Playoff Time: Holt, Timberland Advance in Districts as Crunch Time Comes

The second week in October is when the fall sports scene starts to heat up—the softball state tournament starts this week and football districts begin play for everyone. 

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. 

• 7 p.m. Friday 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 District 4 play.

 vs. 

• 7 p.m. Friday 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 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.

 vs. St. Francis Borgia

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

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 St. Charles County teams—, and —are just four wins away from a Missouri 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 not yet determined. On Saturday, the winner of the game will take on the winner of the St. Joseph's Academy vs. McCluer North game.

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

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 undetermined, but the opening round of the tourney will begin on Wednesday. The winner of the Eagles and Panthers tilt advance to the next round on Saturday against the winner of the Blair Oaks and Fatima game.