Area football preview capsules

Playoff preview capsules for area football teams. All games on Friday and all times CST.

Region 1-1A semifinals

South Walton (8-2) at Liberty County (9-1) 6:30 p.m.

• How they got here: South Walton — Finished second in District 1-1A behind Freeport with a 7-1 mark; Liberty County — Forced a three-way tiebreaker in District 1-2A and won the title by beating Blountstown 21-0 in the shootout.
• Best victories: South Walton — 35-0 over Sneads Oct. 23 to clinch a playoff berth; Liberty County — 19-6 over Blountstown Nov. 6 to force the shootout, 21-0 over Blountstown in the one-quarter tiebreaker to decide the championship.
• Worst defeats: South Walton — 43-21 against Freeport Oct. 9 in the game that decided the district title; Liberty County — 20-12 against Port St. Joe Sept. 25 in the district opener.
• All-time playoff records: South Walton — 1-2; Liberty County — 10-14.
• Last year’s playoff results: South Walton — Defeated Bozeman 34-27, lost to Tallahassee Florida High 48-7 in the regional championship; Liberty County — Did not advance.
• Notes: This is Liberty County’s first playoff trip since 2006 and the second berth under Grant Grantham. … The Bulldogs played in the now defunct Class C title game in 1969, falling to Lithia Pinecrest. … South Walton is enjoying its most successful stretch, with back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in school history. … The Bulldogs have won seven straight games, with six coming in the district. … The Seahawks lost in their season finale to Walton, snapping a three-game winning streak. … Liberty County is 9-5 in home playoff games, while South Walton is 0-1 on the road in the postseason.
• Up next: Blountstown (8-2) or Freeport (9-1) in the regional final Nov. 27

Blountstown (8-2) at Freeport (9-1) 7:30 p.m.

• How they got here: Blountstown — Finished as runner-up in District 1-2A; Freeport — Was unbeaten in District 1-1A play (8-0) to win the championship.
• Best victories: Blountstown — 20-14 over Port St. Joe Oct. 23, 16-6 over Port St. Joe in tiebreaker to clinch playoff spot; Freeport — 43-21 over South Walton Oct. 9 in the game that decided the district title.
• Worst defeats: Blountstown — 19-6 against Liberty County Nov. 6, as a Blountstown win would have clinched the district title; Freeport — 42-14 against Milton in the season opener Sept. 11.
• All-time playoff records: Blountstown — 20-13 with three Class 1A state titles (1973, ’76, ’77); Freeport — 2-4.
• Last year’s playoff results: Blountstown — Did not qualify; Freeport — Did not qualify.
• Notes: Blountstown is making a return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. … This year marked the first time Freeport won a district title. It also advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when it was 1-1 in the postseason. … Freeport has won nine straight games, while Blountstown has won three of its last four. … Freeport beat Blountstown 36-13 in a kickoff classic. … Blountstown is 8-11 in road playoff games, and it lost a stretch of seven between 1978 and 2001. … Freeport is 1-2 at home in the postseason. … These teams met in the opening round of the 2003 playoffs, with Freeport winning 23-20.
• Up next: South Walton (8-2) or Liberty County (9-1) in the regional final Nov. 27.