Best Cheap Web Hosting: Pospisil: Let higher seeds host throughout playoffs

As No. 1 seeds, Kearney, Gretna, Norfolk Catholic, Ponca, Creighton, West Holt, Mullen and Riverside did their jobs.

They won their first-round playoff games at home.

But only Kearney won't have to hit the road for its next game.

For the others, that's not right, and those classes need to adopt the legislation — or simply have the NSAA board do it — that Class A passed a couple of years ago that did away with the socialistic nature of home-game assignments in the playoffs.

In Class A, it's simple. Through the semifinals, the higher-seeded team hosts. They've earned it through their season performance.

But in the other classes, it's far more complicated. Paraphrasing from the NSAA's football manual regarding second-round, quarterfinal and semifinal games:

» If the two teams both hosted their previous game, the higher seed will host. Same if both visitors in their previous game.

» But ... if one team was a visitor and one team was a host in their previous game, the team which was a visitor will host.

This practice dates to 1981 and was adopted through the legislative process.

As pointed out repeatedly here, the No. 1 seeds have the greatest odds of not hosting games because they are grouped with the 8-9 seeds for the second round and the 4-5 seeds for the quarterfinals. The lower seeds in those two matchups have the greatest probability of winning.

So this week, because 9 beat 8, Gretna goes to Grand Island Northwest, Norfolk Catholic to David City Aquinas, Ponca to Battle Creek, Creighton to Plainview, West Holt to Perkins County, Mullen to Giltner and Riverside to Hay Springs. If there's a consolation, the higher seeds know they'll be at home for the next round.

While on the subject of fields, bravo to Nebraska Lutheran taking its Eight Man-1 game Wednesday against East Butler from its field at Waco to the turf at Shelby-Rising City.

More schools with bare-bone facilities should consider similar moves. Outside the metro areas, there are turf fields at North Platte, Kearney, Grand Island, Hastings, Central City, Aurora, York, Seward, Albion, Columbus, Shelby, Norfolk, Humphrey, Wayne, Fremont, Beatrice, Norris, Johnson-Brock, Nebraska City and Falls City (did I miss any?). The Panhandle is expected to get one next year at Chadron State.

District basketball games aren't played in small gyms. Nor should playoff football games be played with two sets of bleachers on each side of the field.

Ratings comments

Top 10: Gretna and Class B No. 2 Elkhorn South move up to eighth and ninth after Lincoln High's 21-19 loss to Millard South. The latter returns at No. 10 after ending a two-game losing streak.

Class A: Millard South is eighth here, followed by Lincoln High and Lincoln Pius X. Although it lost to the next in line, Grand Island, Pius X currently still gets much credit for beating then-No. 1 Omaha North to end the regular season.

Class B: Cam Jurgens-less Beatrice lost 35-7 to Elkhorn, its second loss of the season to the Antlers, and exits. Grand Island Northwest moves into seventh, followed by Elkhorn and two opening-game losers, Blair and Columbus.

Class C-1: Upsets by Pierce and Wayne over Fairbury and Chadron, respectively, return those northeast schools to the ratings at No. 7 and No. 9. In the shuffling, West Point-Beemer vaults from 10th to sixth for its win over Pierce — can the Cadets validate that win in Friday's rematch at Pierce? Gothenburg stays ranked, despite a 42-6 home loss to Aquinas, because of its 21-20 win over next-in-line Kearney Catholic.

Class C-2: Yutan's 25-0 win at Oakland-Craig jolted the ratings as the Chieftains jump from eighth to fifth and Oakland slides from third to 10th. Battle Creek shut out defending champion Wilber-Clatonia and Central City held off Hartington Cedar Catholic to garner home quarterfinals.

Eight Man-1: East Butler and Perkins County return after West Point Guardian Angels lost 52-50 to Pender and Heartland lost 24-6 to Johnson-Brock.

Six Man: Hay Springs beat Spalding Academy 26-20 to exchange places with the then-No. 4 Shamrocks.

Should higher-seeded teams host Nebraska prep football playoff games through the semifinals?

Outside of Class A, if two teams both hosted their previous game in the Nebraska high school football playoffs, the higher seed will host. Same if both visitors in their previous game. But if one team was a visitor and one team was a host in their previous game, the team which was a visitor will host. Do you think higher seeds should always host through the semifinals?

Back

Kearney Catholic's Matt Masker attempts to break free from Wahoo's Billy Hancock.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr runs the ball in for the team's third touchdown.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Logan Miner fights off a tackle by Wahoo's Bret Walker.

Kearney Catholic's Caleb Hoyt runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Matt Masker runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Trey Colling brings down Wahoo's Dylan Egr.

Wahoo's Brendan Lacey catches a touchdown pass.

Wahoo's Cameron Quick throws the ball.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr is tackled by Kearney Catholic defenders.

Wahoo's Brandon Swahn celebrates his tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Kearney Catholic's Matt Masker attempts to break free from Wahoo's Billy Hancock.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr runs the ball in for the team's third touchdown.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Logan Miner fights off a tackle by Wahoo's Bret Walker.

Kearney Catholic's Caleb Hoyt runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Matt Masker runs the ball.

Kearney Catholic's Trey Colling brings down Wahoo's Dylan Egr.

Wahoo's Brendan Lacey catches a touchdown pass.

Wahoo's Cameron Quick throws the ball.

Wahoo's Dylan Egr is tackled by Kearney Catholic defenders.

Wahoo's Brandon Swahn celebrates his tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Omaha Burke's Xavier Watts makes the catch for a touchdown in the first quarter as Millard North's Jadus Ellis goes up to defend.

Omaha Burke's Xavier Watts celebrates scoring a touchdown in the first quarter.

Millard North's Chris Cavazos gets called on pass interference as Omaha Burke's Darnel Davis tries to go up for the catch.

Omaha Burke's Chris Hickman slips past Millard North's Cam Wiemers in the second quarter.

Millard North's Spencer Weber and Cam Wiemers trip up Omaha Burke's James Burks.

Omaha Burke's Chris Hickman makes the catch for a touchdown as Millard North's Chris Cavazos defends.

Omaha Burke's Dylan Sales lifts up Chris Hickman in celebration after Hickman scored a touchdown.

Omaha Burke's Jacob Fiala tries to tackle Millard North's Jadus Ellis.

Omaha Burke's Tyler Chadwick looks to pass in the second quarter.

Millard North's Jackson Creek trips up Omaha Burke's James Burks in the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 at Burke High School in Omaha, Neb. JULIA NAGY/THE WORLD-HERALD

Omaha Burke's Darnel Davis slips past Millard North's Ben King.

Millard North's Cade Elwood runs the ball.

Millard North's Noah Mick, left, and head coach Fred Petito look to a referee during a timeout.

Millard North's Noah Knoell makes the catch for a touchdown.

Millard North's Noah Knoell, left, and Easton Sixel celebrate Knoell's touchdown.

Omaha Burke coach Paul Limongi watches the game.