What if they gave a state 4A football play-in game, and the Far West League's No. 3 team was the home team?

That would be the Siuslaw Vikings, and it doesn't appear to be that far fetched.

The Oregon School Activities Association ranks all 39 qualifying 4A teams from 1 through 39.

As of Saturday (Oct. 17), the Vikings are No. 16 in the OSAA ratings, and just on the outside looking in, with a possible road date at Stayton on the horizon.

Here's how it apparently works, for now:

The seven league champions and the top-rated runner-up team (Group A) will draw byes into the first round of the state playoffs.

As of this weekend, Group A would include the following:

• No. 1 Sisters (Sky-Em)
• No. 2 Scappoose (Cowapa)
• No. 3 Cascade (Oregon West)
• No. 4 Philomath (Oregon West No. 2)
• No. 5 Phoenix (Skyline)
• No. 7 Marshfield (Far West)
• No. 10 Molalla (Tri-Valley No. 1)
• No. 12 LaGrande (Greater Oregon No. 1)

Group B teams all are at home for the play-in round, and include the six remaining runner-up teams and the two highest-rated No. 3 league teams.

• No. 6 Banks (Cowapa No. 2)
• No. 8 Mazama (Skyline No. 2)
• No. 13 Crook County (Tri-Valley No. 2)
• No. 14 North Bend (Far West No. 2)
• No. 15 Junction City (Sky-Em No. 2)
• No. 18 Baker (Greater Oregon No. 2)
• No. 9 Astoria (Cowapa No. 3)
• No. 11 Stayton (Oregon West No. 3)

Group C teams will be on the road for the play-in round, and include the OSAA's next eight highest-rated teams.

The Siuslaw Vikings, currently No. 16, would be the highest-rated Group C team, which theoretically would match them with Stayton at Stayton.

(Stayton is east of of Salem, about a two-hour, 15-minute drive from Florence.)

Other Group C teams would include Klamath Union (No. 17), Gladstone (19), Estacada (20), Cottage Grove (21), South Umpqua (22), Sweet Home (23) and North Marion (24).

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. There is one last round of games, and it would appear the Vikings have a shot at one of those Group B berths.

The two No. 3 teams currently in Group B have tough road games, with Astoria at No. 6 Banks and Stayton at No. 4 Philomath.

A loss by either Banks or Stayton seemingly would allow Siuslaw to grab a Group B slot with a win at Brookings-Harbor on Friday.

It's a long shot. But at least it's a shot.

HOW THEY FARED

How Siuslaw's 2015 opponents fared on Friday, Oct. 16

• Newport (0-7) lost at North Marion, 30-12. Next: vs. Yamhill-Carlton.
• Pleasant Hill (1-6) beat Glide, 36-26. Next: vs. Creswell.
• Hidden Valley (2-5) lost at Henley, 33-6. Next: at North Valley.
• South Umpqua (2-5) lost at Marshfield, 50-6. Next: at Douglas.
• North Bend (5-2) beat Brookings-Harbor, 47-7. Next:: Marshfield.
• Marshfield (6-1) beat South Umpqua, 50-6. Next: at North Bend.
• Douglas (1-5) lost at Siuslaw, 42-20. Next: vs. South Umpqua.
• Brookings-Harbor (2-5) lost at North Bend, 47-7. Next: Siuslaw.