HIGH SCHOOL

Breaking down the Section V playoff picture

James Johnson
ROC

When it comes to the regular season in Section V football, this is it.

All six of the classification tournaments begin next week.

The games on Friday and Saturday determine which teams play where, and some teams still have to earn a win in order to advance.

The top four seeds in the eight-team Class AA, A, B and C playoffs host first round games. Class DD and D tournament teams begin in the semifinals at neutral sites.

Here is a look at the Section V playoff picture, after some calculations by the Section V Football Committee:

Class AA: Aquinas (6-0), Pittsford (5-1), Webster Schroeder (5-1), East High (5-1), Rush-Henrietta (4-2), Fairport (3-3) and Hilton (3-3) are in. The No. 1 seed belongs to the Aquinas Little Irish, the defending sectional champions who are ranked 48th in the nation by USA Today.

Webster Thomas (1-5) can snatch the eighth and final spot during the final week of the regular season, for the second consecutive year. Gates Chili (2-4)keeps the position, if the Spartans defeat Hilton at home Friday. A loss, along with a Webster Thomas win at home versus Wilson (4-2) the same night, and the Titans go to the playoffs.

Class A: The eight teams that will advance have been determined. Seedings still can switch based on this week's results among Brockport (5-1), Canandaigua (5-1), East Irondequoit Eastridge (5-1), Wilson, Greece Athena (4-2), Spencerport (4-2), Churchville-Chili (4-2)and Victor (4-2).

Wilson can clinch a home playoff game, if it can defeat Webster Thomas. Otherwise, a loss by Wilson and a win at home for Greece Athena over Irondequoit (2-4) means that the Trojans get the home game.

Class B: Geneva (6-0), Livonia (5-1), Newark (5-1), Wayne (4-2), Honeoye Falls-Lima (3-3) and Batavia (2-4) are guaranteed to advance. Waterloo (1-5) joins those teams with a win at home versus Midlakes (0-6). Palmyra-Macedon (1-5) benefits, if the Red Raiders top Penn Yan (2-4) at home Friday and Waterloo loses.

Franklin/Jefferson (0-6) still has an outside shot, but it must win at home versus Edison (0-6) on Saturday, while Waterloo and Palmyra-Macedon lose.

Class C: This tournament will include LeRoy (6-0), East Rochester/Gananda (5-1), Attica (5-1), Wayland-Cohocton (5-1), Dansville (5-1) and University Prep (5-1).

According to the Section V committee, Marcus Whitman (3-3) can do itself a big favor with a win, otherwise it will sweat for a spot. Wins by Elba/Byron-Bergen (2-4) and Wellsville (2-4), combined with a loss by Marcus Whitman would leave out the Wildcats.

Elba/Byron-Bergen, for starters, must win at Finney (1-5) on Saturday. A win, plus a loss by Wellsville at Letchworth Friday night also gets Elba/Byron-Bergen in.

Class DD: Remember, just four teams advance in the Class DD and D tournaments. Red Jacket (5-1), Bishop Kearney (5-1) and Caledonia-Mumford (5-1), which hosts rival LeRoy on Friday, are in, win or lose this week.

Avon (4-2) sits in the final spot and clinches the position if it wins at Bishop Kearney on Friday. A loss opens the door for Cuba-Rushford (4-2), which must win at home Friday night against Cassadega Valley of Section VI.

Class D: Batavia Notre Dame (6-0) and Alexander (5-1) are postseason bound.

Clyde-Savannah (5-1) advances, if it defeats University Prep at home Friday. If not, Perry (5-1) and Dundee (4-2) bump Clyde-Savannah out of the picture with wins.

Perry clinches a position with a win at home versus Canisteo-Greenwood (0-6), or a loss by Dundee. Otherwise, a win by Dundee at home on Saturday versus Lyons/Sodus (1-5) plus a Perry loss, puts the Scotsmen in. Perry would be out.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/jjDandC