Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
As we head into the final week of the football regular season, 18 teams in the region have clinched a playoff spot with another 11 teams playoff eligible and clinch a spot with wins this week. Five more teams are sitting at 4-4, meaning they need to win to become playoff eligible.
Last year, six teams made the 256-team field with 4-5 records, which is why we left the 3-5 teams on the list. Just for clarity, those six 4-5 teams had between 49-56 playoff points.
Here’s the list updated after week 8, including playoff points and week 9 opponents:
Clinched (18):
East St. Louis 8-0 (38) vs IMG Academy
Chester 8-0 (31) vs Waterloo
Breese Central 8-0 (29) @ Herrin
Richland Co. 8-0 (28) @ Robinson
Althoff 8-0 (28) vs Kaneland
Waterloo 7-1 (40) @ Chester
Johnston City 7-1 (38) vs Carmi-White Co.
Cahokia 7-1 (36) @ Sycamore
Casey-Westfield 7-1 (32) vs Paris
Nashville 7-1 (32) vs Dupo
Carmi-White Co. 7-1 (31) @ Johnston City
Sesser-Valier/Waltonville 7-1 (31) @ Flora
Triad 7-1 (29) vs Collinsville
Edwardsville 6-2 (40) vs De Smet Jesuit (MO)
Du Quoin 6-2 (37) @ Murphysboro
Carterville 6-2 (37) vs Anna-Jonesboro
Murphysboro 6-2 (29) vs Du Quoin
Roxana 6-2 (26) vs Alton Marquette
Eligible/Win and In (11):
Highland 5-3 (47) vs Decatur St. Teresa
Belleville East 5-3 (37) vs Granite City
Benton 5-3 (36) @ Harrisburg
Columbia 5-3 (36) vs Jerseyville
Centralia 5-3 (34) @ Effingham
Fairfield 5-3 (33) @ Edwards Co.
Flora 5-3 (33) vs S-V/Waltonville
Dupo 5-3 (29) @ Nashville
Harrisburg 5-3 (26) vs Benton
Marion 5-3 (25) vs Mattoon
Red Hill 5-3 (21) @ Carlyle
Win and become playoff eligible (5):
Collinsville 4-4 (37) @ Triad
Mt. Carmel 4-4 (36) @ Lawrenceville
Red Bud 4-4 (34) vs EAWR
Robinson 4-4 (34) vs Richland Co.
West Frankfort 4-4 (27) @ Sparta
Not officially eliminated/So you’re saying there’s a chance (6):
Breese Mater Dei 3-5 (43) vs Mt. Zion
Mascoutah 3-5 (38) vs Carbondale
Mt. Vernon 3-5 (39) @ Alton
Carbondale 3-5 (34) @ Mascoutah
Eldorado 3-5 (35) vs CZR
Belleville West 3-5 (30) vs Vianney (MO)
