Key week 9 games

[Zowwy21]

Key big games that will have playoff implications ...
Winner of GC / WV game will likely get in.
Britt West Hancock most likely has to win over Belmond-Klemme to get in (BK will likely be on bubble with a win)
Riverside Highland has to beat Belle Plaine to get in
St Albert has to upset AHSTW to get in (AHSTW in either way)
And I believe if Hinton loses to South O'brien, they won't make it (a win will get them the district title with h-t-h win over Akron-Westfield).

Any others I missed?

Playoffs are starting a week early for a number of these teams

 

[Anonymous2002]

ED-CO vs. Clayton Ridge... i foresee ED-CO winning but CR could pull it off at home and throw ED-CO into the At-Large pool.

 

[Zowwy21]

True. Good catch.

 

[FootballFanatic18]

If Lawton Bronson beats Westwood-Sloan (BC Moore has Sloan by 14) then Lawton is a 5-4 District Champion and Sloan is in either way based on most recent RPI

Same with a CBSA win. CBSA would be a 6-3 District Champion with AHSTW in either way

If Sioux Central loses to Alta-Aurelia (BC Moore has Sioux Central by 6) AND IKM takes care of business then that is a 3-way tie and all 3 go (IKM and Alta-Aurelia both outside of top 16 RPI.

Garrigan is in. If Britt beats Belmond-Klemme then they're both 7-2 and on the bubble, if Britt loses they're most likely out at 6-3 and B-K is most likely in at 8-1

Sitting at #19 on RPI Newman Catholic is district champ win or lose

Durant is district champ win or lose (7-2 or 6-3) and BGM should win and will be in at 8-1

Hudson is in. I don't see NT losing and at 8-1 they'll be in.

Sitting at #20 RPI Lynville-Sully is district champ win or lose

For sure champions (RPI):
Hudson (1)
Garrigan (2)
Durant (5)
Sioux Central (6)
Akron (10) or Hinton (11)
Newman (19)
Lynville-Sully (20)

For Sure At-Large if not district champion:
AHSTW (4) and CBSA automatic Qualifier
BGM (8)
North Tama (9)
Sloan (3) and Lawton automatic Qualifier

On the bubble if not district champion:
B-K
Akron or Hinton
Ed-Co
Wapsie Valley
Britt
Highland
Grundy Center
Pekin

In Summary:
Because Newman and Lynville are in no matter what and are outside the top 16 RPI that means that you have to be in the top 14 RPI to be considered "having a chance" if you're not a district champion.

A Lawton win and/or CBSA win would take away 1-2 more spots meaning you'd have to be in the top 13-12 to be considered "having a chance" if you're not a district champion.

An Alta-Aurelia win means 3 automatic qualifiers and shrinks the "at large" field to the top 12 RPI automatically.

You almost have to be a 7-2 at large team to qualify and even then you're not safe.

One question has to be asked, if you're a team like AHSTW, Sloan, Sioux Central, or Durant that is in no matter win or lose, do you rest your star players for half or even all of the game. If I'm AHSTW, Sloan, or Sioux Central do I risk playing my stud RB's and getting them hurt in a "relatively" meaningless game? Maybe I see if I can win without them. CBSA and Lawton are significantly inferior teams, maybe I don't need to play my studs to win if I was playing against them. And Sioux central handled IKM and would probably get them in the first round if there's a 3-way tie in that district, so why not consider it? Keeping better teams out of the playoffs while you rest your studs and stay healthy has to be a part of the strategy doesn't it?

 

[Zowwy21]

You bring up a very good point with the strategy, although I would have to believe that there is still a pride factor involved with being outright district champs - but it does make you think.

