Playoff droughts put on notice for 2016 home stretch

We had our first batch of playoff qualifiers after Week 6, and for the most part, those teams are regular visitors to the postseason. But several programs are approaching their first berths in several years, and they'll be among the stories to watch in the final third of the regular season.

One squad has already snapped a mini drought. It's been three years since Messmer/Shorewood made the playoffs, but this is a particularly notable accomplishment after the Greyhounds moved to 3-0 in the Woodland East on Sept. 23. The program fused together as a co-op and then dropped out of the Woodland for football in advance of the 2008 season, and the Greyhounds made the playoffs in 2011, 2012 and 2013 competing against smaller schools in the Midwest Classic before returning to the Woodland thereafter.

You may recall that the departure from the Woodland led to some anxious moments in 2011 when the WIAA interpreted the program as ineligible for the playoffs for four years because it had voluntarily withdrawn from a conference. The frenzy that followed included the threat of a lawsuit and delay of the playoff pairings until a ruling was made that the squad could participate, leading to clarification of the WIAA stipulations.

The only other time Shorewood football has been the playoffs outside of the three-year stretch in another conference? 1981.

Who else is zeroing in on the end of a drought?

• West Allis Central (last appearance: 2004). The Bulldogs staged a late rally to stun Menomonee Falls and keep their playoff hopes very much alive. It probably hinges on a win over Sussex Hamilton in two weeks, presuming the 2-2 WAC squad can defeat last-place Wauwatosa East the week after. Or, WAC could make it easier on itself and shock Marquette this week.
• Waukesha North (last appearance: 2006). North became one of the area's best stories since upsetting Arrowhead in the Classic 8 opener, and now the Northstars are 3-1 in league play and must beat one of Mukwonago, Muskego and Catholic Memorial to advance. That's not easy, though Muskego (which shared the league title the last two seasons) is now 0-4 in Classic 8 play and eliminated. Mukwonago, at 2-2, needs to beat North this week to keep its playoff hopes strong, and CMH leads the league at 4-0.
• Port Washington (last appearance: 2008). The Pirates are 2-2 but still have two teams on the schedule that have struggled this year in the North Shore, Grafton and Nicolet. That means if Port takes care of business, it will be in the dance. Badgers recruit Tyler Beach leads the offensive line.
• Kettle Moraine (last appearance 2008). To be honest, the Lasers' chances are still murky at best, with two wins needed against Arrowhead, Waukesha West and Mukwonago. But with a high-powered offense led by quarterback Max Duchow and receivers Sam DeLany and Ben Psicihulis, it can't be ruled out that KM pulls the upsets it needs and makes the playoffs under first-year coach Justin Gumm. 
• Martin Luther (last appearance: 2012). The Spartans' surprising win over Kenosha St. Joseph was the big one this year, and Martin Luther needs just one more win against Racine St. Catherine's (a huge battle for first place in the Metro Classic on Saturday), Shoreland Lutheran or Dominican to earn a spot. Everyone in the league already has a loss, so this could be a surprise league-titlist by year's end.
• New Berlin West (last appearance: 2013). The Woodland is one of those leagues where playoff destinies can change pretty quickly. Before Friday, West looked firmly on the outside looking in. But a win over Tosa West, with last-place Pius awaiting this week, suggests West should take a 2-3 record into the crossover finale in Week 9. A win there -- and the West Division typically has the stronger squads than the East -- would give West a .500 record, which is essentially a guaranteed playoff spot (thought not official).