After the Iowa High School Athletic Associaltion published its current football RPI rankings yesterday, Charger fans were pleased to find that the team is still in contention for a playoff spot. Although ACGC fell six spots to thirteenth in the rankings, it is high enough in the rankings to claim an at large berth with a win over Mount Ayr on Friday.

The current RPI for the Chargers is .6188 which is just below Mounty Ayr's .6233. (Although this observer missed on his prediction of a .6209 RPI, he is elated to discover that ACGC still has a shot at post season play.)

Since nine district champions will receive automatic playoff berths, that means seven at large berths will be granted to round out the field of sixteen playoff teams. Two districts--numbers 1 and 8 (the district ACGC is in)--could get three teams into the playoffs. Van Meter and Panorama from district 8 have virtually clinched their spots, as Van Meter has the highest RPI in class 1A, while Panorama is eighth in the RPI ratings. Both play teams that they should handily defeat on Friday.

After dusting off his crystal ball, this observer is going out on a limb and is predicting these sixteen teams will be in the playoffs. First, with a Charger win over Mount Ayr, district 8 will be represented by ACGC, Van Meter, and Panorama. From district 1 we will see Western Christian, West Lyon, and West Sioux all getting in. South Central Calhoun will come out of district 2. Osage will make it form district 3, while West Branch will get in from district 4. Sigourney-Keota and Mediapolis will represent district 5. Both Dike-New Hartford and Iowa City Regina will make the playoffs from district 6. Pella Christian will be the lone team out of district 7. From district 9, both Treynor and Underwood will see post season action.

Friday's games will determine who is in and whose season will end. The IAHSAA will post the sixteen qualifiers on Friday night once all of the games have been completed. Go Chargers, and stay tuned!