 

[HP18]

You bring up a very good point with the strategy, although I would have to believe that there is still a pride factor involved with being outright district champs - but it does make you think.

my understanding is that RPI will be used in matching up teams in the playoffs, so it would not make sense to rest guys and get a road game 2nd round or bad matchup in the dome

 

[troutstamp1]

Yes RPI will be used in playoff matchups BUT it will also be geographically set meaning they are not going to send a lower rpi team across the state to play a higher rpi team. The state screwed this whole RPI playoff thing up they are bound to screw up the matchups. The RPI is a joke since you don't have full control of your schedules because the state sets up your opponents so they basically control who has a tougher or easier sched. Thie biggest issue I have is if you are going to use this format then use it to determin a district champ so their is no possibility of 3 way ties because in class A we only have 6 at large to begin with because of 10 districts. This class has the second most teams in it and less at large births compared to the bigger classes that get the same amount of teams in the post season.

 

[Kevin7216]

There is always going to be a complaint about every ranking system trust me I don’t like BCMoore but there is an easy solution to all of them for every class A team and that is win 9 games and you have nothing to worry bout and that’s the bottom line... yeah some teams might get screwed but that’s not just bcuz of RPI it happens every year and this is first year of RPI!

 

[troutstamp1]

There is always going to be a complaint about every ranking system trust me I don’t like BCMoore but there is an easy solution to all of them for every class A team and that is win 9 games and you have nothing to worry bout and that’s the bottom line... yeah some teams might get screwed but that’s not just bcuz of RPI it happens every year and this is first year of RPI!

That's easy to say Kevin, but what do you think the teams in district 7 think that have had 5 teams ranked and still 4 in the top 16 in the RPI, tough just to get RU in that district let alone go 9-0. The RPI is not the same for everyone because the state picks your sched and you have no say about your opponents and for that matter the 3rd criteria in the RPI your opponents opponents and if they won or lost. Someone please give me 3 solid reasons this is a better system than the past. Also like I said class A gets screwed because it has more teams than any other class other than 8 man witch means less wild card spots than 3A - 1A that has lesser teams, you dont see that as a concern?

 

[Kevin7216]

Oh I see ALOT of concerns but at the same time if it was up to you and me I’m guessing we would have all the at large spots filled with district 3 and 7! Is that the right answer? Is there a good way for IHASS to do it without making someone else mad? I think it’s a lose lose no mater what!

 

[troutstamp1]

Oh I see ALOT of concerns but at the same time if it was up to you and me I’m guessing we would have all the at large spots filled with district 3 and 7! Is that the right answer? Is there a good way for IHASS to do it without making someone else mad? I think it’s a lose lose no mater what!

The first thing i would change as soon as next year since this RPI thing is a 2 year thing is get rid of all possible district 3 way ties in all classes. If they are going to use the RPI let that break the tie and put the others in the at large pool like the rest. Secondly give teams that play up a class more points than teams that play down a class, witch goes back to my original statement about the state sets your non district sched so if they give you 3 teams up a class you should benefit from that with the RPI over a team that plays down a class and gets a win. Right now it benefits the teams playing down a class if they find a real good small school that they know will win games. These are not lose, lose recommendations for the state these are common sense ones that would help. Third and it really has nothing to do with the RPI but it is time for the state to not count total enrollment 9-11 when doing classifications but yet count the # of boys only to get a more accurate number before you put schools in each class, again just another common sense approach that would even up the playing field.

 

[Charles86]

How would BK not get in if they beat West Hancock? They are currently 7th in the lastest RPI. An 8-1 team should not be on the bubble. They lost by 2 two undefeated Garrigan. BK is a playoff team no doubt. But, I do understand that with the new RPI rule for the playoffs, they are placed in that position, but they are a quality team that should be in the playoffs. Same could be said for WH as they are stacked. But, playing in a tough district certainly doesn't help. It's a shame that one of them will not make it.

 

[Anonymous111]

I could see both making it potentially if belmond loses and is around 13th in the RPI. It all depends if Newman is in the top 16 by the end of the year and Sioux central beating alta. Maybe this is nonsensical but i wouldn’t be shocked if it did. Wapsie and Grundy basically have a play in game this week too. Unless a bunch of bull crap happens and st alberts wins, and there’s a 3 way tie, and Newman is still not in top 16

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

How would BK not get in if they beat West Hancock? They are currently 7th in the lastest RPI. An 8-1 team should not be on the bubble. They lost by 2 two undefeated Garrigan. BK is a playoff team no doubt. But, I do understand that with the new RPI rule for the playoffs, they are placed in that position, but they are a quality team that should be in the playoffs. Same could be said for WH as they are stacked. But, playing in a tough district certainly doesn't help. It's a shame that one of them will not make it.

