2017 MT HS Football - Week 8

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Class AA

1.) Billings Senior (7-0)
2.) Helena High (5-1)
3.) Helena Capital (6-1)
4.) Missoula Big Sky (5-2)
5.) Billings West (4-3)
6.) Great Falls CMR (3-4)
7.) Missoula Sentinel (4-2)
8.) Kalispell Flathead (3-3)

Bottom six: Billings Skyview, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls High, Kalispell Glacier, Missoula Hellgate

Co-Players of the Week (Week 7): Missoula Big Sky QB Levi Janacaro - 353 total offensive yards (87 passing/266 rushing) for 5 touchdowns (2 passing/3 rushing); Billings Senior ATH Gabe Sulser - 213 total offensive yards (147 rushing/66 receiving) for 5 touchdowns (3 rushing/2 receiving)

Games of the Week (Week 8 ): Helena at Skyview (Helena is looking to win out to secure a Top 2 seed while Skyview, who likely needs to win out, looks to keep their momentum from last week's win going; CMR at Flathead (Two teams in that 6-8 seed range that are in danger of being caught by a team like Kalispell Glacier if they lose); Big Sky at Bozeman (Big Sky looks to maintain a record that currently has them as a #4 seed while Bozeman is a team on life support); Butte at Great Falls (Important game because a loss all but eliminates playoff hopes); Glacier at Capital (A matchup that looks like a blowout on paper in favor of the Bruins but the Wolfpack have caught second wind, knowing they have to win out to make the playoffs); Sentinel at Billings West (Essentially a "win and your in" game for both teams because of their current records)

Class A

Rankings based on where I predict each team will finish in their conference by the end of the season:

1.) Dillon (6-0) #1 Southwestern A
2.) Sidney (6-0) #1 Eastern A
3.) Columbia Falls (4-1) #1 Northwestern A
4.) Hamilton (6-1) #2 Southwestern A
5.) Billings Central (6-1) #2 Eastern A
6.) Laurel (6-1) #3 Eastern A
7.) Frenchtown (6-1) Wildcard - West Division
8.) Miles City (5-2) #4 Eastern A
9.) Butte Central (3-3) Wildcard - West Division
10.) Lewistown (4-3) #5 Eastern A
11.) Glendive (3-4) #6 Eastern A
12.) Browning (3-4) #2 Northwestern A

In the hunt: Belgrade (2-5), Polson (2-4)

Player of the Week (Week 7): Hamilton RB Bridger Bauder - 300 offensive yards (276 rushing/24 receiving) for 2 touchdowns; Stevensville QB Garrison Bradt - 18/29 for 332 passing yards with 5 passing touchdowns

Game of the Week (Week 8 ): Browning at Polson (This game is basically for second place in the Northwestern A conference as Columbia Falls is the obvious favorite); Frenchtown at Hamilton (Big game for second place in the Southwestern A conference and if Hamilton wins, they get a shot at the title against Dillon in the final week); Glendive at Belgrade (This matchup might decide the #6 seed in the Eastern A conference with the other team missing out on the playoffs); Sidney at Miles City (Sidney is the favorite but Miles City is capable of pulling off an upset with a decent defense and underrated QB in Gabe Gundlach)

Class B

Rankings based on where I predict each team will finish in their conference by the end of the season:

1.) Eureka (6-0) #1 West
2.) Fairfield (7-0) #1 North
3.) Whitehall (7-0) #1 South
4.) Bigfork (6-0) #2 West
5.) Shelby (4-2) #2 North
6.) Colstrip (6-1) #1 East
7.) Manhattan (6-1) #2 South
8.) Jefferson (5-2) #3 South
9.) Huntley Project (5-2) #2 East
10.) Malta (4-2) #3 North
11.) Missoula Loyola (4-3) #3 West
12.) Big Timber (4-3) #4 South
13.) Roundup (4-3) #3 East
14.) Shepherd (5-3) #4 East
15.) Florence (3-3) #4 West
16.) Cut Bank (3-4) #4 North

In the hunt: Townsend

Co-Players of the Week (Week 7): Shelby QB Aaron White - 5 touchdowns (3 passing/2 rushing); Bigfork RB Randy Stultz - 199 rushing yards on 31 carries for 1 touchdown

Games of the Week (Week 8 ): Bigfork at Missoula Loyola (This one basically decides the #2 seed in the West); Shepherd at Huntley Project (If Shepherd wins, they will finish either #1 or #2 in the East based off the result of Huntley's following week game against Roundup but if they lose, Shepherd could drop all the way to #4 in the conference. On the flip side, if Huntley wins, they will be playing for the #2 seed against Roundup the following week and would finish no lower than #3 in the conference); Townsend at Jefferson (Since their huge win over Manhattan two weeks ago, the Panthers have suffered two straight losses and now need to beat rival Townsend to secure a playoff spot. If Townsend wins, they still have a shot at a playoff spot in the South.)

