Panthers eye playoff spot; Hawks, Tigers apt to miss postseason

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Panorama takes to the field before a recent game. The Panthers host winless WCV Friday and will be looking to improve their playoff positioning. Photo courtesy Melissa Hochstetler.

PANORA — Nothing is absolutely certain for the Panorama, Woodward-Granger and ADM football teams entering the final week of the regular season, but the picture is far more clear than it was before last Friday’s games.

Panorama (7-1, 3-1 in 1A District 8) host West Central Valley (0-8, 0-4), with W-G (5-3, 3-1 in 1A D7) entertaining Colfax-Mingo (3-5, 1-3) while ADM (5-3, 2-2 in 3A D9) must deal with visiting Lewis Central (7-1, 3-1).

Panorama is seeking to lock down one of the top seven at-large playoff spots available in 1A. They currently sit eighth in their class in Ratings Percentage Index, the formula used for determining playoff qualifications, as all nine district champions automatically qualify, regardless of record.

W-G (27th RPI) is in an almost untenable spot. A narrow loss to Pella Christian (25th RPI) cost the Hawks the district title. They can finish in a three-way tie for the title with Interstate-35 (24th RPI) should the Roadrunners upset the Eagles, as each team would be 1-1 against the other two top finishers.

I-35 enters week nine leading W-G despite losing to the Hawks, 18-7 and having a currently identical 5-3, 3-1 record. A W-G win would toss the Hawks into the at-large conversation, as they would likely rise over I-35, but with a number in the 20’s a postseason slot, while not mathematically impossible, would require numerous upsets.

ADM is 20th in RPI but has lost to Harlan (8th) and Glenwood (12th). The Tigers would need to upset the Titans, then have both Harlan and Glenwood lose to enter into the discussion for one of the seven at-large spots open in 3A.

 

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