What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months ago, with the regular season finale one day away, Brighton and Munford were preparing to play each other for the final playoff berth in Region 8-5A. Covington, with a Region 7-3A title already clinched, was looking to finish off the 12th perfect regular season in program history.
None of those things is true this year.
Brighton was eliminated from playoff contention last week with a loss to Ridgeway. Covington has work to do to make the playoffs and Munford has clinched a postseason spot and will almost certainly host at least one playoff game.
Let’s start with the biggest surprise of all these developments.
After starting the season 6-0, winning those games by an average of 35 points and being ranked second in the Associated Press state poll, Covington dropped consecutive nail biters to region foes Milan and South Gibson.
The Chargers take a trip to Selmer tonight to play McNairy Central and a loss might mean the Chargers will miss the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Milan and Westview also play each other Friday night and the outcome of that game will affect Covington in a big way.
If Covington beats McNairy Central, the Chargers are in the playoffs as a two or three seed. With a loss, Covington needs Milan to beat Westview to get in as the fourth seed. In other words, if Covington and Milan lose Friday, Covington will be sitting at home next week when the playoffs start.
Down the highway in Munford, the Cougars are sitting pretty.
Assuming Munford beats winless Kingsbury tonight, which they will, the Cougars can finish no worse than second in the region and will host a first round playoff game.
If two more games Friday go a certain way, the Cougars will win the region and be in position to host two playoff games. For that to happen Houston needs to beat Southwind, which it is predicted to do, and Ridgeway has to beat Kirby in a game that could go either way.
Tipton-Rosemark is idle this week. If the other DII-A-West games go as expected tonight, the Rebels will make the playoffs as a sixth seed and travel in the first round.
For a complete breakdown of the playoff scenarios, click here.
