Eric Rueb knows the playoff picture. Read his HS football picks column and you will too.
Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
It’s the final week of the regular season – except for Division IV – and while there’s normally a ton on the line this time of year, this weekend there’s only a few games that matter as far as the postseason is concerned.
So what will the playoffs look like?
In this week’s picks column, we’re going to give it to you simple – here’s the breakdowns for Division I, II and III as far as playoffs are concerned and what the potential matchups could be.
I’m not getting into Division IV. Five teams are alive for the last two spots and there is actually a chance those five teams can all finish with the same record, which would be awesome.
So let’s cut this quick and get to the playoffs and then you can move right on to the picks.
Division I Playoff Scenarios
-Hendricken is the No. 1 seed.
-La Salle is the No. 2 seed.
-Central is No. 3 with a win over North Kingstown.
-North Kingstown is No. 3 with a win over Central.
DIVISION I PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
No. 4 Central/North Kingstown at No. 1 Hendricken; No. 3 Central/North Kingstown at No. 2 La Salle
Division II-A Playoff Scenarios
-Cumberland is No. 1.
-Burrillville is No. 2 with a win over St. Raphael and No. 3 with a loss.
-St. Raphael is No. 2 with a win over Burrillville and No. 3 with a loss AND a Mount Pleasant loss to Cumberland
-Mount Pleasant is No. 3 with a win AND a St. Raphael loss to Burrillville.
Division II-B Playoff Scenarios
-Barrington is No. 1.
-South Kingsown is No. 2 with a win vs. Westerly
-Westerly is No. 2 with a win over South Kingstown
-Portsmouth is No. 4 with a win over Cranston East OR a Woonsocket loss to Barrington
-Woonsocket is No. 4 with a win AND a Portsmouth loss to Cranston East.
DIVISION II PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
No. 4-B Portsmouth/Woonsocket at No 1-A Cumberland; No. 4-A Mount Pleasant/St. Raphael at No. 1-B Barrington; No. 3-B South Kingstown/Westerly at No. 2-A Burrillville/St. Raphael; No. 3-A Burrillville/Mount Pleasant/St. Raphael at No. 2-B South Kingstown/Westerly
Division III-A Playoff Scenarios
-Middletown is No. 1 with a win over North Smithfield OR a Lincoln loss to Toll Gate.
-Lincoln is No. 1 with a win over Toll Gate AND a Middletown loss to North Smithfield.
-Coventry is No. 3 with a win over Tolman.
-Tolman is No. 3 with a win over Coventry.
Division III-B Playoff Scenarios
-West Warwick is No. 1 with a win over Mt. Hope OR a Johnston loss to Narragansett
-Johnston is No. 1 with a win over Narragansett and a West Warwick loss to Mt. Hope
-Ponaganset is No. 3 with a win over Rogers OR a Pilgrim win over Moses Brown
-Moses Brown is No. 3 with a win over Pilgrim AND a Ponaganset loss to Rogers
-Pilgrim is No. 4 with a win over Moses Brown
DIVISION III PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
No. 4-B Moses Brown/Ponaganset/Pilgrim at No. 1-A Middletown; No. 4-A Coventry/Tolman at No. 1-B West Warwick/Johnston; No. 3-B Moses Brown/Ponaganset at No. 2-A Lincoln/Middletown; No. 3-A Coventry/Tolman at No. 2-B Johnston/West Warwick
Division IV Playoff Scenarios
-Davies is No. 1 with a win over Hope or Smithfield OR an Exeter-West Greenwich loss to Scituate
-Exeter-West Greenwich is No. 1 with a win over Scituate AND a Davies loss to Hope and Smithfield
-With two games left, North Providence (3-3), Smithfield (3-3), Tiverton (3-3), Juanita Sanchez (3-4) and Scituate (2-4) are all mathematically alive in the playoff race. On Friday Tiverton hosts North Providence and Smithfield hosts Scituate at Bryant and the picture will be much clearer after those two games.
The wildest scenario involves all five teams finishing the season 4-4. If that happens with North Providence beating Tiverton, the Cougars and Tigers are in with NP as the No. 3 seed. If that happens with Tiverton beating North Providence, the Tigers would be No. 3 and Juanita Sanchez would be No. 4.
DIVISION IV PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
Someone at Davies, Someone at Exeter-West Greenwich.
Head spinning yet? Let's move to something easier and get on with the picks.
ERIC RUEB'S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PICKS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26
Division III
West Warwick at Mt. Hope, 6 p.m.
