Six high school football teams make FHSAA playoffs; 1st-round matchups

Emerging from a regular season that spanned 12 weeks and weathered the storms of not only Hurricane Isaias but the first-year MaxPreps rankings algorithm were Baker, Choctaw, Destin, Freeport, South Walton and Walton, who learned their playoff paths in Friday's FHSAA playoff bracket reveal on YouTube. Choctaw and Walton earned hosting duties Friday, Nov. 13, in their respect region quarterfinal matchups. Meanwhile Baker, Destin, Freeport and South Walton will hit the road the same night in their respective region quarterfinal tilts. Here's the schedule and records, with analysis of the matchups coming soon. MS Okaloosa County title game: Meigs football completes perfect season HS Golf: South Walton girls win region title behind Lily Martin, Neely Kight Region 1-4A No. 1 Columbia (10-0) vs. No. 8 Clay (8-2) No. 4 Choctaw (7-2) vs. No. 5 Mosley (9-1) No. 2 St. Augustine (9-1) vs. No. 7 Lincoln (4-6) No. 3 Ed White (8-2) vs. No. 6 Rickards (5-5) Region 1-3A No. 8 Palatka (5-5) vs. No. 1 Godby (7-3) No. 5 Pine Forest (5-4) vs. No 4 Bishop Kenny (6-4) No. 2 Baker County (7-3) vs. No. 7 South Walton (7-3) No. 3 Wakulla (8-2) vs. No. 6 Bay (8-2) Region 1-2A

Okaloosa elementary students compete in district’s first cross country championship

Elementary students from across Okaloosa County traded their classroom desks for running shoes this week as the Okaloosa County School District hosted its inaugural Intramural Cross Country Championship Meet. The two-day event brought together top fourth- and fifth-grade runners from schools in the district’s North, Central and South zones. Central...

FHSAA football brackets, schedule for Pensacola-area first round playoff games

The FHSAA football playoff brackets are set. Pace, Pensacola Catholic and Pine Forest all have a path to a Florida high school state championship, starting with regional quarterfinal games for class 1A-6A and the first round of Open Division pool play on Nov. 13. One more, Booker T. Washington, made the 4A-6A Florida Invitational Tournament, which is for teams participating in the State Championship Series that didn't qualify to play in state championship brackets. Jay made the Independent League B playoffs, which is for teams not in the State Championship Series. The B Division is for schools with 899 students or less. Both schools will play opening round games on Nov. 13 as well. The state title games for classes 1A-6A will be at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami on Dec. 9-12. Title game dates and times will be announced at a later date. The FIT and Independent League championship games will be Dec. 3-5 at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium at The Villages Charter School in Sumterville. Pensacola Catholic and Pine Forest will be the only teams with opening round home games. Pace will be on the road despite winning the District 1-5A title

Walton Braves roll past Destin High in district win

The Walton County Braves defeated the Destin High Sharks with a final score of 52-16. This 2A District 1 football game was a makeup match originally rescheduled due to a hurricane. Walton established a dominant 49-0 lead by halftime. Despite the loss, Destin High scored two touchdowns in the second...

Pace answers Niceville’s late go-ahead score to win district championship

The year is 2000. Bill Clinton was president. Tom Brady was a rookie. The Kobe-Shaq duo dominated the NBA. In Florida, the presidential election recount dominated both state and national headlines. Multiple area schools, including South Walton High, Shoal River Middle and Pineview School, didn’t even exist. No player on the Eagles’ roster was alive.

High school football scores: Round 1 Playoffs

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Be sure to check out the scores from the biggest games in Mobile County, Baldwin County and the Pensacola area from Round 1 of the playoffs of the high school football season. Here are the games that have gone final. Thursday and Friday night scores: Bayside Academy’s home game versus Saint […]

Bayside Academy postpones football game after fallen tree causes power outage

DAPHNE, Ala. (WALA) - Bayside Academy has postponed tonight’s football game after a fallen tree caused a power outage on campus, the school announced. The game is postponed until 11 a.m. Saturday. The school said it is assessing the situation and will share updates as more information becomes available.

