Troy Athens shut out Auburn Hills Avondale 35-0 on Friday, Oct. 16, but the Red Hawks remain outside the projected football playoff field heading into the regular-season finale.
The school’s athletics site lists the road victory. Athens improved to 3-5.
The Red Hawks have a playoff-point average of 44.500, placing them fifth among the first 10 teams outside the Division 1 field, according to Patrick Nothaft’s updated MLive standings, published Monday, Oct. 19.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association selects the top 32 teams in each of its eight 11-player divisions based on playoff-point averages. Grandville currently holds Division 1’s final qualifying spot at 48.125 with a 3-5 record, leaving Athens 3.625 points behind the cutoff.
Four teams sit between Athens and the projected field: New Baltimore Anchor Bay (4-4, 46.750), Bloomfield Hills (4-4, 46.000), Okemos (5-3, 45.750) and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (3-5, 45.125), according to MLive.
Athens hosts Berkley at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the regular-season finale. Berkley also enters at 3-5 after a 42-7 loss to Bloomfield Hills, according to Michigan-football.com’s results.
Playoff-point averages account for opponents’ results, so Athens’ postseason position will depend on more than its own finale. The current standings do not establish a win-and-in scenario.
Bishop Foley is also outside the projected field. The Ventures stand at 4-4 with 21.125 points in Division 7, where Lakeview holds the final qualifying position at 26.000, according to MLive.
The MHSAA’s Selection Sunday show is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, when the playoff pairings will be announced.
