Coming to you new and improved with a new picture. The other one looked too much like I could go “postal” at any second. I guess this new one does too though. Oh well.

From The Rumor Mill

Apparently, Sioux City Heelan has applied to move to 3A in football beginning in 2006, and it’s been approved. That leaves the Missouri River Conference with a spot to fill. The logical choice? Lewis Central. Right now, they’re 4A and locked into a 3A schedule. Adding them to the MRC makes perfect sense. LC would gain 2 immediate rivals (AL and TJ) and the games would have conference implications. Plus, with Heelan out of the picture, the MRC (and a state playoff berth) would be wide open every year. 

Speaking of the Playoffs…

I’m a complete dork. I’ve spent the last hour or so trying to crunch the numbers to handicap the Council Bluffs teams’ chances at making it to the postseason. And I think I’ve got it somewhat figured out. Here’s the deal:

Saint Albert- Beat Griswold this week and they’re in regardless of the outcome of week 9’s tilt against Oakland Riverside. They’ll either play Underwood or Riverside in the first round. If the Falcons win out, they’ll play at home. 

Abraham Lincoln- If the season ended today, AL would be the last team eliminated from the playoffs. That’s how close they are to getting in. In the point standings, they’re tied with Dowling for the final at-large berth. Dowling would get the nod over the Lynx because their opponents’ record is 3 games better than AL’s. But that can change by season’s end. All AL can do, and must do is win their final two games. Marshalltown, who’s currently ahead of the Lynx in the standings still has to play #1 WDM Valley, so the Bobcats will likely be out of contention. Teams to root against: Ankeny, Dowling, DM Lincoln. A loss by any of these three teams greatly improves AL’s chances. Unless Heelan loses twice, AL has no shot at the automatic bid by winning the conference. 

Thomas Jefferson- There is still a chance despite the 0-5 start. Of course, the Jackets must win both of their next games (SC North, Heelan). If they do that they’ll end up 4-1 in the conference. Assuming that’s Heelan’s only loss, they would be 4-1 also, but TJ would own the tie-breaker (head to head competition). Additionally, not that Jacket fans have ever rooted for them anyways, but now more than ever, TJ has to hope for an AL loss so there won’t be a 3-way tie for the automatic conference champion qualifier. Because if that’s the case, Heelan’s in no matter what because they will have the highest point total of the three schools. In short, if TJ wins out, and AL loses one game, TJ’s going to the playoffs. 

Lewis Central- Mathematically, eliminated from the playoffs. Because they’re in 4A, they are penalized five points each time they play a 3A school. They lose 15 points when they play Saint Albert since the Falcons are 1A. As long as the Titans keep playing a 3A schedule, while being classified as a 4A team, it will very difficult to make it to the postseason. If they were undefeated right now, and the season ended today, they would make it as an at-large team. Any loss though, and they’d be out of the running. 

Quick Slants 

NU may be on shaky ground now, but at least we still own Baylor! 

Saint Albert grad Brock Gentile will make his first start this weekend for South Dakota State as a defensive back.

Iowa over Penn State 28-10, KSU over NU 31-24, ISU over Baylor 21-20. 

A reminder, shoot an email to bluffssports@hotmail.com
and see your writing in next week’s column, complete with a wannabe-witty response from me.