In the old format it wouldn’t matter either just letting you know. Top 2 in the district make it so the loser of the Britt n belmond game would be out anyways so no difference

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

That's easy to say Kevin, but what do you think the teams in district 7 think that have had 5 teams ranked and still 4 in the top 16 in the RPI, tough just to get RU in that district let alone go 9-0. The RPI is not the same for everyone because the state picks your sched and you have no say about your opponents and for that matter the 3rd criteria in the RPI your opponents opponents and if they won or lost. Someone please give me 3 solid reasons this is a better system than the past. Also like I said class A gets screwed because it has more teams than any other class other than 8 man witch means less wild card spots than 3A - 1A that has lesser teams, you dont see that as a concern?

The districts have never broke up evenly and never will it’s just the way it is. Think this instead of a tough district like 7 getting in a possible 3 teams with the old format would be standing pat with just two teams champ n runner up but now have a shot to add more teams. Can’t tell me you would rather see champ n runner up lol that would mean like district 8 would send Lynnville and what Wayne? Hahahaha hell no. Or district 5 would send edco and Clayton ridge? Come on now I know it’s not perfect but I’d rather see what’s happening right now then two teams like that get in. A team like wapsie Or Grundy would already be dead in the water in old format which would be sad

 

[Charles86]

I'm trying to put a projected bracket together for class A, but even with who I think will win, it's tough. When you have possible district champs: AHSTW, Westwood, and Hinton all within a 2 hours distance, it makes things difficult for having each of them playing a home game in the first round even with two district champs playing on the road which to me is Newman and Lynnville-Sully.

 

[Kevin7216]

I don’t know how you can award points for playing up when schools don’t have a say in who they play ND that will cause a whole other mess of all teams wanting to play up and not enough teams and weeks of games to go around to do that... so then u got teams being punished for not playing up when they had no say in the matter.

 

[Kevin7216]

Thank you go panthers for proving my point on another way that IHSAA use to do the playoffs with just champ and runner up got in that AGAIN a lot of people didn’t like lol

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

Okay you don’t have full control of who you play I get that but you do realize for non district games that schools do have some type of say. They make a list of teams they would like to play and the state usually gives you a few if not for sure 1 on your list.

 

[paxregis]

The first thing i would change as soon as next year since this RPI thing is a 2 year thing is get rid of all possible district 3 way ties in all classes. If they are going to use the RPI let that break the tie and put the others in the at large pool like the rest. Secondly give teams that play up a class more points than teams that play down a class, witch goes back to my original statement about the state sets your non district sched so if they give you 3 teams up a class you should benefit from that with the RPI over a team that plays down a class and gets a win. Right now it benefits the teams playing down a class if they find a real good small school that they know will win games. These are not lose, lose recommendations for the state these are common sense ones that would help. Third and it really has nothing to do with the RPI but it is time for the state to not count total enrollment 9-11 when doing classifications but yet count the # of boys only to get a more accurate number before you put schools in each class, again just another common sense approach that would even up the playing field.

Nebraska just started using boys/girls only counts for their classification. North Dakota has done it with football for years.

 

[Kevin7216]

Okay you don’t have full control of who you play I get that but you do realize for non district games that schools do have some type of say. They make a list of teams they would like to play and the state usually gives you a few if not for sure 1 on your list.

Ok but still schools will be putting in lists to play up all 4 games and that won’t be feasible... they cld make it so each school plays up 2 games potentially but then people will complain “well your school had an easier team and you should have less points then our school” I can already hear it!

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

Ok but still schools will be putting in lists to play up all 4 games and that won’t be feasible... they cld make it so each school plays up 2 games potentially but then people will complain “well your school had an easier team and you should have less points then our school” I can already hear it!

