Playoff scenarios for Midlands football teams: Who’s in, who’s out, who needs help?

With two weeks left in the high school football public school regular season, the playoff race is starting to take shape.

After the playoffs were shortened to two teams per region last year, this year the postseason is back to normal with top four teams making it — plus a chance for at-large berths in Class 2A and 4A because of the uneven amount of regions.

Here are the updated playoff scenarios for Midlands teams. Region records are in parentheses:

Class 5A

——Region 4——

Locks: Northwestern (3-0) wins the region with a win next week or if Rock Hill loses this week. Spring Valley (2-1) can clinch No. 2 seed with a win against Blythewood on Friday.

In the mix: The other two playoff spots will be between Rock Hill (1-1), Blythewood (0-2) and Ridge View (0-2). Ridge View has Rock Hill this week and Blythewood next week

——Region 5——

Locks: Dutch Fork (3-0) clinches the region with a win Friday against Lexington (2-0). The Wildcats win the region by beating Dutch Fork and then Chapin next week.

In the mix: Chapin (1-1) clinches a playoff spot with a win against River Bluff on Friday. The final playoff spot could be determined next week when River Bluff (0-2) hosts White Knoll (0-3).

Class 4A

——Region 4——

Locks: Irmo (3-0) is in the playoffs and clinches the region with a win Friday at Westwood. A.C. Flora (2-1) also is in and earns the No. 2 spot with a win Friday. The Falcons could still win the region if Irmo loses its final two games. Westwood (2-1) can earn the No. 3 spot with a win in one of the final two games. The Redhawks still can win the region by beating Irmo on RNE next week, and if Flora loses one of its final two games.

In the mix: Dreher (1-2) earns a playoff spot with a win Friday at Richland Northeast. Lugoff-Elgin (1-2) and Richland Northeast (0-3) are still alive but need wins and some help.

——Region 5——

Locks: South Aiken (2-0) wins the region by defeating Airport and Midland Valley in the final two weeks. Aiken (2-1) can wrap up second with a win next week against North Augusta.

In the mix: North Augusta (1-1) earns a spot with a win Friday against Midland Valley and can earn No. 2 seed with a win Friday and next week against Aiken. Airport (1-2) needs to beat South Aiken on Friday to have a shot. Midland Valley (0-2) is eliminated with a loss in either of the final two games.

Class 3A

——Region 4——

Locks: Lower Richland (4-0) has won the region and Chester (2-1) has No. 2 locked up and finishes the regular season Friday against Mid-Carolina. Fairfield Central (2-2) is the No. 3 seed and Keenan (1-3) is No. 4. Mid-Carolina (0-3) is eliminated.

——Region 5——

Locks: None

In the mix: Brookland-Cayce (2-1), Gilbert (2-1), Orangeburg-Wilkinson (2-1) and Strom Thurmond (2-1) are tied for first with two games left. Gilbert hosts Strom Thurmond this week with the winner clinching a playoff spot. B-C hosts O-W next week. The tiebreaker for the region — if three or more teams are tied — is point differential between teams capped off at 21 points. If two teams are tied, it goes to a head-to-head meeting. Fox Creek (1-2) and Swansea (0-3) are still alive but need to win and help.

——Region 6——

Locks: Camden (4-0) has clinched the region title and finishes the regular season Friday against Manning. Crestwood (4-1) is the No. 2 seed and Lakewood (3-2) the No. 3.

In the mix: Manning (1-3) earns No. 4 seed if it beats Camden on Friday. If the Monarchs lose, there will be a three-way tie with Lake City (1-4) and Marlboro County (1-4). If there is a three-way tie, Lake City wins the tiebreaker.

Class 2A

——Region 3——

Locks: Gray Collegiate (3-0) and Saluda (2-1) clinched playoff spots. Gray wins the region title by winning the final two games or with one more Newberry loss.

In the mix: Newberry (2-1) clinches a playoff spot with a win at home against Batesburg-Leesville. The Bulldogs have a shot at the region title with wins Friday and at Gray next week. If Newberry, Saluda and Gray finish in a three-way tie for region, it goes to point differential in the game against each other. Batesburg-Leesville (1-2) clinches a playoff spot with victory in one of final two games. Eau Claire (0-2) and Columbia (0-3) need to win out to have a shot at the postseason.

——Region 4——

Locks: Chesterfield (3-0) and Andrew Jackson (3-0) have clinched a spot and will play for the region title on Friday.

In the mix: Cheraw (2-1) also is in the postseason with a win in its final two games. North Central (1-2) and Central (1-3) also will earn a playoff spot with one more win. Buford (0-4) is eliminated if it loses against Central on Friday. Five teams from Region 4-2A make the playoffs.

Class A

——Region 2——

Locks: Lamar (4-0) has clinched the region championship.

In the mix: C.A. Johnson (1-1) earns No. 2 seed with a win over Lewisville on Friday and McBee on Oct. 28. McBee (2-1) is No. 2 seed with a CAJ loss to Lewisville or beatng the Green Hornets next week. Great Falls (1-3) is in No. 4 seed with a Lewisville loss to CAJ. Lewisville (0-3) needs to beat CAJ and then McBee to beat CAJ to force a three-way tie for the final two spots.