Vigor’s Jabarrius Garror sets AL high school sack record in playoff win

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Friday night was a big night for many high school football teams, but it was a historic night for Vigor Wolves senior edge rusher Jabarrius Garror. In Vigor’s 37-7 first-round state playoff win over the Valley Rams, Garror broke the state’s all-time sack record with 64.5 sacks. He had 18.5 sacks […]

Saraland Dominates in Second Half for Playoff Victory over Pelham

Live Score Updates from the Pelham at Saraland AHSAA Class 5A state playoff game.

Expert analysis of Gulf Coast high school football action, Round 1 Playoffs: 5th Quarter Extra

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Round 1 of the 2026 High School Football postseason has officially concluded. WKRG’s Josh Jackson, Gabriella Genereux and Patrick Walsh give their expert analysis of all the big-time games, highlights and moments from the first round of postseason play. Check out all of News 5’s coverage of the first round of […]

Dolphins Keep Perfect Season Alive Dominating Playoff Opener UPDATE: State Ranking

Gulf Shores, AL. — (GSN) — The Gulf Shores High School Dolphins are still rolling, keeping their perfect season alive and kicking off the postseason in style. While it’s hard not to feel a little sympathy for the Ramsay families who made the long trip down from Birmingham only to watch their team run into a buzzsaw, at least they have the silver lining of getting to enjoy a beautiful day at the beach before heading back home.

Gulf Shores High School to host first-ever VEX AIR drone competition November 20

GULF SHORES, Ala. (NBC 15) — Gulf Shores High School will make robotics history on Friday, November 20, 2026, when it hosts the world premiere VEX AIR Drone Competition. No team anywhere has competed in VEX AIR before. The student pilots and programmers who take the field in Gulf Shores will be the first in the world to do it.

Billingsley outlasts McIntosh for first playoff win since 2015

MCINTOSH – Billingsley held off McIntosh, 14-8, on Friday, Nov. 6, in the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs. The victory advances the Bears into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015. BHS (7-4) led host McIntosh (5-6) 14-0 at halftime of...

Orange Beach Makos Hold Off Top-Seeded Charles Henderson for Historic First Playoff Victory

Makos make school history with first postseason football win. Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — In the opening round of the AHSAA Class 4A playoffs at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, the Orange Beach Makos secured a 21–20 victory over the top-seeded Charles Henderson Trojans. The win marks Orange Beach's first postseason victory and makes head coach Wade Waldrop the program's winningest coach.

Senior class photo to be taken

FAIRHOPE, Ala.– Fairhope High School’s class of 2027 senior photo is set to be taken on November 18, 2026. Seniors will be called out of 5th period early to meet on the front lawn. According to the 1989 edition of “The Bay Breeze,” the senior class photo is...

Holtville Flag Football defeats LeFlore in opening round

The Holtville Bulldogs Flag Football team played in their first ever playoff game on Tuesday, traveling almost 200 miles to take on LeFlore High School, the Region 1 champions in Class 1A-4A. The Bulldogs made the trip worthwhile, shutting out LeFlore 24-0 and advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs next week.

Long Beach High School wins $25,000 from T-Mobile, needs votes for next round

Long Beach High School has $25,000 from T-Mobile in hand and a chance at much more, but the school needs the community’s help to get there. The school was presented with a $25,000 check during halftime of a recent football game after being named a Division Finalist in the third annual T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights contest. State Representative Richard Bennett joined the celebration, along with school board members Frank Castiglia and Scott Rishel. The school district also credited Athletic Director Bob Reeves, who took the initiative to apply for the contest.

Robertsdale’s Central Christian School senior class holding Fall Festival fundraiser

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WKRG) — Central Christian School’s senior class in Robertsdale will host a Fall Festival to raise money for their class trip. According to a CCS news release, the festival will be this Friday, Nov. 6, from 6-8 p.m. in the school gym at 17395 State Highway 104 in Robertsdale.

WLOX Top Ten High School Football Poll: Week 11

Big Friday Kickoff Podcast: Round 1 Preview

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The road to a state championship starts now. The Alabama High School Football Playoffs are here, and we’re breaking down the biggest first-round matchups across our area on this week’s Big Friday Kickoff Podcast. From undefeated Gulf Shores hosting Ramsay in a rematch of...