Playoffs on the line with Mary Persons and Howard

          The records aren’t what either team hoped for, nor is what’s at stake.

          Nevertheless, the level of intensity should be mighty high when Howard welcomes Mary Persons to the Ed DeFore Sports Complex at 7 p.m. Thursday.

          It’s also senior night for Howard, festivities starting at 6:30 p.m., a bit before a night of rain is expected to start.

          The weather will likely mean a little more running for Mary Persons, which brings a slightly more balanced offense.

Ah, tiebreaker scenarios

(May be updated/clarified) The three-way tiebreaker is points allowed in the games involving the tied teams: Upson-Lee is 44, Mary Persons is 28, Howard is 13.

Mary Persons is in if:
          It wins
          It loses and Upson-Lee loses
          It loses and gives up less 15 points or less
         It loses and gives up 16 points, winning the head-to-head tiebreaker with Upson-Lee

Mary Persons is out if:
          It loses and gives up more 17 or more points
          It loses and U-L wins

Howard is in if:
          It wins

Howard is out if:
          It loses
          It loses and Upson-Lee loses, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker

          A postseason spot is on the line, and there may be math involved in determining the final two region spots and seeds.

          A Howard win combined with a Friday night Upson-Lee win means a three-way tie for two spots, and the region goes to a points-allowed equation involving the three teams. (See box).

          But points aside, scoring more than the other side if the first priority, and defenses will have to deal with plenty of rushing threats.

          William Stewart leads Mary Persons with 583 yards, while Enrico Harden has 428 yards. Howard’s Jeremiah Kelly and Javarsia Meadows teamed for 290 yards last week against Spalding

          The Mary Persons duo has 16 rushing touchdowns to  13 for the Huskies pair.

          Weather may negate a Bulldog advantage in the passing game. Freshman Logan Hickman has passed for 802 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions on 60-of-114 passing.

          Howard’s passing game has slipped a bit after a decent early start, Jaylon Clark completing 21 of 34 for 265 yards in the first two games, against Jones County and FPD. After a few so-so weeks, he went for 155 yards on 11-of-17 passing in a win over Jackson. He had another solid game last week, completing 9 of 17 for 125 yards against Spalding.

          The Huskies seek their third straight playoff trip, and the Bulldogs are trying to avoid missing their first postseason since 2006.

          Howard started off 4-1, and then lost three straight, two by 36 and 26 points.