What to watch: Storylines to follow as playoffs near for Big Bend preps fall sports
As the cooler weather rolls into the Big Bend we are approaching the business end of the Fall prep season. District tournaments are around the corner for volleyball, golf, swim and dive, and football is entering the final stretch before the playoffs.
With a few sports ending the regular season this week, playoff-seeding implications and district title hopes come into focus for area programs. Some games to watch on the volleyball court this week are Florida High traveling to Wakulla on Tuesday, with Maclay facing Chiles and Bartram Trail visiting Leon on the same evening. The Timberwolves face Middleburg on Wednesday and Lincoln host Liberty County on Thursday to round out some of the schedule highlights.
In football we have multiple district matchups, Chiles and Leon square off in a 4S matchup, Godby hosts Florida High and Gadsden County travels to Marianna in 2S play and Lincoln faces Rickards in 3S district play. As the season rolls into week eight, these games hold major significance in the playoff picture.
With so much action unfolding this week, here are two major storylines to watch this week.
Volleyball teams looking to build momentum for state push
The Big Bend volleyball season has been nothing short of pure entertainment, with big matches and standout performances nearly every week. As the final week of play is ahead of us, some of the area's top teams are looking to end the season with a splash and build momentum into district tournament play.
Chiles is not only one of the top teams in the area but is ranked fifth in the state by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) with an 18-4 season record. The Timberwolves have a legitimate chance at making a run at a state championship as the program looks to lift a historic first state title.
Ending the season with matches against Maclay (9-9), Middleburg (18-5) and Valdosta (14-19), Chiles could make a statement of intent heading into the postseason if it can go 3-0 this week.
Another team looking to raise a first state championship is Florida High. Sitting at 18-5, the Seminoles are one of the Big Bend's top teams and ranked 14th in the state by FHSAA, picking up wins over Lincoln (13-10), Leon (12-8) and Blountstown (20-3).
The Seminoles end the season with matches against Wakulla (12-9) and Blountstown and wins in those matches could provide a boost to Florida High as it looks for a district title and a chance to raise a state championship.
There is a long road ahead for both teams to finish the season with historic state championship wins, but this final week of the season could push Chiles and Florida High on that path.
Playoff picture shaping up
Across the Big Bend athletic programs are beginning to see the playoff picture come into focus. With swim and dive and golf both nearing districts and football quickly moving towards the postseason, the focus slowly shifts towards winning in the postseason for area teams.
In the pool, Chiles is hoping to lift a fourth state championship since 2016 and once again establish itself as one of the top programs in the state. Led by senior Ryder Gentry, the Timberwolves have a real chance to take a state championship back to Bradfordville in November.
On the golf course, Chiles, Florida High, Maclay and Lincoln all have sights set on district and state championship gold. With district tournament play teeing off in two weeks, the final matches will have an impact on the pairings of golfers come tournament time.
Football teams like Wakulla, Lincoln, Leon and Florida High are entering a critical period in the season, facing district opponents as the chance to auto-qualify for the state playoffs as a district champion comes into focus. With four games left in the football regular season, district games are filled with massive implications for programs looking to make a playoff run in November.
This week's preps schedules
Monday
Volleyball: Munroe vs Rickards 6 p.m.; Wakulla Christian vs Taylor County 6 p.m.; Redeemer Christian vs Aucilla Christian 6 p.m.; Maclay vs Blountstown 6 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs Liberty County 7 p.m.; Madison County vs Community Chrisitan 7p.m.
Tuesday:
Volleyball: Community Christian vs Community Leadership Academy 5:30 p.m.; Gadsden County vs FAMU DRS 6 p.m.; Madison County vs Wakulla Christian 6 p.m.; Munroe at St. John Paul II at 6 p.m.; Hamilton County vs Jefferson County 6 p.m.; Maclay vs Chiles 6 p.m.; Florida High vs Wakulla 6 p.m.; Taylor County vs Dixie County 6:30 p.m.; Godby vs Rickards 6:30 p.m.; Bartram Trail vs Leon 7 p.m.;
Wednesday:
Volleyball: Episcopal School of Jacksonville vs Lincoln 6 p.m.; JPII at Maclay 6 p.m.; Jefferson County vs Godby 6 p.m.; Chiles vs Middleburg 6:30 p.m.
Thursday:
Golf: Girls Big Bend Championship 9 a.m. at the golf club of Quincy
Volleyball: Valdosta vs Chiles 5:30 p.m.; Jefferson County vs Madison County 6 p.m.; Wakulla vs Munroe 6 p.m.; Rickards vs FAMU DRS 6 p.m.; Wakulla Christian vs Godby 6 p.m.; Cottondale vs NFC 6 p.m.; Liberty County vs Lincoln 6 p.m.; Blountstown vs Florida High 6 p.m.; Maclay at Lowndes 6 p.m.; Taylor County at Riverside Christian 6 p.m.
Friday:
Football: Godby vs Florida High 7 p.m.; Leon vs Chiles 7 p.m.; NFC vs Rocky Bayou Christian 7 p.m.; Taylor County vs Wakulla 7 p.m.; Baker vs FAMU DRS 7 p.m.; JPII vs Arnold 7 p.m.; Lincoln vs Rickards 7 p.m.; Gadsden County vs Mariana 7 p.m.; Suwannee at Madison County 7:30 p.m.; Munroe at Maclay 7:30 p.m.;
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Storylines to watch as playoffs near for Big Bend area high schools
