8-Man Football Week 10 League Breakdown
All League Championships have been given out. Now teams look to improve their Playoff Resume and try their best to increase their RPI to get into the Top 15! I say Top 15 because Front Range Christian is going to get a spot and is #22 in the RPI.
Arkansas Valley League
Hoehne is your Arkansas Valley League Champion. They hope to improve their RPI but more than likely are settled into the #5 spot. Hoehne this week hosts McClave who is desperate for a win. McClave even with the upset of Hoehne would still need quite a bit to go their way to sneak into the Top 15. Fowler has the #8 RPI and is sitting third in the RPI. I may have to check seeding rules but due to this rule but I believe the rule state that after they place a team the #2 team from the conference is put up for consideration next and this continue until all teams are seeded. If that is the case, then Holly will have to be placed before Fowler and Holly does have the head to head on Fowler as well so seeding wise this will be very interesting. Holly is sitting at #14 and it’s win or go home for Holly. Holly faces Springfield this week and Springfield is also desperate for a win. Holly with a win could move into the .570 range and stay in the 13-14 range. Springfield must win and if they can upset Holly could move into the .5433 range which puts them around 15-17 and in the hunt. This is an elimination game and should be a very good game. I do think 3 teams from the Ark Valley will get into the playoffs but seeing how the RPI works out is going to be a big thing.
RPI: #5 Hoehne, #8 Fowler, #14 Holly, #21 Springfield, #24 McClave, #33 Las Animas, #38 Wiley
Central League
Front Range Christian is your league champion and get the automatic berth. The Central league looks to be a one berth league with only Front Range Christian getting into the playoffs. Front Range Christian RPI is still above the Top 16 and will replace the lowest RPI seeded team. Due to that only the Top 15 of the RPI will get into the playoffs.
RPI: #22 Front Range Christian, #27 South Park, #30 Elbert, #36 Justice, #39 Rocky Mountain Lutheran
Mountain League
Mancos is your League champion of the Mountain League. They are now in the hunt for a Top 5 seed and can accomplish that if they win their final game against Dove Creek. Mancos has played well all year and can be accounted to their defense and balanced offense. Mancos had a good run last year in the playoffs as well and that experience will make Mancos a dangerous team in the playoffs. Dove Creek is coming off a huge upset of Sanford. Dove Creek and Sanford were close going into the fourth quarter before Dove Creek scored 14 unanswered points. The 52 points given up by Sanford is the most this season. Dove Creek now has some momentum as they fight for a spot in the playoffs. Dove Creek is at #15 in the RPI. I am going with Mancos in this game. Another massive game is Sargent vs Sanford. Sargent comes into this game on a 5-game winning streak but took them a while to pull ahead of Del Norte last week. Sargent is hoping to finish second and a legit shot at hosting a playoff game if they can win this game. Sargent will need Frank Torrez to have a big game and protect the football. Sanford has lost 2 of their last 3 games. Sanford defensively has taken a slight step backwards and they will need their defense to step up this week. Sanford offensively has also been a power and will need them to come up big if they plan on snagging the upset. I am going with Sargent in a hard-fought game. Looking at playoff scenarios. Sargent is currently #10 in the RPI and with a could increase their RPI around .605-.600 which puts them in 7-10 range. Sargent with a loss could drop a bit to around .570 which puts them around 13-14. Sanford with a win could see their RPI move up to .5948 or around 9. If Sanford losses, they could see their RPI drop around .5627 or in the 14-15 range. Dove Creek with a win would for sure get into the playoffs and would see their RPI rise around 9-10. A loss for Dove Creek makes things much more interesting. A loss for Dove Creek puts them around .555-.545 which is in the 14-16 range and square on the bubble. Norwood, I think is just a bit too far to make a run for a playoff spot. They don’t have any more games and I have their RPI around .535 which is still at 17.
