Football Wednesday: Concordia Academy at New Life Academy

High school football teams gearing up to play Wednesday night can mean only one thing: The end of the regular season is here, and the start of the playoffs is just around the corner.

Some teams' playoff fate—good or bad—is already sealed at this point, and they are just playing out the schedule. For other teams, Wednesday's contests could go a long way toward determining whether this season is looked back on as a success or failure.

LAST WEEK

Concordia Academy (4-3, 2-2 Tri-Metro East) beat St. Agnes 40-0; New Life Academy (3-4, 2-2 Tri-Metro East) defeated Brooklyn Center 33-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH

-Jordan Nieuwsma (New Life Academy, quarterback)

Nieuwsma carried 13 times for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week.

-Dan Hartman/Ryan Donahue (Concordia Academy, QB/WR)

The duo hooked up for three touchdowns last week, of 20, two and 25 yards.

IF THE BEACONS WIN …

It's too close to call between the Beacons and St. Paul Johnson for the third seed in Section 4AAA. Concordia Academy holds a slight edge through seven weeks. But even with a win, the Governors might still be able to catch them. Minnehaha Academy—currently fifth in the points system standings—could even enter the picture with an upset win over DeLaSalle. There's even a decent chance Beacons and Eagles could meet again in the first round of the playoffs.

IF THE EAGLES WIN …

They could easily catch Minnehaha Academy for the No. 5 spot. An Eagles win could also drag Concordia Academy down to the No. 4 seed, setting up a rematch in the first round of the playoffs.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

• SITE: New Life Academy
• TIME: 7 p.m. Wednesday
• WEATHER FORECAST: 44 and partly cloudy
• LAST SEASON: The teams have not met in the last seven years.

CONCORDIA ACADEMY SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: DELASALLE 36, Concordia Academy 20

Sept. 9: CONCORDIA ACADEMY 34, Minnehaha Academy 21

Sept. 16: Concordia Academy 43, BRECK 34

Sept. 23: St. Anthony Village 21, CONCORDIA ACADEMY 0

Sept. 30: CONCORDIA ACADEMY, Brooklyn Center, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: ST. CROIX LUTHERAN 54, Concordia Academy 26

Oct. 14: CONCORDIA ACADEMY 40, St. Agnes 0

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at New Life Academy/St. Croix Prep, 7 p.m.

NEW LIFE ACADEMY SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: BRECK 19, New Life Academy 18

Sept. 9: NEW LIFE ACADEMY 28, SPA/MPA 0

Sept. 16: PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 40, New Life Academy 7

Sept. 23: St. Croix Lutheran 42, NEW LIFE ACADEMY 12

Sept. 30: ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE 30, New Life Academy 8

Oct. 7: New Life Academy 42, ST. AGNES 8

Oct. 14: NEW LIFE ACADEMY 33, Brooklyn Center 8

Wednesday, Oct. 19 vs. Concordia Academy, 7 p.m.