FHSAA contemplates changes to football playoffs | Observer Preps

Last fall, the Foundation Academy football team was just one-half point away from making the FHSAA Class 2A Playoffs.

Despite a purposefully challenging schedule and a five-game winning streak to end the regular season, the Lions (7-3) ended with a points average of 35 — just behind Zephyrhills Christian Academy’s 35.5 average. Classes 1A-4A admit just four teams per region to the playoffs, and Zephyrhills Christian was No. 4 in Class 2A’s Region 2.

The end of the season left the Foundation Academy community frustrated on several levels — and they were not alone among programs in Florida that were dissatisfied with the first season of the playoff point system in action.

Now, though, there is movement by the FHSAA to address some of those concerns and issues that arose.

Last week, the FHSAA’s Football Advisory Committee — a body comprising seven coaches from around the state — met in Gainesville to discuss several proposed changes. 

The most notable measure the committee voted in favor of was to expand the number of teams per region admitted to the playoffs from four to eight in Classes 1A-4A (Classes 5A-8A admit eight teams per region, because the regions are larger), and to fast-track the proposal to be enacted this fall.

The top two teams in each region would then get a bye in the first round of the playoffs — the regional quarterfinals, a round which 1A-4A currently do not have. It is a measure that would have made the Lions a playoff team last fall. 

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Foundation Academy head coach Brad Lord said. “I also think it will entice teams that aren’t in the state series right now — independents and teams in the (SSAC) — to come in.”

The approval of the proposal by the coaches means the measure will move on to be voted on at an athletic directors meeting this week (the meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10, after press time), after which it will be considered for final approval by the FHSAA’s Board of Directors Jan. 29.

Other measures Lord and the Foundation Academy community desired — the reinstatement of districts in Classes 1A-4A to match the system in 5A-8A, or a mandate that teams play at least three teams in their region — were voted down.

The regional proposal came because although the FHSAA awards playoff spots in 1A-4A based on region, there is nothing that states regional teams have to play one another. Lord’s Lions, for instance, had trouble scheduling willing regional opponents for their 2017 season — although those teams would be the teams with which Foundation would compete for playoff spots.

“The regions still don’t mean a thing,” Lord said. “I think I’ll have two region games next year — that’s it.”

The decision not to bring back districts and mimic the system in 5A-8A — where district champs are automatically entered into the playoffs, but the other playoff berths are awarded based on the points system — also was disappointing for serval reasons, including the creation of rivalries.

“Right now, I really don’t have a rivalry game, and districts help with that big-time,” Lord said. “We had wars with (former district rival) Victory Christian … it was a great rivalry, and we don’t have that right now.”

Other items moving forward are proposals to increase points awarded for losses to Category One opponents (teams that win 80% of their games) and opponents in larger classifications, because many teams that scheduled tough opponents felt they were not recognized enough for those efforts in the first season. The committee also voted in favor of expanding playoff rosters to 75 athletes for all classifications.

The meeting also discussed the completion of postponed games — an issue that took on heightened importance this fall with the combination of the new system and unusually rough weather across the state. It also included a preliminary, round-table discussion of adding 7-on-7 football to the FHSAA’s offerings in the spring, possibly in place of — or in addition to — traditional spring football.