Here are the playoff scenarios entering Week 7:
Class 4A
In: Natrona, Gillette, Sheridan, Cheyenne East, Kelly Walsh.
Still in the hunt: Cheyenne Central, Evanston, Laramie, Rock Springs, Cheyenne South.
Out: No one.
What’s decided: Gillette and Natrona will be the top two seeds, no matter what. After that, it’s a race for qualifying and seeds. About the only team that can absolutely control its own destiny next week is Central, which would secure a playoff spot with a win over Rock Springs. South has the most work to do and could be mathematically eliminated next week if the right scenarios unfold, but even the Bison could enter the final week at 0-8 and still have a chance to make the playoffs if both Laramie and Rock Springs lose next week, as well.
Class 3A West
In: Powell, Green River.
Still in the hunt: Star Valley, Cody, Worland, Jackson.
Out: No one.
What’s decided: No much. Green River hosts Star Valley and travels to Powell to close the season, and those games will help decide who hosts and who travels in the first round. The only team that could be mathematically eliminated with a loss next week (excluding results of all other games next week) is Jackson.
Class 3A East
In: Douglas.
Still in the hunt: Riverton, Rawlins, Lander, Buffalo, Torrington.
What’s decided: Very little. Douglas will host a first-round playoff game, but after that, seeding is up in the air. Next week will be telling, though — the winner of the Riverton-Douglas game is the conference champ and earns hosting duties through the first two rounds of the playoffs, while Torrington would be mathematically eliminated with a loss to Buffalo.
Class 2A West
In: Lyman.
Still in the hunt: Lovell, Kemmerer, Mountain View, Thermopolis, Pinedale, Greybull.
Out: Big Piney.
What’s decided: Not much, but we do know Lyman would have to lose both of its final two games to lose the conference championship; a win either in Week 7 or Week 8 gives Lyman the conference title. Greybull would be eliminated from the playoff race next week with a loss to Big Piney. In between, it’s a mess.
Class 2A East
In: Big Horn, Newcastle.
Still in the hunt: Wheatland, Wright, Glenrock, Burns, Moorcroft, Tongue River.
Out: No one.
What’s decided: Big Horn will host a first-round playoff game no matter what. Newcastle will earn the same honor if the Dogies beat Wheatland next week. No matter what happens next week, though, the Week 8 game between Big Horn and Newcastle will decide the conference champion. Both Moorcroft and Tongue River would be mathematically eliminated with losses next week.
Class 1A 11-man West
In: Cokeville, Burlington.
Still in the hunt: Shoshoni, Rocky Mountain, Wind River, Saratoga.
Out: Wyoming Indian, Riverside.
What’s decided: The Week 8 Cokeville-Burlington game will decide the conference champion, no matter what happens next week. A ton of scenarios exist for deciding the final two seeds in this conference, as Shoshoni and Rocky Mountain (both 3-2 in conference play) have the upper hand on Wind River and Saratoga (both 2-3). Saratoga has the most direct affect on these scenarios, as the Panthers play both the Wranglers and Grizzlies in the final two weeks of the season.
Class 1A 11-man East
In: Upton-Sundance, Lusk.
Still in the hunt: Pine Bluffs, Lingle, Southeast.
Out: NSI.
What’s decided: Surprisingly little. The Week 8 Upton-Sundance/Lusk game will decide the conference champion, although, if either team loses next week, the chance exists that either one could slide out of hosting a first-round playoff game, and a slim chance exists that either one of those teams, with two losses the next two weeks, could slide to as far as fourth. Next week’s Lingle-Pine Bluffs game might end up deciding a playoff spot.
Class 1A six-man North
In: Dubois, Meeteetse.
Still in the hunt: Hulett, Kaycee, Ten Sleep.
Out: No one.
What’s decided: Dubois can wrap up the conference title if it can beat Hulett next week. Meanwhile, Ten Sleep would be eliminated from the postseason (and the other four would qualify) with a loss to Kaycee next week. The only Week 8 conference game pits Meeteetse against Hulett; the bulk of the seedings will likely be decided next week, although it’s possible a three-way tie for the second, third and fourth seeds could develop.
Class 1A six-man South
In: Midwest, Snake River, Guernsey.
Still in the hunt: Farson, Hanna.
Out: No one.
What’s decided: We’ll know (almost) everything after Week 7. The conference champion will be decided in Week 7 as Midwest travels to Snake River. Midwest is guaranteed to host a first-round playoff game, win or lose next week. The winner of next week’s Farson-Hanna game is in the playoffs and the loser is out. Farson has an outside chance of creating a tie with Guernsey and Snake River for the second, third and fourth seeds if the Rattlers lose to Midwest next week and if the Pronghorns can beat the Rattlers in the only South Conference game scheduled for Week 8.
Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Post ’em below. We’re almost to the postseason and I’m excited to see what unfolds the next two weeks.
–patrick