THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: December 19, 2013

Expanding the state 5A football playoffs in Idaho from 8 to 12 teams starting next fall is one step closer to reality.

The Idaho High School Activities Association board of control approved the change as a first reading earlier this month. The board can vote to approve it for good at next month's meeting.

Also, it appears the other five classifications are in the expansion mood as well.

In 5A, if approved, the top team from North Idaho, the top team from eastern Idaho and the top team in each of the two divisions from the Boise area would receive byes into the quarterfinals.

The other eight teams would square off during what is usually the ninth week of the regular season, with the North No. 2 team traveling to the West B No. 2 team (with the winner playing at the East No. 1 team), the West A No. 3 team visiting the East No. 2 team (with the winner traveling to the West B No. 1 team), the East No. 3 team traveling to the West A No. 2 team (with that winner traveling to the North No. 1 team), and a wild-card team (either North No. 3, East No. 4, West A No. 4 or West B No. 4) traveling to the West B No. 3 team (with that winner visiting the West A No. 1 team).

(Got that? Good. There will be a quiz at the end of this column).

IN 4A, the 4A Inland Empire League champion would receive a first-round bye, and host a quarterfinal game. The 4A IEL runner-up would play host to the third-place team from District 5-6 in the play-in round during Week 9. That winner would travel to the District 5-6 champion in the first round.

Champions from District 3, 4 and 5-6 also receive first-round byes.

CLASS 3A would go to a 15-team tournament (the District 3 Snake River Valley league champion - Fruitland, Homedale, etc.) would get a bye in the play-in round.

The top two teams from the Intermountain League would make the play-in round, with the champion hosting the fourth-place team from District 3 in the play-in round, and the runner-up hosting the third-place team from District 3).

Those two winner would meet the following week in the first round.

CLASS 2A would be a 16-team tournament, with all three teams from the Central Idaho League (St. Maries, Grangeville, Orofino) playing in the play-in round.

The CIL champion will host the third-place team from District 3, the second-place team will travel to the second-place team from District 3, and the CIL third-place team will travel to the District 3 champion.

IN 1A Division I, Wallace will play football as an independent next fall, as the only Division I team left in the North Star League. All told, five teams total from districts 1 and 2 in North Idaho will make the play-in round for the 16-team playoff. How those teams will be determined has yet to be decided. In 1A Division II, the four Division II teams from the North Star League (Kootenai, Lakeside, Mullan and Clark Fork) are discussing plans to join forces with four teams from the Whitepine League -- Deary, Timberline of Weippe, Kendrick and Lewis County (a co-op between Nezperce and Highland-Craigmont ). If that happens, two teams from that combined league will make the field for a 12-team playoff, and both will debut in the quarterfinal round.

AS WE'VE said before, this is good for the second-place 5A team in North Idaho, which was shut out of the playoffs this year, and in the future will at least get a chance to play its way in. It's a bonus for the runner-up in the 4A IEL, as that league has always gotten just one team in; at least the runner-up will get a chance to play its way into the quarterfinals.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.