If there's a decisive winner this Friday (let's say three TDs), does that team become the clear favorite in 2A? Recent history has shown that the loser of this game can bounce back to win in the playoffs. And then there's Mayfield, with their powerhouse offense and vulnerable defense.

Only one time in the last 7 or 8 years have one of these teams won the regular season matchup and went on to win the playoff game. Margain doesn’t seem to matter either. Last year Desales won by 18 in the first matchup and was beaten by 21 in the post-season. It’s a great game, but the only one that really matters will be in November.

The winner will most likely be #1 and Mayfield #2. Definitely a 3 horse race.

What round do these two teams figure to meet each other again in the playoffs?

 

And like everyone else my greater interest here is the CAL/DeSales vs. Mayfield game.

Yea and home field advantage doesn't matter either because they tend to beat each other on the others home field also. Hopefully its a closer game this year.

What round do these two teams figure to meet each other again in the playoffs?

 

And like everyone else my greater interest here is the CAL/DeSales vs. Mayfield game.

 

Regional final. Their district is paired with Lloyd and Newport Central Catholic's district. It's a reasonable assumption at this point that they'll see each other again.

The recent history of this series...

 

2012 - CAL wins the regular season game, 30-21. DeSales wins the regional final rematch, 21-16.

 

2013 - CAL wins Round 1, 27-24. DeSales pounds the Centurions 34-0 in the rematch, en route to a state championship.

 

2014 - Again, CAL wins the first meeting, this time 17-0. Again DeSales gets revenge, this time 7-6 on their way to a second straight state title.

 

2015 - For the fourth year in a row, CAL laughs first (16-0), but DeSales laughs last (37-18). Mayfield arrived on the 2A scene that year and won the title.

 

2016 - For the first time since 2011, CAL is able to sweep the series on its way to the school's first ever state championship. Both games were decided by a TD or less.

 

2017 - Last year the familiar script was reversed. DeSales won the regular season game, 21-3 (CAL was down a QB and had Milton Wright playing out of position). The Centurions nearly flipped the score in the playoff rematch, winning 24-3.

Any chance we have a clear favorite emerge from this game, or will 2A remain a three horse race regardless of the outcome?

Question.....either way it shakes out, will the playoff winner host the POTENTIAL semifinal matchup with Mayfield?

Question.....either way it shakes out, will the playoff winner host the POTENTIAL semifinal matchup with Mayfield?

 

Yes. Even year, even district hosts. DeSales and CAL are District 4.

Check out KHSAA website. For 2018:

 

R1 is D1 vs D2, R2 is D3 vs D5; R2 winner hosts

 

 

R3 is D4 vs D6, R4 is D7 vs D8: R4 hosts that SF

Check out KHSAA website. For 2018:

 

R1 is D1 vs D2, R2 is D3 vs D5; R2 winner hosts

 

 

R3 is D4 vs D6, R4 is D7 vs D8: R4 hosts that SF

 

You're right, I forgot to take cross bracketing into account. Mayfield potentially wouldn't see DeSales or CAL until the finals. Glasgow is the likely semifinal opponent for the Cardinals. They'd still be on the road, though.

 

@BadaBing, there's your correct answer.

Any chance we have a clear favorite emerge from this game, or will 2A remain a three horse race regardless of the outcome?

 

Given the history of this series, unless it’s a sound 4 td or more beating, I don’t think it gets any clearer with this result.