2020 PLAYOFF BRACKET

[Run4Fun2009]

Saturday, October 31st
QF1: W4 Watford City 6 @ E1 (3) Hillsboro-Central Valley 32
QF2: E3 (5) Central Cass 6 @ W2 (2) Beulah 35
QF3: E4 Devils Lake 7 @ W1 (1) Bismarck St. Mary's 46
QF4: W3 Hazen 0 @ E2 (4) Kindred 14

Saturday, November 7th
SF1: W2 (2) Beulah 21 @ E1 (3) Hillsboro-Central Valley 6
SF2: E2 (4) Kindred 15 @ W1 (1) Bismarck St. Mary's 20

Friday, November 13th
CHAMPIONSHIP: W1 (1) Bismarck St. Mary's 17 vs. W2 (2) Beulah 7

Champs: (1) Bismarck St. Mary's (11-0)
Runner Up: (2) Beulah (8-3)

Senior Athlete of the Year: Cullen Curl, Bismarck St. Mary's
Coach of the Year: Dan Smrekar, Bismarck St. Mary's

[ChickenNuggets]

Saturday, October 31st
QF1: W4 Watford City (1-7) @ E1 (3) Hillsboro-Central Valley (7-2)
QF2: E3 (5) Central Cass (4-4) @ W2 (2) Beulah (6-2)
QF3: E4 Devils Lake (3-6) @ W1 (1) Bismarck St. Mary's (8-0)
QF4: W3 Hazen (3-4) @ E2 (4) Kindred (5-1)

[Sportsrube]

Anyone else have a problem with the teams with losing records making the playoffs?

[Run4Fun2009]

Anyone else have a problem with the teams with losing records making the playoffs?

It happens when you have an 11-team division; usually you get lucky and have most low-end teams at .500

[d_fense]

Anyone else have a problem with the teams with losing records making the playoffs?

I don't have a problem with teams under 500 making the playoffs.

What is your problem with a team under 500 making the playoffs?

Do you have trouble with a team over 500 making the playoffs when they play in a poor region? While a team may not make the playoffs but play in a difficult region. If that team were to play an above 500 playoff team in a weak region, they would walk over them. I don't have a problem with how we currently do things. There is no perfect system. However you try to change a system, it may not fit what happens next. That is life.

What would you advocate for? A play off with 2 teams, 3 with a bye, 4 teams? Only teams above 500, or 500 or better? If you say better than 500, how would you run playoffs? Would you have a week or two off after the regular season before starting the playoffs, so you can end at the Dakota Bowl?

It is "possible" to only have only 3 teams above 500 in a 11 team division. (10-0, 9-1, 8-2, 5-5, 5-5, 5-5, 5-5, 5-5, 5-5, 5-5, and 5-5).

[maddog1971]

I would say with what is happening with 11 teams... the top 4 teams should play. This year... Really who is going to get upset in the first round. If VC would have made it in I would have picked them to upset St. Marys but they did not.

[The Schwab]

I could see having 6 teams in the playoffs (following this format by taking out the 4 seeds from E/W and giving the 1 seeds a bye)

[ndlionsfan]

I could see having 6 teams in the playoffs (following this format by taking out the 4 seeds from E/W and giving the 1 seeds a bye)

I agree with this. I have no problem with losing records making the playoffs as it happens from time to time in all levels. But for a 1-7 team to be in the playoffs? That's a little extreme and watered down.

[Run4Fun2009]

I could see having 6 teams in the playoffs (following this format by taking out the 4 seeds from E/W and giving the 1 seeds a bye)

I agree with this. I have no problem with losing records making the playoffs as it happens from time to time in all levels. But for a 1-7 team to be in the playoffs? That's a little extreme and watered down.

Turtle Mountain would have been in the playoffs had they had a season...I actually think Hazen/TMCHS could have been pretty interesting game; they would have had a losing record still IMO (3-6 or 4-5) but therefore a 1-7 team wouldn't have made it to the playoffs.

Central Cass vs. Beulah is the most intriguing of the 1st Round matchups this year and I could see the Squirrels pull that upset; HCV is lucky to have escaped the CC game with an OT victory.

[Thundersnow]

Anyone else have a problem with the teams with losing records making the playoffs?

This happens at all levels of sports. Look at this year's NFC East, we might have a 5 or 6-win team win that division and HOST a playoff game. Teams in college basketball get hot at the end of the year, win their conference tournament and make the NCAA Tournament. NBA and NHL teams with sub-.500 records routinely make the playoffs. I'll admit 1-7 is an extreme example, but that is what 2020 has given us when 4 teams in a 5-team division qualify for the postseason.

[maddog1971]

I could see having 6 teams in the playoffs (following this format by taking out the 4 seeds from E/W and giving the 1 seeds a bye)

I agree with this. I have no problem with losing records making the playoffs as it happens from time to time in all levels. But for a 1-7 team to be in the playoffs? That's a little extreme and watered down.

Turtle Mountain would have been in the playoffs had they had a season...I actually think Hazen/TMCHS could have been pretty interesting game; they would have had a losing record still IMO (3-6 or 4-5) but therefore a 1-7 team wouldn't have made it to the playoffs.

