City game of the week

Central at Park Hill

WHEN — 7 p.m.; Friday

WHERE — Park Hill High School; Kansas City

BROADCASTS — 1550 AM

RECORDS — Central: 5-4 (3-1 Middle 6); Park Hill: 5-4 (3-1 Middle 6)

PLAYERS TO WATCH — Central: Offensive guard Mike Meinert can often be found throwing a defensive lineman to the ground then pouncing on top. ESPN ranks him as 1 of the top recruits in the state of Missouri, and Meinert is receiving looks from Division I-Football Championship Subdivision schools. Park Hill: Defensive end Ondre Pipkins stands 6-foot 3 and weighs 325 pounds. Rivals. com ranks him as a 4-star recruit, and Pipkins is committed to play college ball at Michigan.

NOTES — Winner of this game advances to the playoffs while loser goes home … It would be 1st playoff appearance for Central since 1995, 3rd overall … Same scenario happened last season with Park Hill defeating Central 31-20 at Noyes Field … Teams have played nearly identical schedules with both teams picking up wins against Liberty, Truman, Ruskin, Oak Park and North Kansas City while dropping games to Lee’s Summit West and Staley … Trojans dropped 3 of 4 games before last week’s 48-20 win against Oak Park while Central won 4 straight before loss to Staley.

Area game of the week

West Platte at East Buchanan

WHEN — 7 p.m.

WHERE — Gower, Mo.

BROADCASTS —WestPlatteSports.com

RECORDS — East Buchanan 8-1 (4-1 KCI) West Platte 6-2 (5-0 KCI)

PLAYERS TO WATCH — East Buchanan: Senior QB Cory Bower continues to put up great numbers, but he wouldn’t be as effective without WR Brandon McNeely, who leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. West Platte: 1st-year QB Luke Wetzel has experienced no issues becoming the man for Blue Jays, throwing for more than 2,000 yards this season.

NOTES — West Platte won district championship game last season 41-20 but East Buchanan got the final laugh, winning 42-41 on a last-second touchdown and successful 2-point conversion in sectionals … East Buchanan is ranked No. 7 in state poll while West Platte is receiving votes … West Platte can win KCI Conference title with a win, otherwise it finishes in a three-way tie between Lawson, East Buchanan and West Platte — all at 5-1 … Bulldogs only loss is to Lawson while West Platte lost to Class 2 state-ranked Lafayette County and Class 2 Trenton … West Platte will be without WR Seth Rulon after he injured his knee last week vs. North Platte.

11-man

Games Thursday unless noted

Midland Empire Conference

Benton vs Lafayette

Both teams enter out of playoff contention in Class 4 District 16. Benton (4-5) looks to end 5-game losing streak and finish year on positive note. Cardinals lost last week to Savannah after leading 6-0 early. Lucas Powers scored both TDs. Lafayette (5-4) looks to wrap up 2nd straight winning season. Fighting Irish lost to Platte County last week despite outgaining Pirates with help from 3 100-yard rushers, including 159 yards rushing and 2 long TDs from Jurrell Green.

Maryville vs Cameron

Maryville (8-1) claims share of MEC title with victory against Dragons (2-7) after clinching a playoff berth last week with win against St. Pius X.

KCI Conference

Lathrop vs Lawson

Lathrop (4-5) could make playoffs under multiple scenarios with the right result from Hogan Prep-Lexington and against perennial KCI power Lawson (7-2), which looks to wrap up undefeated run through Class 2 District 15. The Cardinals have won 7 straight since losing to Maryville and West Platte to open the season and changing to QB Cody Edwards.

Mid Buchanan at North Platte

Both teams have struggled in conference play this season, carrying 1-4 records into final game of season.

Grand River Conference

Gallatin at South Harrison

South Harrison can guarantee itself a playoff spot for 3rd consecutive season with victory. Gallatin looking to spring upset with 1st-year coach Kevin Meyer and his spread offense attack.

King City at Maysville

A win for King City sends the Wildkats to the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season, but a loss throws the district into all kinds of weird scenarios with points tiebreaker being required to determine which teams play East Buchanan and West Platte in regionals.

Other games

Excelsior Springs vs Smithville

Tyler Lamb’s overtime field goal gave Smithville (7-2) a key win last week vs. Liberty North. Warriors clinch 2nd playoff spot in Class 4 District 15 if they can beat 0-9 Excelsior Springs on Friday.

Princeton at Marceline

Milan has already advanced to playoffs after beating both of these teams. Winner Friday advances while loser goes home for the season. Princeton QB Colton Hartley and WR Nate Roberts (600-plus receiving yards) have formed a nice partnership this season.

