With two weeks of the Florida High School Athletic Association football regular season left, a once-foggy playoff picture is starting to clear up for Northeast Florida. But the big questions aren't going away.
Will reigning champion Raines, now No. 1 in the USA TODAY Florida Network Super 10 for Class 3A, get selected for the inaugural Open Division?
Will five Jacksonville-area teams make the regional playoffs out of District 2-5A?
And as for the at-large berths? Those may not be settled until the November make-up games left from Hurricane Isaias.
The battle for spots and for seeding is moving full speed ahead into Week 10, where the ever-changing MaxPreps ratings could make or break
the playoff ambitions for some Northeast Florida schools. Here's a look at the key takeaways from the Oct. 19 numbers:
- With Raines now up to No. 10 in the MaxPreps Florida ranking, the Vikings would be in position for the Open Division if the season ended today, since IMG and Carol City are ineligible. They would become the first school from Jacksonville city limits to reach the elite top-eight bracket in any sport. Beachside, from St. Johns County, qualified for Open Division volleyballon Sunday.
- It's not clear how Raines' remaining games, against Cocoa and Ribault, will affect their ranking. Cocoa, despite a 3-4 record, still stands No. 56 in MaxPreps, while Northwest Classic rival Ribault is back at No. 253. If the MaxPreps algorithm drops the Vikings for strength of schedule, Venice (whom Raines already beat), American Heritage, Lakeland, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Mooney and Clearwater Central Catholic are less than one rating point behind. American Heritage, for example, has one game remaining against Hollywood McArthur (No. 64 in MaxPreps). Lakeland plays Lake Gibson (No. 144) and Orlando First Academy (No. 8).
- As fans have already seen, MaxPreps numbers can boggle the mind: Despite activating the running clock in their 42-22 win at White, Columbia (8-0) actually dropped seven spots to No. 18 in the rating formula. That likely sends the Tigers to the Class 4A playoffs, where they will be among the favorites, rather than the Open Division.
- If Raines does get the Open Division call, Suwannee (6-2) is in position to seize the potential vacancy in the Region 1-3A bracket.
- Five of the six District 2-5A teams — current No. 1 seed Mandarin, Nease, Ponte Vedra, Fletcher and Bartram Trail — now occupy the top eight of Region 1-5A. If they hold that position, that would bump Oakleaf (4-4) as well as Ocala Forest, which could finish at 9-1 but still miss regionals.
- District 4-4A belongs to St. Augustine unless Fleming Island beats the Jackets this week and then rallies past Clay in a game that resumes Nov. 3. Otherwise, that district may qualify only one team: Clay and Fleming Island both have significant ground to make up on the Tallahassee trio of Leon (7-0), Lincoln (3-5) and Rickards (2-5).
Trinity, Bolles play football epic
Northeast Florida's high school football game of the year? It's looking like it.
Add Trinity Christian's 20-17 overtime victory over Bolles on Oct. 16 to the growing list of classics between the Jacksonville private-school powers, who have combined for 20 FHSAA championships.
Hicks Zarah's fourth-down plunge made the difference for Trinity in a game that had a little bit of everything, taking its place alongside 1999, 2017and 2023on the list of Bulldogs-Conquerors thrillers.
- In the final moments of regulation, Bolles went from lining up for a potential winning field goal to defending against a Trinity kick, after a penalty and turnover on downs. That one didn't clear the uprights, though, because...
- Bolles safety Jaxon Flowers turned in a performance to remember with two blocked field goals — one on that potential game-winner at the buzzer — plus a forced fumble at the 1 and a recovered fumble inside the 5 to derail Trinity drives. Bulldog linebacker Christian Hayes forced the latter fumble, one of two for the senior.
- This was a busy night for juniors. Bolles tight end J.C. Wessel again showed why he's among the nation's top recruits at the position, reeling in five receptions for 103 yards. Trinity defensive back Za'khari Greene grabbed two interceptions and quarterback Terel Dallas ran for a score. Bulldog linebackers Brett Bearden and Maddox Helbing each racked up more than a dozen tackles. Trinity linebacker William Striglers added 17 tackles of his own. Bolles running back Xander Edwards kept battling against a stiff Conqueror run defense to gain 105 yards on 30 attempts.
Although not all records are complete, Trinity appears to be the first Jacksonville team to go to overtime three times in one season since First Coast in 2013. The Buccaneers beat Fletcher and Flagler Palm Coast and lost to Raines on the way to an 11-2 season.
The victory also brings 36th-year head coach Verlon Dorminey closer to yet another career milestone. His next victory on the Trinity sidelines, potentially Friday night against Impact Christian, would be his 350th.
Watch Florida high school volleyball live on NFHS Network
Mantecon smashes record at Cecil Field
Marcelo Mantecon of Belen Jesuit claimed yet another title while on Jacksonville soil: Florida's all-time fastest.
The senior from Miami shattered his own state cross-country record over 5 kilometers on Oct. 17, running 14:24 at the New World Fall Spectacular on the traditionally speedy New World Disc Golf course at Cecil Field.
That time blew away his previous course record of 14:33 from 2025, and pending formal ratification, Mantecon's time now ranks fourth in the United States this year. The only runners faster are Yosuke Shibata of South Eugene (Ore.), at 14:20.70; Dominic Matthias of Moore (Okla.), at 14:22.10; and Robert Jazwinski III of Whitehall (Mich.), at 14:23.00.
