Jackson to Play Linden-McKinley in Playoff Game
The two teams meet this Friday night in a Division III Region 11 playoff showdown in Columbus.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Football
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Jackson travels to Columbus on Friday night to face Linden-McKinley in the Division III Region 11 football playoffs. The match features the #9 seed Jackson visiting the #8 seed Linden-McKinley.
Why it matters
The outcome of this matchup determines which team continues their postseason journey in the Division III Region 11 bracket. Both teams enter the contest looking to secure a vital victory in the opening round.
Linden-McKinley enters the matchup with an average of 37.4 points per game while allowing only seven total touchdowns throughout the regular season. The team finished their campaign with a 9-1 record before this playoff appearance.
The players
Jackson
This high school football team enters the playoff game as the #9 seed in Division III Region 11.
Linden-McKinley
This high school football program enters the tournament as the #8 seed and is making its 5th playoff appearance.
The details
Jackson plans to utilize a ball-control strategy to minimize Linden-McKinley’s offensive opportunities throughout the game. Linden-McKinley, which is making its 5th playoff appearance, looks to rebound from a 25-10 Week 10 loss to Columbus East.
Timeline
The playoff game between Jackson and Linden-McKinley takes place this Friday night.
Season Trajectory
This postseason game serves as a pivot point for the Division III Region 11 bracket, determining which team advances toward the next round. It follows the program's appearance in the first round of the 2025 playoffs where they fell to Bloom-Carroll.
A win for either team guarantees an advancement in the Division III Region 11 bracket, while a loss ends their current season. Jackson must address the offensive production of their opponent, which averaged 37.4 points per game this season.
The takeaway
Teams in single-elimination formats often focus on time of possession to neutralize high-scoring offenses. Implementing a controlled offensive tempo remains a primary strategy for underdogs facing prolific scoring units.
Further reading
For more information on the regional bracket, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jenkins Care Community.
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