Braymer at Polo

Despite loss to South Harrison, Polo looking to lock up at least 2nd playoff berth with a win against Bobcats and could still take No. 1 seed with a South Harrison loss to Gallatin. A rematch with No. 1-ranked Wellington-Napoleon looms for the Panthers at some point, though.

Hamilton at LeBlond

Defending class 2 champion Hamilton (9-0) continues to roll through this season with junior running back Derrick Hughes leading the way. Golden Eagles picked up 1st win this season at Plattsburg last week but will need a miracle to make playoffs.

St. Pius X vs Chillicothe

Winner clinches playoff berth in what has become a minor rivalry with St. Pius X winning last season’s game with playoff berth on the line, 42-12. Chillicothe fullback DJ Gannon rushed for 199 yards and 5 touchdowns and intercepted 3 passes last week in win vs. Cameron.

Platte County vs Savannah

Savannah looks to avoid Week 10 letdown again this year after Pirates claimed win and district crown last year. Platte County (7-2) is looking for 2nd district title in a row with both teams already into the postseason.

Trenton vs Plattsburg

Trenton (6-3) can lock up 2nd consecutive playoff appearance with a victory against the Tigers (1-8), who lost to previously winless LeBlond last week.

Albany at Rock Port

Both teams are still alive for playoff berth heading into final game Friday. Rock Port RB Treyton Lewis broke his leg and Jayden McMahon stepped into his place in big win last week vs. Maysville.

Kansas

Maur Hill-Mt Academy at Horton

Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention Class 3A District 7. Maur Hill-Mount Academy (3-5) has chance to eclipse win total from 2006-2010 combined (3-42). Horton is 2-6.

ACCHS at Sabetha

Matchup decides title for Class 3A District 7, and winner hosts a playoff game while other hits the road. ACCHS (7-1) has lone loss to Doniphan West early in the season, while Sabetha’s 5-3 mark includes 3 straight wins by combined 129 points.

Atchison at Hiawatha

Atchison (3-5) and Hiawatha (2-6) are likely battling for the 2nd playoff spot in Class 4A District 1 behind. K.C. Piper. Winner will be road team in Tuesday’s playoffs.

Oskaloosa at Riverside

Riverside (7-1) already has won Class 2-1A district title in inaugural season. Cyclones are 3-0 in 5-team district and can finished unbeaten against winless Oskaloosa (0-8). Riverside will host a playoff game next Friday against either Olpe (5-3) or Lyndon (7-1).

Valley Falls at Doniphan West

Doniphan West (7-1) wrapped up DVL North title and playoff spot with win vs. Valley Heights last week. Mustangs already know they will travel to St. Mary’s next Friday for a playoff game.

Centralia at Troy

Centralia (5-3), a perennial powerhouse, has alreay won district drown, but both teams complete District 4 play tonight. Troy (2-6) is at bottom of district standings at 0-3 and has lost 5 straight.

8-man

Games Friday unless noted

Highway 275 Conference

Nodaway-Holt at Craig

Matchup of winless teams in Highway 275 this season. QB Nick Patterson leads Nodaway-Holt with 775 yards passing and 12 touchdowns. His top target is Brandon Saxton, who nearly has 500 yards receiving.

South Holt at Mound City

South Holt (4-5) clinched a playoff spot with 66-44 victory against Tarkio last week. Two of the top rushing quarterbacks in 8-man football will go head-to-head with Mound City’s Lucas Schawang and South Holt’s Kylynn Sisk, who rushed for 3 TDs last week.

Stanberry at Worth County

Worth County running back Eli Mullock is averging 16.8 yards per carry and has scored 36 touchdowns, which is 15 more than any other running back this season. Nathan Luke has rushed for 834 yards and 16 touchdowns.

West Nodaway at North Nodaway

Neither team will make a trip to the playoffs but bragging rights on line during rivalry game. Running back Aaron Moser leads West Nodaway. He has rushed for 1,121 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. North Nodaway (3-6) has been shut out 3 consecutive weeks.

Platte Valley Conference

DeKalb at North Andrew

North Andrew QB Nate Atkins and WR Cody Edwards have formed a dynamic offensive duo for the Cardinals (4-5). DeKalb (5-3) lost big to Christian last week. Still battling for 2nd in PVC, both teams are already eliminated from playoff contention.

Other games

Southwest Livingston at St Joseph Christian

The Lions and Wildcats feature 2 of 8-man football’s most powerful offenses with Christian (9-0) averaging 67 points per game while Southwest Livingston (7-1) is averaging 63 points per game. This matchup decides the District 3 title with Southwest seeking 1st playoff trip since 1994. Christian has gone 7 straight times.

South Nodaway at Tarkio

Tarkio missed out on playoff berth with loss to South Holt last week. Michael Eddlemon leads Indians’ rushing attack with 733 yards and 9 touchdowns. Dual-threat quarterback Tom Fletchell leads Longhorns attack.