Three Palm Beach County flag football teams make playoffs for first time in program history
Three Palm Beach County flag football teams have made history this spring.
Among nine local squads advancing on the road to state championships in Tampa, first-year program Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Pahokee, and Royal Palm Beach have made the cut for the postseason for the first time ever.
Joining the trio are district champions Somerset Canyons, Seminole Ridge, Park Vista, and Spanish River, as well as at-large qualifiers Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington.
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Higher-seeds receive hosting duties in all regional rounds, with the exception of quarterfinals when a district title-winner is facing an at-large team. Then, district champs host regardless of seeding.
All games are tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Check back for updated kickoff times.
Somerset Canyons stands as Palm Beach County's top title contender
After starting the season 1-4, the Cougars put the Sunshine State on notice last spring with a stunning road to region championships. In 2023, Somerset Canyons finished the year 15-6, marking a program first when they clinched a district title in a 7-6 upset of Suncoast.
It's no surprise that the Somerset is Palm Beach County's top team heading into the final stretch, ranked 14th overall. Especially with quarterback Ava Wotipka. The freshman stands at No. 14 in the nation with 2614 total yards, and her 862 rushing yards rank sixth nationally.
Playoff brackets for local flag football teams
Class 1A-Region 6
No. 8 Sebring (10-6) at No. 1 Somerset Canyons (15-1)
No. 5 Dr. Joaquin Garcia (10-6) at No. 4 Fort Pierce Westwood (7-4)
No. 7 Pahokee (8-6) at No. 2 Lincoln Park Academy (13-3)
No. 6 John Carroll Catholic (7-6) at No. 3 Jensen Beach 12-6)
Class 2A-Region 5
No. 8 Vero Beach (5-5) at No. 1 Fort Pierce Central (16-1)
No. 5 St. Cloud (11-3) at No. 4 Palm Beach Gardens (13-3)
No. 7 Freedom (10-6) at No. 2 Martin County (15-1)
No. 6 Celebration (14-2) at No. 3 Harmony (12-3)
Class 2A-Region 6
No. 8 Royal Palm Beach (8-6) at No. 1 Seminole Ridge (12-2)
No. 5 Spanish River (11-6) at No. 4 Park Vista (14-3)
No. 7 Coral Springs (11-2) at No. 2 Douglas (12-1)
No. 6 Deerfield Beach (9-8) at No. 3 Wellington (11-3)
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: See which Palm Beach flag football teams made the cut for state playoffs
