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For most of the county's teams, the 2009 football season ends Friday. Ten weeks never went so fast.

But for a select few, this is the last chance to secure a playoff berth or improve their seeding.

4A West Region

Sherwood (8-1) and Paint Branch (8-1) have clinched berths, and the Warriors a first-round home game. They can wrap up the top seed by being the first team this year to beat Quince Orchard, or with a Panthers loss.

Whitman (7-2), Churchill (7-2) and Springbrook (6-3) are in a three-way tussle for the final two places. The beauty of Week 10 is that they can decide it on the field against other contenders in this region.

It was 364 days ago Friday when Churchill hosted Wootton in a win-you're-in, lose-you're-out game; the Bulldogs lost, and were out. The scenario could be the same when they welcome Whitman Friday.

The winner takes either the second or third seed. The loser might be out, but would still snatch the fourth spot if Paint Branch disposes of Northeast Consortium rival Springbrook in the other crucial game.

The Blue Devils are out if they lose; if they win, they will be the fourth seed. Paint Branch probably needs a win to host a first-round game. A loss would drop the Panthers to third unless Churchill, B-CC, Blair, Blake and Clarksburg all win.

If The Gazette's football forecaster picks are on target, the outcome will be: No. 1 Paint Branch, No. 2 Sherwood, No. 3 Whitman, No. 4 Churchill.

3A West Region

The landscape here is more cut-and-dried; three of the four playoff places are spoken for, and Damascus (7-2) is guaranteed the No. 3 seed.

Quince Orchard (9-0) and Linganore (9-0) are virtually neck-and-neck for the top seed; the Cougars lead by two bonus points. Both play eight-win Class 4A teams: Sherwood and Urbana, respectively, would yield 16 points apiece. So if the Cougars and Lancers both win, or both lose, home field will be decided by results of other games, with QO currently holding the edge.

That leaves the race for No. 4. Three teams are mathematically alive, but Tuscarora (6-3) holds all the cards. If the Titans beat Riverdale Baptist Friday, Seneca Valley (5-4) is out and Clarksburg (6-3) would need a near-miracle.

After Tuscarora's shocking, lucrative upset of Urbana last week, it leads Clarksburg by four points. Like Quince Orchard and Linganore, wins by both teams this week would be worth the same number of points: 10. The Coyotes play a two-win 4A team, the Titans play a five-win private school team, Riverdale Baptist, whose enrollment is equal to that of a 1A team.

That means Clarksburg would need wins by Einstein (vs. Wheaton), Gaithersburg (vs. B-CC), Kennedy (vs. Damascus) and Northwood (vs. Blair).

Even if all four win for Clarksburg, Tuscarora's past opponents — Frederick (vs. Thomas Johnson), Middletown (vs. Walkersville), Liberty (vs. South Carroll) and Urbana (vs. Linganore) — would all have to lose. Three of the four would be heavy underdogs, and Middletown-Walkersville is a toss-up.

Of course, it would be a lot easier for Clarksburg if Tuscarora just loses.

Sixth in points, Seneca Valley needs a win at Watkins Mill, losses by Clarksburg and Tuscarora, plus a lot of help in other games. Realistically, its hopes ended on an overtime field goal last week.

Rockville and Good Counsel

Rockville (7-1) will host a first-round game in the 2A West Region, and would lock up the top seed with a win Friday against Blake. South Carroll (6-2), the other candidate for No. 1, could also do Clarksburg a big favor by beating Liberty.

Good Counsel (8-1) will be a heavy favorite against 2-7 Archbishop Carroll Friday night, but its playoff fate depends more on the result between DeMatha and Bishop McNamara. With a DeMatha win, the Falcons would be the second seed and host McNamara in the semifinals. Wins by McNamara and Good Counsel would make all three teams (including DeMatha) 6-1 in the league, and tiebreakers come into play.

Other picks

Four words: Georgetown Prep and Landon. The Bears host the rivals' first meeting in three years Saturday. It is also the first game in the newly inaugurated Davis & Fegan Cup series between the teams, named for Hall of Fame coaches Lowell Davis and Jim Fegan. ... B-CC, on a four-game win streak, and Gaithersburg, off its first-ever win over Northwest, meet to decide which will finish .500 and which will have a losing record. ... Magruder (3-6) and Northwest (3-6) are two frustrated, disappointed teams. Which one can stoke the competitive fires and go out on a high note?