FLEMING ISLAND - With literally two and a couple half games left in the season for a couple of Clay County football teams, the intrigue of the MaxPreps rankings will be a central thought for area coaches, players and fans.

"It's still too early to know anything," said Clay coach Jeff Gierke, who has amassed a remarkable program turnaround from a 2-8 last year to a 6-2 current record in his second year with the Blue Devils. Clay still has games against Middleburg on Friday and at Andrew Jackson on Oct. 30. Then it will resume its game against Fleming Island on Nov. 3 after the game was postponed on Oct. 9 by threatening weather. "All we can do is win on Friday. If we win out, we are in."

Gierke's prophecy is based on some unique football scenarios he shares with Middleburg coach Ryan Wolfe and Fleming Island coach Tom MacPherson.

First up, Clay beat Ridgeview, 40-0, on Oct. 16,  while Middleburg's 31-19 district loss to Fleming Island puts the Blue Devils is in the driver's seat with just a single district loss to St. Augustine.

"If we finish at 8-2, we are in," Gierke said. "Good luck to figuring out who else gets in."

The 'who else' is both Middleburg and Fleming Island, which sits precariously in the 7-through-10 positions in the recent MaxPreps rankings that will ultimately determine the top eight teams that will advance to region playoffs.

District champions automatically advance. That figures to be 8-0 St. Augustine following a 52-8 win against Orange Park in last Friday's district game. The Yellow Jackets are ranked eighth in Class 4A. Columbia (8-0) and Mosley (7-0) are also in Region 1-4A.

For Wolfe, a fifth consecutive region playoff appearance will come if Middleburg beats Clay, and returns to win the second half of a Nov. 3 game against Orange Park that was delayed in the second half on Oct. 9 by inclement weather.

"I know we have to worry about one game at a time," Wolfe said. "Clay is a very good team so they are our main focus."

Fleming Island's win over Middleburg threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the probable matchups for county teams. The Golden Eagles have a clash against St. Augustine on Friday before making up the second half of its Oct. 9 game against Clay on Nov. 3.

The Broncos were up on Orange Park, 15-13, with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter before the game was postponed by threatening weather.

Clay was ahead of Fleming Island, 11-6, when that came was stopped.

The Nov. 3 games will become new regular-season finales. On Oct. 30, Fleming Island plays at Bishop Kenny and Clay travels to 7-1 Andrew Jackson.

The first round of the region playoffs will be on Nov. 13.

The big question is, will Columbia or St. Augustine, be selected into the Elite Eight playoff system that selects the eight best teams, regardless of classifications, in the state using MaxPreps computer rankings.

Arguably one of the key statistics in that decision will be the strength of schedule, where the Top 10 in the state rankings have strength of schedule numbers close to 50 and greater. For example, Chaminade-Mooney's schedule is rated at 55.4, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas at 53.6 and Cardinal Newman at 51.4. Columbia, is at 43.1, while St. Augustine is at 32.3.

As of Sunday, Oct. 18, unofficially, IMG Academy is top team in Florida, but is ineligible for FHSAA playoffs which leaves 5A St. Thomas Aquinas (8-0), is ahead of 6A Miami Columbus of Miami and 5A West Boca Raton (6-1) as top three.

Class 2A Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (6-2) is fourth and 3A Miami Central (6-2) is fifth. Class 2A West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (5-2) is sixth, 3A Orlando Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (7-1) is seventh and 2A The First Academy of Orlando (6-1) is in eighth. All currently are projected as Elite Eight teams.

In Region 1-4A, Columbia is ranked No. 1, followed by Mosley, Choctawhatchee and St. Augustine in the top four followed by Ed White, Leon, Lincoln and Rickards ranked fifth-through-eight. While undefeated, Leon has a 21.4 strength of schedule rating, while 2-5 Rickards is at 41.3. Clay has a 30.7 rating, while 4-4 Fleming Island is at 31.6, and 5-3 Middleburg is at 30.9. The Broncos will need wins and a bit of help to be viable.

"Leon is undefeated, Ed White has two losses - to Raines and to Columbia, so all we can control is us," Gierke said. "We could be as high as four or a low as seven if we win out."

Oakleaf, in Region 1-5A, is still viable top-eight finisher, even with its Friday showdown against second-seed and undefeated Buchholz.

Oakleaf won its district game 28-0 on Friday against Matanzas, following a 21-7 loss to Ocala Forest in the week prior. The Knights will need a solid game against Buchholz to make a wave for the regions.

Mandarin is the top seed in Region 1-5A at 7-1 and a strength of schedule of 40.2. Buchholz is second at 8-0 and 35.6. Nease, Orlando Evans, Pace, Ponte Vedra, Fletcher and Bartram Trai were all ahead Oakleaf (4-4 at 38.4) in the latest MaxPreps rankings.

Niceville, also 4-4, is right behind Oakleaf with a 41.8 strength of schedule with two formidable final games remaining - 7-0 Dunnellon and 4-2 Pace.

Oakleaf finishes with Buchholz and First Coast (1-7). Mandarin finishes with Bartram Trail, while Buchholz finishes with Bolles. Nease has Ponte Vedra and Sandalwood to go, while Evans still has 3-5 Wekiva and 5-3 Dr. Phillips to play.

Mandarin may be selected into the Elite Eight, which will open up a spot in the region roster.