Playoff Bubble X-Factors

Tyler Graham September 29, 2023 @ 01:10 PM

As we start to see the playoff picture and see who is in, who is out and who is right on the bubble, I thought it would be fun to check out the players that could push their team over the hump into the postseason with good performances the next few weeks. This article will check the bubble in the top 6 11 player divisions and highlight a player from a bubble team.   Division 1: [player_tooltip player_id='899438' first='Gerry' last='Hanson III'], Anchor Bay WR- Currently Anchor Bay sits in the very last playoff team in. QB [player_tooltip player_id='417780' first='Ryan' last='LaFear'] has had a solid season so far, but the Tars still cling to the final playoff spot at 2-3, but they have hung tough with some solid teams like Dakota, who they lost to by 7, and Chippewa Valley who they lost to by 1 in OT. I've seen what Gerry can do, and if he can get loose behind the defense the next few weeks, there is no reason they can't win at least 2 of the remaining 4 games on their schedule. I think if defenses take him away, it could go the other way, but if he can continue to find the end zone, Anchor Bay will secure a playoff berth this season.   Division 2: [player_tooltip player_id='566981' first='Jack' last='Janda'], Orchard Lake St. Mary's TE/DL- It's no secret that OLSM is not where they want to be in the playoff picture, sitting about 6 point outside. Currently sitting at 2-3, they do not have an easy schedule the rest of the way. They are really going to need Sophomore and future D1 player [player_tooltip player_id='566981' first='Jack' last='Janda'] to step up to the plate and take over. Not only a fantastic offensive weapon at TE, he is a 2 way player that can be a game wrecker at the DE position as well. If the Eaglets want to break into the playoffs, they will need the production of Janda to be elite, and I truly think he could be up to the task.   Division 3: [player_tooltip player_id='600132' first='Xavier' last='Newsom'], Detroit King TE/DL: King finds themselves in a precarious position that they aren't too familiar with- on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Now I do think they will make it, as the remaining schedule sets up for them to be able to make it, but I still would like to see Newsom take over some games. At 6'5 230, he is an elite 2 way player. Defensively he can disrupt the flow of the offense with ease, and offensively he is a huge mismatch to try and cover. I hope to see Xavier up his production over the next few weeks to push the Crusaders through the playoff bubble and give them a shot in the big dance.   Division 4: [player_tooltip player_id='253603' first='Callen' last='Campbell'], Sault Ste. Marie DL- The current Northwestern commit has his team currently sitting as team 29/32 in the D4 playoffs. With the way their schedule closes out, I think they can hold that position, but there are a couple potent offense they will see that could give them a challenge. They will need Callen to be a game wrecker and continue his dominance, which I think he can do. As long as he does that, at worst they should win 3 of the next 4 and make it at 6-3, at best they may end up 7-2 and hopefully that will help their seeding. Though if they drop a couple more though, they could be looking at an uphill battle with some other scrappy teams around them.   Division 5: [player_tooltip player_id='267292' first='Logan' last='Zahn'], Saginaw Swan Valley WR- Swan Valley clings to the 2nd to last spot in the playoffs as it currently sits, with an interesting schedule ahead. Some games the Vikings should potentially win, but I think Zahn will be a big piece of that. If he can continue to produce and help SV with the big plays, there is no reason why they shouldn't secure a playoff spot. These games could be great for them to rack up the playoff points, but losing to some inferior opponents could be detrimental to the Vikings playoff hopes, but I think Logan will be a huge piece of the next few weeks to get them firmly into the postseason.   Division 6: Braden Elison, Columbia Central RB- I just wrote about Braden in a previous article as one of the breakout RBs of the season so far, and I think the formula for them to secure a playoff spot is simple: Feed Him! He has been extremely important to the offense so far for BCC, running for almost 10 YPC and securing 10 TDs already. They currently sit 29/32 on the playoff grid, and with some games they very well could win coming up, I think if Elison continues his impressive season, they should be in, which would be huge for this program.

As we start to see the playoff picture and see who is in, who is out and who is right on the bubble, I thought it would be fun to check out the players that could push their team over the hump into the postseason with good performances the next few weeks. This article will check the bubble in the top 6 11 player divisions and highlight a player from a bubble team.