OAKLEAF - In a 14-2 vote, the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted to approve a new football playoff format at its meeting Monday morning in September 2016.

Beginning with the 2017 season, district play will be eliminated in Classes 1A-4A, with teams making the playoffs based on a points system. Classes 5A-8A will retain districts, with the district champion receiving an automatic playoff bid.

FHSAA Points System

“Based on the feedback from our membership, the majority of our constituents wanted our old playoff system changed,” FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing said. “We are hopeful this change will create the most exciting high school football postseason in America.”

For Classes 1A-4A, no region or district play will be required, as each school will control its own schedule. Four teams from each region (16 total) will make the playoffs based on the new points system.

District play for Class 5A-8A will remain, with 32 teams qualifying for the playoffs in each class. District champions will receive an automatic bid to the playoff and will receive a 1-4 seed based on the new points system. Four wild cards will be taken from each region based on points following the conclusion of Week 11.

The new format, generated through more than a year of study by FHSAA administrator Frank Beasley and other staffers, will be instituted for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The four larger classes (5A-8A) will continue to have districts and champions will receive automatic playoff bids and will be seeded 1, 2, 3 or 4 within a region - which guarantees a home game for the first round of the playoffs.

Each of those classes will also have 16 at-large bids, four per region, based on the points formula. Those wild cards will be seeded 5-8.

The highest seed will host second and third round region games.

Area Spring games

Wed., May 10: Atlantic Coast at Nease

Fri., May 12: SJCDS at Bishop Snyder

SJCDS: With freshman-to-be Max Monroe slated to return as the quarterback, head coach Billy Sellinger will be looking to fill gaps in his lineup after a fairly successful first season. Wide receiver Cade Walden is top returning offensive weapon. Logan Higby and Brom Peterson top defensive returners with Myers’ boys; Cody and Troy, three year starters.

Wed, May 17: Bishop Kenny at St. Augustine

Thurs., May 18: Episcopal at Providence (6 p.m.); Fleming Island at Menendez; Florida Deaf at St. Francis; Ribault at Ed White

FIHS: Word is sophomore-to-be quarterback Dean Hyans has the nod from coach Damenyum Springs with numerous Wildcat formation athletes; likely Jackson Bull, capable of getting the ball downfield. On defense, linebacker Ryan Smenda is set for monster season with Jack Surgeoner and Bull gamers.

Jamborees: Thurs, May 18: Orange Park (vs. Baldwin, Terry Parker)

OPHS: Second year coach Tom Macpherson got some mileage in his first season; more transitional to new terminology, and should be improved. Dynamic quarterback Demarae Byrd needs to be replaced. Big Shawn Bizzell is gone as mainstay on both lines.

Friday, May 19: Bartram Trail at Columbia; Buchholz at Ponte Vedra; Matanzas at Clay; Santa Fe at Palatka; Wolfson at Ridgeview

CHS: How to top off yet another Final Four season? Big offensive line (Jason Brooks, check), linebackers (Cody Devore, check), kicker (Liz Fogarty, check). Coach Joshua Hoekstra feeds his guys right and they show up in August. QB Caleb Eason is back to direct the orchestra. DT Angelo Dorsaingvil was unsung hero last year with Cody Devore very disruptive.

RHS: Second year coach Cameron Porch has now patrolled the hallways and looks to improve a winless debut. Everyone is a year older so that should help. Tracksters Jacolbi Sampson and Glenn Rodgers have proven speed.

Jamborees, May 19: at Interlachen (Crescent City, Keystone Heights)

KHHS: Coach Chuck Dickinson has linebacker guru Lantz Lowery back. Indians always searching for bodies. Alex Cruz and Blake Sanders make good RB tandem. Big Dan Dodd is behemoth on the lines.

Thurs, May 25: Oakleaf at Baker County

OHS: Firepower again at a premium with running back Keshawn King, but a four year QB is gone; maybe Jamaric Bonner steps in. A plethora of weapons need replacements. A tough secondary is a mainstay of Knights’ defensive scheme and 2016 had the best trio around: Copeland, Clark and Roberts.

Fri., May 26: Westside at Middleburg

MHS: Coach Karl Smeltzer tasted victory at Middleburg and may have spurned some adrenaline for more players to compete. QB Garrett Blanchett returns and that helps. Strong offensive linemen graduate and that will be a start point. Kodi Carrington is legit linebacker prospect back for senior campaign.