The final week of the public school regular season is a big one for both the Franklin High School and Windsor High School football teams. The Broncos look to stay in position to host a regional playoff game next Friday, while the Dukes need a win to get in the regional playoffs.

The teams will battle each other at 7 p.m. at Windsor in the Tri-Rivers District finale for both.

Coming into Friday night’s contest, Franklin is the second ranked team in the Region A Group A Division 1 standings and have moved ahead of Colonial Beach in the power rankings despite losing to the Drifters earlier this year. Surry, which beat Franklin and Windsor this season, is the top team.

Windsor is ranked fifth in the Region A Group A Division 2 standings and is in an interesting position. The Dukes need to win to get in the playoffs. If they do win, they could possibly jump as high as third or second.

“If we win, we are not the number two seed, but we could maybe get there,” said Bruce Carroll, Windsor head coach. “If we win, we will pick up 30 points. If we lose, it will take things I can’t even consider. I don’t really care what seed we are. Our kids have worked hard. It would mean a lot to us to get to the 11th game.”

The Windsor-Franklin game has been a rivalry over the years and will continue Friday night with a meaningful game.

“They’ve got a good football team, and have really built the program the last few years,” Carroll said. “I wish them well in the postseason, but I’d also like to get to the postseason.”

– Isle of Wight Academy opens the VISFA playoffs with a home game against Blessed Sacrament Huguenot at 7:30 p.m. If IWA wins the first round game, it will host the state championship game next Friday. In the other semifinal game, Broadwater Academy hosts Fuqua at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Broadwater is the only team to beat IWA this season, 32-25 in Exmore.

Isle of Wight beat Blessed Sacrament 34-7 less than a month ago in a physical

game that included several personal foul penalties against BSH.

“Coach (MIke) Henderson is a real good coach. They may be using those type of things to get them to play harder,” Chapman said. “Or it may be the group of guys that they have. We don’t look at this as a team that we hate or can’t stand. We have had a healthy rivalry.”

Before 2007, BSH had beaten Isle of Wight five straight regular season games. This year, the Chargers held BSH to just 24 yards in the first half and only 19 yards rushing the entire game.

“We know their tendencies and they know ours,” Chapman said. “If we make fewer mistakes, we will be successful.”

– Southampton (2-7, 2-6) closes its season with Senior Night at home against Poquoson on Friday.