By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola

Significant changes are in store for the next high school football season as the FHSAA announced new classifications for the next two years. State-wide, the biggest change will be the elimination of Class 7A, resulting in a drop from eight to seven classes.

The elimination of the 7A class result in bigger districts being formed, something Harmony coach Don Simon has always advocated. “When I first started at Harmony most of us were in six-team districts, which meant you had five district games and five non-district games. As the years went on, it became a situation where you might have five or six schools in one district and only three in another. From a scheduling perspective, it was always better with bigger districts.”

Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on how he looks at it), Simon and Longhorns will be playing in essentially the same district they did last year. Although they will move from District 10, 7A to District 5, 6A, they will face the same opponents in a four-team district with Tohopekaliga, St. Cloud and Lake Nona.

“I thought it was a great district last year. All the games were close and it made sense for travel,” Simon said of the district that was won by St. Cloud. “I’m glad those four teams are still grouped together, it would have been nice if one or two more would have been added.”

Mike Short, who guided St. Cloud to the district title and a final 8-3 record last season agreed. “I wasn’t surprised they kept all four of these schools together,” he said. “It was a good, competitive district last year. I read some projections that said we might pick up two other teams and that was what I was really hoping for, as it would have been ideal from a scheduling standpoint. It’s really difficult to find six teams to fill a non-district schedule every two years.”

One major local change is that Liberty, Gateway and Poinciana – who all played as independents last year – are scheduled to rejoin districts this season and will be eligible for the FHSAA Playoffs.

After playing as an independent in his first two seasons as coach of the Poinciana Eagles. Taron Mallard lobbied his school’s administration to rejoin a district citing his players desire to “compete for a championship.”

The Eagles are scheduled to join District 9, 6A, a six-team predominantly Polk County district with Davenport, George Jenkins, Haines City, Ridge Community and Winter Haven. Liberty will play in one of the biggest districts in the state, District 7, 3A that will include Avon Park, DeSoto, Hardee County, Lake Placid. Mulberry and Teneroc.

Gateway was tentatively placed in District 9, Class 5A with long-time state powers Kissimmee Osceola and Lakeland; as well as Polk County standouts Bartow, Lake Gibson, and Auburndale. Osceola, with a long history of deep playoff runs, made the 6A State Championship game two years ago; while Lakeland won back-to-back state titles in 2022-23 and are playing in their fourth consecutive state championship game Friday night against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Gateway went 5-5 this season after winning just eight games the previous four seasons combined. “After two years of being an independent we started gaining some momentum and felt the need to get back into district play. They end up putting us in arguably one of the toughest districts in the state.” Panthers coach Marlin Roberts said. “For travel purposes and a chance to at least be competitive, we are going to appeal.”

For his part, Osceola coach Eric Pinellas acknowledges it is an extremely tough district but downplays the effect it will have on his team. “First of all, playing a tough schedule has always been a part of Osceola’s DNA. Part of it comes from the fact that it is hard to find teams that are willing to play us and the other part is we want to play a tough schedule to get ready for the playoffs. As it stands now, we are in six-team district. We play St. Cloud every year, so we instead of having to find six or seven opponents every cycle, we will only have to find four for this year if nothing changes.”

Pinellas adds that he is excited about being in the same district with Lakeland. “I’m super competitive by nature and I love the idea of playing Lakeland at Bryant Stadium. They have great fans that create a super-charged atmosphere over there and they have a historic program that competes for state championships every year,” he said. “Again, I see no difference between being placed in this district and what we deal with every year. The only exception now is that a good portion of the nine or ten tough games we play every year will be in-district games.”

Osceola was in a three-team district with Viera and Melbourne last year and all three of those teams made the FHSAA playoffs. But their non-district games included six more playoff teams in Lake Mary, Winter Haven, St. Cloud, Jones, Lakewood and Lake Wales. Jones and Lake Mary are playing for state championships this weekend.

Celebration also has a new home (District 7, 6A), joining Horizon, Windermere and East Ridge. Although juggernaut Dr. Phillips (regional finalist) and Olympia (defeated Storm 38-0 last season) move to new districts, it will still be a challenging district as East Ridge earned an at-large playoff spot last year and Windermere went 10-0 as an independent.

The changes will not be official until next week. All teams have an opportunity to appeal and final classifications will be announced Dec. 17.