Where We Stand: Class A, B District Races

District A-1: Westside (7-1 overall/2-1) knocked off previously unbeaten Creighton Prep (7-1/3-1), 52-20, and is the wild card leader in the district. Warriors can, and probably will, polish things off with a win over Papillion-LaVista (4-4/0-3), with Prep facing a tricky non-district game against Norfolk (5-3). Both of those teams will qualify, along with Omaha Central (5-3/2-1), which faces Fremont (4-4/0-3), which is still in the mix as an at-large contender.

District A-2: Been waiting a while now, but we finally get Elkhorn South (7-1/3-0) at Papillion-LaVista South (7-1/3-0) on Friday night, winner is your district champ. Norfolk greatly helps its at-large chances with a win over Prep.

District A-3: This has been one wild ride. Columbus (6-2/2-1) is the wild card leader, even after last week’s 10-0 loss to second-place Kearney (5-3/2-1). Where things get tricky is with Columbus playing at red hot Millard North (3-5, winner of three of its last four), where the Mustangs can back door the district title with a win over the Discoverers and an expected Kearney win over one-win Omaha Bryan, leaving the Bearcats in second place.

Currently  third-place Lincoln East (5-3/2-2) gets in with a rivalry win over Lincoln Southeast in Friday’s rivalry game.

District A-4: No. 1-ranked Millard South (7-1/3-0) closes out the regular season as district champion, with Lincoln Southeast (5-3/3-1) the runner-up, winner or lose against East. Currently third, Lincoln High will finish with one of its best records here recently (6-3) with an expected win over North Platte (1-7), but is ineligible after forfeiting to Millard South.

District A-5: Omaha North (6-2/4-0) took a giant step toward closing things out with last week’s 41-20 win over current No. 3 Bellevue West (4-4/3-1). North High clinches the title with an  expected win tonight (Thursday) over Lincoln Southwest (3-5/3-1). Winner of Friday’s Bellevue West (4-4) at Lincoln Northeast (6-2/2-2) is in, both seem likely to make the field.

District A-6: Omaha Westview (6-2/4-0) is the leader of the pack, and can put things to bed with a win over third-place Millard West (4-4/3-1) on Friday night. Second-place Lincoln North Star (5-3/3-1) gets in with an expected Friday win over Bellevue East (1-7). If Millard West wins it stays alive for a possible district title and/or at-large berth, while North Star seems a sure thing.

District B-1: Bennington (7-1/3-0) has won seven straight since that opening two-point loss to Waverly, and last week beat B-1 contender Skutt Catholic (6-2/2-1), 31-14. The Badgers can clinch the district title with a win tonight (Thursday) at Elkhorn North (6-2/2-2). All three teams will qualify, with Bennington the likely the second seed and both the Badgers and Skutt opening at home.

District B-2: As for the district title it will be just like it was last year, Gretna East (7-1/3-0) v. Gretna High (5-3/3-0) in Friday’s spotlight dance. Both teams are in, with Plattsmouth (4-4) locking up a berth with a Friday win at Ralston (3-5); Ralston could make it with a win. Platteview (3-5/0-4) also has a shot if it wins against C-1 Lincoln Christian (3-5).

District B-3: Waverly (8-0/3-0) not only gave us chills with that epic 45-42 win over Norris, but it also moved one giant step forward to clinching the undisputed district title, needing only to keep its balance and beat Pius X (4-4/2-1) to make it so. Waverly will be the top seed in Class B, Norris will have a home opener, Pius gets in with an upset win over Waverly, and fourth-place Lincoln Standing Bear (3-5/0-3) stays alive with an expected win over winless Beatrice.

District B-4: Winner of six in a row, Seward (6-2/3-0) knocked off York (5-3/3-1) last week to lock up the district title, though there is the matter of dealing with arch rival Crete (2-6/1-2) on Friday night. York, currently the ninth of 11 wild cards, is now in a precarious place, having to score a road win at Scottsbluff (7-1) to assure a postseason berth. Grand Island Northwest (3-5/1-2) is currently tied with Ralston for the final wild card, and probably gets in with an expected win over Lincoln Northwest (1-7).

District B-5: Scottsbluff (7-1/4-0) is your district champion after last week’s 21-7 win over McCook (6-2/2-1), which closes out at Lexington (2-5). Third-place Gering (6-2/2-1) will also qualify, the Bulldogs finishing up at home against Hastings (2-6).