Regional flag football, district playoff rounds highlights this week in Big Bend Preps

The Big Bend preps spring sports season is heading towards a dramatic finish.

As some sports begin district and regional tournament play, others are finishing the regular season with area teams hoping for deep runs into the postseason.

Flag Football hits the regional tournament stage this week, with lacrosse and tennis both in district rounds of competition. With the action heating up at the regular season for baseball, softball and beach volleyball, there are plenty of games and storylines to follow.

3 local flag football programs gear up for regional play

After a thrilling week of district tournament action that featured all three regional qualifiers in district finals, this week's flag football slate is as exciting as it gets.

Starting with the first-time district champions and the highest-seeded team in the area, Florida High (11-1), who received a two-seed in the Class 1A regional tournament, hosting Suwannee (12-2) in the opening round on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

The Seminoles are coming off a 26-0 win over Lincoln in the Class 1A District 2 title game and will face a Suwannee team that won the Class 1A District 3 title over Columbia.

The Trojans (10-4) head to Fort Walton Beach on Wednesday after receiving an at-large bid and a five seed in the 1A regional tournament. Falling to Florida High in the district title game, Lincoln faces a Vikings (9-7) team that is coming off a 9-7 upset win over Choctawhatchee in the Class 1A District 1 title game.

For Chiles, the regional tournament starts on the road with a showdown against Fletcher (10-3). Despite winning its third consecutive district title, the Timberwolves (12-3) received a five seed in the regional tournament and will face the 2A District 4 champions on Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.

The Timberwolves beat West Port 14-0 in the 2A District 2 title game and face a Fletcher team who beat Mandarin 20-6 in the 2A District 4 title game.

Leon, Maclay lacrosse aiming for district titles, tennis districts underway

Hardware is on the line this week for both lacrosse and tennis.

On the field, the Leon lacrosse team is looking to follow up its first win over Niceville in the playoffs with a district title win over Gulf Breeze. The Lions beat the Eagles in a thrilling semifinal victory on Friday night, winning 8-7 to book a spot in Monday night's title game against the Dolphins.

The Two programs have faced once this season, with Gulf Breeze winning the early season matchup 17-10. The Dolphins are coming off a 16-4 win over Chiles in the district semifinals, and the Class 2A District 1 title game will be played at Gulf Breeze High School on Monday, April 15, starting at 7 p.m.

Maclay is looking to claim a district title, facing South Walton on Tuesday, April 16 at South Walton High School. The Marauders (9-10) picked up a semifinal forfeit victory over North Bay Haven and will come into the title game well-rested.

South Walton is coming off 19-1 win over Fort Walton Beach in the Class 1A District 2 semifinals. The two programs have faced once this season, with Maclay winning the matchup 10-9.

Tennis starts district play at the start of the week, with tournaments taking place from Monday to Wednesday as area programs look to claim some hardware to start the postseason.

Maclay is the lone school to host a tournament in town this year, with the two days of action taking place on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17. The Marauders will host seven area programs all competing for district glory.

This week's Big Bend Preps Schedule

Monday

Baseball: Maclay vs. FAMU DRS 4 p.m.; Wewahitchka vs. Munroe 4 p.m.; Godby vs. Gadsden County 4:30 p.m.; Wakulla Christian vs. Brookwood 5 p.m.; Madison County vs. Thomasville 6 p.m.; Rickards vs. JPII 6 p.m.; Community Christian Acadmey vs. Jefferson County 6 p.m.

Softball: Florida High vs. Lincoln 6 p.m.; Wakulla Christian vs. Leon 6 p.m.; Blountstown vs. Chiles 7 p.m.

Tennis: 3A District 2 tournament at Mosley. Chiles, Lincoln, Leon in attendance

Lacrosse: Leon vs. Gulf Breeze, 2A District 1 title game 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT

Beach Volleyball: Blountstown vs. Lincoln 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday:

Baseball: Gadsden County vs. Aucilla Christian 4:30 p.m.; North Florida Christian vs. Columbia 5 p.m.; Suwannee vs. Leon 5 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Union County 6 p.m.; Grace Christian Academy vs. JPII 6 p.m.; Altha vs. Wakulla Christian 6 p.m.; Madison County vs. Branford 6 p.m.; Blountstown vs. Wakulla 7 p.m.

