Class 8-Man First Round Playoffs Breakdown
#1 Sedgwick Co 9-0 vs #16 Wiley 5-4 (Sat 1:00pm)
The 8-Man playoffs are here and I am excited for some playoff action. Sedgwick County comes in as the #1 seed and they have been excellent all year. They have one of the best defenses in 8-Man only giving up over 10 points twice and have posted 7 games with under 8 points surrendered. They proved how affective they can be on offense this year as well amassing 508 points total scored and averaging 56.6 ppg. They can run and throw the ball they are averaging 291.6 rushing ypg and 155.1 passing ypg. Like I mentioned about their defense being great they are only giving up 6.4 ppg. This team is very well balanced and well see if they can continue to dominate in the playoffs
Wiley grab their playoff berth in the last week of the season when they upset Holly 40 to 20. That win propelled them into the playoffs. They are one of the few teams in 8-man that love to throw the ball more than run. They are averaging 204.6 passing ypg and 154.8 rushing ypg and scoring 31.0 ppg. Their defense has been more susceptible to giving up points allowing 27.2 ppg and in 3 of their 4 losses they gave up over 50 points. If Wiley is looking to upset Sedgwick they are going to have to score a ton of points.
These teams have 2 common opponents both of them played Haxtun and Holly. Sedgwick County blew out both of them beating Haxtun 52-14 and Holly 64-7. Wiley split with them losing to Haxtun 52 to 8 and beating Holly 40 to 20. The key to this game is can Wiley score enough points to keep up with Sedgwick County. Sedgwick County proved last week against Akron that they can score on a great defense so it will be down to can teams score on Sedgwick County. I have Sedgwick County as a 42 point favorite.
#8 Hoehne 7-2 vs #9 Merino 6-3 (Sat 1:00pm)
In the first round of the playoffs I see only 3 games that could see an upset or could be a great matchups. This is one of the three games and I believe this is the best match up in the first round. Hoehne comes into this game on a four game winning streak and champions of the Southern league. They played against 3 other playoff teams and went 1-2 against them. They beat Kiowa but lost to Dove Creek and Springfield. Hoehne offense is led by their rushing attack averaging 277.1 ypg and their offense can score points averaging 48.2 ppg.
Merino was rolling early in the season starting off 4-0 and grabbed an early key victory over Granada 36 to 34 but since league started it has been a different tale. They started league 0-3 but did grab two league victory over Haxtun and Caliche and finished in fourth place. Merino has not scored a lot of points this year only averaging 26.0 ppg and they are led by their rushing attack which is averaging 189.8 ypg. Defense has been a problem for Merino they are giving up 25.2 ppg and in their losses gave up over 40 points.
These two team have two common opponents. They both played Simla and McClave and both went 2-0 against them. Merino beat Simla 20-6 and McClave 46-8 and Hoehne beat Simla 56 to 32 and McClave 49 to 16. I think both teams are evenly matched and will come down which team can score enough points to win this game. I have Hoehne with a slight edge when it comes to the offensive side of ball so I have them as the favorite. Hoehne is a 10 point favorite.
#4 Sargent 8-1 vs #13 Haxtun 5-4 (Sat 1:00pm)
Sargent is coming into this game with a ton of momentum and of course a league championship. Sargent played against 5 playoff teams and went 4-1 against them their one loss was to Norwood 38 to 28. Sargent on defense has been pretty good giving up 16.2 ppg and have 3 games with 6 points or less given up. On the offensive side of the ball Sargent is averaging 48.7 ppg and are led by a great rushing attack that is averaging 322.6 ypg and their passing attack is enough to keep you honest averaging 85.6 ypg. On their current five game winning streak they have broken 50 points four times.
Haxtun finished fifth in the tough plains division only beating Caliche who didn’t make the playoffs. Haxtun started the season on a four game winning streak before getting into league play. Haxtun ended the season on a 3 game losing streak and must bounce back but won’t be easy against a tough Sargent team. Haxtun on offense averages 32.0 ppg and they enjoy throwing the ball around averaging 191.8 ypg and only rushing for 113.2 ypg. In league their offense has gone silent only being able to score 16 points or less.
These teams have one common opponent and they both won almost identical scores, Sargent won 50-6 and Haxtun won 52-8. The key to this game is offensive efficiency. Haxtun is going to need to get first down if they are going to want any chance at an upset. Sargent is going to use a lot of clock with their power rushing attack and if Haxtun cannot keep their offense on the field this could get ugly. I have Sargent as the 28 point favorite.
#5 Springfield 7-2 vs #12 Vail Christian 7-1 (Sat 1:00pm)
What a season we had in the Ark Valley league. Until the last week of the season Springfield was in third place and then they upset Granada and Holly was upset by Wiley and now Springfield finished in first and Holly didn’t even make the playoffs. Springfield now has some momentum and will look to build off their upset of Granada. Springfield on offense is averaging 39.9 ppg and attack you primarily on the ground averaging 331.3 ypg. Their defense at times has been shredded but they are giving up 18.8 ppg. In their two losses they gave up over 30 points so slowing down another team’s offense will be key.
Vail Christian dominated their schedule all season until the final week of the season when they lost to West Grand 34 to 8. On offense Vail Christian is averaging 37.8 ppg and also attack teams on the ground averaging 292.3 ypg. Vail Christians defense has been very good all year only giving up 13.1 ppg. In most of their games though they did give up over 10 points and only posted 1 game under 10 points.
