With just a week left in the regular season, teams have started to plan for the postseason while others are still fighting to keep their season alive. Here’s a breakdown of each conference and what teams need to do to reach the playoffs.
3A-1
Elkins – The Elks can earn the No. 1 seed with a win at Green Forest and a Clinton win at Mountain View (both would need to be by eight points or more). Elkins is the No. 2 seed if Mountain View wins vs Clinton. Elks fall to the No. 3 seed with a loss at Green Forest and a Clinton win. Other scenarios exist involving playoff points and margins of victory.
Clinton – The other Yellowjackets could finish anywhere between first and third depending on the scenarios above. A loss and an Elkins win would guarantee Clinton as the No. 3 seed.
Melbourne & Greenland – Not as complicated as the top of the conference. The winner is the No. 4 seed and the loser in the No. 5 seed.
Yellville-Summit & Marshall – Both have been eliminated from the postseason race.
Charleston – Tigers again win the conference and will be the No. 1 seed no matter the outcome of Friday’s game vs Mansfield.
Atkins – Red Devils will be the No. 2 seed with win at Perryville. Atkins also owns head-to-head tie-breaker with both Paris and Lamar, meaning Red Devils can finish no lower than second seed.
Paris & Lamar – Winner is the No. 3 seed and the loser is the No. 4 seed. A Perryville win vs Atkins would cause a tie for the No. 4 seed but Mustangs lost to both earlier in the season.
Perryville – Mustangs are the No. 5 seed no matter the outcome of Friday’s game vs Atkins. A Mansfield win would force a tie for fifth but Perryville owns the tie-breaker.
Mansfield, Two Rivers & Cedarville – All have been eliminated from the postseason race.
2A-4
Danville – Little Johns will are the conference champion and the No. 1 seed. Danville is at Augusta (nonconference) on Friday.
Hackett – Hornets have secured the No. 2 seed no matter the outcome on Friday. Hackett travels to Johnson County Westside.
Mountainburg – Dragons will be the No. 3 seed and has a bye in week 10.
Lavaca – Golden Arrows are the No. 4 seed with a win at Decatur or with a loss by Johnson County Westside. Arrows also own the tiebreaker with a 35-6 win in week four.
Johnson County Westside – Rebels are the No. 5 seed at worst and could move to the fourth spot with a win paired with a Lavaca loss.
Magazine, Decatur & Western Yell Co. – All have been eliminated from the postseason race.