By Mark Gilman
MaxPreps.com
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Oregon's new six-tier playoff system gets off the ground this coming Friday. And the new-look schedule means many teams will have a week off before getting their postseason underway.
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At the 6A level, four of the seven league champions have an opening round bye in the 28-team playoff bracket. Top-ranked and unbeaten Jesuit (Metro League), Sprague (Central Valley Conference), Central Catholic (Mt. Hood Conference), and Lake Oswego (Three Rivers League) will have to wait until Nov. 17 to identify their first opponents.
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Among the 24 teams playing in this week's opening round are two undefeated squads.ÿ Second-ranked Sheldon will host Central Valley fourth seed McKay of Salem, and third-ranked Grant will entertain Mount Hood fourth place representative Reynolds of Troutdale.
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At the 5A level, just four games will be played this weekend, with the winners advancing in the "pig tail games" to play four league champions.ÿ
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Jefferson of Portland, the PIL's No. 3 seed, travels to Intermountain Conference No. 3 Hermiston. The winner plays second-ranked Sherwood next week. Northwest Conference No. 4 Liberty plays at Mid-Willamette Conference third seed Lebanon for the right to face fifth-rated Churchill of Eugene.
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The No. 4 representative out of the Intermountain Conference, Bend, will travel to Thurston of Springfield, the Midwestern League's third seed.ÿ The victor travels to fourth-ranked Crater.ÿ Mid-Willamette Conference fourth-seed Dallas will meet Northwest Conference No. 3 Hillsboro for the chance to meet Intermountain champion Pendleton.
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At Oregon's new 4A level, 24 teams will also be in the postseason, while 16 teams each will compete at the 3A, 2A, and the eight-man 1A level.
