With the possibility of a tree-way tie looming for first place in the MIAA B Conference football race, with no tie-break advantages for any team, the MIAA has announced contingency plans to add a playoff game and move the championship game, currently slated for Nov. 13, to Nov. 20.
The standings currently have Archbishop Curley, defending champion Archbishop Spalding and Boys’ Latin all tied for first with 6-1 records. Curley defeated Spalding, Spalding topped Boys’ Latin and Boys’ Latin downed Curley. That leaves all three even in head-to-head competition. If they were to all win out this weekend, there would be no tie-break advantage for any of them.
Addressing this scenario, the MIAA Executive Committee has said a three-way coin flip would be held and the winner of the coin flip would advance directly to the championship game, which would then be re-scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20 at Mount St. Joseph. The two remaining teams would play on the original championship date, Sat. Nov. 13, at a yet to be determined time and location, for the second spot in the title game.
Of course, all of this could be mute if one or two of the teams falter on Friday. Boys’ Latin will be at home to face arch-rival St. Paul’s at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. The Crusaders have only two league losses and played both Curley and Spalding extremely close. The Crusaders could actually finish in a four-way tie for first or a three-way tie for second, but in all tie-break scenarios, it would be eliminated from the championship game.
Curley also has a stiff test on Friday evening at John Carroll, in another rivalry test. The Friars are coming off a disappointing 30-22 non-conference loss to the Maryland Christian Saints in which they turned the ball over four times. Spalding has to make a long trip to Frederick to play St. John’s Catholic Prep.
A playoff game would only be held if the tie-break scenarios could not separate the teams. For instance, if one or two of the teams were to lose, the head-to-head tie break would be enough to separate them. Under this scenario, the championship game would remain on the 13th, at St. Joe.
