The postseason has arrived for high school football programs across the country, marking one final opportunity for members of Select '17 to bring glory to their hometowns before they head to Columbus.
Some were not so fortunate, as injuries derailed their once-promising seasons, so we've taken an in-depth look at the championship aspirations of those left standing.
OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Ohio State safety commit Brendon White and Olentangy Liberty will look to once again fend off crosstown rival Olentangy Orange in a rematch of last month's 20-13 double-overtime thriller. White, who plays quarterback for the undefeated Patriots, injured his ankle in the first quarter of that game, but is expected to be back under center against the Pioneers on Friday night.
On the opposite side of the Division I bracket sits unbeaten Colerain and cornerback pledge Amir Riep. Relatively unchallenged all season, the Cardinals' top-ranked defense may have its hands full with Springboro wide receiver Nick Kovacs, a Toledo commit who has 78 receptions for 1190 yards and 19 touchdowns this season.
Three of Ohio's top senior linemen will be front-and-center for the Division II matchup between Miamisburg and Kings Mill. The Vikings boast Ohio State five-star offensive tackle commit Josh Myers and Cincinnati three-star offensive tackle pledge Cody Lamb, while the Knights have Nebraska three-star offensive tackle pledge Matt Sichterman. If you're a fan of line play, this is the game for you.
CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION
Defending state runners-up St. John Bosco and Ohio State offensive guard commit Wyatt Davis must play one more game against Orange Lutheran before finding out their postseason fate.
COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION
Like his fellow slob, Jake Moretti must wait another week before postseason brackets are announced. Though the offensive tackle has missed his entire senior season with a torn ACL, state runners-up Pomona is considered the top-ranked team in the state with an 8-1 record.
FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Ohio State five-star wide receiver commit Trevon Grimes suffered a torn ACL in St. Thomas Aquinas' nationally televised triple-overtime loss to Bishop Gorman in late September, but the Raiders are still considered the favorite to bring home their third-consecutive Class 7A state title. Aquinas plays one more regular season game on Friday before starting its title defense against Palm Beach Lakes on Nov. 11.
We mentioned in Sunday's Select' 17 Tracker that Trinity Christian, meanwhile, had been forced to forfeit its five wins after self-reporting the use of an ineligible player, making the path to a fourth-consecutive state title more difficult for Ohio State cornerback commit Shaun Wade.
The Conquerors were set to play a three-way tiebreaker on Monday to get into the playoffs, but won an appeal when FHSAA officials said the administration had no way of knowing the student was in violation of the rules.
Sitting at 6-3 overall, Trinity Christian will now conclude its regular season this weekend with a game at Pensacola Pine Forest before taking on Taylor County in the Division 3A Semifinals on Nov. 11.
One of the Conquerors losses this season came at the hands of IMG Academy, an independent school that cannot compete for a state title. It instead plays a cross-country schedule with the hopes of winning a mythical national championship.
Ohio State defensive back commits Isaiah Pryor and Marcus Williamson have helped the Ascenders to a 8-0 record this season. They have three more contests remaining against schools from Florida, Maryland and Virginia, but have their sights set on a postseason matchup with two-time defending national champions Bishop Gorman.
NEVADA INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION
As mentioned above, Bishop Gorman is looking to capture its eighth-consecutive state championship and third-straight national title. And, quite honestly, the Gaels have already weathered the most difficult portion of their schedule, having played nationally ranked teams from California, Florida, Hawai'i and Texas.
With 81-consecutive wins over in-state opponents, another state championship seems like a formality for Ohio State commits Tate Martell, Tyjon Lindsey and Haskell Garrett. They'll finish the regular season against Sierra Vista on Friday before starting the Division I playoffs next week.
NEW YORK MONSIGNOR MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Canisius looks to return to its third-consecutive state title game at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson New Era Stadium on the legs of placekicker commit Blake Haubeil. The top-rated kicker, is 9-for-11 this season on field goals, and has a pair of game-winning kicks this season for the Crusaders.
Canisius captured its fifth-consecutive regular season title to earn a bye to the playoff semifinal, where the Crusaders will await the lowest-seeded opponent remaining.
TEXAS UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE
It's been a difficult season for running back commit J.K. Dobbins, whose La Grange Leopards were expected to be one of the top teams in Texas this season. The top-rated all-purpose back rushed for 2,720 yards and 35 touchdowns to lead the team to the postseason last year, but broke his right fibula and suffered a severely sprained ankle on the first play of the season opener.
La Grange has struggled to a 3-5 record without Dobbins, but can still have a chance to make the playoffs with a win at rival Caldwell on Friday.
WASHINGTON CATHOLIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Schools in the Washington D.C. Metro Area area also one week behind, as DeMatha Catholic concludes its regular season against rival Our Lady of Good Counsel this Friday. Ohio State defensive end commit Chase Young and the Stags will know their road to a fourth-consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship when playoff brackets are revealed over the weekend.
Cincinnati Winton Woods and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Pioneer did not qualify for the playoffs, thus ending the high school careers of defensive tackle commit Jerron Cage and linebacker pledge Antjuan Simmons.
