Northern Region Div. 6 Picture Begins to Clear
The Lake Braddock Bruins and the South County Stallions hope to hold on to the 3rd and 4th spots in the Division 6 Northern Region Play-Offs. Securing one of the top four spots assures a team of the advantage of at least one home playoff game...
Photo By: Yvette Gagnon / GamedayMagazine | VIEW GALLERY
Lake Braddock's Michael Nebrich has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Bruins. The junior gunslinger can get it done with his arm and legs as he has thrown for 12 TD's and rushed for 12 TD's on the season...
Photo By: Chris Nebrich | VIEW GALLERY
Rebel senior wide receiver Alex Young has been solid all season for his Fairfax team. Young has caught 31 passes for 470 yards and 9 TD's...
Photo By: Mike Kurec / GamedayMagazine | VIEW GALLERY
NORTHERN REGION, VA - Not since the Northern Region Council voted to expand the number of Division 6 playoff teams from four to eight, has there been so much excitement in anticipation of the Northern Region Division 6 football playoffs. The past weekend's action helped bring more clarity to the playoff picture as teams prepare for the next to last week of the regular season. Countless scenarios and possibilities still exist, so it is sufficient to say that all playoff hopeful teams are playing with the same mantra now, "JUST WIN BABY WIN!"
Six teams in Division 6 are looking to be the front runners for those eight spots after Week 8 action. W.T. Woodson (7-1), Robinson (7-1), Lake Braddock (6-2), and South County (6-2) all hope to hold on to the top four spots in the regional rankings. Earning one of the top four spots assures a team of the advantage of at least one home playoff game. Westfield (4-4) has not only played itself into the playoff picture with three straight impressive wins, but with victories over Centreville and Herndon the next two weeks, would go undefeated in the Concorde District. This would give Westfield yet another Concorde District title and an automatic bid to the playoffs.
Who cannot root for the turnaround posted by the Fairfax Rebels since exiting the Concorde District for the Division 5 laden Liberty District? Barring a major upset to either Marshall or Jefferson, Fairfax should finish 6-4 and possibly secure as high as a sixth seed. The most interesting thing regarding this scenario is that the very thing the Northern Region Athletic Directors hoped to avoid when redistricting Fairfax five years ago to join the traditional Division 6 powers of the Concorde District, will unfold yet again. Division 6 teams crashing the playoff party from the Division 5 oriented Liberty District, would have really turned heads had Langley held on for an upset over Stone Bridge the past weekend. This would have meant that both Division 6 teams from the Northern Region (Langley and Fairfax) that do not have to compete on a weekly basis against the Division 6 teams of the Concorde and Patriot Districts, could have both played into the D6 playoffs with Division 5 filled schedules.
Seemingly there are two spots yet up for grabs as the playoff picture unfolds. It appears that the three teams which are in the better positions for these spots, are the same three which found themselves tied in last week's playoff ratings at number 5; Chantilly, Oakton, and West Springfield. Though each lost last week, all are in control of their own destiny.
West Springfield must take on Division 5 power Lee before finishing the season with an extremely talented Lake Braddock. Should the Spartans make the playoffs, it could give the Patriot District five teams in the playoffs (Lee in D5, W.T.Woodson, Lake Braddock, South County, and West Springfield in D6). TC Williams at (4-4) gives the Patriot yet another playoff hopeful, though beating Lee and W.T. Woodson in consecutive weeks could prove a difficult task.
One thing almost certain, is that the Oakton and Chantilly winner in the last week of the season should gain a playoff berth. Herndon at (4-4) means the Concorde District still has five teams very much alive in the playoff picture as well. Like TC Williams, it will be a difficult road for the Hornets who finish the season with Chantilly and Westfield.
In the end, the last playoff spot could be decided by the smallest of margins. Games like Falls Church upset over Edison in Week #7, which cost Oakton a bonus point; and West Potomac's upset over Lee in week 7, which provided Chantilly and Patriot District playoff hopefuls two extra bonus points, will loom large the last two weeks of the regular season.
However it all plays out over the next two weeks, you can be assured that this year's Division 6 playoffs are possibly going to be the best ever staged by the Northern Region. Upsets or not, look for extremely competitive games each week through the Northern Region Championship. ARE YOU READY FOR Gameday and PLAY-OFF FOOTBALL? It is time to get out your hot chocolate and thermos bottles, seat pads, and blankets. Coming soon to a STADIUM near you-The Best of Friday Night Lights---Northern Region Division 6 PLAYOFF football.