Oh I know it will be a never ending thing trying to please everyone. What’s sad is they are not even giving the rpi a chance or the state to work kinks out before crying about it. This system is by far better than that 32 team bs. Ppl should think without this system district 5 and 8 send another team! Good lord that would be a joke

 

[DawgPoundGreat]

Easy answer, everyone makes the playoffs.
Move start of season to current week 0.
Play an 8 game regular season. So season ends in what is now week 7.
Assuming 64 teams(or possible byes if needed) paired off in current week 8.
Round of 32 in current week 9.
Makes round of 16 at current start of playoffs.
All teams get 9 games minimum.

For those that want the playoffs just for those that earn it, why does football have to be different than other sports? Everyone makes it to the "playoffs". Make it like the other sports and give the trophy to those in The Dome or possibly the Final 8.

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

Easy answer, everyone makes the playoffs.
Move start of season to current week 0.
Play an 8 game regular season. So season ends in what is now week 7.
Assuming 64 teams(or possible byes if needed) paired off in current week 8.
Round of 32 in current week 9.
Makes round of 16 at current start of playoffs.
All teams get 9 games minimum.

For those that want the playoffs just for those that earn it, why does football have to be different than other sports? Everyone makes it to the "playoffs". Make it like the other sports and give the trophy to those in The Dome or possibly the Final 8.

Worst idea for the football playoffs I have heard. Not everyone deserves to make it. Sick of participation trophy BS! If the state would ever do this route they would lose more fans than they would draw back. For all the cry babies just win your games pretty simple! If you don’t win okay hit the weights and work with your kids on getting better for next season. Traditional powers make runs each year because they put the work in year in n year out.

 

[DawgPoundGreat]

Worst idea for the football playoffs I have heard. Not everyone deserves to make it. Sick of participation trophy BS! If the state would ever do this route they would lose more fans than they would draw back. For all the cry babies just win your games pretty simple! If you don’t win okay hit the weights and work with your kids on getting better for next season. Traditional powers make runs each year because they put the work in year in n year out.

So you also hate basketball, baseball, track, wrestling, cross country, soccer and every other sport playoffs?
This is not a participation bull as I hate the participation trophy attitude as much as anyone. What it does is remove the argument of who should make it. In the end no one can argue that the best team didn't get in. Or hey if you want to make it tough take only district winners.
I don't understand how people complain that the playoffs need to be special when the playoffs are post season football. Districts in other sports are post season activities and everyone makes it.
You want an issue with participation how about the state giving medals and banners and trophies to teams that simply make the playoffs.

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

So you also hate basketball, baseball, track, wrestling, cross country, soccer and every other sport playoffs?
This is not a participation bull as I hate the participation trophy attitude as much as anyone. What it does is remove the argument of who should make it. In the end no one can argue that the best team didn't get in. Or hey if you want to make it tough take only district winners.
I don't understand how people complain that the playoffs need to be special when the playoffs are post season football. Districts in other sports are post season activities and everyone makes it.
You want an issue with participation how about the state giving medals and banners and trophies to teams that simply make the playoffs.

All them sports are less contact than football. Football is to big of a grind to keep kids healthy especially in small class. Believe it or not there are teams that know they don’t have a chance in a football game n play dirty. Not saying coaching is telling these kids to play that way but kids do. The other sports that is not happening.
To the medals being given out that’s a newer thing and have not cared for that unless it’s for title game participants. All sports give out that banner and it’s a banner oh well lol it’s not a trophy. As for trophies all 16 teams that make state deserve that trophy you are a state participant. They give a trophy out in every other sport for the teams that make state. That is nothing new that stuff has been going on forever don’t feel like anything wrong with letting people know in a trophy case you made state that year with a trophy.

 

[Football211]

Slight chance that d6 could get 4 teams. Durant and BGM are in. If highland beats belle plaine and pekin knocks off Durant, then it's all up to how the RPI plays out. Although if d2 ends in a three way tie, I don't see it happening for pekin and highland regardless

 

[Sev393]

You might want to watch some of those other sports every now and then. ‘Dirty’ plays can happen in every one of them. And since all the traditional powers have kids that work harder and lift more than other teams , they shouldn’t be getting hurt as much as anyway.

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

Slight chance that d6 could get 4 teams. Durant and BGM are in. If highland beats belle plaine and pekin knocks off Durant, then it's all up to how the RPI plays out. Although if d2 ends in a three way tie, I don't see it happening for pekin and highland regardless

I do not see them getting even 3, a lot would have to happen and i wouldn’t call bgm a lock. If they lose they will be out. Also bgm with a weak schedule could fall behind a few 7-2 teams in the final rpi even at 8-1bcould be in danger.

 

[FootballFanatic18]

In class A and 8 man, because theres so many teams, if they kept districts as normal but every team only played 8 regular season games, the 5 district and 3 non district, then the district champions were automatic qualifiers but instead of 6 at-large, they pushed it to 14 at-large and made week 9 the "first round" with the top 8 RPI district champions getting a bye week that would solve 90% of the problems we have currently and better utilize the RPI

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

In class A and 8 man, because theres so many teams, if they kept districts as normal but every team only played 8 regular season games, the 5 district and 3 non district, then the district champions were automatic qualifiers but instead of 6 at-large, they pushed it to 14 at-large and made week 9 the "first round" with the top 8 RPI district champions getting a bye week that would solve 90% of the problems we have currently and better utilize the RPI

Problem is some coaches and teams wouldn’t want to take a week off. Also wouldn’t want to shorten the season by a game. They only get 9 games as it is don’t take it away to 8

 

[HP18]

could go back to 32 teams starting at week 9, the teams that don't make the cut are probably ready to end their season at that point

 

[troutstamp1]

Oh I know it will be a never ending thing trying to please everyone. What’s sad is they are not even giving the rpi a chance or the state to work kinks out before crying about it. This system is by far better than that 32 team bs. Ppl should think without this system district 5 and 8 send another team! Good lord that would be a joke

People and coaches dont like the RPI because it was thrown at them by the state with no notification and how it would factor seeing teams don't set their schedules the state does. Your comment about the 32 teams being BS is ridiculous. I was a big proponent for 32 teams ( BUT ) not the way they did it with top 4 teams in each district but rather top 2 in each district then the rest at large that way you are taking the best teams and not how they placed in each district. If the state lets me and guarantees me i am going to get the 4 non district teams that I want then then I think most would feel a little different on the RPI but the state wont and that's the problem. I asked awhile back for anyone to give me 3 reasons why the RPI is better than a 32 team format that takes the top 2 and the rest at large and I have yet to see a answer. Also like I stated earlier that if the state would only count boys like a lot of other states then you would see some of these 8 man teams coming back up to 11 man and the classifications of teams in each class would even out more.

 

[Zowwy21]

The top 32 teams seems excessive to me. Not a big fan of playoff games being 50 point games. What if they went to 8 districts, district champ gets first round bye and then next 16 based on RPI for 24 team bracket? Obviously district parity would still be an issue , but will never resolve that. Just feel like there are typically a lot of similar teams in that 10-20 rank area and it drops off quite a bit after that. Having a 9 seed face a 24 seed shouldn’t be quite so bad. Because districts would be bigger would be less non-district games and therefore less variation in RPI.

 

[Football211]

I do not see them getting even 3, a lot would have to happen and i wouldn’t call bgm a lock. If they lose they will be out. Also bgm with a weak schedule could fall behind a few 7-2 teams in the final rpi even at 8-1bcould be in danger.

BGM is a lock because they play Cardinal this week, and even with a loss they would probably still be in(they aren't gonna lose though). Highland at 15 and Pekin at 18 in the RPI. You can feel however you want about this "overrated" district, but the point is that there is a possibility four get in.

 

[troutstamp1]

The top 32 teams seems excessive to me. Not a big fan of playoff games being 50 point games. What if they went to 8 districts, district champ gets first round bye and then next 16 based on RPI for 24 team bracket? Obviously district parity would still be an issue , but will never resolve that. Just feel like there are typically a lot of similar teams in that 10-20 rank area and it drops off quite a bit after that. Having a 9 seed face a 24 seed shouldn’t be quite so bad. Because districts would be bigger would be less non-district games and therefore less variation in RPI.

