Time is running out for bubble teams
With just two weeks left of the 2008 regular season, now is the time for several teams to either step up and get themselves in the state playoff field or go home for the season.
While several top teams will be squaring off over the next two weeks, for several other schools the playoffs begin this week. Here's just a sampling of a handful of teams playing for their postseason lives.
Champaign Centennial (3-4) at Champaign Central (4-3): Both teams from the Big 12 Conference are looking for a win Friday in this annual rivalry. The Maroons from Central High would need to beat Normal Community (6-1) in Normal next week if they lose this Friday to Centennial.
Centennial would need to beat Central this week and then beat Normal West at home in Week 9 to make the state playoff field.
Providence Catholic (3-4): It's deja vu all over again this fall for the Celtics. Just like last year, the Celtics will need to win out Friday at Bishop McNamara (4-3) and then at Guerin Prep (4-3) in Week 9 to qualify for the playoffs. Providence has 42 playoff points and could be one of the state's top 5-4 teams in the Class 6A state playoffs.
Ridgewood (4-3) on the surface looks like it is in pretty good shape, but since the Rebels have just 16 playoff points heading into Friday's game against Fenton (3-4), the Rebels will need to win this week and next week at Riverside-Brookfield (4-3) to make the playoff field.
Speaking of playoff points, Glenbard North (4-3) has more than enough playoff points (42), but the Panthers still need to get to five wins. The Panthers travel to Naperville Central (5-2) on Friday and then travel to face West Aurora (3-4) and are looking to get a win in either game to remain alive in the postseason. Despite the final regular-season record, look for the Panthers to have the potential to be a tough out again if they can get into the playoff field.
The South Suburban conferences are also a mess right now, loaded with several teams with playoff possibilities. In the South Suburban Blue, Hillcrest (3-4) Bremen (3-4) and Tinley Park (3-4) are still all in position to get into the state playoffs. In the South Suburban Red, Richards (4-3), Oak Lawn (4-3), Argo (3-4) and Eisenhower (3-4) are all still looking to get into the playoffs.
In the SICA East, both Bloom (3-4) and TF South (4-3) are still looking to get into the state playoffs. However, Bloom has just 25 playoff points and TF South has just 24 playoff points. Bloom faces Thornwood (1-6) on Saturday, but then the Blazing Trojans would need to beat Thornton (7-0) to get to five wins.
TF South will travel to Thornridge (1-6) on Saturday and then would host Thornwood (1-6) in Week 9. TF South will need six wins to be playoff eligible because of a lack of playoff points.
Speaking of conferences and congestion, the Southwest Prairie Conference, simply put, is a mess with two weeks left. Plainfield Central (6-1) is in and Oswego (5-2) looks pretty solid to make the state playoffs.
After those two teams, several other Southwest Prairie teams have a shot at the playoffs, including Morris (3-4), Plainfield North (3-4), Plainfield South (4-3) and Minooka (3-4). Even with a 4-3 record heading into its game Friday at Plainfield North, Plainfield South is low on playoff points (29) and will need to post six regular-season wins to get into the state playoff field.