Prep football: Scenarios still wide open entering last regular-season week

The football schedulers in the Greater Spokane League couldn’t have planned things more perfectly if they tried.

With so few league games to decide titles, the last week of the GSL schedule is usually filled with meaningful games at both levels. This year is no different.

On Thursday, Mead (5-3, 3-1) travels to Central Valley (5-3, 2-2). Gonzaga Prep (6-2, 4-0) faces Lewis and Clark (7-1, 3-1) on Friday at Albi Stadium.

Mt. Spokane (7-1, 2-0) clashes with Shadle Park (3-5, 2-0) in Friday’s early game at Albi, although the outcome shouldn’t be much in doubt. Both teams have qualified for the 3A crossover games against Mid-Columbia Conference teams next weekend.

As for 4A, things are much more convoluted.

G-Prep is the only team that has clinched a spot in the Week 10 playoffs against the MCC and will earn no lower than the second seed. The Bullpups would love to beat LC to remain perfect in league and secure the top seed and a home playoff game the following weekend.

There are two scenarios which avoid a tiebreaker to determine playoff spots.

1) G-Prep beats LC, Mead beats CV: In this scenario, G-Prep wins the league and No. 1 seed with a 5-0 league record. Mead would be second at 4-1 and LC third at 3-2. Mead and LC would travel to the Tri-Cities for a Week 10 matchup.

2) LC beats G-Prep, CV beats Mead: In this case, LC takes the top seed at 4-1, G-Prep is second at 4-1 (because of a head-to-head loss to LC) and CV is third at 3-2.

The other two scenarios are messy and confusing, which would precipitate a “Kansas tiebreaker” on Tuesday at Albi. But what else would you expect?

3) LC beats G-Prep, Mead beats CV: G-Prep, Mead and LC would all finish 4-1 and qualify for Week 10.

LC would be the “top seed” in the tiebreaker. G-Prep would face Mead, with the winner taking on LC. Game 3 of the tiebreaker would pit the losers of the two game, unless it’s a rematch of Game 1, in which case the Game 2 loser is second seed and Game 1 loser is third seed.

4) G-Prep beats LC, CV beats Mead: G-Prep earns the top seed at 5-0, and the other three are 3-2. A tiebreaker would determine the two and three seeds.

Game 1 would pit CV against Mead. Game two is the winner against LC, with that winner earning the second seed and loser third seed. As with the previous scenario, Game 3 is only played if it’s not a rematch of Game 1.

Got it?

GNL

West Valley (7-1, 3-0) earned the league title and a home crossover game with its 17-14 win over Cheney last week. Cheney (6-2, 1-2) travels to Pullman (6-2, 2-1) on Friday to perhaps determine the second seed and a road trip to the crossovers next week. The pair could also end up in a three-way tie with Clarkston at 2-2 in league.

Northeast A

Colville (6-2, 5-0), by virtue of its 28-7 win over Newport on Oct. 12, earned the top seed and a bye into the state playoffs. Newport (6-1, 4-1) qualified for a crossover game and hosts Lakeside (3-4, 3-2) on Friday. The winner is second seed and will host a crossover. Lakeside, Riverside and Deer Park can all finish at 3-3 in league, necessitating a tiebreaker for the third seed.

Idaho

State playoffs begin this week. In 5A, Coeur d’Alene (8-0) earned a first-round bye. On Friday, Post Falls (4-4) hosts Skyview (5-4), and Lewiston (6-3) travels to Eagle (6-3).

In 4A, Sandpoint (3-6) goes to Hillcrest (8-1), and Moscow (3-5) hosts Vallivue (6-3). Timberlake (6-3) earned a bye in 3A, and Kellogg (3-5) travels to Fruitland (5-3) on Saturday. In 2A, St. Maries (5-3) earned an at-large bid and faces New Plymouth (5-3) on the road.