Playoff Time: Football and Softball Seasons Pick Up With Big Games

Weclome to the Sports Report. The second week in October is when the fall sports scene starts to heat up—the softball State tournament is starting this week and football Districts begin play for everyone. 

Softball

Beginning last week with the District playoffs, softball teams have been in win-or-go-home mode.

Those few teams that survived Districts are now into the final championship bracket. The three local teams—, and —are just four wins away from a State title.

Zumwalt South will be going for the Class 4 title after winning the District 7 tournament. The Bulldogs will be taking on Troy on Wednesday in the first round of the tournament. Time and location are to be determined. The winner of the game will take on the winner of the St. Joseph's Academy vs. McCluer North game on Saturday, Oct. 15. . 

St. Charles West opens up the Class 3 tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 12, against Trinity Catholic. The Warriors advanced the State tourney after a sweep of the Class 3, District 6 Tournament. Time and location of the State game is to be determined. The winner of the game will move on to face the winner of the Centralia and Southern Boone County game on Saturday, Oct. 15. . 

Christian will open up the Class 2 tournament against the Palmyra Panthers. The Christian Eagles won the Class 2, District 5 Tournament. Time and location are yet to be determined, but the opening round of the tourney will begin on Wednesday. The winner of the Eagles and Panthers tilt will face the winner of the Blair Oaks and Fatima on Saturday, Oct. 15. 

Football

Some of the bigger Districts have been underway for a few weeks now, but Week 8 of the football season means everyone is now in playoff mode.

This is the last year , but for now, the top two teams in each District will advance to play another day.

Here are some of the biggest Week 8 games. 

 vs. St. Francis Borgia

• 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 at St. Charles West
• The unbeaten St. Charles West Warriors (7-0, 5-0) take on the undefeated Borgia Knights (7-0). One team will not only leave with the first loss of the season, but will face an uphill climb in Class 4, District 8 play. 

 vs. Warrenton

• 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 at St. Dominic
• The other game in Class 4, District 8 also features an unbeaten team. St. Dominic (7-0, 6-0) will face Warrenton (1-6, 1-5). St. Dominic has a chance to stay unbeaten and can jump in the driver's seat for the District title. 

 vs. 

• 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 at Zumwalt East
• Holt (3-4, 2-3) is 1-0 in the crowded Class 5, District 4 five-team field. The Indians beat Zumwalt South 21-14 in Week 7 and will try to take out Zumwalt East in Week 8. The Lions (3-4, 3-2) are coming off a 59-42 loss to Zumwalt North and are 1-1 in the District.

 vs. 

• 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 at Timberland
• Timberland (2-5) pulled off a 38-26 win against Zumwalt North in its District opener. The Wolves will try to move to 2-0 against Zumwalt South. The Bulldogs are 0-2 in Class 5, District 4 play.  

 vs. Hickman

• 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 at Hickman
• In Class 6, District 6 action, Zumwalt West (5-2) takes on Hickman (3-4). Zumwalt West is riding a four-game winning streak.