By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area
**Click here for previews from games around the Northern Region in Week 10!!**
Oakton (4-5, 1-3) at Chantilly (5-4, 2-2)
PowerPoint Ranking: Oakton – 10th (Div. 6); Chantilly – 6th (Div. 6)
Offensive Rank (ppg in Division): Oakton – 11th (19.3); Chantilly – 4th (29.6)
Defensive Rank (ppg in Division): Oakton – T8th (20.6); Chantilly – 7th (19.3)
Last Week: Oakton lost at Robinson, 35-17; Chantilly won at Herndon, 35-7
Chantilly is in the playoffs with a win and would likely be the sixth seed, almost certainly opening at Lake Braddock.
If Oakton wins, things get messy. Chantilly could finish no higher than the eight spot with a loss and pending results across the region, the Cougars could hop the Chargers, or both could miss the playoffs entirely.
Unfortunately for Oakton, its out-of-conference strength of schedule finds it rooting for West Springfield and T.C. Williams, in addition to Annandale, Edison and Madison.
If both the Spartans and Titans win, however, the Cougars are mathematically eliminated.
Chantilly can sneak in with a loss if two of the following three happen: Fairfax loses to Jefferson — nope — West Springfield loses to Lake Braddock and T.C. Williams loses to Lee on Saturday.
Now those scenarios find the Chargers head-to-head with the Cougars for the final spot. Two of their out-of-conference opponents play each other, South County and Woodson, so the result is irrelevant. Hayfield plays an Oakton opponent, Edison, one the Cougars lost to.
Since the Chargers beat the Hawks in a Week 5, a Hayfield win would cause a 0.3-point swing in Chantilly’s favor, all but insurmountable for Oakton. Wins by Langley and West Potomac — the latter against Oakton-opponent Annandale — also help Coach Lalli’s bunch.
But, hey, these teams actually play Friday night off Route 50. Chantilly churned out 342 rushing yards last week at Herndon and Oakton allowed 280 at Robinson.
If the Chargers crack 250, their ticket is punched. If the Cougars keep the run game in check and get a second-consecutive 100-100 night from junior quarterback Jimmy Boone, these clubs will be doing some scoreboard watching in a few hours.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
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