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Douglass looks to leap frog Patuxent for the fourth spot in the 2A South and will do so with a win over Gwynn Park Saturday. 
Prince George's County, Content Manager
Contrary to popular belief, the last week of the regular season is indeed the first week of the playoffs.
For some teams, a win in week 10 amounts to a berth in its respective regional playoffs. However, for others, a loss in week 10 amounts to that of a playoff loss as that respective team's season will be over. For two teams in particular, week 10 is to date the biggest game of the year.
"Some teams will be putting their equipment away after Saturday, and others will have another week of practice," Henry Wise head coach DaLawn Parrish said.
Henry Wise (6-3) will visit Oxon Hill (6-3) Saturday in a meeting to determine the final spot in the 4A South regional playoffs. Both teams are coming off victories in week 9 as Oxon Hill defeated Parkdale 46-6 and Wise defeated DuVal 28-6 in a victory that gave Wise an opportunity at the final playoff berth.
"If we don't win, we don't get in," Parrish said, "it's that simple. It is going to be a play-off atmosphere Saturday. We have to play our best. There is no opportunity to get back a mistake now. This is not like a regular game."
"This is the first week of the playoffs," Oxon Hill head coach Walter Cross said. "This will be a tough test, our toughest test since [playing C.H.] Flowers."
With such a reward as a playoff berth awaiting the winner, each coach recognizes the path to victory.
"There are three big keys for Saturday's game," Parrish said. "We have to control the line of scrimmage, offensively and defensively, limit the big plays, and have no turnovers."
"We have to keep turnovers to a minimum," Cross said. "We have to get our passing game going and move the ball consistently. Defensively, we have to contain [running back] Anthony Wright."
In another key meeting Saturday that could determine a playoff spot in the 2A South, Frederick Douglass-PG (7-2) will visit Gwynn Park (8-1). With a victory, Douglass will in fact obtain the fourth spot ensuring it a playoff berth.
Douglass defeated Potomac (5-4) 29-0 last week as Gwynn Park also earned 29 points in its 29-0 victory over Friendly (7-2) last week.
In other matchups ...
Friendly will look to hold on to its second spot in the 3A South as it will host Central (5-4) Friday night. Central defeated Fairmont Heights last week 40-0.
Eleanor Roosevelt (9-0) will look to complete an undefeated regular season with a home contest against Laurel (2-7) on Saturday. Roosevelt defeated Bowie last week 46-6, as Northwestern-PG (4-5) defeated Laurel 22-0 last week.
C.H. Flowers (8-1) will visit Bowie Saturday after the Jaguars defeated Suitland (7-2) last weekend in a thrilling 20-14 overtime victory and Northwestern will visit DuVal (5-4) Saturday afternoon.
After a 40-0 victory over High Point (0-9), Bladensburg (4-5) will visit Suitland Saturday.
As High Point and Parkdale remain winless on the season, one of the two teams is sure to end the regular season with a victory as the two teams will meet Friday night.
Fairmont Heights (0-9) will visit Forestville (4-5) Saturday afternoon. Forestville earned a 14-0 victory over Crossland (2-7) last week and looks for a victory to improve to .500 on the year.
Crossland will visit Surrattsville (2-7) as both teams look to close out the 2008 campaign with a victory. Largo (5-4) defeated Surrattsville last week 35-21 and will visit Potomac to close out its 2008 season.
tmccray@digitalsports.com
