Opening Drive (Oct. 8): Metro's playoff dilemmas

Since Metro Nashville teams returned to the field nearly three weeks ago, one question is how would the delays affect those teams’ playoff chances?

There isn’t one answer, however, because it depends on which region you’re in as to how much of a hole certain teams are in.

In Region 5-3A, only one team will miss the postseason, but it will be one of the Metro squads as Giles County already has two region wins due to COVID-19 cancellations and can finish no worse than second after defeating Whites Creek. Pearl-Cohn’s win over East Nashville last week all but locks the Firebirds into the postseason as well. That leaves Stratford, East Nashville and Whites Creek to vie for the other two playoff spots.

Maplewood is the only Metro team in Region 4-4A, and the Panthers will need to defeat both Nolensville and Tullahoma if they have any hope of a playoff appearance after losing to Spring Hill. Maplewood doesn’t have any room for error.

Two spots are up for grabs in Region 6-5A, behind both Gallatin and Beech, and the Hillwood-Hunters Lane winner this week is nearly certain to get one of them, with Hillsboro vying for the other.

Region 5-6A boils down to whether or not any of McGavock, Antioch or Overton could beat out Cane Ridge, since Smyrna, La Vergne and Stewarts Creek seem destined for the postseason.

Meanwhile, catch up on what you might have missed from Wednesday: