In each group, the four teams with the highest power ratings after eight games will earn playoff spots.
Undefeated teams that are not in the top four in power-rating points are added to the playoff format along with the next-highest team, if need be, to make an even number.
Overbrook is likely to go 8-0, but if Shawnee and Eastern each win their next three games before the cutoff, and Ocean City wins its next three games, it's likely that Overbrook would be the fifth team and force an expanded playoff.
It's also likely that Ocean City will have to go 8-0 to earn a playoff spot, if Overbrook, Shawnee and Eastern all win their next three games. If Ocean City drops to 7-1 and Eastern and Shawnee are 7-1 and Overbrook is 8-0, then Ocean City may not have enough points to qualify.
In other trends, Delran, a four-time South Jersey Group 2 football champion, will again have an impact on the football playoffs, albeit in the role of spoiler. The Bears, at 2-3, have 11 power-rating points and little realistic chance of qualifying. Hammonton leads South Jersey Group 2 with 41 points.
However, Delran plays two undefeated teams during the next two weeks, both which may have to win to qualify.
Delran will visit Group 2 Moorestown (6-0) on Friday and then host Group 1 Burlington (5-0).
Moorestown could lose and still qualify in Group 2. Burlington, however, appears to have little margin for error. Salem (17 points) trails Burlington (20) by just three points. Group 1 is led by Woodbury with 28points.
Burlington's other games before the cutoff are against Group 1 schools Riverside (1-4, two points) and Central Jersey's Dunellen (0-6, no points). Salem's three games are against Group 1 schools Clayton (3-2, 11 points), Gloucester (3-2, 12 points) and Schalick (1-4, four points).
St. Joseph (5-0, 44 points) has already clinched a berth in Parochial 1.
The Wildcats might get a free trip to the finals because only three Parochial 1 teams have winning records. Teams must be .500 or better by the cutoff date to earn a playoff berth and if only three qualify, the top seed would receive a bye.
