On a football field in Flowood, Central Hinds and Hartfield Academy will battle to stay alive for the final playoff berth in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA bracket.

Games at about a dozen fields scattered around Mississippi will determine if they get there.

Central Hinds (4-4, 1-2 District 3-AAA) and Hartfield (3-6, 1-2) are 17th and 18th, respectively, in the Class AAA power point rankings that set the 16-team playoff field. They both need a win and some help to pass up No. 16 Heritage Academy (4-5).

Under the power point formula, teams receive 12 points for a victory, plus one for each win or open date their opponents have. The total is then divided by the number of games played to come up with an average, and it’s the average that’s used to rank, select and seed the teams.

Heritage currently has a 13.000 average, while Central Hinds (11.875) and Hartfield (11.333) are well behind. A loss to Leake Academy could drop Heritage’s average as low as 11.625, while Central Hinds would get to at least 12.000 by beating Hartfield.

The difference in tenths of a point means all three contenders are relying as much on each other’s opponents as they are their own outcomes.

 

Collegiate Christian at Rebul

Rebul Academy (5-4, 1-1 District 3-A) scored a season-high 68 points in a win over Delta Streets last week, and might need a similar offensive output to knock off Collegiate Christian (8-0, 2-0).

Collegiate Christian is one of only three unbeaten teams in the MAIS eight-man division, and has scored at least 45 points in five of its seven on-field victories. CCA also has a forfeit win.

 

Tallulah at Briarfield

Tallulah Academy (7-1, 3-0) can play for the District 4-A championship next week, but first must get past longtime rival Briarfield (4-5, 1-2). Tallulah has rushed for at least 320 yards in each of its last four games, and both Mason Todd and Ryan Hodge had surpassed the 100-yard mark in each of the last two games.

During the recent four-game stretch, Hodge has rushed for 669 yards and eight touchdowns. Todd has 538 yards and seven touchdowns.

 

SIA at Delta Academy

Following a four-game stretch against District 4-A opponents in which it went 2-2, Sharkey-Issaquena Academy (6-3) goes out of district to play Delta Academy (5-3) and try to solidify its playoff standing. SIA is sixth in the latest MAIS eight-man power point rankings.

 

Madison at Richwood

Madison Parish got back in the win column last week by edging Caldwell Parish 22-21, but didn’t improve its standing in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A power point rankings.

Madison (6-1, 1-1 LHSAA District 2-3A) is still ranked 31st, based off a low strength of schedule including this week’s game against Richwood (0-7, 0-2).