Week 8- What to Watch
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 11:52 am
Two weeks of regular season football remain! We are entering October and there are a number of teams who have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention while there are many that have clinched playoff spots. Regardless, there are still many games with a lot on the line such as jockeying for position within the regions to fight for region championships, home playoff games, etc. Let's take a look at the biggest games from the week to come.
Region 1-
LaMoure (5-2) @ Maple River (5-2)
These two teams have a lot to play for. If the playoffs started today they would be the #3 and #4 teams in the region. LaMoure has on opportunity to improve their stock by winning out against Maple River this week and Wyndmere/Lidgerwood a week from now to jump all the way up to the #2 position which comes with a coveted home playoff game in the first round! Maple River, while they are currently sitting in 4th place, has to either win one of their final two games against LaMoure or Sargent County or get some help by a Hankinson loss to keep possession of that #4 position. Two Maple River losses paired with two Hankinson wins in the last two weeks would be enough to move Hankinson ahead of Maple River via their head to head win earlier this year. I look for LaMoure to go on the road and get the win this week in a big way. I'll take the Loboes 48-20
Region 2-
Nelson County (4-2) @ North Prairie (6-1)
Nelson County is coming off a bye, but the last time they took he field they went toe to toe with New Rockford losing 8-6. New Rockford is the team that put that lone blemish on previously #1 ranked North Prairie's record in an overtime thriller a few weeks back. Now these two teams collide. Without diving too deeply into the scenarios, I do believe that a Nelson County win would keep them mathematically in the hunt for the #2 overall position in the region. A North Prairie win would likely seal up that #2 spot in region 2. I do look for this game to be a battle, but I think North Prairie has things figured out and they're back on track after adjusting for the loss of their quarterback from that New Rockford game. I'll take North Prairie in this one to win 34-18.
Region 3-
Surrey (4-3) @ Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (5-2)
Surrey is fighting for their playoff lives while MLS is in the hunt to finish anywhere between 2-4 in the region, so obviously a win in this game would mean a lot for both programs. These two have been perennial playoff teams out of this part of the state for a while and this should prove to be another good game. I like MLS being at home as I think they are playing solid football right now. MLS wins 38-28.
Region 4-
Linton-HMB-Strasburg-Zeeland (4-3) @ New Salem-Almont (5-2)
Linton needs to win out and could use some help along the way to scratch and claw their way into a playoff birth. New Salem-Almont is coming off of back to back losses and is looking to right the ship as they are currently clutching 2nd place in the region via head to head tie-breaker over Grant County, but a loss in this game would likely drop them to 4th place in the region. Both teams have a lot to play for. Both teams are traditional football powerhouses, so this should be a great game. I'm going with what might be considered a slight upset in this one. Give me Linton to win 30-26.
This week's top 10 teams:
1- Sargent County
2- South Border
3- New Rockford
4- Westhope-Newberg-Glenburn
5- North Prairie
6- LaMoure
7- Nelson County
8- Grant County/Flasher
9- Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
10- New Salem-Almont
Region 1-
LaMoure (5-2) @ Maple River (5-2)
These two teams have a lot to play for. If the playoffs started today they would be the #3 and #4 teams in the region. LaMoure has on opportunity to improve their stock by winning out against Maple River this week and Wyndmere/Lidgerwood a week from now to jump all the way up to the #2 position which comes with a coveted home playoff game in the first round! Maple River, while they are currently sitting in 4th place, has to either win one of their final two games against LaMoure or Sargent County or get some help by a Hankinson loss to keep possession of that #4 position. Two Maple River losses paired with two Hankinson wins in the last two weeks would be enough to move Hankinson ahead of Maple River via their head to head win earlier this year. I look for LaMoure to go on the road and get the win this week in a big way. I'll take the Loboes 48-20
Region 2-
Nelson County (4-2) @ North Prairie (6-1)
Nelson County is coming off a bye, but the last time they took he field they went toe to toe with New Rockford losing 8-6. New Rockford is the team that put that lone blemish on previously #1 ranked North Prairie's record in an overtime thriller a few weeks back. Now these two teams collide. Without diving too deeply into the scenarios, I do believe that a Nelson County win would keep them mathematically in the hunt for the #2 overall position in the region. A North Prairie win would likely seal up that #2 spot in region 2. I do look for this game to be a battle, but I think North Prairie has things figured out and they're back on track after adjusting for the loss of their quarterback from that New Rockford game. I'll take North Prairie in this one to win 34-18.
Region 3-
Surrey (4-3) @ Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (5-2)
Surrey is fighting for their playoff lives while MLS is in the hunt to finish anywhere between 2-4 in the region, so obviously a win in this game would mean a lot for both programs. These two have been perennial playoff teams out of this part of the state for a while and this should prove to be another good game. I like MLS being at home as I think they are playing solid football right now. MLS wins 38-28.
Region 4-
Linton-HMB-Strasburg-Zeeland (4-3) @ New Salem-Almont (5-2)
Linton needs to win out and could use some help along the way to scratch and claw their way into a playoff birth. New Salem-Almont is coming off of back to back losses and is looking to right the ship as they are currently clutching 2nd place in the region via head to head tie-breaker over Grant County, but a loss in this game would likely drop them to 4th place in the region. Both teams have a lot to play for. Both teams are traditional football powerhouses, so this should be a great game. I'm going with what might be considered a slight upset in this one. Give me Linton to win 30-26.
This week's top 10 teams:
1- Sargent County
2- South Border
3- New Rockford
4- Westhope-Newberg-Glenburn
5- North Prairie
6- LaMoure
7- Nelson County
8- Grant County/Flasher
9- Wyndmere-Lidgerwood
10- New Salem-Almont