All indications point to Pahokee being hit with an eligibility violation today and forfeiting its Sept. 25 win over Cardinal Newman. That’s never good, but fortunately for the Blue Devils, they can still win their district outright with a victory this week.
The only real difference the forfeit makes is that now Pahokee cannot afford to lose when it visits Fort Lauderdale-University on Friday. At 5-0, the Blue Devils could have lost this game and still been guaranteed at least a spot in a three-way tie-breaker.
If University sounds familiar, it should. The Blue Devils beat University 45-6 in the second round of last year’s playoffs and 62-0 to open the 2007 post-season.
If Pahokee forfeits the game to University, here are the new standings in District 7-2B:
CLASS 2B, DISTRICT 7
Standings:
Pahokee, 4-1 (loss to Cardinal Newman)
University, 4-1 (loss to North Broward Prep)
North Broward Prep, 4-1 (loss to Pahokee)
Pine Crest, 3-3
Cardinal Newman, 2-3
Coral Springs Charter, 1-4
Inlet Grove, 0-5
The only teams in contention for this district’s two playoff spots are Pahokee, University and Coconut Creek-North Broward Prep. That part stays the same as the pre-forfeit status.
As mentioned, if Pahokee wins this week, it claims the district at 5-1. University would then be 4-2 and North Broward Prep could grab the runner-up slot if it beats Coral Springs Charter to finish 5-1. If University and North Broward Prep both finish 4-2, the head-to-head advantage goes to North Broward Prep.
Here are the other two possibilities for the Blue Devils this week:
1. Pahokee loses, North Broward Prep wins. North Broward Prep wins the district and University gets the runner-up slot. Both of those schools would be 5-1 and Pahokee would be out of the playoffs at 4-2.
2. Pahokee loses, North Broward Prep loses. University wins the district and Pahokee gets the wildcard playoff berth. University would finish 5-1 in that scenario, followed by Pahokee and North Broward Prep tied at 4-2. Pahokee beat North Broward Prep during the season, so the Blue Devils take the runner-up position and advance.