The high school football regular season is almost done, and things are getting wild, especially for Marist Catholic. Ranked a respectable No. 17 in the OSAA 4A standings, they are sitting at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Sky-Em League play, which puts them in fourth place heading into this week’s game against South Umpqua. That No. 17 ranking feels good, but it is not guaranteeing anything.
The Sky-Em Gauntlet: Automatic Bids Are Tight
This is crunch time, plain and simple. Only the top three teams from the Sky-Em League get those automatic spots in the 16-team 4A state playoff bracket. Right now, Sweet Home (7-0, 4-0), Junction City (5-2, 4-1), and North Bend (4-3, 3-1) are holding those precious spots. Marist Catholic is currently outside that automatic window. They can still snag one of the two at-large bids that go to the highest-ranked 4A teams without an automatic berth, but that means their No. 17 ranking has to hold up, and they absolutely need to win out to make a strong case. They are facing South Umpqua this week, a team finding its feet in the Sky-Em with a 3-4 record and 1-3 in league play after moving up from 3A last season. This isn’t a game Marist can afford to stumble in.
Eyes on the Prize: Playoff Dreams on the Line
The Spartans also have a huge regular season finale next week against Junction City, who are 5-2 overall and 4-1 in league. That game could be an all-out battle for positioning, or a last-ditch effort for Marist to climb into an automatic spot, depending on how this week goes down. It is not just the Sky-Em heating up, though. We are also watching Springfield take on North Eugene tonight, with live updates and coverage promised. And let us not forget Lowell football, who are still rocking an undefeated record deep into their season, making them one of the most exciting stories in the state.
So, what does this all mean? For Marist Catholic, every snap against South Umpqua this week is monumental. Their playoff dreams, despite that strong state ranking, hang in the balance of these final two regular season games. The fight for those automatic bids is fierce, and the margin for error is razor-thin. You know we will be watching every single play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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