Lisbon can clinch with win

Robert Bubach hopes there isn't a need for mathematics to decide the Class 2A, Region 1 football top seed for the playoffs.

The Lisbon Broncos coach can avoid that scenario if his No. 2-ranked team earns a victory against visiting Fargo Oak Grove in a game Friday at 7 p.m.

With a win, Lisbon (7-0, 5-0) clinches at least a share of the Region 1 title and earns a No. 1 seed for the playoffs, assuring the Broncos home field until the Dakota Bowl.

If the Grovers (6-1, 4-1) win, there is the potential for a three-way tie between Lisbon, Oak Grove and Rugby.

Lisbon beat Rugby 14-6in early September. Rugby beat Oak Grove 35-7 lastFriday.

If all three teams ended the regular season with one region loss - while all would share the region title - point differential in head-to-head games would decide the playoff seeding.

"If we lose, we could easily drop to three in a hurry," Bubach said. "Just in terms of this year's playoff, I think the importance of seeding is huge."

Oak Grove coach Kyle Bakken hopes to land a No. 2 seed, since his team's 28-point loss (17 of which count against point differential) to Rugby cost the Grovers a chance at the No. 1 seed if a three-way tie materializes.

The No. 2 seed in the region earns home field for the first round of the playoffs.

"Our focus is to try to get a home-field game and not have to travel in that first round of the playoffs," Bakken said.

Two-time defending Class 1A state champion and No. 1-ranked Velva-Sawyer hosts the Harvey Hornets at 7 p.m. Friday in another football showdown with playoff seeding implications.

The winner will earn the Region 3 championship as both teams are unbeaten in region play.

"Region champion has a pretty good ring to it," Harvey coach Brad Sandy said. "They have been a perennial power for the last four or five years."

Familiarity won't be a problem in this matchup. Aggies head coach Larry Sandy is Brad's brother. And for the past six years, both teams have gone to the same football camp in Dickinson.

Harvey running back Tyler Volk has rushed for more than 200 yards three times this season.

Aggies quarterback Tommy Weidler has been a mainstay on the last two Velva-Sawyer state championship teams.

"He is one of the best kids in North Dakota right now; I don't care what division you are talking about," Brad Sandy said. "We like to think we can go there and play with them."

West Fargo senior defender Tyson Weatherly, the Eastern Dakota Conference outstanding senior, could play in the North Dakota boys state soccer tournament.

But that won't be decided until today. Weatherly has been out the last few weeks after suffering a concussion.

"It depends on how I feel," said Weatherly, who will wear headgear if he plays. "If I can't play, that would be hard to do. But I don't want to risk another concussion."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513 or epeterson@forumcomm.com