🏈 Choctaw and Baker remain unbeaten and dominate their districts
🔥 Milton’s comeback season reshapes 1-5A playoff landscape
📊 District races tighten as Week 8 looms
After eight weeks of football action across Northwest Florida — with defenses clamping down, quarterbacks lighting up scoreboards, and a handful of stunning upsets — playoff season is officially in sight.
Mid Bay News took a look at how area teams stack up heading into the home stretch.
More High School Football: Mid Bay News Mid-Season Awards
With Baker being one of the two remaining unbeaten teams in Northwest Florida, and Choctaw being the other, the path for the Gators sets them up nicely for a playoff push that may well put them on their way to a visit to the Rural championship game.
Entering Week 8, coming off a 22-19 victory over Northview, the Baker Gators remain in complete control of their playoff destiny, already sitting at 4-0 in district play and 7-0 overall, with only one district game remaining (Oct. 24 at Port St. Joe).
Looking ahead, Matt Brunson and the Gators have two more homestands before traveling to Port St. Joe (3-3), with games against Zion Chapel (3-3) and Freeport (4-1).
According to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), Baker sits in second place in the rural standings, behind Blountstown (6-0) as the only other undefeated team in the rural standings.
In the most competitive district in Northwest Florida, all four teams still have a chance to make the playoffs.
We start in last place with the Walton Braves, who, after starting the season 2-0, have entered a four-game losing streak, with their most recent loss coming on Oct. 3 in a 28-21 defeat to Arnold.
However, the Braves still sit 0-1 in the district with two district games ahead of them, starting on Oct. 10, when the Braves look to rebound in the district by knocking off Pensacola Catholic (6-1). On Oct. 24, the Braves visit Freeport (4-1) for their last district game of the year.
Freeport sat idle in week seven, coming off a 58-17 loss to Pensacola Catholic on Sept. 26. Following the much-needed bye, the Bulldogs will travel to Santa Rosa Beach to face the South Walton Seahawks.
For South Walton, they enter week eight coming off a 38-6 loss to Choctaw. However, the Seahawks are 1-0 in district play, beating Walton 13-0 in a lightning-shortened game.
As for Pensacola Catholic, which is currently tied for first place in the district with South Walton, they seem to be rolling through competition in 2025.
Their only misstep this year occurred in Week 2, as the Crusaders took a 41-20 loss to Pace. Since then, they have outscored opponents 197-51, holding Freeport’s high-powered offense to only 17 points and only 196 yards of offense, both of which are season lows for the Bulldogs.
In one of the more interesting storylines in 2025, the Bay Tornadoes are off to their best start since 2022, currently sitting atop the district standings with a record of 5-1, 1-0 in district play.
Joining the Tornadoes in pursuit of a hopeful playoff spot is West Florida High in Pensacola, which currently sits at 4-2 and has not played a district game this year.
That will change on Oct. 10, as West Florida will host Bay.
The winner of that game will likely become the district champion, as the only other team in 1-3A is Pensacola High, which is currently 1-5 overall and 0-1 in district play.
Three teams also make up this district, and all have had up-and-down seasons so far in 2025.
On paper, the best team in this district has been Booker T. Washington, who are off to their best start since 2019. Entering week eight 4-2 (0-1) in district play, the Wildcats have their final district game on Oct. 10, as they host Pine Forest (1-4).
Currently sitting at 2-4 overall, the Escambia Gators took first place in the district in Week 6, beating Washington 22-3. The look to take on Pensacola High (Oct. 10) and Crestview (Oct. 17) before facing Pine Forest on Oct. 24.
As for Pine Forest, their destiny is ahead of them as they have not faced a district rival so far this year.
A great defense, good special teams, and a powerful running game: the Choctawhatchee Indians are running away (literally) in the standings.
Currently sitting 7-0 (1-0 in 2-4A), Big Green is safe to say an automatic lock when it comes to playoff representation in this district, as region rivals Rickards, Arnold, and Fort Walton Beach all have a combined record of 4-15.
After an impressive three-game road stretch, which saw the Indians dominate Niceville, Arnold, and South Walton, Choctaw faces district rivals Rickards (Oct. 10) and Fort Walton Beach on Oct. 24.
While on paper, it’s safe to say that Big Green will enter the playoffs undefeated, we have seen rivalry games surprise us this year (Crestview vs. Niceville), and anything can happen.
What an interesting season so far in District 1-5A.
While Mosley (5-1) and Niceville (4-3) both began the season with early losses, it was the Milton Panthers (5-1) who started off hot, jumping to a 5-0 start before losing to Mosley on Sept. 26.
That is even more impressive considering the fact that Milton was 0-10 in 2024.
The district’s playoff picture will become clearer after Week 8, as all four teams, including Gulf Breeze (0-7), will play each other this week. Niceville will host Mosley, and Milton will host Gulf Breeze.
With a Milton loss and a Mosley win, Mosley will become the district champion, barring a Gulf Breeze upset on Oct. 23.
A Niceville win and a Milton win put their matchup in October. 24 as one of the most crucial games for each team to secure a playoff spot, with the winner being the most likely to clinch a playoff berth.
A loss for both Milton and Niceville would mean that both teams would have to win out their remaining games, with Milton having the more rigorous schedule, including a season-ending game against Pace.
In contrast, Niceville has Navarre to end their season.
In a district that will surely have two teams going to the playoffs, barring an unforeseen collapse, the Tate Aggies and Pace Patriots will be the two going for glory in 2025.
For Pace and Tate, both teams sit at 5-1 overall and 1-0 in district, while Crestview is 2-3 overall and tied with Navarre (0-6) for last place in 6A-1, with a 0-1 record.
After a week one loss to Mary G. Montgomery, the Patriots are currently on a five-game winning streak, with notable wins over Pensacola Catholic and Madison County.
Tate started 5-0 and has no notable wins, and their only loss came in a 3-0 slugfest against Milton. On Oct. 10, both teams will play each other to take sole ownership of first place in the district.
After this week, Tate has to play Booker T. Washington, Crestview and Escambia. In comparison, Pace has Pine Forest, Navarre and Milton.
As for Crestview, barring a spectacular drive from Milton to force overtime and a failed two-point conversion, the Bulldogs would be in the playoff race.
Crestview has a Week 8 matchup against Navarre, before facing Escambia, Tate, and Fort Walton Beach, with Mid Bay News predicting the Bulldogs will finish with a 3-1 record.
As for Navarre, they sit 0-6 and would need a lot of things to fall their way to make the playoffs.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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