Bobcats and Seahawks ready to renew their rivarly on the football field

A rivalry game is always going to have flare. Players, students and fans alike are always going to be up for it.

But still, the hope — no matter who you’re pulling for Friday night — is that the game is a meaningful one for each team.

Well, we’ve got more than we could ask for.

Although I think I’ve pretty much already beaten the tread off the storyline tires in Thursday and Friday’s editions of the Island Packet, the game has too many implications not to mention them here. So before I get into the matchup, let’s break that down further.

Hilton Head High obviously clinched a playoff berth with last weekend’s 27-0 shutout at Battery Creek. But the Seahawks can take that one step farther. A win tonight would guarantee them a home playoff game in the first round. And, contrary to what I’ve heard this week, the Seahawks can get that coveted No. 2 seed out of Region 8-AAA with a loss as well — if Lake Marion wins.

Bluffton, on the other hand, is still fighting for its postseason life. The Bobcats could make this simple tonight — win and you’re in the postseason. I’m sure that’s the message coach Jeremy West has his team focused on this week. But there are still ways the Bobcats could get in with a loss.

There’s no easy way to decipher through all the possibilities — especially considering exactly how the tiebreakers will be used hasn’t yet been cleared up. For these teams’ sake, I hope it’s at least been decided before now. Anyway, obviously the other game with playoff implications in this week’s regular season finale is Battery Creek at Lake Marion. North Charleston has already clinched the No. 1 seed while Stall has been eliminated from the playoffs.

If Battery Creek and Bluffton both win, things are easy — the Bobcats would earn the home playoff game with the second seed, followed by Hilton Head High at No. 3 and Battery Creek at No. 4.

But every other scenario involving these two games results in a three-way tie.

Here is the tiebreaker for a three-way tie:
1. Head-to-head (only applies if one team has defeated both the other two -- which is impossible at this point)
2. Point system: Each team is awarded points for each region victory. You get six points for defeating the region champion, five for beating the second place team and so on. (All teams involved in a three-way tie will likely tie here as well.)
3. Season win percentage (This basically means out-of-conference win percentage because if you’re tied in the region, you’ve got the same win percentage within the region.)
4. Defense points allowed: At first, we were told (as was Bluffton coach Jeremy West) that the fourth tiebreaker was coin toss. But points allowed is actually ahead of the coin toss.
5. Coin toss

Now, to clear up what I said earlier. It seems more than a bit muddy exactly how the tiebreaker will be used in a three-way tie. There are two options: 1. Use the tiebreaker until it breaks a tie with all three teams. For example, if you get down to the fourth tiebreaker — defensive points allowed — rank all three teams based on that tiebreaker. Or... 2. Use the tiebreaker until it breaks a single tie and then use head-to-head for the remaining two teams. For example, if you get down to that fourth tiebreaker, rank the best team and then the two remaining teams start over at the first tiebreaker, head-to-head.

Well, my headache has officially arrived. So let me hurry up and get on to tonight’s matchup and hope these teams can decide things on the field.

BLUFFTON AT HILTON HEAD HIGH
The Bobcats threw Hilton Head High a curveball in last season’s finale when they used the Wing-T offense for the first time in school history. Obviously, coach West liked the success they had because he’s stuck with it this season.

Game by game, Bluffton has become better and better with the change. The combination of Desmond Jenkins at quarterback and Zack Frazier, Timmy Smith and Stephen Bradley at running back gives the Bobcats a lot of options. The key for Hilton Head High’s quickly-improving defense will be to shut down the Wing-T on first and second down and force Bluffton into long third down conversions.

Easier said than done.

“We’ve got to stay at home and do our jobs defensively and tackle well,” Seahawks coach Tim Singleton said. “Word has gotten back to me that Bluffton thinks they’re the best defense and the most physical team in our region. So we’ll see.”

Hilton Head High’s offense will do its best to change that thought. The Seahawks looked smooth offensively in their win last week at Battery Creek. Jeff Homad threw a pair of touchdown passes and Lawrence Jenkins rushed for 100 yards yet again.

For that success to continue, I think it’s important Hilton Head High gets off to a good start. This will be Homad’s biggest game of his career and for him not to press, it would be easier if the Seahawks were playing with a lead.

Of course, the Bobcats defense will have a say in that. The unit has played well throughout the season and has come through in the team’s biggest games. I would expect them to be plenty fired up to shut down Jenkins and talented receivers Clifford Morrow and Victor Frazier.

For a little extra insurance, I’d expect both teams to have a few more players competing on both sides of the ball. I know Desmond Jenkins will be playing linebacker to fill in for injured Jimmy Tillman. I’d expect a lot that Friday night.

“We know it’s huge and we’re going to be geared up,” West said. “It’s a game all our kids look forward to, and you can bet they’ll be ready to go.”

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