It’s time to sharpen those tiebreaker skills
Week 11 brings usual playoff intrigue, like potential 3-way deadlock in 15-6A
The usual Thursday is in store for Cedric Hardeman.
Conroe’s football coach will conduct a walkthrough and oversee every other piece of preparation needed for Friday’s game against Oak Ridge. He’ll also be at Conroe’s sub-varsity games, rather than at the Klein Cain-Klein Oak matchup that will have a heavy bearing on his team’s postseason fate.
Some of his varsity players might be in attendance at Klein Memorial Stadium, though. Maybe they’ll sit on Klein Oak’s side of the stadium, considering there will be no bigger fans of the Panthers.
“You can control what you can control in regard to getting an opportunity to play in the playoffs,” said Hardeman, who is in his second year at the Conroe helm.
It’s Week 11. Nearly every game matters, even the ones off the radar. Cinco Ranch, for example, has 12 playoff berths and two state semifinal appearances since 2006 but will try to avoid its first winless season against Seven Lakes — which also won’t make the playoffs — on Friday.
There are district championship games aplenty. Rivals New Caney and Porter meet in 9-5A Division I with a combined 17-1 record. In 2014, those programs were a combined 6-14 and both missed the playoffs.
It’s a luxury compared to situations like the one Conroe is in.
Conroe hasn’t had a winning season in 11 years and hasn’t made the postseason in seven. Its 5-4 record is one of the area’s most noteworthy turnarounds.
The Tigers need to avoid a three-way tie for two playoff spots with Klein Cain and The Woodlands in 15-6A in order to extend their season. All three teams are 4-3 in the district, and The Woodlands is a prohibitive favorite to beat winless Klein Forest on Friday.
If the three-way tie happens, Texas’ quirky but effective tiebreaker rule comes into play. The point differential using only the games among the three tied teams is calculated with a cap of 18 points. (That cap differs depending on the district.)
The best point differential locks down one playoff spot, which in this case would go to Cain. Then the tiebreaker reverts to head-to-head matchups in order to determine the final spot among the two remaining teams. The Woodlands defeated Conroe this season.
If Klein Cain falls to Klein Oak on Thursday, it essentially puts Conroe in the show, by virtue of the Tigers’ victory over the Hurricanes.
It’s the difference between the city’s top receiver statistically, senior Michael Phoenix (71 catches, 1,189 yards and 18 touchdowns), getting a chance to showcase his talents in the postseason or seeing his season end Friday. Same for senior Conroe quarterback Christian Pack, who is fifth in passing and eighth in rushing among the area’s 6A group.
Hardeman’s glass halffull approach considers the playoffs the icing on top of an already sweet season. That doesn’t limit the desire for a postseason spot, especially for players like Phoenix and Pack. It only keeps things in perspective.
“Everybody’s situation is unique,” Hardeman said. “Ours is a little different in regard to how long it’s been program-wide since we’ve even been in a position the last week to be in the playoffs and have a winning record.
“For it being the second year, I think by just focusing on something you don’t have control over, I think you kind of could lose sight and lose precious time with the kids that you have and appreciation for what you’ve been able to and what you can still accomplish.”
Wheatley and Furr’s Thursday meeting is only for playoff seeding. Both teams are in, so that and other games of its ilk won’t get nearly as much attention as the do-or-die matchups that routinely inundate this week. But it’s still important.
The league game is for a higher seed in the 4A Division I Region III bracket, meaning the loser likely finishes in fourth place and travels to meet a Huffman Hargrave team that is currently 9-0.
Wheatley and Furr will of course play whoever is in front of them. But playing the long game with an eye on a prospective playoff path is absolutely part of this week.
That sometimes even means a team being comfortable with a loss that pushes it into a different bracket or more favorable playoff matchup.
“Of course, that’s not on our end,” said Wheatley coach Cornelius McFarland as he chuckled at the notion. “Just knowing guys that look at every possible situation — win, lose or draw — they try to see every possible scenario that can help extend their playoff runs.”
Houston ISD was 0-for-9 in the bi-district round of the playoffs across Class 4A, 5A and 6A last season. In 2017, stalwart Lamar carried the banner for the largest district in the state with a regional semifinal berth, but there was a close call with Austin’s five-point loss to Galveston.
Ball was in the bi-district round that year, too. It’s another aspect where the right matchup might make all the difference.
Some teams will sit back and watch without a care this week. Clear Falls is one of a few area teams whose open date is in Week 11. Klein Collins, Cypress Lakes and Bellaire also are among that group.
Hurricane Imelda canceled Clear Falls’ game against Bellaire in September, meaning both teams essentially had two open dates this season with the benefit of resting and watching this week, knowing where their playoff plans lie.
Bellaire will meet CyFair, and Clear Falls will play George Ranch in the bi-district round.
Clear Falls defeated Clear Creek last week in a game for seeding and as a result hosts George Ranch at Clear Creek ISD Veteran Memorial Stadium next week. The top two district seeds in the 6A and 5A playoff brackets host firstround games.
Clear Falls is looking for the first playoff win in program history. Having the opportunity to achieve it at home mattered.
“That was something we definitely talked a lot about,” Clear Falls coach Zach Head said. “We talked to our seniors about earning the right to play one more home game.”