. 2 Paxon School for Advanced Studies* vs. No. 7 Godby
- No. 3 Arnold* vs. No. 6 Yulee
- No. 4 St. Augustine* vs. No. 5 Booker T. Washington
Once again, the road to the Final Four runs through Joe Etheredge Stadium. Choctaw is chasing its fifth straight regional title and opens against Menendez.
If the Lady Indians advance, they would face the winner of St. Augustine-Booker T. Washington, then potentially Paxon School for Advanced Studies. Choctaw defeated Paxon 33-6 in the Elite Eight last year, but this year’s Paxon squad may present the toughest challenge to a Choctaw Final Four bid in some time.
Even so, the Lady Indians should once again be favored to make the Final Four.
1A Region 1
- No. 1 Florida High* vs. No. 8 West Nassau
- No. 2 Bolles* vs. No. 7 FAMU DRS
- No. 3 Eagle’s View* vs. No. 6 University Christian
- No. 4 Destin vs. No. 5 Bradford*
The Lady Sharks made the playoffs for the first time in program history. They appeared poised to host, but Bradford’s surge in the standings, combined with its district championship, means Destin will travel for the first-round matchup.
If Destin wins, it would likely set up a district championship rematch with Florida High, which won the previous meeting 31-0. Should the Lady Sharks get revenge, Bolles or Eagle’s View would likely await in the Elite Eight.
Destin faces a tough path to the Final Four, but anything is possible.
