With competition for playoff spots across the Wal-Win area at an apex, the race for the four coveted places in each region are taking shape heading into Week 9.
As a side note, the following will serve as a projection at this time and is no way concrete, as other mitigating factors such as forfeitures and ineligibility can come into play with final determination.
Five teams — Jasper, Cordova, Carbon Hill, Curry and Lynn — have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Meanwhile, Dora, Oakman, Meek and Sumiton Christian have obtained postseason bids and remain in pursuit of hosting rights for a first-round playoff games.
Below is a look at the region standings for the remaining teams and the possible scenarios that could play-out in the final two weeks of region play.
Class 4A, Region 6
Good Hope 4-0
Etowah 4-1
Dora 3-1
Oneonta 3-1
Fultondale 1-3
Ashville 0-4
Hanceville 0-5
Outlook for Dora: No team controls their own destiny like the Bulldogs. Dora plays front-runner Good Hope this week, followed by Etowah in Week 10. Win both and the Bulldogs are at home — either as the region champ or as the second-place team depending on the matchup between Oneonta vs. Good Hope goes. A loss in one or both contest could see Dora as the third or four-place team.
Class 3A, Region 6
Winfield 5-0
Oakman 4-1
JB Penning 4-1
Vinemont 3-2
S Moore 2-3
Carbon Hill 1-4
Holly Pond 1-4
Tarrant 0-5
Outlook for Oakman: With Oakman already holding the key head-to-head victory over J.B. Pennington, the Wildcats can officially finalize second place in the region this week against Vinemont. A loss to Vinemont puts Oakman on the road for the first round of the postseason unless J.B. Pennington pulls off a massive upset of Winfield.
Class 2A, Region 5
Midfield 4-1
Aliceville 3-1
Sulligent 3-1
Lamar Co 2-2
Addison 2-3
Winston Co 1-3
C Springs 0-4
The race for Addison and Winston County: For Addison and Winston County, both have to win out and get some help along the way. Addison has one region game left: against Sulligent in Week 10. The Bulldogs need to win against Sulligent, as well as hope Lamar County loses both to Sulligent and Cold Springs, and pull for a Winston County loss in one of their two region contests to clinch the fourth-place spot. Winston County also has to hope for back to back Lamar County loses, but owns the head to head win over Addison in case both teams end up with matching 3-3 records and would get fourth place.
Class 1A, Region 6
Pickens Co 5-0
Meek 4-1
Hubbertville 3-2
Marion Co 3-2
Berry 2-3
S Lamar 2-3
Brilliant 1-4
Lynn 0-5
Outlook for Meek: The Tigers have locked-up their playoff spot, but could see a number of outcomes that ends with Meek being region champs, in second place, or traveling for the first round. Wins over undefeated Pickens County this week and Berry next week gives the Tigers the region title. A loss to Pickens County and a win over Berry, coupled with a Hubbertville loss to Marion County, paves the way for Meek to finish second. A loss to both has the Tigers traveling for the first round.
Class 1A, Region 7
Cedar Bluff 4-0
Sum Chr 3-1
Coosa Chr 3-1
Valley Head 3-2
Gaylesville 2-3
Appalachian 0-4
Woodville 0-4
Outlook for Sumiton Christian: Much like Dora, Sumiton Christian controls its own destiny to the second-place spot with its head to head bout with Coosa Christian this week. Followed with a win over Valley Head next week and the Eagles are hosting for the first round. A loss to one or both with have the Eagles on the road. One final outcome could also see the Eagles as the region champions: Sumiton Christian scoring back-to-back region victories coupled with two consecutive losses for Cedar Bluff, which faces Appalachian and Coosa Christian to close out the season.