The one time I went to the Huskies’ football field it was by accident during my Good Friday story a few years back, so this will be my first formal visit and I’m about as excited as someone attending the Fourth of July parade for the first time.
THE PICK: Wizards
Non League
La Salle vs. Shea at Max Read Field, 6:30 p.m.
If puddles couldn’t slow the Rams down last week I can’t imagine the clean turf is going to be of much assistance for the Raiders.
THE PICK: Rams
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
Division I
Central at North Kingstown, 7 p.m.
It’s happening again. I’m talking myself into the Knights playing in the Super Bowl.
THE PICK: Knights
Division II
Westerly vs. South Kingstown at Curtis Corner Middle School, 6 p.m.
There’s a lot on the line in this one, but the one BIG question for me is what this field is going to look like after the Rebels hosted La Salle in last week’s downpours. My prediction? NOT GOOD.
THE PICK: Bulldogs
East Greenwich at Cranston West, 7 p.m.
No postseason for the Falcons this fall, but I’m currently starting my 2024 previews and let me tell you – Cranston West is going to be among the favorites, depending on how realignment turns out.
THE PICK: Falcons
Division III
Toll Gate at Lincoln, 6 p.m.
I can’t imagine the Titans were pleased to see what Middletown did to the Lions last week knowing how angry they’d be for this one
THE PICK: Lions
Johnston at Narragansett, 6 p.m.
I think I write this every time these teams meet in the regular season but this is the best head-to-head uniform matchup of the year.
THE PICK: Panthers
Coventry vs. Tolman at Max Read Field, 7 p.m.
There’s not a lot that separates these two teams, but I can tell you this much – I’m probably picking whoever wins this one to come away with a quarterfinal upset and there’s nothing I can do to stop myself.
THE PICK: Oakers
North Smithfield at Middletown, 7 p.m.
Bring cash and visit the concession stand before the game and go back before the first half is over. Trust me.
THE PICK: Islands
Moses Brown at Pilgrim, 7 p.m.
The lights the Quakers brought in last week are going to make Morry Field seem bright, so there goes that advantage for the Patriots.
THE PICK: Quakers
Division IV
Scituate vs. Smithfield at Bryant University, 7 p.m.
Appreciate the Spartans diving in a mudpuddle at Hope High School last week when I showed up to shoot like four minutes of their game. Made for some good photos.
THE PICK: Sentinels
North Providence at Tiverton, 7 p.m.
I’m trying really hard to ignore what I saw from the first half of Tiverton’s loss to Davies last week and what the Cougars did vs. Juanita Sanchez but it’s really hard to do because my dumb brain won’t let me use the rational side of it.
THE PICK: Tigers
Non League
Hendricken at East Providence, 6 p.m.
The Hawks are going to be hungry for some bulletin board material this postseason so here goes, as I make a pick I completely don’t believe in
THE PICK: Townies
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
Division II
Burrillville vs. St. Raphael at Pariseau Field, 12 p.m.
Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” comes to mind leading into this one.
THE PICK: Broncos
Barrington vs. Woonsocket at Barry Field, 1 p.m.
I can hear Sandy Gorham laughing about the idea of resting starters for this one.
THE PICK: Eagles
Cranston East at Portsmouth, 1:30 p.m.
A few weeks back the Patriots told me they were about to have a second-half turnaround and would make the playoffs. A win here and the kids are right.
THE PICK: Patriots
Cumberland vs. Mount Pleasant at Classical High School, 2:30 p.m.
If my kids can both get bounced in the first round of their rec soccer playoffs and cross country runs smooth, I may be able to catch the second half of this one – unless the game is over by then.
THE PICK: Clippers
Division III
Classical at Chariho, 12 p.m.
This is a 2024 Division III semifinal preview.
THE PICK: Purple
Division IV
Davies at Hope, 12 p.m.
Daniel Rose is going to be the best athlete on the field, but the second best athlete out there is Blue Wave junior Clarence Iluonokhalumhe. He’d be a starter for a lot of Division I/II teams and might be the state’s most unheralded player.
THE PICK: Patriots
Central Falls vs. Juanita Sanchez at Conley Stadium, 2 p.m.
If the Cavaliers want to make the playoffs, they need a win here and total chaos. I love chaos.
THE PICK: Cavaliers
RUEB’S RECORD
Last week: 16-5
Season: 101-41
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Eric Rueb tells you what's on the line in his weekly picks column
