Bayside South football previews and predictions for Week 8 as playoffs approach

With only two weeks worth of games left in the Bayside Conference football season, teams can see the playoffs right around the corner, as they look to make runs toward a state championship. But first, they'll have to put themselves in the best positions possible by finishing out the regular season strong.

The previous two weeks saw plenty of marquee matchups, with rivalry games and matchups between undefeated teams being highlights on the schedule. Now, jockeying for playoff positioning and trying to go into the playoffs while playing their best football will be a high priority for Bayside South teams in Week 8, as well as in next week's games.

Here are previews and predictions for the second-to-last week of Bayside South football:

Stephen Decatur (7-0) at Wicomico (1-6)

Oct. 19 | 6 p.m. | Wicomico County Stadium

The Decatur Seahawks had to put their undefeated record on the line in the previous two weeks against the Bayside Conference's other two unbeaten teams, North Caroline and Kent Island, and walked away from their toughest regular season stretch with two convincing wins over their closest competitors. Now, with two games left in the regular season, Decatur will try to finish off their undefeated season with back-to-back matchups against Bayside South Wicomico County schools.

First up is a matchup with Wi-Hi at Wicomico County Stadium. This game has been a marquee one in the Bayside over the previous two years, as they both were top contenders in the South and in the conference as a whole. While the Seahawks have remained at that level, Wi-Hi has had a down year this season, losing six of seven games as their offense struggles. The Wi-Hi defense has been impressive for stretches of the season, but the Seahawks prevail and move to 8-0 with a Thursday night victory.

Pick: Stephen Decatur

Parkside (3-4) at Queen Anne's County (4-3)

Oct. 19 | 6 p.m.

The Parkside Rams are currently playing their best football of the year, and it's resulted in two close home wins over Easton and Wi-Hi in the last two weeks. As they look to close out their regular season on a high note, they'll have to head back on the road to face Queen Anne's County on Thursday.

Queen Anne's has had a solid year, going 4-2 after starting the year off with a forfeit loss to Stephen Decatur. The Lions are likely the fourth best team in the Bayside's Class 2A group of schools after Decatur, Kent Island and North Caroline, so beating this team could be a big statement for the Rams after two wins over struggling teams.

Parkside's playmakers continue to score enough to get them leads on offense, with quarterback Ethan Waters doing a solid job under center for the Rams. On the other side of the field, the defense has only allowed nine points in their last two games. It wouldn't be a surprise if this is a close one, but Queen Anne's takes the win at home over the Rams.

Pick: Queen Anne's County

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Northampton (3-4) at Snow Hill (4-3)

Oct. 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Snow Hill High School

After starting 4-1, Snow Hill had a rough last two weeks, losing games to Colonel Richardson and Cambridge-South Dorchester. The Eagles will look to bounce back at home this week in their matchup against Northampton, who will travel up from Virginia's Eastern Shore to face the Eagles.

Snow Hill has had the number of the Eastern Shore of Virginia squads they've faced this year, beating both Nandua and Arcadia earlier in the year. They'll look for a sweep of the three Virginia squads with a win over Northampton, and behind the prowess of senior leaders like Zyheem Collick and Jayceere Fields, I think Snow Hill gets it done and gets back in the win column, defeating the visiting Yellowjackets.

Pick: Snow Hill

Easton (1-6) at James M. Bennett (2-5)

Oct. 20 | 6 p.m. | Wicomico County Stadium

The James M. Bennett Clippers are back at home in Salisbury this week for a home game against Easton. After back-to-back road losses to two of the Bayside's best teams in North Caroline and Kent Island, the Clippers will likely welcome a home game at Wicomico County Stadium.

While they lost both games to the Bulldogs and Buccaneers, the Clippers put up a combined 54 points, continuing their impressive offensive output this season in both their wins and most of their losses, excluding the Decatur game. They'll face a struggling Easton team that has lost six games in a row since winning in Week 1.

The Clippers will grab their third win of the season in this one, getting them back in the win column before they face Wi-Hi in the final week of the season with a chance to clinch the City Championship.

Pick: James M. Bennett

Washington (0-6) at Cambridge-South Dorchester (5-2)

Oct 20 | 6 p.m.

While Washington has remained winless through six games, the Jaguars have shown improvement over the last two weeks of the season. After scoring their first touchdown of the season against Arcadia, they put up 14 points in their loss to Kent County last week, with quarterback Braden Corbin throwing for a touchdown and running for another.

They'll try to take their steady improvement on the road this week to face Cambridge-South Dorchester, the Bayside's best 1A football team this year. Cambridge will likely walk away with the win, but the continued growth from the Jaguars will be something to look for as they close out this season and look ahead towards next year.

Pick: Cambridge-South Dorchester

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Week 8 Bayside South football predictions as playoffs draw near