FIRST AND SHORT

The Playbook: Regular-season finales to watch in Week 9

JR Radcliffe
jr.radcliffe@jrn.com

Three intriguing games arrive Thursday this week, and with the playoff qualifiers announced late Friday, many games that night will have a lot to say about which area teams get into that field.

Thursday, Oct. 13

Pewaukee at Greenfield. The Woodland Conference championship game features a Greenfield team that has been thriving under first-year coach Shane Covington and a Pewaukee squad that snuck up on some people in the Woodland West. Follow JR Radcliffe for updates on Twitter.

Brookfield Academy at Lake Country Lutheran. The Midwest Classic Conference title comes down to this battle, with LCL already having a share of it secured. Follow Andrew Gruman for updates.

Martin Luther at Dominican. One week after securing a playoff berth, Martin Luther now looks to play spoiler and defeat Dominican, which is one win away from its first playoff berth ever.

Friday, Oct. 14

Oak Creek at Kenosha Indian Trail. The Knights are facing a rare playoff absence, but with Indian Trail losing last week, it would seem Oak Creek has a shot of getting this final victory and bursting into the playoffs. Follow Dan Zielinski for updates.

Kettle Moraine at Mukwonago. It’s now or never for Mukwonago, which needs the win to get into the playoffs through the rugged minefield that is the Classic 8 Conference. Follow Evan Frank for updates.

New Berlin West at Whitnall. The winner of this Woodland crossover game is almost surely going to the playoffs, and the loser is staying home. Follow John Rech for updates.

Sussex Hamilton at Brookfield East. Hamilton needs a win to get into the playoffs and will have to stage the upset to get there. Follow Tom Skibosh for updates.

Wauwatosa West at Cudahy. The Trojans have put themselves in playoff position if they can hold down Rusty Murphy and Cudahy. Follow Andrew Gruman for updates.

Germantown at Milwaukee Lutheran. The North Shore Conference battle is now a de facto playoff game – the winner is headed to the postseason and the loser is staying home. Follow Steven Tietz for updates.