Bear Lake at Aberdeen, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Bear Lake and Aberdeen have clinched 2A state playoff appearances, but seeding is still up for grabs Thursday as the teams clash in Aberdeen. The Tigers beat Soda Springs 54-7 last Friday, while the Bears beat Malad 42-0 last Friday.

Bear Lake (4-3, 2-1 2A District 5) needs a win Thursday to stay alive in the district title race. If the Bears win and West Side loses to Malad, the Bears will be district champions for the second consecutive season. If the Bears win and West Side wins, a three-way coin flip between Aberdeen, West Side and Bear Lake will determine seeding. If Bear Lake loses, it will be the district’s third-seeded team at state with Aberdeen winning the league title.

For the second consecutive season, Bear Lake’s calling card is its defense. The Bears are allowing 17 points per game this season. The team’s defense is not as suffocating as a year ago, but the unit is still one of the best in the classification. Bear Lake’s defense will be tested by a potent Aberdeen squad that is averaging 40.6 ppg and outscoring opponents 284-40 this season.

It’s a battle of strengths, as Aberdeen has not scored fewer than 14 points in a game all season.

Aberdeen (7-0, 3-0 3A District 5) can clinch the district crown with a win Thursday. If the Tigers lose and Malad wins, the Tigers get the district’s second seed at state. Aberdeen’s experienced team has dominated all season, building off 2016’s state semifinals appearance. While Aberdeen’s offense has lit up the scoreboard, the team’s defense has shut down opposing offenses. One team has scored more than seven points and three teams have been shut out. Aberdeen needs both sides of the ball to show up Thursday, as the Bears have topped the Tigers in two of their last three matchups.

Marsh Valley at American Falls, Friday, 7 p.m.

Marsh Valley and American Falls play for a 3A state playoff spot Friday in American Falls, with the winner notching the district’s No. 2 seed and the loser left hoping for an at-large berth, which is awarded to the team with the highest MaxPreps ranking in the 3A classification that did not clinched an automatic berth. The Eagles lost 21-7 to Snake River on Oct. 6, while the Beavers lost 41-8 to Snake River last Friday.

Marsh Valley (2-5, 0-1 3A District 5) enters the matchup on a five-game losing streak after a 2-0 start to the season. The Eagles’ 2017 campaign has been defined by close losses. The team has dropped every game by 15 points or fewer, including three losses by six points or fewer. The Eagles have been outscored 98-53 during their losing streak, which has featured consistent defense and inconsistent offense. The Eagles have allowed no more than 24 points in a game during their losing streak, but have scored more than 13 points once. The Eagles’ defensive play has kept the team in games. Marsh Valley will need its offense to produce Friday, if it wants to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, which was also the last time the Eagles beat the Beavers.

American Falls (2-5, 0-1 3A District 5) has lost two games in a row after its midseason two-game winning streak. The Beavers cannot match last season’s regular-season win total of four, but can send their seniors out on a high note with a playoff berth. American Falls has struggled to defend this season. The team is allowing 31.7 points per game and all but three opponents have scored more than 32 points. In their last two games, the Beavers have allowed 102 points, while Marsh Valley has scored 97 points this season. American Falls’ offense has taken a step back from last year, scoring 109 points this season. The team has battled injuries, but has scored more than 14 points once. The team averaged 23.4 ppg a season ago.

Idaho Falls at Century, Friday, 8:30 p.m., Holt Arena

Century and Idaho Falls close the regular season with a matchup Friday at Holt Arena, with 4A state playoff implications resting on the outcome. The Diamondbacks (4-4, 2-2 4A District 5-6) beat Twin Falls 15-8 last Friday, while Idaho Falls bested Hillcrest 34-20 last Friday.

The D-backs enter Friday’s game trying to rediscover their footing after losing two of their last three games. After beating Preston 35-28 on the road Sept. 22, the Diamondbacks fell 49-12 at Skyline the following week before losing 27-14 to Pocatello on Oct. 5. Century could have clinched a state berth with a win against Pocatello. Now, Century could beat Idaho Falls and miss the playoffs or lose to the Tigers and make the playoffs, depending on the outcome of the Pocatello/Blackfoot game.

Century last made the playoffs in 2015, and if the team wants to make state in coach Travis Hobson’s third season, the D-backs’ defense must shut down Idaho Falls’ potent offense. Cameron Conrad, Aaron Gravelle and Noah Hillam are dynamic with the ball in their hands. Conrad has already rushed for 1,000-plus yards, while Gravelle and Hillam are threats to score a touchdown every time they touch the ball. Century’s defense is allowing 29.4 points per game and Idaho Falls (5-3, 3-1 4A District 5-6) is averaging 33.1 ppg. The Tigers have scored 29 points or more in five of six games against 4A Idaho competition this season.

After lighting up the scoreboard early in the season, Century’s offense has fizzled out. The unit has scored 41 total points in its last three games after accumulating 154 during its 3-2 start. The offense’s production has dipped due to injury, as starting quarterback Cole McKinlay has been in and out of the lineup because of injury. When McKinlay was healthy, the team’s offense was one of the best in the district. The D-backs need a complete game to beat the Tigers, who have won three games in a row and five of their last six after an 0-2 start.