Week 9 Class 8-Man League Breakdown and Playoff Team Projections

Hayden vs South park — Picture by Ryan Wilkie (Hayden vs South Park)

Week 9 Class 8-Man League Breakdown

The Final Week of the regular season and the final chance for teams to make their case for the playoffs. A win or a loss in the final game could determine your spot in the playoffs. The 8-man playoff scenarios are crazy and because of this I used up a ton of time figuring out RPI and who will get into the playoffs. I will condense the article and talk mainly about who gets into the playoffs and just quickly touch on matchups.

Central League

The Central League Champion is Rocky Mountain Lutheran. They locked up the league title last week when Pikes Peak Christian beat Justice. Rocky Mountain Lutheran is currently #10 in the RPI and looking at the #6, #7 or #8 seed in the playoffs depending on who wins certain league titles. Rocky Mountain Lutheran hosts Justice this week and could use this game to get some momentum heading into the playoffs. South Park is on the bubble currently and first thing is taking care of business against Miami-Yoder. If South Park loses to Miami-Yoder they will be eliminated from the playoffs. If South Park wins their RPI will be around the .550 to .555 range which will be right on the bubble. They should sneak into the playoffs as one of the last teams in. Pikes Peak Christian hosts Belleview Christian this week and if they win their RPI would move to .500 or .505 and they would be just too far out to make a run for the playoffs. I have the Central League getting two teams into the playoffs: Rocky Mountain Lutheran and South Park.

Justice at Rocky Mountain Lutheran South Park vs Miami-Yoder

Belleview Christian at Pikes Peak Christian

RPI: #10 Rocky Mountain Lutheran, #13 South Park, #21 Pikes Peak Christian, #23 Justice#30 Belleview Christian, #38 Miami-Yoder

Northwest League

The Northwest League title will be decided this week when #2 West Grand hosts #7 Gilpin County. Gilpin County has loved their close games and last week they had another very close game. Gilpin County beat Rangely 36-28 in a much closer game and at one-point Gilpin County was trailing in this game. The win kept Gilpin County league title hopes and possible home game alive. #2 West Grand traveled to Soroco last week and once again West Grand showed why it has the best defense in 8-man. West Grand held Soroco to 0 points which is their 4^th game in a row of posting a shutout. West Grand is really coming together and are looking for a Top 3 seed if they beat Gilpin County. I am going with West Grand to win against Gilpin County 42-7. Another big game is Soroco at Hayden. The loser of this game will be eliminated from the playoffs. This will be a very good game and the game will depend on which team’s defense can stop the run. Soroco has a very good running back so I am giving them an edge on Hayden. I have Soroco winning 35-24.

Playoff Discussion

The Northwest League has 4 teams battling for a playoff spot. West Grand and Gilpin County are locks for the playoffs. The winner between Soroco and Hayden will also have a good shot at the playoffs. If Soroco wins their RPI will be around .580 to .590 and could be seeded #12 or #13. If Hayden wins their RPI will be around .550 to .560 and will be one of the last teams into the playoffs. I see the Northwest League getting 3 teams into the playoffs West Grand, Gilpin County, and Soroco

#2 West Grand vs #7 Gilpin County Soroco at Hayden

Rangely at Plateau Valley

RPI: #3 West Grand, #5 Gilpin County, #14 Soroco, #18 Hayden, #24 Plateau Valley, #27 Rangely

Plains League

The Plains league has all 6 teams fighting to get into the playoffs. Sedgwick County locked up the automatic berth with the league title. They are a lock at the #1 overall seed granted if they don’t get upset by Dayspring Christian this week. Merino is also a lock into the playoffs. Depending on the result between them and Haxtun will determine their seed. If Merino wins they are looking the #2 seed or if they lose they are looking at the #3 seed. Haxtun also is a lock for the playoffs but their seed is still in limbo. With a win they will be the #5 seed and grab a home game with a loss they will be near the #12 or #13 seed. Dayspring Christian is right on the bubble at #16 and they face a very tough opponent this week against Sedgwick County. If they lose their RPI could move to .540 to .550 and they will either be the final team into the playoffs or just miss the playoff and that all depends on the league title match ups that take place in the Southwest League and Southeast League. Dayspring Christian will be cheering for Sargent, McClave, and Soroco to make sure they get into the playoffs. If Dayspring Christian upset Sedgwick County they are a lock into the playoffs. Akron with a win could see their RPI raise to .520 to .530 which is outside the top 16 they are eliminated from the playoffs. Caliche though has a slight chance. If Caliche beats Akron their RPI could move to .540 to .550 and they would be battling with Dayspring Christian for the #16 spot also they will be cheering for the same teams as Dayspring Christian. Their matchup with Akron is a big one and I have Akron winning a very tight game 28-24. I have the Plains League getting 4 teams into the playoffs: Sedgwick County, Merino, Haxtun, and Dayspring Christian.