Softball: Jefferson County vs. Gadsden County 4 p.m.; Godby vs. Maclay 4:30 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. Wakulla Christian 5 p.m.; Leon vs. Hamilton County 6 p.m.; Franklin County vs. Taylor County 6 p.m.; Aucilla Christian vs. Lincoln 6 p.m.; Madison County vs. Chiles 7 p.m.

Tennis: 2A District 2 tournament at Eastside. Rickards and Wakulla in attendance. 1A District 2 tournament at Maclay: Aucilla Christian, Community Christian, Florida High, Maclay, Madison County, North Florida Christian, JPII and Taylor County in attendance

Lacrosse: Maclay vs. South Walton 1A District 2 title game 7 p.m. ET., 6 p.m. CT

Beach Volleyball: Leon vs. Lincoln 2 p.m.; Leon vs. Rickards 3:30 p.m.; Wakulla vs. Maclay 3:30 p.m.; Florida High vs. Chiles 3:30 p.m.; JPII vs. Lincoln 4 p.m.

Wednesday:

Baseball: Munroe vs. Maclay 4 p.m.; Crossroad Academy vs. FAMU DRS 4:30 p.m.; Chiles vs. Columbia 6 p.m.

Softball: Rickards vs. Hamilton County 6 p.m.; JPII vs. Madison County 6 p.m.; Florida High vs. Wakulla 6 p.m.

Tennis: 3A District 2 tournament at Mosley. Chiles, Lincoln, Leon in attendance. 2A District 2 tournament at Eastside. Rickards and Wakulla in attendance. 1A District 2 tournament at Maclay: Aucilla Christian, Community Christian, Florida High, Maclay, Madison County, North Florida Christian, JPII and Taylor County in attendance.

Flag Football: Suwannee vs. Florida High 7 p.m.; Lincoln vs. Fort Walton Beach 7 p.m.

Beach Volleyball: Chiles vs. Middleburg 11 a.m.; Lincoln vs. Middleburg 1 p.m.; Maclay vs. JPII 5 p.m.

Thursday:

Baseball: Gadsden County vs. Rickards 6 p.m.; Aucilla Christian vs. Echols County 6 p.m.; Branford vs. Madison County 6 p.m.; North Florida Christain vs. Wakulla 6 p.m.; Godby vs. Jefferson County 6 p.m.; Thomas County Central vs. Chiles 6 p.m.; Florida High vs. Suwannee 7 p.m.; St. Augistine vs. Lincoln 7 p.m.; Dixie County vs. Taylor County 7 p.m.

Softball: North Florida Christian vs. Aucilla Christian 4:30 p.m.; Florida High vs. Maclay 4:30 p.m.; FAMU DRS vs. Vernon 5 p.m.; Jefferson County vs. Godby 5 p.m.; Lincoln vs. Wakulla 6 p.m.; Leon vs. Rickards 6 p.m; Gadsden County vs. Suwannee 7 p.m.; Lafayette vs. Taylor County 7 p.m.

Flag Football: Chiles vs. Fletcher 7 p.m.

Beach Volleyball: Florida High vs. Leon 3:30 p.m.; Community Christian vs. Godby 3:30 p.m.; Maclay vs. Blountstown 3:30 p.m.; Wakulla vs. JPII 4 p.m.

Friday:

Baseball: Altha vs. Maclay 4 p.m.; Columbia vs. North Florida Christian 4:30 p.m.; Sebring vs. Leon 4:30 p.m.; Community Christian Academy vs. Aucilla Christian 4:30 p.m.; Rickards vs. Rutherford 6 p.m.; Wakulla vs. Florida High 6 p.m.; Munroe vs. Gadsden County 6 p.m.; North Marion vs. Lincoln 6 p.m.; Jefferson County vs. Blountstown 6 p.m.; Taylor County vs. Franklin County 7 p.m.

Softball: Bethlehem vs. Wakulla Christian 4 p.m.; Bay vs. Gadsden County 4:30 p.m.; Florida High vs. Port St. Joe 6 p.m.; Wakulla vs. North Bay Haven 6 p.m.; Rickards vs. Raines 6:30 p.m.

Beach Volleyball: Wakulla vs. Community Christian 3:30 p.m.

Saturday:

Baseball: Sebring vs. Leon 12 p.m.; Chiles vs. Buchholz 2 p.m.

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Big Bend Preps schedule for games, playoffs this week in the area