Playoffs?
Host of variables will determine fate of local teams
Bob Bahlmann
Staff writer
10-13-2016
All three Sanpete County high school teams will be playing for their football lives this Friday as region play comes to an end.
2A
Gunnison (1-3), currently tied with American Leadership Academy (ALA), will be on the road against Millard (0-4). ALA will travel to Summit Academy (4-0).
The likely scenario is that Gunnison wins and ALA loses. If that happens, the Bulldogs would be the fourth-place seed and earn the right to host the No. 5 team from the 2A South Region.
At this point, that team could be Grand, South Sevier or possibly North Sevier. With Grand playing San Juan and South Sevier taking on North Sevier this week, that opponent will probably be Grand.
If the Bulldogs and ALA both lose, there will be a three-way tie between Gunnison, ALA and Millard. A coin toss would determine the fourth place seed with the other two teams playing and the winner going in as the fifth-place team. The loser would be eliminated.
That fifth place team would travel to meet the South Region No. 4 team, probably South Sevier.
If Gunnison loses and ALA wins, the Bulldogs would be tied with Millard for fifth place. Those two teams would need to play again, with the winner going on as the fifth- place team and the loser being eliminated.
All of these first-round games would be played on either Oct. 21 or 22.
3A
In 3a, the picture is equally complicated.
Manti will travel this week to Juab. The Wasps are undefeated in league play and are heavy favorites to win.
If the Templars upset Juab, they would finish the season at 3-2 and be guaranteed a playoff game as either the third or fourth seed.
In such a scenario, if North Sanpete wins at Canyon View, Manti will be in third place. North Sanpete would be tied with Canyon View, forcing the two teams to play again. with the winner going into the playoffs as the fourth place team and the loser being eliminated.
If the Hawks lose, Manti will be tied with Canyon View and a coin toss would determine the third and fourth seed.
If the Templars lose and North Sanpete wins, there would be a three-way tie between Manti, North Sanpete and Canyon View. A coin toss would determine the No. 4 seed, with the other two teams playing again. The winner would go in as the three seed and the loser would be eliminated.
Another scenario would be a Manti loss at Juab and a North Sanpete loss at Canyon View. That would give the Templars fourth place and eliminate the Hawks.
The 3A South third-place seed will travel to play the 3A North No. 2 team, possibly Juan Diego, Grantsville or Emery. The four seed travels to Morgan. These games will be played on Oct. 28 or 29.
