For six-man football’s District I, Division I, the postseason picture could either become more clear or make itself murkier Thursday night.

The ninth-ranked Grady Wildcats (2-1, 8-1) host the No. 4 Rankin Red Devils (3-0, 9-0) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Tunnel Field in Lenorah.

A win for the Red Devils allows them to clinch a district championship. However, if Grady should pull of the upset, then three teams could possibly be tied atop the district standings 3-1, provided the eighth-ranked Garden City Bearkats (2-1, 7-2) defeat the No. 14 Fort Davis Indians (1-2, 7-2) Friday night in Garden City.

Various results produce various playoff scenarios:

• If Grady loses and Garden City wins, then the Bearkats advance to the playoffs as the district’s second seed.

• If Garden City falls and Grady wins, then the Wildcats go on to the postseason and win the district title.

• If both teams win, then a 3-way tie between Garden City, Grady and Rankin occurs atop the district standings. A points system will be used to determine the two playoff participants.

• If both teams lose, then a 3-way tie between Garden City, Grady and Fort Davis occurs for the second postseason berth and the same points system is used to determine which team advances.

All of this confusion is due to the Wildcats’ 54-48 loss to Garden City last week.

“Us losing to Garden City really confuses the playoff picture a bit,” Grady Head Coach Joe Helms commented after his team’s loss to the Bearkats. “We could’ve made it easy, but they played hard and beat us. Now we’ve got to take care of business against Rankin.”

The Red Devils had two weeks to prepare for Grady after having a bye last week. It’s easy to tell they aren’t taking this matchup lightly, though, as the entire team made the trip to Lenorah to scout the Wildcats against Garden City. Generally, teams only send two or three scouts to handle that job.

Rankin has defeated every opponent by at least 14 points. Only Garden City has kept within reach of defeating the Red Devils. The Bearkats lost by 14, but cut the lead the six points with less that two minutes left in the game.

Grady’s defense — one of the best in the state statistically — must key on stopping Rankin quarterback Garret Avalos, who is considered by many coaches as one of the best playmakers in the state. However, running back Juan Hernandez has emerged as a viable complement to Avalos, scoring eight touchdowns in Rankin’s last two games.

Roy Rodriguez — the Wildcats’ leading tackler — is the heart of the Grady defense, according to Helms, and will be key in the Wildcats’ scheme to slow down Avalos and Hernandez.

For Grady, it has been the passing attack taking center stage within its offense as the season has worn on. Sophomore quarterback Dylan Cox has lined the Wildcats up in a spread formation and thrown the ball consistently to playmakers Justin Tubb, Leighton Fields and Casey Shands.

Last season, Rankin pulled away in the second half to upend the Wildcats, 42-28.