Class C (8-man)

Rankings based on where I predict each team will finish in their conference by the end of the season:

1.) Charlo (7-0) #1 West
2.) Forsyth (7-0) #1 East
3.) Belt (7-0) #1 North
4.) Ennis (6-1) #1 South
5.) Drummond/Philipsburg (7-0) #2 West
6.) Fairview (6-1) #2 East
7.) Joliet (6-1) #2 South
8.) Centerville (6-1) #2 North
9.) Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap (6-1) #3 South
10.) Great Falls Central (6-1) #3 North
11.) Circle (5-2) #3 East
12.) Arlee (5-2) #3 West
13.) Scobey (5-2) #4 East
14.) Choteau (5-2) #4 North
15.) Lone Peak (5-2) #4 South
16.) Plains (5-2) #4 West

In the hunt: Absarokee (3-4), Broadus (5-2), Cascade (4-3), Fort Benton (5-2), Park City (4-3), Twin Bridges (4-3), Victor (4-3)

Player of the Week (Week 7): Belt QB Keagan Stroop - 6 total touchdowns (4 rushing/2 passing)

Games of the Week (Week 8 ): Scobey at Broadus (Both teams at 5-2 in the 8-Man East along with Circle with two weeks to go. Scobey has already lost to Circle and finish on the road at Broadus then at home against Fairview. Broadus has yet to play Circle as they play them in the last game of the year after their matchup with Scobey. This game has major implications for seeds 3-5 in the East. Also, Circle plays St. Labre this weekend so that should be a win.); Absarokee at Lone Peak (Absarokee needs to win out to have a chance at the #4 seed in the 8-Man South while Lone Peak locks up the #4 seed with a win.); Park City at Joliet (Park City is eliminated from the playoffs with a loss but remain in contention with a win depending on whether Lone Peak wins or not. Joliet currently holds the #2 seed over Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap, who plays a struggling Harlowton team this weekend.); Centerville at Belt (The winner is 8-Man North’s #1 seed while the loser is the #2 seed for the state playoffs.); Choteau at Fort Benton (Winner clinches a playoff berth while the loser is eliminated.); Cascade at Great Falls Central (Winner clinches a playoff berth while the loser is eliminated.); Drummond/Philipsburg at Charlo (The winner is 8-Man West’s #1 seed while the loser is the #2 seed for the state playoffs.) Victor at Arlee (Winner clinches a playoff berth while the loser is eliminated.); Plains at Twin Bridges (Winner clinches a playoff berth while the loser is eliminated.)

Class C (6-man)

Rankings based on where I predict each team will finish in their conference by the end of the season:

1.) Westby/Grenora (7-0) #1 East
2.) Valier (6-0) #1 North
3.) Wibaux (7-0) #2 East
4.) Bridger (5-1) #1 South
5.) White Sulphur Springs (7-0) #1 West
6.) Geraldine/Highwood (5-1) #2 North
7.) Richey/Lambert (5-2) #3 East
8.) Big Sandy (5-2) #3 North
9.) West Yellowstone (6-1) #2 West
10.) Grass Range/Winnett (6-2) #2 South
11.) Terry (5-2) #4 East
12.) Sunburst (4-3) #4 North
13.) Reed Point/Rapelje (4-3) #3 South
14.) Valley Christian (4-3) #3 West
15.) Noxon (3-4) #4 West
16.) Shields Valley (3-3) #4 South

In the hunt: Jordan (4-3), Lincoln (2-5), Power/Dutton/Brady (4-2)

Co-Players of the Week (Week 7): Wibaux QB Tel Lunde - 9 total touchdowns (5 rushing/4 passing)

Games of the Week (Week 8 ): Wibaux at Westby/Grenora (Winner earns the #1 seed in the 6-Man East while the loser secures the #2 seed.); Terry at Jordan (Staying in the 6-Man East, the winner of this one secures a playoff spot.); Grass Range/Winnett at Bridger (Winner earns the #1 seed in the 6-Man South while the loser secures the #2 seed.); Shields Valley at Reed Point/Rapelje (Both teams are in the playoffs. If Reed Point/Rapelje wins, they secure the #3 seed in the 6-Man South but if they lose, they will have to win their final game and hope Shields Valley loses. If Shields Valley wins their final two games, they will be the #3 seed.); Valley Christian at West Yellowstone (Winner of this one secures the #2 seed in the 6-Man West.); Big Sandy at Geraldine/Highwood (If Geraldine/Highwood wins, they secure the #2 seed in the 6-Man North. If Big Sandy wins, they can secure the #2 seed by beating Augusta in their final game or if Geraldine/Highwood loses to North Star in their finale.); Sunburst at Augusta (Sunburst needs to win this one to stay alive in the 6-Man North and hope Power/Dutton/Brady falters as Sunburst bested PDB during the season so they would hold the tiebreaker.)

[MTCowpoke22]

Great Analysis as usual. Thanks for putting this all together all season!