James Madison Sports Blog

In Sports you have to try and learn from your mistakes and put the past behind you. That’s exactly what we are going to do this week; we could do a write up on the Judson game, we could do a recap of the Volleyball teams’ week; but instead this week we will not harp on the past as we look to the future. With only four weeks left in district 26-5A football, we thought this would be a great time to look at each team and what their goals are for the next couple of weeks.

District 26-5 Breakdown

Smithson Valley: 5-0 District Record
Games Remaining: Reagan, @ Judson, Churchill
Outlook: The Rangers can cost to the playoffs, in fact after beating Lee this last weekend they can loose their last three and still make the post season. Don’t look for Smithson Valley to start loosing games as they possess one of the best regular season records over the last three years in the state. The Reagan game is a rivalry game (Town and Country Bowl) and the Rattlers and their outside chance of the playoffs will be pumped up for this match up. The Game holds little meaning for Smithson Valley so don’t be surprised if it’s close. The Judson game will more than likely be another match up between number 1 in the city and number 2 and will have a little importance as it will have bearing on the district title, but not hold much weight in either team’s playoff chances. The Churchill game might be a must win for Churchill and if Churchill makes the playoffs this game might determine who the first round opponent for both schools are.
Prediction: Smithson Valley will make the playoffs but will more than likely end up with one loss in district with a 7- 1 record.

Churchill: 3-1 District Record
Game Remaining: Madison, @Wagner, Lee, @Smithson Valley
Outlook: Churchill’s OT victory over Judson is now looking even more important in their hunt for a playoff spot. Almost as important as their loss to MacArthur. This weeks Madison game is a big match up for Churchill and their playoff hopes. One paper you have to figure Churchill gets by Wagner and Lee, but they will need one more victory to secure a playoff spot with out having to go to a tie breaker system. If the Chargers can get past Madison and win out till their trip to Smithson Valley, then that last game holds little meaning other than who they play in round one, and possibly a district title.
Prediction: Churchill finishes the season 5-3 and will be fighting for their playoff lives the whole way.

Judson: 3-1 District Record
Games Remaining: Wagner, @Lee, Smithson Valley, @Reagan
Outlook: With Judson’s win last week over Madison they are basically in the driver seat for a playoff spot with wins over Mac and the Mavs. The Madison game also gives Judson the inside track on the number 1 slot for Division I playoffs out of District 26-5A. This week’s game is being dubbed “The Civil War” as it will be the first time in JISD history that Judson High School is playing and inter-school-district school. Not many are giving Wagner a chance in this match up but with Judson’s inconsistency this year anything is possible. Lee on paper should be a victory and if Judson is traveling to Smithson Valley with a 5-1 record they will already have a playoff spot wrapped up. The Reagan game will mean much more to Reagan than Judson, so don’t be surprised with a Rattler victory.
Prediction: Judson ends the year 6-2, where that loss comes could come anywhere but the Rockets make the playoffs as the number 1 seed from 26-5A.

Madison: 3-2 District Record
Games Remaining: Churchill, MacArthur, Roosevelt
Outlook: Madison’s season has been one important game after another, but the stakes are even higher in the next two weeks. Madison plays Saturday games the rest of the way so if there are any district surprises they will know it when they hit the field. The one thing the Mavs don’t want to be doing on their Bye week (Week 10) is having to cheer on a team from the stands so they can play in the playoffs. With that being said this week’s game vs. Churchill is large. Both teams are clawing their way into the playoff race right now and a victory over Churchill will go along way come November. The M&M bowl might be even more important than the Charger game as even if Madison beats Churchill they still might run into a tie breaker if Churchill can beat an uninspired Smithson Valley in the last week of the season. Madison is in the playoffs if they win over Churchill and Mac and the Roosevelt game will hold little importance. If Madison looses one of their next two games the Roosevelt game will be a must win. If Madison looses both to Mac and Churchill then the Roosevelt game will be a must win and they will need some help to make the playoffs.
Prediction: We are jamesmadison.com so we are going to go out on a limb and say Madison wins out and finishes 6-2 and goes into the playoffs as the number 2 seed of Division I playoffs out of District 26-5A

MacArthur: 2-2 District Record
Games Remaining: Roosevelt, Madison, Wagner, Lee
Outlook: Mac needs to keep focused on a dangerous Roosevelt team and not look ahead to Madison this week. A Loss to Roosevelt makes their victory over Churchill almost pointless. With a victory over Roosevelt and a Madison win over Churchill the M&M Bowl is for who is guaranteed a playoff spot and who still has work to do. On Paper the last two games for Mac should be victories but by then they may not mater. MacArthur, if they make the playoffs, will be the second seed in Division II unless disaster strikes Smithson Valley.
Prediction: Mac losses one more and wins 3 finishing with a 5-3 mark and in a tie for the final playoff spot.

Reagan: 2-3 District Record
Games Remaining: Lee, @Smithson Valley, Judson
Outlook: Don’t look now but Reagan can still make the playoffs. They will have to do the unthinkable and run the table against Lee, SV and Judson and they will need some help from Roosevelt in some key games but things are not over yet for the Rattlers. The Lee game might be closer than most people think as Reagan has struggled with stopping big time RBs. If Reagan can escape Lee with a victory they then travel to SV for the “Town and Country Bowl” a game they have never won. The game of the year for Reagan might be against Judson in the last week. This will be a huge revenge game for Reagan and might be their last game for a big group of seniors. Don’t forget Judson was forced to run the score up on Reagan last year to make the playoffs in the last game. Nothing would make the Rattlers happier than to return the favor in 06’. Even if this game has no meaning at all it should be a WAR.
Prediction: Reagan can’t overcome its schedule and finishes 4-4 looking from the outside in on the playoff picture.

Lee: 1-3 District Record
Games Remaining: Reagan, Judson, Churchill, MacArthur
Outlook: The Vols would need a miracle to make the playoffs. They are not mathematically eliminated but they would need a lot of help and some amazing performances down the stretch. They can play spoiler the whole way home with games against 4 teams that can not afford a loss to a team not in the hunt. The Reagan game might be their best shot at a win, but the Rattlers are going to be fighting for a playoff spot. Lee might also make a run at MacArthur in a high scoring affair.
Prediction: Don’t be surprised to see Lee finish 2-6 and ruin someone’s hopes of playing in the post season.

Roosevelt: 1-4 District Record
Game Remaining: MacArthur, Madison, @Wagner
Outlook: Roosevelt really needed to beat Churchill last week if they wanted to make the playoffs. They will need to run the table and will need a lot of help from others. They to can play the spoiler with two teams on tap that need victories. Roosevelt should handle Wagner, but that should be their last game.
Prediction: Roosevelt will win one more and finish 2-6

Wagner: 0-4 District Record
Games Remaining: Judson, Churchill, MacArthur, Roosevelt
Outlook: The “Civil War” this week against Judson will be the T-Birds whole season. The chance of them winning that game are slim but possible. Wagner in their first year has struggled in 26-5A but has gained valuable experience for next year and the years to come. Watch out for these guys come 2007.
Prediction: One win would be awesome for this team but more than likely they finish 0-8.