RGVSPORTS.com
Here’s a look at the Valley football playoff scenarios and possible matchups heading into Week 11.
In 6A and 5A classifications, four teams advance to the playoffs from each district. The two with the larger enrollments are placed in the Division I bracket, and the two with the smaller enrollments are placed in the Division II bracket. Teams will then enter bi-district play. District 29-6A will face District 30-6A, District 31-6A will face District 32-6A, and District 30-5A will face District 31-5A.
In each bi-district pairing, the No. 1 seed in each division will face the No. 2 seed in the same division from the opposing district.
For example, the No. 1 seed in District 30-6A Division I will face the No. 2 seed in District 29-6A Division I.
DISTRICT 29-30 6A
The playoff positions in District 30-6A are mostly set. McAllen Memorial will be the No. 1 seed from District 30-6A in Division I. La Joya High will be the No. 2 seed in Division I.
McAllen High and La Joya Palmview will be the two representatives in District 30-6A Division II. The winner of Friday’s matchup between the teams will be the No. 1 seed. The loser will be the No. 2.
Laredo United is locked in as the No. 1 seed in District 29-6A Division I.
Laredo LBJ is set as the No. 1 seed in District 29-6A Division II.
The third and fourth playoff teams will be determined this week, with any combination of Del Rio, Laredo Alexander and Eagle Pass still a possibility. Much will rest on the Week 11 matchup between Del Rio and Eagle Pass. Potentially, the three could come down to a positive points tiebreaker.
If Eagle Pass reaches, it will be the No. 2 seed in District 29-6A Division II.
If Del Rio reaches the playoffs, it will be the No. 2 seed in District 29-6A Division I.
If Alexander is the fourth playoff team, it will take the No. 2 seed in Division I if Eagle Pass also reaches. Alexander would be the No. 2 seed in Division II if Del Rio is the fourth playoff team.
So, in Division I, Laredo United will play La Joya High, and McAllen Memorial will face either Del Rio or Laredo Alexander.
In Division II, the loser of Friday’s game between Palmview and McAllen High will face Laredo LBJ. The winner will face either Eagle Pass or Laredo Alexander.
DISTRICT 31-32 6A
Although Weslaco East and Weslaco High will play for the outright District 31-6A title on Friday, both team’s playoff fates are already set.
Weslaco High will be the No. 1 seed from District 31-6A in Division I, and Edinburg North will be the No. 2 seed from District 31-6A in Division I.
In Division II, Weslaco East will be the No. 1 seed, and PSJA North will be the No. 2 seed.
The picture in District 32-6A is more murky. San Benito sits atop the district standings at 5-1, and is the only team guaranteed a playoff spot. Los Fresnos, Harlingen High and Brownsville Rivera — all at 4-2 — could secure playoff spots with Week 11 wins. But there is the potential a four-way tie between the teams ranked second through fifth. Brownsville Veterans should move to 4-3 in a Week 11 matchup against Brownsville Lopez.
Los Fresnos and Harlingen High would play in Division I were they to reach, which appears likely. Rivera and Veterans would be in Division II. As the middle of the three in terms of enrollment, San Benito’s fate depends on which of the other four reach.
DISTRICT 31-32 5A
Sharyland High (5-0) is in position to finish first in District 31-5A and claim the No. 1 seed in Division II. Mission Veterans (4-1) and Edinburg Vela (4-1) are tied for second in district. They’ll battle it out in Week 11 for playoff seeding in Division I. Roma (2-3) currently sits in fourth in 31-5A, good for the No. 2 seed in Division II.
If the playoffs started today, Mercedes (6-0), Edcouch-Elsa (5-1), Donna High (4-2) and PSJA High (3-3) would be District 32-5A’s postseason qualifiers.
Mercedes clinched a share of the league championship with Friday’s 48-34 win over PSJA Southwest. It can claim the title outright with a win Friday at Brownsville Porter.
E-E is already in the playoffs, but could drop in seeding with a loss to Donna High. The Redskins assure themselves a playoff berth with a win at Edcouch-Elsa, but could also get in via three-way tie for fourth along with PSJA High and PSJA Southwest.
PSJA High can get in with a win Friday at Donna North. It does not need help from anyone else. Southwest needs a win against Brownsville Pace and a Donna High win to get in.
The most probable scenario is Edcouch-Elsa beats Donna High, and PSJA High and Southwest win, which forces a three-way tie for fourth between the Redskins, PSJA High and PSJA Southwest. All would be 3-3.
Under that scenario, PSJA High is in off positive points. The Bears’ 27-0 win over PSJA Southwest a couple weeks ago may prove to be huge.
Southwest would then get in since it beat Donna High 21-14 in the district opener for both teams last month.
Mercedes is assured the No. 1 seed in Division II. Edcouch-Elsa will be the No. 2 seed in Division II. PSJA High is likely to claim the No. 1 seed in Division I, with Donna High taking the No. 2 seed in Division I.
So, if the playoffs started today, Sharyland High would take on Edcouch-Elsa (5-1). Roma would meet 32-5A’s top team, Mercedes.
The winner of Friday’s Edinburg Vela-Mission Vets clash would take on PSJA High (3-3). The loser would take on Donna High (4-2).