Pace heads to Ponte Vedra in 5A opener
The FHSAA released 2026 postseason brackets, locking in Friday dates for regional teams and setting the stage for the December state titles in Miami.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Pace High School will travel to Ponte Vedra this Friday to open its 2026 playoff run in Class 5A. The No. 6 seed faces the No. 3 seed Nease in District 1-5A competition. This matchup follows a dramatic regular season finale where Pace defeated Niceville 31-25 on a walk-off kickoff return touchdown. The Tate Aggies finished the season with a 5-4 record and placed third in the district.
The Florida High School Athletic Association released the full postseason brackets on Friday. The state title games for Classes 1A through 6A are scheduled for December 9-12. Those games will be played at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. The Florida Invitational Tournament and Independent League championships will be decided earlier, on December 3-5, at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in Sumterville.
In Class 4A, No. 4 Choctawhatchee hosts No. 5 Mosley on Friday. Choctawhatchee is 7-2 while Mosley is 9-1. Area observers debated the seeding because Mosley holds a head-to-head win and a stronger strength of schedule. Despite those factors, Choctawhatchee received the home advantage.
District champion Pine Forest, the No. 5 seed in Class 3A, hosts Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, the No. 4 seed, on Friday. South Walton, the No. 7 seed, plays on the road against Glen St. Mary Baker County, the No. 2 seed, that same night.
Pensacola Catholic, the No. 2 seed in Class 2A, hosts Destin, the No. 7 seed, on Friday. This result guarantees an area team advances to the next round. Walton, the No. 3 seed, hosts Havana Gadsden County, the No. 6 seed.
Baker, the No. 6 seed in Class 1A, travels to Fort White, the No. 3 seed, on Friday. The Northview Chiefs finished the district in fourth place with a 5-5 record and a 1-3 mark in district play. In Independent League North B, Jay, the No. 2 seed, hosts Geneva, the No. 7 seed, on Thursday.
Booker T. Washington, the No. 6 seed in the 4A-6A FIT North division, plays Land O’ Lakes, the No. 3 seed, on Thursday. Booker T. Washington is 6-3 and narrowly missed the state bracket after a 14-12 loss to Milton.