These teams do not have a common opponent so it’s hard to compare a few things. The key for this game is who can control the line of scrimmage. Both teams want to run the ball and if they are slowed down it makes it a much longer game. I don’t think Vail Christian is going to be able to slow down Springfield’s rushing attack. I have Springfield winning by 28 points.
#3 Akron 7-2 vs #14 Kiowa 7-2 (Sat 1:00pm)
Akron is the fourth team in the playoffs that is from the plains league. They finished in second place and were able to hold Sedgwick County to their lowest offensive outing all year. Akron’s offense has been explosive all year scoring over 30 points in every game but their two losses. They are averaging 36.3 ppg and they love to run the ball averaging 309.1 ypg but they have proven they can throw the ball even though they only average 73.3 ypg. On defense Akron has been great only giving up 9.4 ppg and have posted 4 shutouts this year.
Kiowa started the season out by knocking off defending state champs Caliche and that jump started their season. They finished in second place in the Southern League and capped that off by blasting Fowler 48 to 12 in the final week. Kiowa on offense is averaging 37.1 ppg and average 204 ypg rushing and 100.3 passing ypg. Kiowa biggest problem has been defense they are giving up 20.2 ppg and they will need that to change if they are going to stop Akron’s high powered offense.
These teams have three common opponents. They each have played Caliche, Simla, and Fowler and both went 3-0 against them. Akron beat Caliche 48-0, Simla 48-0, and Fowler 40-0. Kiowa beat Caliche 12-6, Simla 20-14, and Fowler 48-12. By just looking at the scores you can see the difference between the two teams. The key to this game is Offense. We know Akron can score plenty of points the only exception has been against Sedgwick County. Kiowa on the other hand has 3 games where they didn’t score over 26 points. I think if Kiowa has any chance it will be going blow for blow with Akron. I have Akron as a 35 point favorite.
#6 Dayspring Christian 7-2 vs #11 Granada 7-2 (Sat 1:00pm)
This is game 2 of 3 that could be great games. Dayspring Christian for the first time in years didn’t win the Plains league and instead finished in third place. They are lead on offense by their rushing attack that is averaging 211.8 ypg and keep you honest with a good passing attack that averages 124 ypg. Their offense overall scores 44.7 ppg and their defense has been good as well only giving up 14.2 ppg. Dayspring Christian has 6 games were they gave up 8 points or less.
Granada had a very up and down season. They have losses to Merino by 2 and Springfield by 20 but have close wins against Kiowa by 2 and Holly by 2 in Double OT. On offense they are averaging 41.7 ppg and really entirely on their rushing attack that averages 310.3 ypg. The biggest knock on Granada is their defense gives up a ton of points giving up 26.9 ppg. They will need to slow down Dayspring Christian if they are going to have any chance.
This game is a rematch of the semifinals from a year ago where Granada upset Dayspring Christian 22 to 6. They faceoff much earlier this year and Dayspring Christian needs to be careful again this year. If Granada can get their offense going and keep Dayspring Christian off the field they have a chance to pull the upset. What I think is going to happen is this is going to turn into a shootout with both teams scoring over 30 points. I have Dayspring Christian as a 14 point favorite.
#7 West Grand 8-1 vs #10 Dove Creek 7-2 (Sat 1:00pm)
This is game 3 of 3 of games that could be upsets and I am putting West Grand on upset alert. Last week West Grand lost a member of their football team and that is a huge tragedy to bounce back from and they played a very emotional filled game last week against Vail Christian and pulled off the win. Losing a player off a team is hard on everyone and would just like to offer my condolence to that team and to the family. West Grand has had a great season winning the Central league and posting a 8-1 mark. They primary attack teams on the ground averaging 310.4 ypg and score 42.4 ppg. Their defense is only surrendering 11.8 ppg and posted 3 shutouts.
Dove Creek started their season rough losing to Norwood but bounced back nicely winning 6 straight including a 28 to 24 upset of Hoehne. They did end up losing to Sargent 30 to 18 and finished in second in the Mountain League. Dove Creeks offense is powered by their rushing attack that is averaging 250.6 ypg but keep you honest with their passing game that is averaging 129.1 ypg. On defense they are giving up 18.6 ppg and have 3 games where they allowed under 8 points.
These two teams do not have a common opponent but this should be a great game. I have West Grand on upset alert due to their weaker schedule only playing one playoff team. Dove Creek has played against 4 playoff teams so they are much more battle tested. I feel like the key to this game is offense. Both teams have proven that they can score points but it’s which team can score more efficiently. I am giving the edge to Dove Creek and have them as a 17 point favorite.
#2 Norwood 8-1 vs #15 Mancos 6-3 (Friday 7:00pm)
The final game of the first round is Norwood vs Mancos but they are also going to be the first game played in the first round. Norwood and Mancos have already played this year and it was ugly. Norwood won 50 to 12 and set the tone for their season. They also had a bye week last week so they are rested and ready for the playoffs. Norwood has been dominate all year scoring over 40 points in all but one game and that was 38 against Sargent. Norwood mainly comes after teams with their rushing attack they are averaging 261.2 ypg. Norwood is only giving up 15 ppg and have posted 4 games with under 8 points given up.
Mancos snuck into the playoffs without getting a key victory and finishing in third place in the Mountain League. They are only scoring 25.6 ppg and have not posted stats on Maxpreps.com. On defense they are giving up 30.7 ppg. IN their 3 losses this year they gave up over 50 points and twice over 65 points. They are going to need their defense to step up if they are going to have any chance at winning.
These two teams have already played and Norwood won big and don’t expect it to be different this time around. Mancos is going to need their defense to step up if they are going to have a chance. I have Norwood winning this game by 42 points.
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