We’ve finally arrived at the last week of the high school
football season. It seems like just 11 weeks ago that we started on this
journey.
Any coach will tell you that it’s not how you start; it’s
how you finish. And in that case, there are many teams around the area that
need to finish strong.
Playoff spots are on the line in almost every district, but
the process can often be confusing. Here’s a brief overview of the playoff
positioning guidelines:
-In class 5A and 4A, the top four teams from each district
make the playoffs.
-Those four playoff teams from each district are then
divided into two divisions. The two largest schools by enrollment are put into
the Division I playoff bracket; the two smallest schools by enrollment are put
into the Division II playoff bracket.
-The better of the two Division I teams gets the higher
seed, and the same goes in Division II.
-In class 3A (which really only applies to Carrollton
Ranchview in this area) and below, the top three teams in each district advance
to the playoffs, with the biggest school playing in Division I and the smaller
schools playing in Division II.
That can be confusing, I know. But suffice to say that the
most important thing is just getting into the playoffs.
As such, I’ve broken down each area team’s path to the
playoffs entering the final week of play.
One more thing to note: if there is ever a tie between three or more teams for
a playoff spot, each district has its own method of breaking the tie. They
range from points scored to a coin flip, and they are usually unknown even to
coaches. So, keep that in mind when reading these playoff scenarios.
Now, onward!
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Carrollton Creekview: Clinches a District 9-5A
playoff spot with a win over Richardson and a W.T. White win over Richardson
Berkner. A win over Richardson
and a Berkner win over W.T. White would result in a three-way tie for the final
two playoff spots between Creekview, Berkner and Richardson. A loss to Richardson and a W.T.
White win over Berkner would result in a three-way tie for the final playoff
spot between Creekview, Berkner and W.T. White. A loss to Richardson and a Berkner win over W.T. White
would eliminate Creekview from playoff contention.
Carrollton Newman Smith: Has clinched a District 10-4A
playoff spot, and will be the lower District 10-4A seed in the Division I
bracket.
Carrollton Ranchview: Eliminated from District
9-3A playoff contention.
Carrollton R.L. Turner: Eliminated from District
10-4A playoff contention.
Coppell: Has
clinched a District 6-5A playoff spot, and will be the higher District 6-5A
seed in the Division I bracket.
Flower Mound:
Clinches a District 6-5A playoff spot with a win over Coppell or a Flower Mound
Marcus win over Hebron.
A loss by both Flower Mound and Marcus would result in a three-way tie for the
final two playoff spots between Flower Mound, Marcus and Hebron.
Flower Mound Marcus:
Clinches a District 6-5A playoff spot with a win over Hebron. A loss to Hebron
and a Coppell win over Flower Mound would result in a three-way tie for the
final two playoff spots between Marcus, Flower Mound and Hebron. A loss to Hebron and a Flower Mound win over Coppell
would eliminate Marcus from District 6-5A playoff contention.
Frisco:
Eliminated from District 9-4A playoff contention.
Frisco Centennial:
Eliminated from District 9-4A playoff contention.
Frisco Liberty: Clinches
a District 9-4A playoff spot with a win over McKinney or a McKinney North win over Frisco
Wakeland. A loss to McKinney and a Wakeland win
over McKinney North would result in a three-way tie for the final two playoff
spots between Liberty, Wakeland and McKinney.
Frisco Wakeland:
Clinches a District 9-4A playoff spot with a win over McKinney North and a
Frisco Liberty win over McKinney.
A win over McKinney North and a McKinney win
over Liberty would result in a three-way tie for
the final two playoff spots between Liberty,
Wakeland and McKinney.
A loss to McKinney North and a Liberty win over McKinney would result in a three-way tie for the final
playoff spot between Wakeland, McKinney North and McKinney. A loss to McKinney North and a McKinney win over Liberty
would eliminate Wakeland from playoff contention.
Hebron: Clinches a playoff spot with a win
over Flower Mound Marcus and a Flower Mound win over Coppell. A win over Marcus
and a Coppell win over Flower Mound would result in a three-way tie for the
final two playoff spots between Hebron,
Marcus and Flower Mound. A loss to Marcus would eliminate Hebron from playoff contention.
Irving Nimitz: Has
clinched a District 7-5A playoff spot, and will be the lower District 7-5A seed
in the Division II bracket.
Irving MacArthur: Clinches
a District 7-5A playoff spot with a win over Irving
and a Grand Prairie win over South
Grand Prairie. A win over Irving
and a South Grand Prairie win over Grand Prairie
would result in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots between
MacArthur, South Grand Prairie and Duncanville.
A loss to Irving and a Grand
Prairie win over South Grand Prairie would result in a four-way tie
for the final playoff spot between MacArthur, Irving,
South Grand Prairie and Grand Prairie.
A loss to Irving and a South Grand Prairie win
over Grand Prairie
would eliminate MacArthur from playoff contention.
Irving: Cannot clinch a District 7-5A playoff
spot outright. A win over Irving MacArthur and a Grand
Prairie win over South Grand Prairie would result in a four-way tie
for the final playoff spot between Irving,
MacArthur, South Grand Prairie and Grand
Prairie. A loss to Irving MacArthur or a South Grand
Prairie win over Grand Prairie would eliminate Irving from playoff
contention.
Lewisville: Eliminated from District 6-5A playoff
contention.
Little Elm: Has
clinched a District 5-4A playoff spot, and will be the lower District 5-4A seed
in the Division II bracket.
The Colony: Eliminated
from District 5-4A playoff contention.
