The final week of the regular season of high school football has arrived. And while many schools have punched their ticket to the playoffs, a few unknowns need to be resolved Friday and Saturday.
Here is a league-by-league postseason outlook:
SPSL 4A
South Division schools in: Federal Way, Graham-Kapowsin, Curtis.
North Division schools in: Kentwood (No. 1 seed), Auburn (No. 2), Kentlake (No. 3).
Up for grabs: Last two playoff spots in both divisions.
Skinny: In the SPSL South, the Rogers-Puyallup victor claims the No. 4 berth to districts – with the loser facing a pigtail game with the SPSL North’s fifth team to claim the league’s last district bid. But a Spanaway Lake upset of Graham-Kapowsin could make the scenario messy. Also, a Federal Way win locks up the divisional title, and sets that order for seeding. … The Tahoma-Jefferson winner locks up the No. 4 seed to the playoffs. For Kent-Meridian to get to the pigtail game, the Royals would need to beat Kentridge, and for Tahoma to also win.
NARROWS 4A
Schools in: Bellarmine Prep (No. 1 seed), Central Kitsap.
Up for grabs: Last two playoff spots to districts.
Skinny: If the favorites win Friday – Central Kitsap over South Kitsap, and Olympia over Yelm – then Olympia would be the No. 3 seed, and South Kitsap takes the No. 4 seed. If the Tornados upend the Bears, then Olympia, Yelm and South Kitsap would be in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots, which would come down to point differential in head-to-head matchups. A Central Kitsap win is the only way the Cougars are guaranteed the No. 2 seed to districts.
SPSL 3A
Schools in: Peninsula, Lakes
Up for grabs: Last playoff spot to districts.
Skinny: The Lakes-Peninsula showdown Friday in Purdy is for the league crown, and sets the top two seeds. If Bonney Lake defeats Auburn Mountainview, the Panthers claim the No. 3 seed. If they lose and Decatur beats Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, Decatur and Auburn Mountainview will play a tiebreaker on Tuesday.
NARROWS 3A
Schools in: Timberline, North Thurston, Shelton, Lincoln (No. 4 seed).
Up for grabs: Nothing.
Skinny: Timberline would make this all easy by defeating Shelton on Friday night. If so, the Blazers would win the league title outright and claim the top seed, followed by North Thurston (No. 2), then Shelton (No. 3). Even if Shelton upsets Timberline, based on point differential in head-to-head matchups, the Blazers would likely gain the top berth.
SPSL 2A
Schools in: Sumner (No. 1 seed), Clover Park, Steilacoom, Washington.
Up for grabs: Nothing.
Skinny: They don’t call this the wacky SPSL 2A for nothing. Even though a scenario exists where three schools can share the league title, the Spartans claim the top seed with head-to-head wins against the teams behind them. If Steilacoom defeats Clover Park on Friday, the Sentinels would be No. 2 – and Washington would clinch the No. 3 seed regardless because of an earlier victory over Clover Park. Washington clinches the No. 2 berth with a victory over Franklin Pierce, and a Clover Park win. And Clover Park would be No. 2 if the Patriots lose.
EVERGREEN CONFERENCE 2A
Schools in: Tumwater (No. 1 seed).
Up for grabs: Last two playoff spots to districts.
Skinny: Capital is in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 spot – a win over River Ridge would clinch that berth. But long shot River Ridge could hit the jackpot if it upsets the Cougars, and W.F. West loses to winless Centralia, making the Hawks the No. 2 seed. A Hawks’ win would at least guarantee them a spot in the Kansas tiebreaker Tuesday at a site yet determined.
NISQUALLY 1A
Schools in: Charles Wright, Eatonville.
Up for grabs: Last playoff spot to districts.
Skinny: Charles Wright won Division I; Eatonville won Division II – and the winner of that league championship game Friday night in University Place not only clinches the No. 1 seed but also receives a bye directly to the Class 1A state playoffs. The loser is No. 2 and heads to district. Cascade Christian and Cedar Park Christian play for the final league playoff spot Friday.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/preps @ManyHatsMilles
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