For the first time this season, pretty much everything that was expected to happen, happened in week 8 of the season. Charleston took care of business against West Fork, and Mansfield handled Greenland. Paris would make things interesting against Lavaca, tying it up in the fourth quarter, but would ultimately fall short to the Golden Arrows.
Week 9 is obviously highlighted by the 3A-1 game of the year, Mansfield at Charleston. We all know that, and you can read all about it some the upcoming preview article coming right here on Resident News Network. This article will focus on the playoff scenarios for each team.
Mansfield – Mansfield’s playoff scenario is pretty simple. With a win on Friday at Charleston, Mansfield wins the 3A-1 conference and clinches the 1-seed. If they lose, they finish with the 2-seed regardless of what happens week 10, which is Mansfield’s bye week.
Charleston – I would say the Charleston playoff scenario is simple, and to a certain extent it is. If Charleston beats Mansfield on Friday, they get the 1-seed and conference championship. A week ten matchup with Lavaca would do nothing to change this as the Golden Arrows have two conference losses. However, a Charleston loss to Mansfield, and an upset loss to rival Lavaca, could drastically complicate things as highlighted in the week 8 playoff scenario.
Lavaca – With week 8 losses from West Fork and Greenland, Lavaca has clinched a playoff spot in 2026. After a week seven upset loss to Cedarville, Lavaca needed a win badly against Paris to keep their hopes of a 3-seed alive. It looked iffy with a 26-26 tie in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Arrows eventually pulled it out 38-26. They are third in the standings as of right now, but that will change if Cedarville beats Greenland. Lavaca can still finish with the 2-seed with the following scenario: Charleston loses to Mansfield, Lavaca beats Charleston, and Cedarville loses to either Greenland or West Fork. Lavaca could finish third if there is a 3-way tie with two losses between Lavaca, Cedarville, and Charleston. But this would rely on Lavaca having the higher tiebreaker totals of the three.
Cedarville – Relax Pirates fans. The standings might show you fourth for now, but you completely hold your own destiny when it comes to the 3-seed. Beat 0-4 West Fork this Friday, third is yours again due to the head-to-head win over Lavaca, and you clinch a playoff birth. If you do that, and beat Greenland, you clinch at least the 3-seed, and can finish as high as second with the wild tiebreaker scenario. But don’t let up just yet, you can still miss the playoffs if you lose to West Fork and Greenland, Greenland beats Paris, and Lavaca upsets Charleston.
Greenland – Since starting 4-1, 1-0 on the season, Greenland is reeling after three straight losses, and is just barely hanging on to the 5-seed in the playoffs. This weeks matchup at Paris is crucial for Greenland, needing a win to clinch a playoff birth. Greenland isn’t elimated from the playoffs with a loss to the Eagles, but they would need to beat Cedarville week ten, and need West Fork to beat Paris week ten. Greenland can finish as high as fourth if they win out.
Paris – Even with an 0-4 conference record, all hope isn’t lost for the Eagles. First things first, you need a win over Greenland this Friday. Do this, and take care of West Fork to end the season, and you’re in. And with how competitive Paris has been in their losses, this isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Unlike West Fork, Paris controls their own destiny.
West Fork – The Tigers playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, but they’re still there. West Fork needs to win against Cedarville and Paris, and needs Greenland to lose to Paris and Cedarville.