RPI: #4 Mancos, #10 Sargent, #13 Sanford, #15 Dove Creek, #17 Norwood, #31 Del Norte #34 Sangre De Cristo
Northwest League
The Northwest League has its final placings set. West Grand is your league champion, Rangely finishes second, and Vail Christian finishes 3rd. West Grand should finish with the #1 or #2 RPI and a #1 or #2 seed. Rangely is on pace for a Top 5 seed. Vail Christian with a win over Byers should finish around 9 or 10 but is in danger of being jumped by Sargent if they win. Vail Christian with a loss to Byers would drop to around .550 which is 15-16. Vail Christian will have to play focused and keep their playoff hopes alive. Soroco is currently #18 in the RPI. What is killing Soroco despite their 5-3 record is their SOS. Soroco SOS is 24 and their non-league schedule combined for a 5-31 record. Soroco must win their final game to even have a shot. Soroco plays Hayden this week and Soroco is also trying to snap a 3 game losing streak. Soroco with a win could see their RPI move to .540 range which is in the 15-17 range. Soroco will need some help though if they plan on moving into the Top 15. Plateau Valley faces Rangely this week and with an upset would put their best foot forward I am just not sure if it would be enough.
RPI: #1 West Grand, #3 Rangely, #9 Vail Christian, #18 Soroco, #23 Plateau Valley, #26 Hayden, #35 Gilpin County
Plains League
The Plains league is nearly settled out and only 3rd and 4th place needed to be decided. That will happen when Akron and Dayspring Christian clash. Akron currently is 5-3 overall and #7 in the RPI and Dayspring Christian is 3-4 and #16 in the RPI. Akron is hoping to lock up 3rd place in league and a possible home first round game. Akron will have to be ready for a pass heavy offense but Akron must get their running game going. Dayspring Christian must take care of the football and QB Christian Still must have a huge game. If Dayspring Christian can stop the run they would have a shot at the upset. I am going with Akron and their good defense to grab a close hard fought game. Two other leagues game also take place Sedgwick County travels to Merino and Haxtun travels to Caliche. I am going with Sedgwick County and Caliche in those game but both games will be interesting to watch. Looking at playoff scenarios, Sedgwick County is once again in the running for the #1 overall seed and are #2 in the RPI. I am guessing they will be the #1 overall seed but if they seed with just RPI then they will be the #2. Caliche is #6 currently in the RPI and a win over Haxtun should keep them in that spot. Caliche is hoping to host a first round playoff game and a win and they would host a first round game. Akron is playing a desperate Dayspring Christian team who needs to win to get into the playoffs. Akron with a win could see their RPI be .600-.595 which puts them in the 7-8 range and in position to host a playoff game. If Akron loses to Dayspring Christian, Akron could see their RPI drop to .570-.560 which is around the 13-14 mark. Dayspring Christian has only one scenario to get into the playoffs and that is win. If Dayspring Christian wins they could see their RPI move to .565-.560 which puts them around 13-15. Dayspring Christian cannot loss this game and get into the playoffs as their RPI could drop to .530. Merino is #19 in the RPI and a upset over Sedgwick County would jump them up around 12 and into the playoffs. Merino cannot loss and get into the playoffs.
RPI: #2 Sedgwick County, #6 Caliche, #7 Akron, #16 Dayspring Christian, #19 Merino, #25 Byers, #28 Haxtun
Southern League
Pikes Peak Christian is your league Champion and Simla is your second-place finisher. This really matters due because Simla has the #11 RPI and with a win should stay ahead of Pikes Peak Christian at #12. Due to Pikes Peak Christian beating Simla though and having the League Championship, Pikes Peak Christian must be seeded higher than Simla. Both teams with wins this week will make the playoffs but if either loss they could fall out of the top 16. Only 1 other team has a shot at the playoffs and that is Custer County. Custer County keep their hopes alive last week beating South park and moving up to #20 in the RPI. They still must climb .022 points which is quite a bit. Custer County RPI is hurting due to their SOS of 26. Custer County with a win over Calhan could see their RPI climb into the .535 area which is around 17. Custer County would need some help to move into the Top 15.
RPI: #11 Simla, #12 Pikes Peak Christian, #20 Custer County, #29 Calhan #32 Swink, #39 Miami-Yoder
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