Football playoffs are just around the corner

Five playoff spots are still up for grabs with two weeks remaining in the Waterloo County senior high school football league.

The Jacob Hespeler Hawks (4-0), Waterloo Vikings (4-0) and Huron Heights Huskies (3-1) have already secured spots in the postseason with and others will join them after the completion of this week’s slate of games.

The three aforementioned teams compete in Division 1, which has one playoff spot remaining. The final berth will likely be determined Friday afternoon in Cambridge when the Preston Panthers (1-3) and Bluevale Knights (1-3) square off for the final spot.

The KCI Raiders (0-4) are still mathematically alive, but are realistically finished as they face Jacob Hespeler on Thursday night and must win that game to even think about the playoffs.

All four Division 2 playoff spots are up for grabs with several teams close to clinching. The Grand River Renegades (3-1) lead the way and play Huron Heights in this week’s most intriguing matchup. The Sir John A. Macdonald Highlanders, Elmira Lancers and Waterloo-Oxford Crusaders are 2-2, with the Glenview Park Panthers and Galt Ghosts at 1-3.

Over in District 8, the St. David Celtics (4-0) hit the road to challenge the St. Benedict Saints (1-3). The Celtics won the first meeting handily, but most observers expect this one to be much closer. Both teams have already secured playoff berths.

The Resurrection Phoenix face the St. Mary’s Eagles in the other District 8 game. Resurrection can clinch a playoff spot with a victory and eliminate St. Mary’s in the process. St. Mary’s must win to have a shot at the post-season.

Here’s a quick look at this week’s games.

WCSSAA

Thursday

Waterloo-Oxford (2-2) at Elmira (2-2), 3 p.m.

The Battle of the Barns should be a good one, with a pair of teams coming off subpar performances in Week 4 losses. Waterloo-Oxford lost to Grand River and Elmira fell to SJAM. It’s another one of those games that could go either way but, assuming the Lancers get good attendance at practice this week, the edge goes to the home team.

KCI (0-4) at Jacob Hespeler (4-0), 7 p.m.

The Raiders’ playoff hopes will be dashed here, probably in the early going. The Hawks win big.

Galt (1-3) at WCI (4-0), 3 p.m.

The Vikings should also roll to an easy win, which will set up a tasty Week 6 matchup with the Hawks. Friday

Bluevale (1-3) at Preston (1-3), 3 p.m.

Neither team is exactly lighting it up but the Panthers’ lone win, over Elmira, is more impressive than the Knights’ lone win, against KCI. And that’s the thought process behind taking the Panthers.

Sir John A. Macdonald (2-2) at Glenview Park (1-3), 3 p.m.

The Highlanders put it together in the second half of last week’s win over Elmira and will continue to roll here.

Grand River (3-1) at Huron Heights (3-1), 1 p.m.

Both teams are riding threegame win streaks into this one but we’re still waiting for the Huskies to knock off a top team. Their three wins have come against squads with a combined 2-10 record. Grand River is the pick.

DISTRICT 8

Thursday

St. David (4-0) at St. Benedict (3-1), 2 p.m.

The Celtics crushed the Saints in their first meeting and should prevail again here, although it should be much closer.

St. Mary’s (0-4) at Resurrection (1-3), 3 p.m.

You have to go out on a limb at least once and this will be the game for doing it. Take the Eagles in a nail-biter. Last week: 5-3 Season: 24-8