Mantecon now enters the top 30 all-time in the MileSplit national high school list, topped by the 14:03.29 by Colin Sahlman of Newbury Park (Calif.) in 2021 in Huntsville, Ala.
Led by Mantecon, Armando Cruz and Jack Michalak, all across in 14:55 or faster, Belen Jesuit scored 55 points to win the boys standings ahead of Nease and IMG Academy. Ponte Vedra's Luke Ross (15:10, a school record), Providence's Sean Cunningham (15:12) and Nease's Matthew Ishee (15:13) all placed in the top 12.
Wiregrass Ranch's Natalia Gaona-Zelaya won the girls race in a course-record 17:02 ahead of Bishop Moore's Annabella Tomasic, while Glynn Academy's Cassidy King and Bolles' Sofie Stam — who enters the Bulldogs' all-time sub-18 club with Jillian Candelino, Caitlin Collier, Ella Mickler and Rebecca Chandler — came in eighth and ninth, respectively. IMG led the team standings with 94 points, followed by Bolles and Niceville.
The Oct. 24 Bronco Classic at Middleburg highlights the coming weekend on Northeast Florida's cross-country schedule.
Columbia, Ridgeview, Stanton win bowling districts
Northeast Florida has already crowned its first district bowling champions of the FHSAA postseason.
Led by a 737 from Cameron Morton, Ridgeview won District 1 boys bowling ahead of Tallahassee Lincoln in the state capital. Eli Anckner, Vincent Cintron, Javier Uzcaregui and Brayden Smith completed the lineup for the Panthers, one of only three area schools to participate in boys bowling.
In girls District 1, the Columbia team of overall leader Jenna Boltin (571 pins), Emma Milton, Ashlynn Adler, Allie Withers and Adelaide Brock brough the Tigers first place with 2,269 pins, with Ridgeview qualifying second. Fort White's Reagan Falotico also advanced as an individual.
Gateway Conference champion Stanton won the District 2 girls championship on Oct. 20 at Mandarin Bowlero, advancing along with Sandalwood.
The state bowling championships are set for Oct. 27-29 at Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center in Orlando.
Creekside, Tocoi Creek runners win Donna 5K
While it doesn't count toward the high school schedule, a few young Northeast Florida runners adjusted their schedules to run the Donna 5K distance race at TPC Sawgrass. The race date opened up when Hurricane Isaias washed out the FSU Invitational in Tallahassee.
Led by Samuel Cassiani in 16:37, Creekside teammates swept the top eight in the men's race, with Bryce Cunningham, Spencer Halasz, Eli Scharf, Chase Petrick, Zachary Thomas, Maziar Mafinejad and Mihir Jha leading the pack.
In the women's race, Tocoi Creek's Chloe Kisling captured a first-place finish in her freshman year, running 20:07.
Around the area
Bishop Snyder infielder Preston Ricchini committed to Chicago baseball. ... Bolles junior Lev Fahy committed to Virginia Tech men's swimming. … Bolles junior Ana LaRosa committed to Tulane women's swimming. … Bolles senior Joaquin Martinez committed to Navy men's gymnastics. ... Episcopal infielder Payton Sharpe committed to Oberlin baseball. … Fletcher infielder Emily Guarneri committed to Keiser softball. … Nease junior Lincoln Driesse committed to Florida State men's swimming. … Ponte Vedra outfielder Logan Hunt committed to Methodist baseball. … Tocoi Creek wrestler Immanuel Gibbs committed to Southeastern men's wrestling. … Yulee infielder Logan Riege committed to Warner baseball. ... Christ's Church junior Harper Hadden surpassed 500 career kills and eighth-grade setter Leah Renton reached 500 career assists. … Covenant set new school records in cross-country at the New World Fall Spectacular, with Micah Houlihan at 18:54 and Lilianna Blodgett at 25:04. … Fleming Island sophomore setter Shelby Jackson reached 500 career assists. … St. Augustine coach Brian Braddock earned his 100th victory in charge of Yellow Jackets football, on top of his 23 victories from Mandarin. ... Former Orange Park pitcher Heather Scharf (formerly Schlichtman) was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, following her softball career from 2001-04 with still-intact Razorbacks records for earned run average (1.59) and strikeouts (886). … Former Riverside defensive end Masiah Wells, now at Tuskegee, won Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the week in football. … Former Mandarin runner Alaysa Chipunov of Edward Waters won SIAC women's cross-country athlete of the week. … The FHSAA is accepting nominations for its Roger Dearing Heart of the Arts and Spirit of Sportawards through Jan. 15, 2027. … Oct. 26 is the opening day for FHSAA basketball practice as well as soccer preseason games. … High School 9:12 Basketball Media Day will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Winston Family YMCA. … Sporting Club Jacksonville's Soccer Media Day will be at the same location on Thursday, Oct. 29. … The Sunshine State Athletic Association listed West Nassau first and Paxon second in its new Atlantic League football standings. SSAA football postseason brackets are expected to come out over the weekend. ... The SSAA also announced its winter championships will take place Jan. 8-9 for soccer at school host sites and Feb. 12-13 for basketball at Polk State College.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Will schedule bump Raines from Open Division? Inside the FHSAA numbers
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