Football · Preview · Class D1
Elmwood-Murdock at Freeman: playoff stakes for Elmwood-Murdock
Elmwood-Murdock (5-3) at Freeman (3-5), Friday, Oct. 23. Playoff picture, season stats, charts and history before the Week 9 game.
Game-day information: Kickoff reported by the Game Center: 7 p.m. Central. This article’s schedules and statistics are dated reporting, not live score updates.
Scores are NSAA finals. Points and ranks are NSAA wildcard standings, checked Oct. 21, 2026. Projections are not official seeds.
For Elmwood-Murdock, Week 9 is about the playoff line. It sits 11th in Class D1's NSAA point standings, and this is its last chance to move. Both play in District D1-2: Elmwood-Murdock is 2-2 in district games and Freeman is 0-4.
Friday, Oct. 23, at Freeman, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D1, the seven district champions and the nine best remaining averages qualify.
Elmwood-Murdock is 11th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 41.000. It is 2-2 in District D1-2 games.
Freeman is not eligible for the 2026 Class D1 postseason under NSAA's classification list. Its results still count in opponents' point averages.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
Elmwood-Murdock (5-3) opened with a 58-26 win over Johnson County Central (1-7). All three of its losses came against teams with winning records: Johnson-Brock (8-0), 58-24; at Exeter-Milligan-Friend (7-1), 48-16; Sutton (6-2), 21-20. Its best win by opponent record was a 50-8 win at Tri County (6-2). Last week it had a 20-12 win over Conestoga (4-4).
Freeman (3-5) opened with a 38-35 loss to Falls City Sacred Heart (5-3). Its losses: Falls City Sacred Heart (5-3), 38-35; at Conestoga (4-4), 63-24; Sutton (6-2), 56-18; Centennial (4-4), 28-22; at Exeter-Milligan-Friend (7-1), 48-6. Its best win by opponent record was a 34-26 win at Falls City (2-6). It comes in on a 4-game losing streak, most recently a 48-6 loss at Exeter-Milligan-Friend (7-1).
By the numbers
| Elmwood-Murdock | Freeman | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-3 | 3-5 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D1, 11th (41.000) | D1, 28th (35.625) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 33.2 | 27.4 |
| Points allowed per game | 23.9 | 35.9 |
| Average margin | +9.4 | -8.5 |
| Current streak | Won 1 | Lost 4 |
Shared opponents
These two have played five of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | Elmwood-Murdock | Freeman |
|---|---|---|
| Centennial | W 42-12 | L 22-28 |
| Conestoga | W 20-12 | L 24-63 |
| Exeter-Milligan-Friend | L 16-48 | L 6-48 |
| Johnson County Central | W 58-26 | W 28-14 |
| Sutton | L 20-21 | L 18-56 |
Editorial update, Oct. 21: Program-history claims from the supplied school-history mapping are withheld pending school-identity verification. This does not change the current-season results, records or statistics above.
What to watch
- Elmwood-Murdock's offense. It averages 33.2 points. Freeman allows 35.9.
- Freeman's offense. It averages 27.4; Elmwood-Murdock allows 23.9.
- Freeman's streak. 4 straight losses.
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