2018 FHSAA Football Playoff Brackets

     The FHSAA released the 2018 football playoff brackets on Sunday of all classifications from Class 8A to Class 1A. South Florida high schools were represented in all eight classifications. The postseason will begin on Thursday and the championship games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando from December 6 to December 8.
     Class 8A in Region 3 saw Deerfield Beach jump up to the #1 seed and they will host #8 Miramar, who lost their season finale to St. Thomas Aquinas. #2 Atlantic remained undefeated, however they still dropped down and will take on #7 Western. #6 Wellington fell to Atlantic last week and will face district rival #3 Palm Beach Central. #4 Plantation was declared the District 12 winner having higher playoff points and take on #5 Piper.
     Region 4 in Dade County has #8 Coral Gables at #1 Columbus, #7 North Miami at #2 Miami Southridge, #6 South Dade at #3 Hialeah and #5 Miami Palmetto and #4 Belen Jesuit.
     Class 7A in Region 4 had the top two teams stay on top of the region since the inception of the playoff point standings two months ago. #1 St. Thomas Aquinas beat Miramar last week and will host #8 South Miami while #2 Dwyer had a bye last weekend and will face #7 West Broward. #6 Palm Beach Lakes travels to #3 McArthur and #5 Fort Lauderdale heads for #4 Doral Academy.
     Class 6A in Region 4 is dominated for the second straight year by four teams in District 16. #1 Carol City gets to host district rival #8 Norland. #5 Miami Central goes up to Fort Lauderdale and faces #4 Dillard. Defending Class 6A state champion #6 Miami Northwestern makes the long trip to Daytona Beach and takes on #3 Mainland. #7 Eau Gallie is at #2 Palm Bay Heritage.
     In Class 5A of Region 4, the defending two-time state champion #5 American Heritage will defend their reign first at #4 Fort Pierce Westwood. District 16 winner #2 Cardinal Gibbons hosts #7 Merritt Island in the first round while #8 Coconut Creek goes north to #1 Rockledge. It is an Orlando area battle as #3 Jones faces #6 Bishop Moore.
     Small school classifications from Class 4A down to Class 1A will have a new playoff format this year. The top two seeds in each region will get a first round bye while the following four seeds will face other in the regional quarterfinals.
     Class 4A of Region 4 has #1 University School as the top seed, regardless of their home loss last week. #2 Booker T. Washington rocketed up from the fourth seed without playing a contest last weekend. #3 Glades Central won the Muck Bowl on Saturday against local rival Pahokee and will host #6 Coral Springs Charter. #4 Monsignor Pace dropped with a loss to Belen Jesuit last week and challenges #5 Gulliver Prep.
     Class 3A of Region 4 has defending state champion #1 Chaminade-Madonna and #2 Benjamin on top. #3 American Heritage stays home in Delray Beach and faces #6 Calvary Christian while #4 Westminster Christian takes on #5 Palmer Trinity.
     Region 2 was represented locally by the top seed #1 Kings Academy and will have a week off. #4 Cardinal Newman will host a first round matchup against #5 Holy Trinity.
     In Class 2A in Region 4, defending state champion #5 Champagnat Catholic tangles with #4 Miami Christian. #3 Glades Day remains in The Muck and hosts #6 First Baptist in the first round.
     There was only one representative from South Florida in Class 1A of Region 4. Pahokee ended up as the #2 seed and will have the upcoming week off.