New FHSAA Football Classifications

     The FHSAA released the realigned classifications of all Florida high school football teams. It will be used for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
     The biggest news of the change is that the toughest district in South Florida and maybe the entire state involving some of the top football programs is no more. The teams from District 16 in Class 6A have been separated.
      The defending two-time FHSAA Class 6A state champions Miami Northwestern will be moving to Class 5A and be in a district that includes Jackson, Killian, Miami Springs and Key West. The new District 16 in Class 6A will now have Miami Central, Norland, Miami Southridge, South Miami and Belen Jesuit. Carol City, who won the Class 6A state title in 2016, shifts to Class 4A.
     Another state champion that will be changing classifications is 2018 FHSAA Class 5A state champions Cardinal Gibbons. They leave their district rival for the last couple of years American Heritage and drop down to Class 4A in Region 4. Their competition for the playoff spots in the region will include Booker T. Washington, University School, Glades Central and Carol City.
     Palm Beach County saw some modifications. Kings Academy and Cardinal Newman goes from the north bracket of Region 2 to the south bracket of Region 3 in Class 3A. American Heritage leaves Class 3A and jumps up to Class 4A. Boynton Beach breaks away from longtime district foes Dillard, Boyd Anderson and Northeast in Class 6A and heads to Class 5A. They will be in District 14 with Coconut Creek, Suncoast and Jensen Beach.
     There were adjustments in Class 8A as the South Florida territory expanded. Schools north of Palm Beach County like Vero Beach, Centennial, Fort Pierce Central and Treasure Coast changed regions and districts to the south bracket in District 9 of Region 3. District 10 has Palm Beach Central, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and adds Forest Hill. District 11 keeps together Park Vista, Santaluces, John I. Leonard and Lake Worth. District 12 looks new with a two-county mix of Boca Raton, Spanish River, Deerfield Beach and Monarch.
     Region 4 has North Broward County squads in District 13 without longtime rival Deerfield Beach that consists of Coral Springs, Taravella, Stoneman Douglas and Coral Glades. Piper goes back to southwest Broward in District 14 as they join Cypress Bay, Western, West Broward and Flanagan. Dade County has Columbus, Coral Gables, Braddock, Miami and Miami Coral Park in District 15 while Miami Palmetto, South Dade, Coral Reef and Southwest Miami are in District 16.
     Class 7A in South Florida had a complete makeover. Five schools move to Region 3 in District 12 with Dwyer, Palm Beach Lakes, Royal Palm Beach, Seminole Ridge and Martin County. Atlantic fell from Class 8A to Class 7A and joins Blanche Ely, Olympic Heights and West Boca Raton in District 13 in Region 4. St. Thomas Aquinas will be in the forefront in District 14 with their returning rival Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, South Plantation and Nova.
     The rest of Region 4 looks the same. District 15 has McArthur, Miramar, South Broward, Cooper City, Everglades and American. District 16 includes Mater Academy, Doral Academy, North Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah and Homestead.