Jay had its post-season fate sealed last Friday and this Friday the same can be said for Milton or Pace. As the high school season nears its end some games have more implications than just a win or loss against a long-time rival. For Milton and Pace the game goes much deeper than winning the Bronze Helmet, there is a playoff berth at stake. Pace currently sits atop the District 1-6A standings at 4-1, while Milton, Pine Forest, and Escambia each have one loss, but are a win behind the Patriots. A Pace win would virtually guarantee the Patriots a district title, unless they finish the season tied with Escambia County. While Pace will look for its 10th consecutive win over Milton, they are looking for a little help from Pine Forest who will travel to play the Escambia Gators at Emmitt Smith Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday. In last week's 34-14 win over Tate, the Patriots saw senior running back J.C. Curry score two of his three touchdowns. Pace (6-2; 4-1 in District 1-6A) was up 34-0 until the Aggies added two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. While Pace took care of their business, Milton did the same as they visited Washington High School. The Panthers never trailed in the 24-3 win as Isaiah Jones marked his return Friday with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. While Jones marked his return, it as Dejon Funderburke who marked his return to Washington High with a 24 yard touchdown pass reception in the third quarter from Cody Lowe. Milton is in a position where it must win Friday over Pace to see where they will fall in the District title race. After their game this Friday against the Patriots, Milton will close out the season with a district tilt against Pine Forest, who remains in the district title picture with only one loss at the hands of the Patriots earlier this season. As Pace and Milton each control their destinies, Jay is playing for Royal Pride. A 48-21 loss Friday virtually eliminated the Royals as Baker piled up 341 yards unofficially on the ground. Ricky Cofield finished the night with 163 yards and two touchdowns; it wasn't enough to counter the Gators' ground attack and five touchdowns. The game was tied 7-7 at the end of the first half before Kodi Moen returned the opening kick of the second half 82 yards for the score. Moen's touchdown was the first of four for Baker in the quarter. Jay's other touchdown came on a Tate Upton pass to Hunter Dillashaw that went for 64 yards.
District 1 6-A Team District Overall Pace 4-1 6-2 Pine Forest 3-1 4-2 Milton 3-1 5-3 Escambia 3-1 4-3 Pensacola 2-2 3-3 Washington 0-4 1-6 Tate 0-5 0-7
District 2 6-A Navarre 3-0 6-1 Fort Walton 2-1 5-2 Niceville 2-2 4-3 Choctaw 2-2 3-4 Crestview 1-2 3-5 Mosley 0-3 3-4
District 1 5-A West Florida 3-0 7-0 Gulf Breeze 2-1 5-2 Arnold 1-1 2-4 Bay 0-2 2-4 Rutherford 0-2 1-6
District 1 1-A Northview 2-0 5-3 Baker 1-1 5-3 Freeport 1-1 3-4 Jay 0-2 3-4
Week 8 Scores Pace 34, Tate 14 Milton 24, Washington 3 Baker 48, Jay 21 Navarre 13, Crestview 8 Gulf Breeze 31, Bay 6 Northview 42, Freeport 0 Madison Co. 29, Catholic 28 (OT) West Florida 38, Rutherford 6 Pine Forest 20, Pensacola 13 (OT)
Local games of interest – Week 9 Pace at Milton – 7:30 p.m. Graceville at Jay – 7 p.m. Gulf Breeze at Choctaw – 7 p.m. Fort Walton at Navarre – 7:30 p.m. West Florida at Arnold – 7 p.m. Vernon at Northview – 7 p.m. Godby at Tate – 7:30 p.m. Pine Forest at Escambia – 7:30 p.m. Washington at Pensacola – 7:30 p.m. Crestview at Mosley – 7 p.m. Freeport at Chipley – 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Playoff picture should be clearer after Friday