Published: 10/10/2016 1:25:00 PM

For most everyone in the state, it's gut-check time. Most everyone is in conference play by now and most everyone has two games left on their schedule to try to finalize a trip to the state playoffs.

This upcoming week will provide a lot of insight into the playoff races around the state and help us have a clearer picture of what we could see in the postseason. Some teams can clinch a berth and/or top seed this week as well.

Next week, I'll have a breakdown of playoff scenarios for eastern Idaho teams as they enter the final week of the regular season. But, for now, here's the 'Friday Night Flashback' Week Six edition.

I wrote in my 'Postseason Predictions' article that the Highland/Madison game was a literal coin-flip for me. The coin chose wrong. Highland played its best ball of the season against the Bobcats and limited them to 85 yards rushing total. The Rams have the inside track to the top seed from the conference. Madison has one more conference game remaining and needs to beat Bonneville to secure no worse than the second seed.

Bonneville earned itself a good homecoming win which saw them get field-time for the younger guys on the team - they out-played Canyon Ridge in every aspect of the game. If you're a Bees fan, you're hoping this gives the kids a boost of confidence heading into their final two games, both of which are on the road. Bonneville needs to win out if they want a shot at a playoff berth - it's the only way they have a chance.

The Knights' playoff hopes are dimming after losing on the road at Rigby. Hillcrest had to have this game - HAD to. Now, they are tasked with beating Highland at home next week to try to get into the postseason. Rigby, on the other hand, put themselves in position to snag the third seed from the district if they can beat either Highland or Bonneville during the final two weeks of the year.

It was Homecoming for the Broncos, who came out fired up and ready to rumble against the No. 2 team in the state. The energy and hype was quickly quashed by Skyline, who took a 13-0 less than four minutes into the game. Fourteen of Blackfoot's 20 points came when the game was already in hand. Skyline hasn't quite wrapped up the conference yet - they can do that on Friday with a win at Pocatello. Blackfoot still has to beat Preston and Pocatello if they want to lock down the second seed.

The Indians picked up their first win against Century in four tries on Thursday night at Holt Arena. The way their season was trending prior to last week was the wrong direction of where they wanted to end up. Credit to Dave Spillett, his staff, and his players for swinging the momentum back in their favor which puts them back in the thick of the conference playoff chase. Their season comes down to the next two weeks as they play Skyline and Blackfoot. Win both of those games and they will make it to state. Win one or lose both and their fate may be out of their hands.

The Tigers came away with a big victory at Preston on Friday night. The Tigers needed to win that one if they wanted to stay in the playoff race. Preston's loss in this one eliminates them from the postseason. Idaho Falls' advantage down the stretch is that they have one more conference game left, a winnable home tilt against Century, AND they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Pocatello. If Pocatello beats either Skyline or Blackfoot, the Tigers will have to be Century to get into the playoffs. If Pocatello loses either of those games, the Tigers have the inside track to making the postseason.

These were the two top ranked teams in the state heading into this game in the three major polls. Friday night's clash sure made it look like Shelley is a real-threat to the rest of the classification for a state championship. They thoroughly outmuscled and out-worked the Cougars. No time to celebrate though as the Russets have yet another big game this week in hosting the Sugar-Salem Diggers. Win that game and Shelley is guaranteed a playoff spot. South Fremont will need to re-focus and get ready for Teton - a team that nearly knocked off Sugar-Salem last week. Lose that one and their season is in jeopardy.

This wasn't the game that most expected, but as a broadcaster it's the type of competitive game that you only hope for. Teton has 17 total players for Friday's game - and they were THIS CLOSE to knocking off the No. 4 team in the state. Late penalties down the stretch killed the Redskins' momentum. Sugar-Salem didn't do themselves many favors in this game - including personal foul penalties and not maintaining control of the ball. However, I was encouraged by their passing game. My question heading into conference play for the Diggers was 'Could they pass the ball?'. The answer is YES. Teton could really shake up the standing this week if they knock off South Fremont.

The Panthers re-established that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the South East Idaho Conference. They held Marsh Valley to 47 total yards of offense, including zero passing yards. Snake River will need to take that momentum and put it up against a rested American Falls squad who would love nothing more than to knock off the long-time league champs. A win for Snake River means another conference crown. A loss means the American Falls/Marsh Valley game determines if the Panthers will get the second seed or have to go to a Kansas City 3-Way tiebreaker. Marsh Valley's next (and final) game is their season. Win and they stay alive. Lose and they put the pads away.

It wasn't easy for Firth, but they got the job done. They led 14-7 at halftime and slowly pulled away from Ririe. The win puts Firth into the playoffs with their seeding position yet to be determined. Their biggest games of the year to this point are up next against league-title contenders. Should they win this week at West Jefferson, that would set up a conference championship game showdown next week against North Fremont. If they lose - well, it gets a bit more complicated but there could be a Kansas City 3-Way tiebreaker to figure out who sits where. Ririe could potentially add to the chaos should they beat North Fremont this week. If they lose, they'll most likely finish fourth in the conference and make it to the playoffs.

North Fremont had to battle in this one to get the victory. Salmon came out strong, tying the game 6-6 after the first quarter and trailing 22-13 at halftime. North Fremont was paced by Sawyer Dye again, who rushed for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns with a receiving touchdown to boot. Salmon is down to their final chance to pick up a win this year in two weeks against West Jefferson. Win that game and cause all sorts of havoc. North Fremont still needs to get past pesky Ririe. If they do that, it could be a conference championship showdown in Firth.

Unfortunately for Grizzlies fans, Grace may be on the outside looking in. There was little margin for error and they had to basically win-out if they wanted to make the postseason. With the quartet of Raft River, Glenns Ferry, Oakley, and Valley all sitting ahead of them in the standings (with the latter three only having one conference loss), the Grizzlies will need some serious magic to work in their favor if they want into the postseason - and that may not even be enough.

This game was close early on, but Camas County slowly pulled away after the first quarter. Clark County also lost their starting QB early in the first quarter, thus making their offense one-dimensional. While game won't affect conference standings, the injuries might affect them down the stretch. They play one more conference game before the end of the regular season. Should they win, that may give them better playoff positioning. Should they lose, the Bobcats may have to face Dietrich again - a team that they lost to by a score of 40-0 on Sept. 1.

This one was over by halftime, with Butte County leading 50-6. The Pirates have gained confidence the past few weeks and are starting to look like the team most of us thought they would be at the beginning of the season. Two big games remain for them against Clark County and Rockland. Win them both and guarantee yourself a home playoff game. Lose one of them and the Pirates will probably end up on the road.

Dietrich showed why they are knocking on the door of being the No. 1 ranked team in the state. They led by four touchdowns after the first quarter and at halftime. with this not being a conference game, North Gem is still in good position heading into the postseason - should they beat Rockland this week, they'll be the top seed from the conference.