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Class D3 football: Week 9 games that shape the playoff race
The Class D3 Week 9 games with the most playoff weight, by NSAA wildcard average.
Week 9 is the last week of the regular season on NSAA's D3 schedule. The 7 district champions and the 9 teams with the highest regular-season point average that did not finish as district champions = 16. Ranks and records here are from NSAA's wildcard page as of Oct. 16 at 11:07 a.m. CT, which counted Thursday's games and NSAA's 1-0 results but not Friday's games, so they will move. They are projections, not seeds. Lawrence-Nelson (8-0) led D3 at that update, 1st of 41 by average (45.6250).
Games to watch
| Day | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|
| Fri. | No. 2 Central Valley (6-1) | T-7 Burwell (6-1) |
| Fri. | No. 1 Lawrence-Nelson (8-0) | No. 20 Osceola (3-4) |
| Fri. | T-14 Leigh (6-1) | T-14 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (5-2) |
| Fri. | T-24 Elgin Public-Pope John (3-4) | T-7 Twin Loup (6-1) |
| Fri. | No. 10 Deshler (5-2) | No. 23 Weeping Water (3-5) |
| Fri. | No. 13 Wausa (6-1) | No. 21 Boyd County (5-2) |
The matchups
Central Valley at Burwell, Friday. Central Valley's 45.0000 average was 5.0000 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000); Burwell's 42.4286 average was 2.4286 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000). Central Valley has outscored opponents 354-84 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 62-0 win over CWC on Oct. 9, 2026. Burwell has outscored opponents 314-139 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 26-20 loss to Twin Loup on Oct. 9, 2026. Burwell is 0-4 against Central Valley in NSAA regular-season meetings since 2020.
Lawrence-Nelson at Osceola, Friday. Lawrence-Nelson's 45.6250 average was 5.6250 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000); Osceola's 39.0000 average was 1.0000 points below the No. 16 average (40.0000). Lawrence-Nelson has outscored opponents 422-122 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 1-0 win over Weeping Water on Oct. 16, 2026. Osceola has outscored opponents 260-230 in eight scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 66-0 win over Southern on Oct. 16, 2026. Osceola is 2-0 against Lawrence-Nelson in NSAA regular-season meetings since 2020.
Leigh at Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Friday. Leigh's 40.4286 average was 0.4286 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000); Guardian Angels Central Catholic's 40.4286 average was 0.4286 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000). Leigh has outscored opponents 282-74 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 54-0 win over Omaha Nation on Oct. 9, 2026. Guardian Angels Central Catholic has outscored opponents 277-154 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 48-20 win over Winside on Oct. 9, 2026. NSAA records since 2020 show no earlier regular-season meeting.
Elgin Public-Pope John at Twin Loup, Friday. Elgin Public-Pope John's 36.8571 average was 3.1429 points below the No. 16 average (40.0000); Twin Loup's 42.4286 average was 2.4286 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000). Elgin Public-Pope John has been outscored 253-186 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 51-28 win over Palmer on Oct. 9, 2026. Twin Loup has outscored opponents 255-82 in six scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 26-20 win over Burwell on Oct. 9, 2026. NSAA records since 2020 show no earlier regular-season meeting.
Deshler at Weeping Water, Friday. Deshler's 42.0000 average was 2.0000 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000); Weeping Water's 37.0000 average was 3.0000 points below the No. 16 average (40.0000). Deshler has outscored opponents 294-192 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 66-6 win over Southern on Oct. 9, 2026. Weeping Water has been outscored 254-196 in seven scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 1-0 loss to Lawrence-Nelson on Oct. 16, 2026. NSAA records since 2020 show no earlier regular-season meeting.
Wausa at Boyd County, Friday. Wausa's 41.4286 average was 1.4286 points above the No. 16 average (40.0000); Boyd County's 38.8571 average was 1.1429 points below the No. 16 average (40.0000). Wausa has outscored opponents 337-140 in eight scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 20-14 win over St. Mary's on Oct. 16, 2026. Boyd County has outscored opponents 318-198 in eight scored games, and its latest NSAA result was a 48-20 loss to Wynot on Oct. 16, 2026. Boyd County is 2-4 against Wausa in NSAA regular-season meetings since 2020.
Week 8 results are in our recaps and the class roundup. Sources: NSAA D3 wildcard; NSAA D3 schedule.
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Result note: a 1–0 entry is shown as listed by NSAA. It is not treated as evidence of an on-field score or a confirmed forfeit.
