2. Auburn (5-3) Here’s where the Sangamo gets tricky. The Trojans greatly improved their stock with a statement win over New Berlin in week eight, 40-27, ending the Pretzels six game winning streak, causing Dave Bates to fully TURN UP after the final bell rung. Once 1-3, the Trojans have won four in a row and sit pretty at 5-3 with a date set against Pittsfield in week nine. In four consecutive wins, the Trojans are averaging a shade over 43 points per game. Aside from North Mac, the Trojans are playing the best ball in conference. They’re in at No. 2.
3. New Berlin (6-2) Heading into the Pretzels matchup last week vs. Auburn, coach Barry Creviston admitted that he wasn’t sure which type of team he had yet. We found out more about New Berlin in week eight. The potential is there, but the Pretzels are prone to giving up big plays and have a tendency of shooting themselves in the foot. Despite four Cam Cummings interceptions in the second half, the Pretzels still had chances late in the game against Auburn, but were overmatched at times. The Pretzels have won six of their last seven, but are staring down a tough opponent in West Hancock to finish the regular season.
4. Pleasant Plains (5-3) The Cardinals thumped Porta 37-7 last week, but didn’t play with the crispness you’d expect to see against an inferior opponent. Plains is certainly dangerous, but because they’ve been banged up for the last few weeks, its identity as a football team in unknown right now, causing the Cardinals to slip to No. 4. Because they’ve been missing so many key contributors, you have to imagine the coaching staff is unsure of what exactly they have. The Cardinals are 4-1 on the road and 1-2 at home but will host Athens this week in a game with much on the line. A sixth win will benefit the Cardinals post season standing greatly, but Athens is facing a must win. Speaking of the Warriors…..
5. Athens (4-4) When we spoke to Athens a couple weeks ago, they were taking a glass half full approach to the rest of the season, given the Warriors have been able to control their own destiny. Athens controlled a lot last week with a gutsy win over Williamsville. Head coach Ryan Knox elected to go for a two point conversion and the win in overtime against the Bullets and it worked, moving the Warriors to 4-3 on the season. A season after losing in the quarterfinals, Athens has to come out victorious against Plains in week nine to gain playoff eligibility.
6. Williamsville (4-4) Williamsville is facing a similar situation to Athens, needing a win in the final week of the regular season to earn post season eligibility. The Bullets made it to the state championship game a year ago, but have had to scratch and claw all season long. Three of the four losses Williamsville has suffered this year have been decided by a total of seven points- last week's one point overtime loss vs. Athens being the latest. An easy opponent (Riverton) awaits Williamsville, so five wins is looking like a shoe in. Nobody wants to see their name listed next to Williamsville’s in the first round when the playoff pairing show airs on Comcast SportsNet on Saturday, starting at 8 p.m. (Kerker will be on)
7. Riverton (2-6) The Hawks broke their four game winless streak against Pittsfield last week but face an uphill battle against Williamsville this week. Marcus Hinkle, Ryan Roscetti and Josh Gabriel are capable of making big plays and the Bullets are aware of that.
8. Pittsfield (1-7) Pittsfield has tasted victory just once in 2015. A second win isn’t likely against our No. 2 Sangamo team, Auburn to round out the regular season.
9. PORTA (0-8) The Bluejays have a date with North Mac to end the 2015 campaign. For PORTA, they hope it’s just a blind date that doesn’t go well so that it's over with quickly, so they can start looking ahead to next season.
