Playoff dreams in limbo for some area high school football teams

Jody Jenerette never imagined himself needing to have a master's degree in mathematics when he took over the head coaching job at Aynor.

But yet again, Jenerette and Co. have cranked the numbers, figuring out exactly what the Blue Jackets need to do come Friday in order to qualify for the playoffs.

"It happened to us the last time we went to the playoffs in 2008," Jenerette said in advance of his team's game against Loris this week. "We thought we had it wrapped up, and we played Thursday night. It's kind of hairy the way this tiebreaker works."

Essentially, the Region VIII-AA scenarios work out as follows:

Dillon (9-0 overall and 4-0 in the region) is locked in as the No. 1 seed regardless of what happens;

If Mullins (7-2, 3-1) beats Marion, it will earn the No. 2 seed, and leave Loris, Aynor and Marion needing to go to a tiebreaker for the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds.

If Marion (4-4, 2-2) beats Mullins, it would finish No. 2 and push Mullins - which beat Aynor and Loris - to No. 3. That scenario would leave Loris and Aynor fighting for the No. 4 seed.

Echoing Jenerette's thoughts, it is a sticky situation that goes on to the region's second tie-breaker - defensive points allowed - if Mullins defeats Marion and Aynor defeats Loris. (That scenario would mean each had one win over the other two, negating the head-to-head tiebreaker.)

Should that happen, Aynor would have to win by 11 or more points in order to win the tiebreaker. So, yes, it is possible that Aynor could beat Loris, yet still see its season end Friday evening.

Not all of the playoff scenarios heading into Friday are that convoluted.

In Region VII-AA, Andrews (5-4, 1-3) can extend its season at least another week by beating Bishop England. With that victory, the Yellow Jackets earn the No. 4 seed out of the region. If coach Steve Blanchard's team loses, it finishes fifth and the season is over.

Either way, Blanchard is trying not to pose this week as a playoff game.

"You don't want a do-or-die attitude because you don't want them playing tight or not playing enthused," Blanchard said. "You don't want to take that aggressiveness away from them."

For area Class AAA teams, the four playoff qualifiers are set, it's only a matter of where two teams - Socastee and St. James - finish in terms of seeding.

Myrtle Beach (9-1, 4-0) and Wilson (5-4, 3-1) are locked in at Nos. 1 and 2 in Region VIII-AAA. The Braves and Sharks will split the final two postseason berths. Their game Friday at St. James will determine which teams finishes 3-2 in region play and which ends the regular season at 2-3.

Both St. James and Socastee own head-to-head tiebreakers over Georgetown, which could also finish at 2-3 with a victory over Wilson.

In the state's smallest class, Carvers Bay (5-4, 3-2) has already clinched a spot in the Class A, Division I playoffs, but the Bears can help their seeding a bit with a win at home Friday against Johnsonville (7-2, 4-1). The Flashes have also wrapped up a postseason berth, but courtesy of their record, Carvers Bay would earn another half point toward the season tally with a victory.

That half point could potentially mean an improved seeding for next week's start to the playoffs.

Class AAAA does not finish its regular season until next weekend.