Well, this is it. The last chance for six of our eight area schools to improve their playoff resumes. And for a couple of more, a spoiler role will have to do.

2A
The Neuse 6 is fascinating. Here’s where we are at the moment:

This week, the top three teams play the bottom three teams and, as they are listed here, 1 plays 5, 2 plays six and the two teams in the middle — Princeton and North Johnston — square off.

If form holds and the top three teams win, there would be tri-champions. Princeton, by virtue of the mysterious RPI rankings (don’t get me started on that one), would claim the league’s top playoff seed (projected as a 7). Beddingfield and Eastern Wayne would follow with the two other automatic bids.

At the moment, The folks at High School OT have North Johnston ($) as the projected No. 31 seed (in a 32-team field). A loss to Princeton Friday night would put its postseason hopes in jeopardy, however.

The Massey Ratings have the Bulldogs as a 30.5-point favorite, but based on how crazy the Neuse 6 has been this year, no one should take anything for granted.

High School OT points out that North Johnston would win a share of the title with a win losses by Beddingfield and Eastern Wayne. Unlikely, but interesting.

3A

Things are a little more clear atop the Quad County 3A, but still muddled in the middle.

The winner of the annual blood feud between Fike and Hunt will earn the league title and the loser will finish second.

From there, it’s slide rule and abacus time.

C.B. Aycock hosts Southern Wayne and is a 34.5-point Massey Ratings favorite, so the Falcons should have third place on lockdown.

That leaves three teams in a clump for fourth, fifth and sixth. The Quad County gets two auto bids, so Aycock, West Johnston, South Johnston and East Wake are all in the hopper for at large spots.

Out friends from High School OT tell us that, at the moment, the league’s seeds break down this way: Hunt (6), Fike (19), Aycock (18?), South Johnston (25), West Johnston (26) and East Wake (34, or second team out).

East Wake is hosting Smithfield-Selma, and Massey has the Warriors as a 13.5-point favorite. Then there’s the small matter of the JoCo Sports Game of the Week, presented by Gowan Roofing, between West and South.

I think it’s safe to say that the winner is definitely in. The loser will have a long wait until early Saturday afternoon to learn its postseason fate.

The Trojans are 8.5-point favorites and have an 11-9 overall edge in the MaxPreps era (2004-present). They’ve also won five of the last six meetings.

To me, it breaks down like this: The team that runs the ball least effectively will probably lose. Both teams rely on a tough, opportunistic defense and are better suited playing from ahead.

It figures to be a rock fight, and the stakes couldn’t be much higher.

4A

The Greater Neuse River 4A also features clarity at the top.

The winner of the Clayton/Cleveland game (which will have High School OT, 102.3 FM and CRN on hand for the call) will be the league champion, and the loser will be second.

The Massey Ratings have the Rams pegged as a 16.5-point favorite, and High School OT has them projected as a three seed at the moment, while Clayton is slotted in as an 11.

Of course, a Comet victory flips all of that on its collective ear. And with a talented quarterback and stout defense, they have more than a fighting chance to do just that.

Meanwhile, Corinth Holders will have to be content with a spoiler role when it visits Garner. The Pirates are a 22.5-point underdog, but will be looking to end the season on a high note.