As season ends, there’s plenty of guessing as to who will make playoffs

As the 2009 football season winds to a close this week, three area teams are still trying to secure playoff spots in the Northwest Region.

In Division 6, two clubs—Gar-Field and Osbourn Park—are vying for the remaining two region berths with Riverbend and Loudoun Valley. Osbourn is alive for one of the six bids among Division 5 teams.

Of the three squads, Gar-Field (6-3, 4-1 Cardinal District) is in the most perilous position, currently sitting in eighth behind Riverbend and Valley with only a road game at Cardinal District-leading Woodbridge (9-0, 5-0) to go this Friday.

"Winning this week is our only concern right now," Indians' coach Tom Gryder said. "We need to win. If Battlefield loses [to Loudoun Valley], I don't think we get in."

In that scenario, the Vikings would likely earn enough power points to pass Riverbend for the final spot and remain out of Gar-Field's reach.

"There's also the North Stafford-Riverbend game and the Franklin County-OP game ... with all the [power] points, it's not even worth getting too concerned over it."

Should Gar-Field upset Woodbridge, there would be a three-way tie for the Cardinal District title between the Indians, Vikings and Yellow Jackets. All would have district records of 5-1.

The district's automatic region berth—awarded to each league champ—would go to Woodbridge which owns a higher point rating than either of the other two would-be co-champs. OP and Gar-Field would both have to rely on their own power points to secure spots.

The same holds true in the Cedar Run as Battlefield (9-0, 3-0) can do no worse than share the title with Loudoun Valley (6-3, 2-1) and Osbourn (6-3, 2-1). The Vikings host the Bobcats in this week's season finale.

Entering Friday's contest at Western District champ Franklin County—a team right behind Osbourn Park (7-2, 5-1) in the ratings—the Yellow Jackets are currently in fourth with 27.8 points and are a near lock with a win.

"I thought we'd have to win last game," OP coach Brian Beaty said. "We don't need anything else to happen. That's my understanding."

A loss to Franklin County would obviously not help Osbourn Park, but the Jackets could still be in line for the fifth or sixth spot.

"My understanding is," Beaty repeated for emphasis, "if everybody won, I don't think that anyone would overtake us."

Like Osbourn Park, Osbourn is currently the fourth seed in Division 5 and a win over Heritage this week would solidify a berth.

Staff writer Joe Conroy may be reached at 703-878-8047.