Five area teams in playoff position
Sep. 27—COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School state playoff picture is starting to become more clear.
Entering the final month of the regular season, five area teams find themselves among the top 16 teams in their respective region, with two programs in line to potentially host a first-round playoff game on Oct. 29.
In Division V Region 18, Edison (4-2) has worked its way into the top eight, which would put the Chargers in line to be at home in the first round.
The Chargers are coming off a key 13-7 win over Port Clinton (3-3) at home, and will visit Willard (4-2) this Friday in a game that has massive implications for both programs.
Not only is Edison trying to stay unbeaten in SBC Bay Division play, but the Crimson Flashes are the No. 13 seed in the region this week, meaning computer points to the winner will be significant. After a 4-1 start, the Flashes are coming off a 66-35 loss to Huron (5-1), which also sits No. 4 in the region.
In Div. VI Region 22, Western Reserve (3-3) is up to No. 12 in the region after a 1-3 start. The Roughriders are coming off a huge 31-0 win at Mapleton (3-3), the No. 14 seed in their region.
That sets the stage for another key game for not only the Firelands Conference standings, but the state playoff seeding. Western Reserve (2-1 FC) will host St. Paul (4-2, 3-0) at 7 p.m. this Friday at Bachelder Field.
The Flyers are up to No. 5 in Div. VII Region 25, one spot shy of the top four. Teams in the top four have the potential to host playoff games for the first two rounds of the playoffs, before the rest of the bracket shifts to neutral sites.
Also after two straight wins, South Central (3-3, 1-1) is up to No. 10 in Region 25 and flirting with the top eight. The Trojans have a huge challenge this Friday when they visit AP No. 5 Ashland Crestview (6-0, 2-0), which is also the current No. 2 in Region 22.
South Central also still plays Mapleton and Western Reserve in what will serve as key games for its potential playoff standing.
After two straight losses to Western and St. Paul, Plymouth (3-3) is the No. 18 team in Region 25. The Big Red can get a boost this week with a win at Mapleton.
Of note to the area, Olmsted Falls (5-1) is currently No. 6 in Div. II Region 6 ahead of a massive Southwest Conference showdown with Avon (5-1), the No. 2 seed in the region. Olmsted Falls is coached by Tom DeLuca, a 1999 Norwalk High School graduate.
OHSAA Football Computer Ratings — Sept. 27 (Entering Week 7)
(Top 16 schools from each region will qualify for the playoffs)
Division V
Region 18: 1. Liberty Center (6-0) 13.7167, 2. Bloomdale Elmwood (6-0) 10.6333, 3. Coldwater (6-0) 10.2, 4. Huron (5-1) 9.2833, 5. Archbold (5-1) 8.9167, 6. Pemberville Eastwood (6-0) 8.5, 7. Milan Edison (4-2) 8.35, 8. Richwood North Union (5-1) 8.2833, 9. Delta (4-2) 7.15, 10. Marengo Highland (4-2) 6.9667, 11. Fredericktown (4-2) 6.8833, 12. Defiance Tinora (4-2) 6.55, 13. Willard (4-2) 6.15, 14. Genoa Area (3-3) 6.0167, 15. Findlay Liberty-Benton (4-2) 5.8838, 16. Oak Harbor (5-1) 5.3763.
Division VI
Region 22: 1. Carey (6-0) 11.7167, 2. Ashland Crestview (6-0) 9.9167, 3. Columbia Station Columbia (6-0) 9.1167, 4. West Salem Northwestern (5-1) 8.3, 5. North Robinson Colonel Crawford (5-1) 8.1333, 6. Columbus Grove (4-2) 7.8167, 7. Castalia Margaretta (5-1) 7.4833, 8. Tol. Ottawa Hills (5-1) 7.2399, 9. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (4-2) 6.35, 10. Attica Seneca East (4-2) 6.05, 11. Hamler Patrick Henry (4-2) 4.75, 12. Collins Western Reserve (3-3) 4.6667, 13. Mt. Blanchard Riverdale (4-2) 4.5667, 14. Ashland Mapleton (3-3) 3.55, 15. Sullivan Black River (2-4) 2.6833, 16. Metamora Evergreen (2-4) 2.2167.
Division VII
Region 25: 1. Warren John F. Kennedy (5-1) 11.5253, 2. Lowellville (6-0) 9.0833, 3. Danville (5-1) 8.9167, 4. Salineville Southern (6-0) 7.9091, 5. Norwalk St. Paul (4-2) 7.0167, 6. Toronto (4-2) 6.0, 7. Vienna Mathews (5-1) 5.2126, 8. Jeromesville Hillsdale (3-3) 5.05, 9. Lucas (3-3) 4.7449, 10. Greenwich South Central (3-3) 4.2, 11. New Middletown Springfield (2-4) 4.0, 12. Lisbon David Anderson (3-3) 3.9545, 13. New Washington Buckeye Central (3-3) 3.15, 14. Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding (2-4) 2.7096, 15. New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Cath. (2-4) 2.6786, 16. Wellsville (3-3) 2.6167, 17. Windham (2-3) 2.3444, 18. Plymouth (3-3) 2.3167, 19. East Canton (2-4) 2.2833, 20. Bowerston Conotton Valley (2-4) 2.2167.
