By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com
The District 25-6A playoff picture was quite blurry headed into this week’s games.
With McNeil’s 52-21 win over Stony Point on Friday and Westwood’s 24-21 win over Manor eliminating the Tigers and Mustangs from contention, the picture got a bit clearer.
Unfortunately for Westwood, the Warriors now have a big hill to climb if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Westwood (7-2, 4-2) faces first-place Vandegrift (9-0, 6-0) this coming Friday at Monroe Stadium. The simple path to the postseason for Westwood is to do something nine other teams have failed to do this year – beat the Vipers. However, if the Warriors lose to Vandegrift they can still get in but will need help from Round Rock and McNeil.
Because, if McNeil, Vista Ridge, Round Rock, and Westwood all end up 4-3 in district play after next week, the Warriors will be the odd man out. This is one of two scenarios Vandegrift would bump up to the Division I, Class 6A playoffs.
That means that if Westwood loses to Vandegrift, the Warriors need Round Rock to beat Vista Ridge to get into the playoffs.
For McNeil, the Mavericks (5-4, 3-3) have the easiest path to the playoffs, thus ending a 19-year playoff drought. If McNeil beats last-place Cedar Ridge in Week 11, the Mavericks are in the playoffs regardless of what happens in the other two games. If the Raiders win, McNeil can still get in with a Round Rock win over Vista Ridge. However, if McNeil loses and Vista Ridge beats Round Rock, McNeil will miss the playoffs.
For Vista Ridge, the Rangers (6-3, 3-3) will make the playoffs with a win over Round Rock. Should Vista Ridge lose, the Rangers will need Cedar Ridge to beat McNeil to make the playoffs. regardless of the outcome of the Westwood-Vandegrift game.
Round Rock gets in regardless if they win or lose as long as Vandegrift beats Westwood. However, if Westwood and McNeil both win, and Vista Ridge beats Round Rock, the Dragons will miss the playoffs. This is the other scenario Vandegrift will be bumped to the Division I-6A playoffs.
It should be an interesting final week of the season.
Standings
| District 25-6A | Wins | Losses | W (District) | L (District) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandegrift – x | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Westwood | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Round Rock | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Vista Ridge | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| McNeil | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Manor | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Stony Point | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Cedar Ridge | 2 | 7 | 0 | 6 |