Six weeks of the football regular season are in the books. For some local teams, they're headed toward a playoff berth and will be battling for position. Others still have work to do to ensure they qualify.

Here's a look at the scenarios for Jersey Sports Now-area football teams:

North Jersey Section 1, Group III:

As usual, Wayne Hills is headed toward a high seed in this section. The Patriots are 6-0 and currently in a three-way fight for the top spot. That position may be determined in the Week Eight showdown between Wayne Hills and Ramapo, a rematch of last year's sectional final. But don't forget about Old Tappan, which is also unbeaten and may have a shot to leapfrog both teams to grab the number-one seed.

Wayne Valley just lost its fourth game in a row, and yet the Indians are still very much alive in the state playoff race. Because of the new power point system that went into effect last year, Wayne Valley is getting credit for the quality of the football teams to which it lost, and stands in 7th place. If Valley can win its next two games, a feat it can realistically accomplish, the Indians may find their way into the bracket.

Montville currently holds the 8th spot, but probably has to upset state-ranked Pope John to ensure it will qualify for the states. If the Mustangs lose to the Lions but beat Sparta, they will reach the football cutoff at 4-4 and will need a lot of help--it wouldn't be impossible but it would be tough.

Passaic Valley is in an extremely difficult spot, as it is still alive but must play Ramapo and Old Tappan the next two weeks. Currently in 13th place, the Hornets need to beat both undefeated teams to qualify for sure--one win will give them just an outside chance. West Milford is already officially eliminated.

North Jersey Section 1, Group II:

Lakeland figured to be a top contender in this section after dropping to Group II for football this year, and the Lancers are fulfilling that promise, currently holding the top spot. But the next two football games will be critical for Lakeland, as they face defending sectional champ Ramsey and a quality DePaul team. If the Lancers win both, they'll be the #1 seed, but one defeat might knock them down a couple of pegs, and two losses would probably doom them to playing on the road in the states.

Pequannock got the two key wins it needed the last couple of weeks and currently stands tied for sixth in this bracket. The Panthers will clearly be favored over Kinnelon and Whippany Park, and absolutely must win both. If they do, they have a good chance to qualify, but they'll be hard-pressed to do better than the #7 seed they drew last year.

North Jersey Section 1, Group I:

As usual, this is a difficult bracket even though it's made up of smaller schools. Four football teams remain undefeated and four more have just a single loss.

Mountain Lakes and Butler are two of the undefeated, and on a collision course for a Week Eight showdown. The winner of that game has a solid shot for the #1 seed, or at least #2. But the losing squad could fall out of the top four, which would send them on the road in the first round of the states.

A record of 5-1 so far this football season still isn't good enough to put Hawthorne in the top eight. Even though they are in ninth place right now, one win might be enough to get the Bears into the states. The problem is that both remaining games before the cutoff are tough ones: undefeated Emerson and a solid Glen Rock team.

Boonton dropped to 3-3 with the loss last week to Butler. The Bombers are now in 10th place and will need to upset Mountain Lakes this weekend to have any chance to qualify.

Kinnelon is mathematically alive, but doesn't have a realistic chance to make the states, while Pompton Lakes and Whippany Park have been eliminated.

Non-Public Group III:

DePaul bounced back from an 0-2 start to win four straight football games. They are now eligible for the playoffs, and a win this week against Tenafly should lock up a berth. But this bracket has been thrown into some disarray with recent losses by Immaculata and St. Joe's of Montvale. If the Spartans can also beat Lakeland in week eight, it's not entirely out of the question for them to get a first-round home game. At the minimum, two more wins ought to allow DePaul to avoid the least desirable opening-round matchup, which would be a trip to South Jersey to play Holy Spirit. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now