Central Cass vs. Beulah is the most intriguing of the 1st Round matchups this year and I could see the Squirrels pull that upset; HCV is lucky to have escaped the CC game with an OT victory.

You never know. CC stands back and throws it as far as they can and they have the receivers that go get the ball for them. Seems like they have a handful of big long plays to keep them in games this year. I think the Miners will grind out their running game and not give CC enough chances to hit on the long ball. BUT... you never know. Hazen could get Kindred as well... Last time they played the Kindred starters only played the first half... Over confidence? You never know.
But if I had to bet with a gun to my head... I say the Miners and Vikings win their games easily.

[leroybla]

Imagine the possibilities. With at least one school now forfeiting (Oakes in A), a 1-7 team Could be state champion in AA!

[ChickenNuggets]

Semi-finals-

Beulah vs. Hillsboro. Hillsboro won a tight game the first time around. Coach Dooley will have the Miners ready and will make necessary adjustments. I"ll take the visitors by a score of 20-12.

St. Mary's vs. Kindred- St. Mary's rolls in this one. 42-6 is my prediction.

[maddog1971]

I think the Boro's have the coaching to handle the Miners. Close game but I think their defense holds up 12 to 6.
St. Mary's game really depends on how the weather turns out. If Kindred can throw then they will be in the game. If the weather is bad then Bismarck rolls. Kindred can not run the ball against the Bismarck with 10th grade kids not over 140 lbs.

[urserious]

I think the Boro's have the coaching to handle the Miners. Close game but I think their defense holds up 12 to 6.
St. Mary's game really depends on how the weather turns out. If Kindred can throw then they will be in the game. If the weather is bad then Bismarck rolls. Kindred can not run the ball against the Bismarck with 10th grade kids not over 140 lbs.

So sick of hearing you complain about St. Marys football team and how we should feel sorry for poor little Kindred. But when basketball roles around you have no problem beating Maple Valley by 75.

[maddog1971]

Wow.... Bismarck is a class A school. That is a truth. That is just the way it is. 50% of the kids playing for towns like Stanley, Hazen, Miners, Buro's and Kindred would be playing on the JV team for Bismarck.
Who has beat anyone by 75 points in BBal by the way l..... sure not Kindred Boys Basketball.... by the way since when has Kindred made it to Class B boys basketball State? No idea....
By the way we are talking about football. 2 different sports. I would much rather class B schools play Class A schools in Basketball. Any day of the week. You only need 5 or 6 to play basketball.. you need at least 15 to play football.

[urserious]

Wow.... Bismarck is a class A school. That is a truth. That is just the way it is. 50% of the kids playing for towns like Stanley, Hazen, Miners, Buro's and Kindred would be playing on the JV team for Bismarck.
Who has beat anyone by 75 points in BBal by the way l..... sure not Kindred Boys Basketball.... by the way since when has Kindred made it to Class B boys basketball State? No idea....
By the way we are talking about football. 2 different sports. I would much rather class B schools play Class A schools in Basketball. Any day of the week. You only need 5 or 6 to play basketball.. you need at least 15 to play football.

Naw you just have some crazy Kindred blinders

[NDPREP]

He isn't wrong but I come at this from a different POV. THE single biggest advantage to the private school is A towns. JV games, hear me out, these freshman at St Mary's play full 8-10 game schedules against all the bismarck schools. You can't replace those kinds of reps at a B school.

[urserious]

He isn't wrong but I come at this from a different POV. THE single biggest advantage to the private school is A towns. JV games, hear me out, these freshman at St Mary's play full 8-10 game schedules against all the bismarck schools. You can't replace those kinds of reps at a B school.

Right, bc Kindred is so far from Fargo they cannot play any Class A schools.

[Sportsrube]

IMO - any school without a defined District boundary should be playing in the highest division. Most states do this and it works for them, it would work for ND also.

[ndfootball4444]

Beulah @ HVC- Beulah gets them in this one. 21-7
Kindred @ St. Mary's- St. Mary's 35 - 8

[maddog1971]

IMO - any school without a defined District boundary should be playing in the highest division. Most states do this and it works for them, it would work for ND also.

That is a great Idea. That would be great.

[BelfieldBantams]

How about instead of whining about losing to the private schools you just go out and beat them? Yes I understand the rumors that they can recruit and they get the left overs from the Class A school, but just stop whining and beat them instead.

I was at a school that had a stud class that had a lot of success in all sports (boys and girls), including being in and winning many state championships. Ask them their most memorable win, and without a doubt they say an early playoff win against a private school that they had never beat before. This was a boys win and I would guess that some of the girls might say this game too.

Minot Ryan, St. Mary's, Oak Grove, etc just raise your game and go beat them.

[Run4Fun2009]

Kindred had their chances to knock of St. Mary's; too many turnovers and STILL had a chance at the end of the game.

[eatdatpierogi445]

Watched the HCV/Beulah game on YouTube. Congrats to Beulah knocking off the team they lost to in the championship last year. Also what kind of offense does Beulah run, what is it called. Never seen anything like it before.