The final week of the regular season is here.
And there’s plenty on the line when it comes to the playoff picture for Greater Lansing high school football teams.
The area has several teams among the final teams in the field in their divisions or among the first teams out with just one more opportunity to improve their positioning.
East Lansing, Owosso, St. Johns, Sexton, Fowlerville and Leslie head into Week 9 among the final teams in their divisions slated to make the playoffs, while Lansing Catholic, Lakewood, Alma, Holt, Charlotte, Stockbridge and Fulton are on the outside looking in.
The teams with the top 32 playoff-point totals in 11-player divisions and top 16 total in 8-player divisions will be part of the playoff field when the brackets are released on Sunday, Oct. 26.
East Lansing ranks No. 29 in Division 2 in playoff points ahead of its CAAC Blue matchup against Holt to close the regular season. Holt dropped seven spots to No. 39 in playoff points in Division 1 this week following a tight road loss to Everett.
Owosso ranks No. 31 in playoff points in Division 3 and ends the regular season on the road against Essexville Garber. Outside of the 2020 COVID-19 impacted season when everyone made the playoffs, the Trojans could reach the MHSAA postseason for the first time since 2012 with a win.
In Division 4, St. Johns ranks No. 28, Sexton is No. 29 and Fowlerville is No. 32 in playoff points. St. Johns, which has dropped four straight, has a tough road test against Ypsilanti Lincoln as it seeks to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
Sexton has won four straight ahead of a rivalry game with Eastern, while Fowlerville takes on a Charlotte team also in contention for a playoff spot. Charlotte ranks No. 39 in playoff points in Division 4 and could boost its chances with a win.
Lakewood and Alma are among the first few teams outside the field in Division 5. Lakewood has a rivalry game against winless Ionia this week, while Alma travels to face 7-1 Big Rapids.
Lansing Catholic beat Ionia in Week 8 to earn its second win and has a shot at reaching the playoffs in Division 6. The Cougars rank No. 34 in playoff points in their division and will end the regular season with a road test against CMAC champion Pewamo-Westphalia.
In Division 7, Leslie has dropped four straight and is tied for 27th in playoff points heading into a Cascades Conference crossover against Vandercook Lake.
Stockbridge is also in the mix in Division 7, winning four of its last five to finish tied for second in the Big 8. The Panthers rank No. 35 in playoff points entering their game against White Pigeon.
Fulton is one of the first teams outside the field in 8-man Division 1 after ending a four-game losing streak with its Week 8 win over St. Charles. The Pirates close the regular season against Merrill.
Top home-field advantage contenders
While the area has several teams facing big games as they try to lock in postseason spots, there are a few others that enter the week among the best in their divisions and have a shot at owning home-field advantage through the regional round.
CAAC Blue champion DeWitt is one of five unbeaten teams in the area and continues to rank No. 1 in Division 3 in playoff points.
CAAC Red champion Williamston (Division 4) and Portland St. Patrick (8-man Division 2) both are second in their divisions in playoff points.
CAAC White runner-up Olivet (Division 6) and CMAC champion Pewamo-Westphalia are ranked fifth in playoff points in their divisions.
Here’s a look at where area teams stand in the playoff picture.
DIVISION 1
In
23. Grand Ledge (6-2) – 62.000
Out
39. Holt (4-4) – 43.250
DIVISION 2
In
20. Everett (5-3) – 54.875
29. East Lansing (3-5) – 49.000
DIVISION 3
In
1 DeWitt (8-0) – 76.458
T-16. Mason (5-3) – 53.625
31. Owosso (5-3) – 44.875
DIVISION 4
In
2 Williamston (8-0) – 65.375
7. Haslett (6-2) – 58.125
10. Portland (8-0) – 56.000
28. St. Johns (4-4) – 42.500
29. Sexton (5-3) – 42.250
32. Fowlerville (4-4) – 38.875
Out
39. Charlotte (4-4) 35.500
DIVISION 5
Out
35. Lakewood (3-5) – 32.125
37. Alma (3-5) – 30.750
DIVISION 6
In
5. Olivet (7-1) – 49.625
15. Ovid-Elsie (6-2) – 39.625
Out
34. Lansing Catholic (2-6) – 29.000
DIVISION 7
In
5. Pewamo-Westphalia (7-0) – 40.893
18. Ithaca (6-2) – 33.250
20. Saranac (6-2) – 30.321
T-27. Leslie (4-4) – 26.750
Out
35. Stockbridge (4-4) – 23.250
40. Bath (4-4) – 21.946
DIVISION 8
In
10. Fowler (6-2) – 34.571
Out
40. Maple Valley (2-6) – 18.375
8-MAN DIVISION 1
Out
20. Fulton (4-4 )- 24.500
8-MAN DIVISION 2
In
2. Portland St. Patrick (8-0) – 35.607
10. Morrice (7-1) – 30.875
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: See the MHSAA football playoff picture in Greater Lansing entering Week 9
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