#1 Sedgwick County vs Dayspring Christian #6 Merino at #10 Haxtun

Akron at Caliche

RPI: #1 Sedgwick County, #2 Merino, #9 Haxtun, #16 Dayspring Christian, #17 Caliche, #22 Akron

Southeast League

Two leagues in 8-Man are still to be decided and the results of those game will determine a ton. Holly is a lock for the playoffs they are the only pure lock currently in the Southeast League. They host Las Animas and should cruise to the win. The big game is McClave at Springfield. If Springfield wins they get the league title and the possible home game if they move into the Top 16 which I believe they will. If McClave wins this is where things get fun. If McClave wins they cannot win the league title because the tie breaker is RPI standings which makes Holly the league champion but McClave gets into the playoffs still and Springfield would be just outside the top 16 with a loss to McClave. If Springfield wins against McClave Springfield is looking at the #8 seed with their RPI moving to .565. Holly would be a #11 or #12 seed and McClave would be one of the final teams into the playoffs with their RPI moving down to .550 to .560. If Holly get the league title Holly would be around the #6 seed and McClave RPI would be .590 to .600 and the #12 seed for McClave. The Southeast League will determine a lot for the playoffs and I have 2 teams getting into the playoffs: Holly and McClave.

#8 Holly at Las Animas McClave at Springfield

Granada at Wiley

RPI: #7 Holly, #11 McClave, #19 Springfield, #28 Wiley, #36 Granada, #37 Las Animas

Southern League

The Southern League is all decided with Hoehne as your league champion and Fowler finishing second. Hoehne and Fowler are both locks for the playoffs and the only teams with a chance of making the playoffs. Hoehne is looking at a top 4 seed and Fowler is looking around the #10 or #11 seed for the playoffs.

#3 Hoehne at Swink #4 Fowler at Kiowa

Simla at Custer County

RPI: #4 Hoehne, #8 Fowler, #25 Custer County, #26 Swink, #31 Simla, #32 Kiowa,

Southwest League

The Southwest League still has their league title to be decided and that is #5 Sargent vs #9 Mancos. The winner of the league gets the home game. If Mancos wins they are looking at a Top 5 seed in the playoffs with their RPI moving to .635 to .645. If Mancos loses they are looking at the #11 or #12 seed and would see their RPI move to .590 to .605. If Sargent wins the league title things get much more interesting. Sargent depending on how the Southeast League turns out is looking at the #6, #7 or #8 seed if they beat Mancos. Sargent RPI could move to .590 to .610 depending on other results is why the range is so big. If Sargent loses their RPI could move to .550 to .560 and would be looking at one of the last teams into the playoffs. I am going with Sargent over Mancos 42-21. Norwood is a lock also to make the playoffs they received a FFW over Dove Creek and their RPI could be .575 to .585 and are looking at the #13 or #14 seed. Del Norte hosts Nederland this week and with a win could see their RPI move to .518 but are just too far out to make the playoffs. I see the Southwest League getting 3 teams into the playoffs. Sargent, Mancos, and Norwood

#5 Sargent vs #9 Mancos Dove Creek at Norwood

Sanford at Sangre De Cristo Del Norte vs Nederland

RPI: #6 Mancos, #12 Norwood, #15 Sargent, #20 Del Norte, #29 Sanford, #33 Sangre De Cristo, #34 Dove Creek

MileHigh Prep Report Playoff Team Predictions

These are the 16 teams I think will make the playoffs. They are in order by league and not seed.

Central League

Rocky Mountain Lutheran, South Park

Northwest League

West Grand, Gilpin County, Soroco

Plains League

Sedgwick County, Merino, Haxtun, Dayspring Christian

Southeast League