What a difference two weeks make. Two weeks ago the Altus High Bulldogs were 4-0 in the District 5A-1 standings looking for a possible district title.

After consecutive losses to Lawton MacArthur and Deer Creek, they face the possibility of missing out on the playoffs.

Altus entertains Chickasha in the final regular season game of the year on Friday. Kick off will be at 7:30 p.m. at Hightower Memorial Stadium.

It’s a strange year. Normally a team can win four district games and make the playoffs. This season it’s possible that either Altus or Duncan could win five games and one of them not get into the playoffs.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, Hepner said. “I was talking to Billy Brown (head coach at Shawnee) and he said as long as he had coached, he has never seen a deal like this. Now we’re fighting for our playoff life, even if we take care of business with five wins. Or we can lose and still make the playoffs.”

Altus, Duncan, El Reno, Lawton MacArthur and Deer Creek are the five teams vying for the four playoff spots.

The Altus-Chickasha, Duncan-El Reno and Lawton MacArthur-Deer Creek games will determine who goes to the playoffs.

For the Bulldogs there are 10 playoff possibilities.

Here’s the breakdown.

The Bulldogs are second in the district if they defeat Chickasha, El Reno loses to Duncan and MacArthur loses to Deer Creek. That would mean Altus would host a first round playoff game.

The Bulldogs are third in the district if they defeat Chickasha, El Reno defeats Duncan and Deer Creek defeats MacArthur.

Altus is fourth if it defeats Chickasha, El Reno wins over Duncan and MacArthur gets by Deer Creek.

Altus is fourth if it loses to Chickasha, El Reno defeats Duncan and MacArthur defeats Deer Creek.

The Bulldogs will finish fourth if they defeat Chickasha, El Reno loses to Duncan, and MacArthur defeats Deer Creek. However if this happens Altus must defeat Chickasha 11 points more than Duncan defeats El Reno.

Altus is fourth if it loses to Chickasha, El Reno defeats Duncan, Deer Creek gets by MacArthur, if the Bulldogs lose by 11 points less than Duncan loses to El Reno

Altus is fifth and misses out on the playoffs, if they lose to Chickasha, El Reno loses to Duncan and Deer Creek defeats MacArthur.

The Bulldogs are also fifth if they lose to Chickasha and if MacArthur and Duncan both win.

Altus is fifth if they defeat Chickasha. El Reno loses to Duncan, MacArthur wins over Deer Creek and if the Bulldogs win by 10 points or less than Duncan wins over El Reno.

The Bulldogs are fifth if they lose to Chickasha, El Reno defeats Duncan, Deer Creek defeats MacArthur and if the difference between Duncan’s margin of loss is less than 11 points of Altus’ margin of loss.

If Altus places fourth, they would go on the road to probably play Midwest City Carl Albert who is the likely champion in District 5A-2.

A third place finish would probably send the Bulldogs to Guthrie for the first round.

A second place finish would mean the Bulldogs would play at home against Shawnee.

This week the AHS coaching staff have spent time trying to get the players mind off the last two weeks.

“We’re just trying to get them to shake off the last two disappointments,” head coach Lyn Hepner said. “They are feeling a really big let down because we’ve gone from a chance of a district championship to a chance of not even making the playoffs. So, we’re trying to combat that, stay on track and not take this team for granted.”

Getting the total 15 point victory (maximum allowed on the tiebreak system) could come into play, but Hepner said other things have to be taken care of first.

“You have to keep that in the back of your mind,” Hepner said. “But I hate to start looking at the end of the game first. Because we always emphasize one play at a time. You can start getting frustrated if your not having success early, because you need that 15 points. Instead let’s just work on getting the next play done and getting what we can out of that. Then that other stuff will take care of itself. I hate to get the cart before the horse. Let’s win first and then get the 15.”

The Bulldogs should be considered a favorite to defeat Chickasha, who is 1-8 on the season, with its only victory coming over winless Oklahoma City Western Heights.

The Fightin’ Chicks are young team with only seven seniors holding down the top 22 positions.

“I expect their practices are full of trick plays, blitzes, crazy formations,” Hepner said. “They would love to finish this season with a win, spring boarding them into next season.”

Chickasha has done a lot of experimenting on offensive, using several different types of formations, pro, slot, spread, so the Bulldogs have basically prepared for everything.

“They have shown up in a lot of formations,” Hepner said. “It’s almost like its offense this week and another week is another offense.”

The Chicks have one of the leading receivers in the state in Joe Euwins (6-2, 175, Sr.) who is one of the few holdovers from last year’s playoff team. Sophomore quarterback Chases Rogers (6-1, 190) has had some success throwing the ball.

“I think technically they can throw it better than they can run it,” Hepner said.

Defensively they use a four man front. “I expect a lot of blitzes, because that has worked against us,” Hepner said.”

Bulldog notes: It’s senior night and the seniors will be honored prior to the start of the game.

Quarterback Austin Beisel is still experiencing soreness in his shoulder but could play.

Creadell Pennon injured his ankle last week against Deer Creek but should be ready to play.