Playoff picture taking shape for Clark County high school football teams

With two weeks left in the regular season, it’s time to take a deep dive into the local state football playoff picture for Greater St. Helens League teams.

 

In a nutshell, each classification has a 16-team state playoff bracket that begins the weekend of Nov. 11-12. State playoff berths are determined Nov. 4-5 with something called a Week 10 playoff.

Here is how local teams stand at the moment:

 

Class 4A

 

Camas (7-0, 3-0) has wrapped up the GSHL’s No. 1 berth for Week 10. The Papermakers, who have steamrolled opponents by a collective score of 325-101 through seven games, get a home game Sat., Nov. 5 against NPSL/Olympic No. 4, with the winner advancing to the state playoffs.

 

The GSHL has one other available berth, and Skyview (4-3, 1-1) currently is in control after its 17-14 win over Battle Ground last Friday. The Storm get No. 2 with wins over Union and Heritage in its final two games.

 

Battle Ground (5-2, 1-2) and Union (4-3, 1-1) are still in the mix, but need help. Union has games remaining against Skyview and Camas, and the Titans have to beat Skyview on Friday to have any real hope. Battle Ground has a win over Union, but need Skyview to lose one of its final two games to have a shot at the No. 2 Week 10 berth.

 

The GSHL No. 2 hits the road to play SPSL No. 3 on Nov. 5 in a Week 10 playoff game.

 

Class 3A

 

The GSHL’s top three advance to Week 10 for a game that decides a state playoff berth. The Week 10 pairings are Metro No. 7 at GSHL No. 1, GSHL No. 2 at Metro No. 4 and GSHL No. 3 at Mid-Columbia No. 1. All games are played at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.

 

Mountain View (4-3, 3-0) is in the best position to secure the lone home field Week 10 games. The Thunder have a win over Kelso (5-2, 2-1), and could clinch No. 1 Friday with a win over Prairie, coupled with an Evergreen (2-5, 2-1) loss at Kelso. Mountain View clinches a Week 10 game with one win among its final two regular-season games.

 

Kelso, Evergreen and Hudson’s Bay (4-3, 2-2) appear to be battling for the final two Week 10 berths. The Eagles’ big game is Oct. 28, when they play host to Kelso at Kiggins Bowl.

 

Class 2A

 

The GSHL and Evergreen Conference pool their three state playoff berths with three district games on Friday, Nov. 4. The top three from each league have playoffs, with the winners claiming the three state playoff berths.

 

Hockinson (6-1, 4-1) and Columbia River (4-3, 3-1) are in the best position to claim the top two berths, which come with home field games against an Evergreen opponent. Hockinson can wrap up the No. 1 berth with a win over R.A. Long in its regular season finale, or a Woodland loss among its final two games.

 

Columbia River can clinch a playoff berth Friday by beating winless Mark Morris. The Chieftains will be No. 2 if they win their final two games, and No. 1 if Hockinson loses to R.A. Long.

 

The GSHL’s No. 3 berth is a scramble between Washougal (3-4, 3-2), Ridgefield (3-4, 2-2) and Woodland (3-4, 2-2). But it could end as early as Friday if Washougal beats R.A. Long, as the Panthers have beaten Ridgefield and Woodland this season.

 

The downside to the GSHL 2A playoffs is hooking two Evergreen monsters in the district games. The GSHL No. 2 and 3 teams are likely to face Tumwater and W.F. West, both ranked in the state’s top 10. Tumwater already has a 49-0 win over Columbia River this season.

 

The Nov. 4 playoff pairings are Evergreen No. 3 at GSHL No. 1, Evergreen No. 2 at GSHL No. 2, and GSHL No. 3 at Evergreen No. 1.