Football Friday Night: Playoff seeds for most local teams set, stakes raised for Handley-Clay Central game next week

For the local teams with playoff positioning on the line tonight, the opportunities for higher seeds never materialized, and one team may end up taking a step back when all the tiebreakers are settled.

Handley won, but didn’t get the help it needed, Woodland lost, and Clay Central had perhaps the most surprising outcome of the night as the Vols fell 39-28 to Tallassee to set up a three-way tie for first place in 5A, Region 4.

The night’s big winner was Ranburne, which had the chips fall exactly where they needed them to in order to earn the final playoff spot in their region.

Here’s where every team’s playoff positioning stands after Friday’s results:

Handley

The Tigers took care of business with a 43-14 win over White Plains Friday. But they did not get either of one of two results that they needed elsewhere in order to finish as region champions. Anniston defeated Cleburne County and Jacksonville knocked off Cherokee County, which means that Handley will have to settle for second place in 4A, Region 4.

The Tigers will still get a first-round playoff game at home two weeks from now, but Anniston claims the No. 1 seed after their one point win over Handley last week.

The four playoff teams from Handley’s region will be: No.1 Anniston, No. 2 Handley, No. 3 Jacksonville, and No. 4 Cherokee County.

Ranburne

The Bulldogs also took care of business Friday, jumping out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter and cruising to a 43-29 win over Fayetteville. Meanwhile, LaFayette knocked off Vincent to clear the path for Ranburne to earn the No. 4 seed in 2A, Region 4.

The four playoff teams from Ranburne’s region will be No. 1 Lanett, No. 2 BB Comer, No.3 LaFayette and No. 4 Ranburne.

Woodland

The Bobcats fell to Winterboro Friday, ending their slight chances of moving from the No. 4 to the No. 2 seed in 1A, Region 5. But Woodland has reached the playoffs for the second straight season, and as coach Blair Armstrong has said (and proven) many times in his career, once you get in, anything can happen.

The four playoff teams from Woodland’s region will be No. 1 Wadley, No. 2 Winterboro, No. 3 Ragland and No. 4 Woodland.

Clay Central

The Vols’ surprising loss to Tallassee leaves them with some work to do to claim their second straight region title. That result sets up a three-way tie for first, (with Central, Tallassee and Sylacauga) which Central can win IF they are able to defeat Handley in their season finale next week. That is already a rivalry game for the Volunteers, but now the higher stakes should make it a much more intense atmosphere in Lineville next week.

If Central loses to Handley the Vols run the risk of falling all the way to third.

Look for full coverage of all of Friday’s games, plus a look at the first-round playoff matchups that are already set up, in Wednesday’s print edition of the Randolph Leader.