varsity.roanoke.com

Two weeks ago this newspaper reported that Fort Chiswell had clinched a VHSL regional playoff berth.

On Saturday, we said the same about James River.

I've heard it said more than once in Northwest Roanoke that William Fleming has locked up a postseason bid.

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend."

Fort Chiswell, James River and Fleming are prohibitive favorites to wrap up playoff bids tonight, but their names are still written in pencil and the erasers are still out there.

So no more confusion.

Here's the breakdown in each of Timesland's regions:

Northwest Region Division 6 -- Franklin County is in as the Western Valley District champion. The Eagles could be seeded anywhere from No. 4 through No. 6. A win tonight over Osbourn Park would go a long way toward earning the Eagles a first-round home game.

Northwest Region Division 5 -- Fleming can get in with a win tonight over George Washington. Even with a loss, the Colonels also would qualify if Mountain View and Heritage-Leesburg also lose. Fleming has a slim chance at a first-round playoff game at home.

Region III Division 4 -- Amherst County, Turner Ashby, Harrisonburg and Spotswood are in. Staunton River and Jefferson Forest have the inside track over Broadway and William Byrd for the last two spots. Staunton River and JF can get in with wins tonight or with losses by Broadway and Byrd. The Terriers need a variety of scenarios to go their way to extend their season.

Region III Division 3 -- The field is set. Liberty, Northside, Brookville, R.E. Lee-Staunton, Alleghany and Stuarts Draft are in. Liberty has locked up a first-round bye and is battling Northside for the No. 1 seed. Alleghany could be seeded anywhere from No. 4 to No. 6.

Region IV Division 4 -- Salem, Hidden Valley, Carroll County and Christiansburg are in. Salem will be the No. 1 seed. Hidden Valley could earn the No. 2 spot with a win tonight over Cave Spring. Magna Vista can lock up the Piedmont District title with a win over Bassett. Blacksburg would get in with a victory over Christiansburg and losses by Bassett and Pulaski County. Even at 2-7, the Cougars are not eliminated.

Region IV Division 3 -- Cave Spring, Richlands, Tazewell and Marion are in. Grundy, Graham and Patrick County are fighting for the last two spots. Cave Spring and Richlands will be the top two seeds with the Knights owning the inside track at No. 1. Marion could clinch the No. 3 spot with a win over Abingdon. Grundy and Graham can clinch berths with wins. Patrick County has a very slim chance to qualify, even with a win over Martinsville.

Region C Division 2 -- George Wythe is the only qualifier so far. James River, Radford, and Fort Chiswell or Grayson County could join the Maroons as a district champ. Chilhowie and Giles have the best hopes for the two at-large berths. Glenvar's hopes rest with a win over Floyd County and a losses by Radford and Grayson County.

Region C Division 1 -- All six spots are locked up. Holston, Eastern Montgomery, Bath County, Covington, Rural Retreat and Narrows are in. Holston and East Mont have the top two spots. Bath County will be no worse than No. 3.

VIS Division III -- North Cross will be the No. 2 seed with a win over Roanoke Catholic or a loss by Blessed Sacrament. Isle of Wight Academy has wrapped up the No. 1 spot. Catholic cannot earn a playoff spot.

GEORGE WASHINGTON 26, William Fleming 21. Fleming's lack of a 10th game could prove costly.

HALIFAX COUNTY 31, Patrick Henry 19. The loser will finish in the Western Valley cellar.

OSBOURN PARK 21, Franklin County 14. These teams could turn around and play each other next week too.

ALLEGHANY 28, William Byrd 23. Most likely, Alleghany will be playing R.E. Lee-Staunton in the playoffs.

NORTHSIDE 31, Staunton River 12. The Vikings look for their first Blue Ridge title since 2002.

CHRISTIANSBURG 21, Blacksburg 20. Christiansburg tries to avoid a fourth straight loss.

CAVE SPRING 28, Hidden Valley 24. This is Game 7 in a 3-3 Southwest County series.

SALEM 42, Pulaski County 3. Pulaski could go from first to worst in the River Ridge in one year.

MAGNA VISTA 24, Bassett 7. Magna Vista could go from worst to first in the Piedmont.

PATRICK COUNTY 14, Martinsville 10. The Cougars need plenty of help elsewhere to make the playoffs.

JEFFERSON FOREST 24, Brookville 20. Forest held Amherst County to one first-half touchdown.

LIBERTY 27, Heritage 14. Liberty looks for its first 9-1 regular-season since 2005.

STUARTS DRAFT 28, Rockbridge County 13. One last chance for Rockbridge to get a victory in 2009.

CARROLL COUNTY 22, Graham 19. The Region IV picture won't clear up until after this Saturday game.

MARION 31, Abingdon 17. Marion looks to avenge last year's 27-14 loss.

CHILHOWIE 20, Rural Retreat 7. It's the Indians and Warriors in the Politically Incorrect Bowl.

GEORGE WYTHE 45, Northwood 6. The Maroons might not wind up as the No. 1 seed.

FORT CHISWELL 32, Grayson County 14. Neither team has lost a game in more than a month.

NARROWS 26, Galax 20. Narrows most likely will go to Covington or Bath County next week.

COVINGTON 25, Parry McCluer 14. Covington could get a home playoff game for the first time since 1998.

JAMES RIVER 44, Craig County 8. All a Pioneer team needs is to win the right four games.

EASTERN MONTGOMERY 49, Auburn 6. The Mustangs will get a week to rest after this one.

GLENVAR 21, Floyd County 20. Glenvar's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

RADFORD 24, Giles 21. The home team hasn't won in this series since 2005.

NORTH CROSS 36, Roanoke Catholic 13. The Raiders look for a second straight win over the Celtics.

BATH COUNTY 23, Pendleton County, W.Va. 20. Both teams have big wins over East Hardy, W.Va.

Last week: 18-7 .720

Overall: 202-59 .774