32 out of 64 is not that many 32 out of 48 in 4A is to many and thats why the last time some didnt like it because you had teams with 3 wins in the playoffs in 4A. If you took the RPI today right now all teams in the top 32 in class A would have a winning record and some with 5 wins would still be omitted. I just think 4A is its own animal and shouldn't be grouped with the others because they will never have the same amount of teams as the rest of the classes.

 

[Sev393]

32 out of 64 is not that many 32 out of 48 in 4A is to many and thats why the last time some didnt like it because you had teams with 3 wins in the playoffs in 4A. If you took the RPI today right now all teams in the top 32 in class A would have a winning record and some with 5 wins would still be omitted. I just think 4A is its own animal and shouldn't be grouped with the others because they will never have the same amount of teams as the rest of the classes.

This was my argument last year, why does each class have to be the same for the playoffs? Sure its a little easier for everyone to follow. But there are difference in classes with amount of teams, number of districts etc already for the regular season.
What difference does it make if 4A had 16 teams in their playoffs and 3A-1A had 16 or 24 and A -8man had 16 or 24-32 ?
If they stick with RPI and non-district scheduling remains a concern then going back to expanded playoff of some sort seems like an easy fix, not to mention that is what a majority of coaches and AD's wanted and recommended last year, or so I'm told. In the non-4A classes, they can start week 0. Or if concern about about too early (state fair or whatever) or too many games then play 8 week season, everyone in playoffs gets a 9th game for sure. If non playoff teams want to schedule a 9th game with another non-qualifier, they should be free to do so.

 

[troutstamp1]

This was my argument last year, why does each class have to be the same for the playoffs? Sure its a little easier for everyone to follow. But there are difference in classes with amount of teams, number of districts etc already for the regular season.
What difference does it make if 4A had 16 teams in their playoffs and 3A-1A had 16 or 24 and A -8man had 16 or 24-32 ?
If they stick with RPI and non-district scheduling remains a concern then going back to expanded playoff of some sort seems like an easy fix, not to mention that is what a majority of coaches and AD's wanted and recommended last year, or so I'm told. In the non-4A classes, they can start week 0. Or if concern about about too early (state fair or whatever) or too many games then play 8 week season, everyone in playoffs gets a 9th game for sure. If non playoff teams want to schedule a 9th game with another non-qualifier, they should be free to do so.

Exactly, right now some 8 man teams start week 0 so why cant everyone start week 0 and still keep all playoff games on fridays. To your ? about thats what the coaches and ADs wanted, the 32 team format is exactly what they wanted and proposed as a unified group to the state but the state decided to not go with the majority and instead did their own thing and that is the # 1 reason so many coaches and athletic directors are pissed about this whole RPI thing the way it was sprung on everyone. Some will complain if we do that we will lose a game and have only 8 and lose gate money, well short answer is yes your right if you dont make the playoffs and that one game you lose is every other year for gate money not every year.

 

[GOPANTHERS23]

BGM is a lock because they play Cardinal this week, and even with a loss they would probably still be in(they aren't gonna lose though). Highland at 15 and Pekin at 18 in the RPI. You can feel however you want about this "overrated" district, but the point is that there is a possibility four get in.

Yes the possibility is there but a lot of things would have to happen which I do not see especially for Pekin to slide up. Right now highland is actually the last team out so they are more realistic with a few things going right n they slide in.
Bgm is not a lock by far. Even with a win I would not say they are a lock just yet from a weak schedule. 8-1 not getting in even with a bad schedule would be insane

 

[Football211]

Yes the possibility is there but a lot of things would have to happen which I do not see especially for Pekin to slide up. Right now highland is actually the last team out so they are more realistic with a few things going right n they slide in.
Bgm is not a lock by far. Even with a win I would not say they are a lock just yet from a weak schedule. 8-1 not getting in even with a bad schedule would be insane

In the end it all depends who shows up this Friday night. Nobody will know until early Saturday morning. Good luck to whatever team you support