The 2009 high school football regular season is winding down to a close, but there’s still lots up for grabs for several area teams with two weeks left.

We’re talking playoffs now.

Most of The Herald’s seven area teams are in good shape for the postseason, which begins on Nov. 6. For several of those teams, however, there’s still a lot of work to be done to improve their playoff seeding.

About the only first-round playoff matchup in the area that is almost a certainty is in Class 4A. The second-ranked Cherokee County Warriors (8-0) have locked up their second straight Region 6 title and will host Region 5’s No. 4 team, the Haleyville Lions (6-2).

In Class 3A, the Piedmont Bulldogs (6-2) host a crucial game on Friday against Region 5 rival Glencoe (7-1). Following Piedmont’s 14-13 overtime loss last week to Leeds, both the Bulldogs and the Yellowjackets have identical 5-1 region records. The winner will take the second Region 5 playoff spot behind Leeds (7-1, 6-0 Region 5).

If the Bulldogs can pull off the win, it appears they will host Region 6, No. 3 Sardis (6-2) in the opening round. If Piedmont loses, it will have to travel to Region 6, No. 2 Pisgah (7-1) or Susan Moore (6-2).

In Class 2A, the Sand Rock Wildcats (5-3, 3-3 Region 6) are on the outside looking in at the playoffs. The Wildcats are in fifth place in Region 6, a game behind Geraldine (5-3, 4-2) for the final playoff spot.

The Bulldogs also have the tiebreaker over Sand Rock by way of their head-to-head 12-7 victory on Sept. 18.

The most muddled area playoff picture lies within Class 1A, Region 6. Gaston (6-2, 5-1) has locked up the region title and will host Region 5, No. 4 Ragland (4-4).

After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville and Spring Garden are all tied for second place in Region 6 with identical 4-2 region records. Cedar Bluff (5-3) hosts Gaylesville (5-3) in a crucial battle on Friday. Spring Garden (4-4) hosts Skyline (1-7).

If Cedar Bluff defeats Gaylesville, it will lock up the No. 2 playoff spot from Region 6 and will host either Appalachian (6-2), Coosa Christian (7-1) or Victory Christian (7-1).

If Cedar Bluff loses to Gaylesville, and Spring Garden defeats Skyline, Spring Garden will hold the second playoff spot from Region 6 by way of its 42-28 victory over Gaylesville on Oct. 2. Gaylesville would then take the third playoff spot and travel to the Region 5, No. 2 team in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Collinsville Panthers (4-4, 3-3) are on the outside looking in right now. They’re currently tied for fifth in Region 6 with Valley Head (4-4, 3-3). Collinsville hosts Valley Head on Friday.

If Collinsville wins, it has to hope Cedar Bluff loses to Gaylesville in order to have a shot at earning the fourth and final playoff spot.