Ohio high school football playoff picture broken down for Stark County-area teams

the repository

Tue, Oct 18, 2022, 5:55 AM·4 min read

Ohio high school football teams learn the official playoff pairings Sunday, the day after the 2022 OHSAA regular season ends.

But thanks to JoeEitel.com, teams have a pretty good idea on where they stand heading into Week 10. Entering this week, 11 of Stark County's 19 football teams have clinched playoff spots and four more are still alive. Two other Stark-area teams have clinched with two more are still in the mix. That means a majority of the area's high school football teams will be playing in Week 11.

Using JoeEitel.com as a guide, here's a look at where Stark County-area teams figure in the playoff picture:

OHSAA Division I, Region 1

McKinley: The Bulldogs have locked up a first-round home game. With a win over Massillon, they lock up a second-round home game, too.
Jackson: The Polar Bears have clinched a playoff spot. With a win over Hoover, they likely will get a first-round home game. They still have a shot at playing a home game with a loss.
GlenOak: The Golden Eagles have clinched a playoff spot. With a win over Perry, they can be seeded as high 10th.

OHSAA Division II, Region 7

Massillon running back Willtrell Hartson gains yards against visiting Austintown Fitch, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

Massillon: The Tigers have locked up home games for the first two rounds. With a win over McKinley, they secure the top seed. Even if they lose to McKinley, they will be no worse than the third seed and could still be No. 1.
Lake: The Blue Streaks have locked up a first-round home game and likely one in the second round. Even with a loss to Green, they will drop no lower than the fifth seed.
Hoover: The Vikings have clinched a spot. With a win over Jackson, they could host a first-round game.
Green: The Bulldogs clinch a spot with a win over Lake. With a loss, they still have a chance to qualify and even finish as high as eighth.
Perry: The Panthers need to beat GlenOak and get help elsewhere to qualify.

OHSAA Division III, Region 9

Brendan Zurbrugg, 4, of Alliance celebrates his touchdown with Ramhir Hawkins, left, during their game at Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.

Alliance: The Aviators have clinched a spot. With a win over Marlington, they could earn a first-round home game.
Louisville: The Leopards need to beat Linsley (W.Va.) and get help elsewhere to qualify.

OHSAA Division IV, Region 13

West Branch QB Dru DeShields throws a pass in Week 8 at Alliance, Oct. 7, 2022.

West Branch: The Warriors have locked up home games through the first two rounds and will be the top seed with a win over Salem.
Northwest: A playoff spot is secured. Home games in the first two rounds will be locked up with a win over Canton South. With a loss, Northwest still could be seeded as high as No. 2.
Canton South: The Wildcats have clinched a spot. They could earn a first-round home game with a win and perhaps even a loss.

OHSAA Division IV, Region 15

Carrollton: The Warriors need to beat Minerva and get help elsewhere to qualify.

OHSAA Division V, Region 17

Fairless running back Peter Killy runs through a hole in Week 1 at Sandy Valley, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.

Fairless: The Falcons have clinched a spot. They earn a first-round home game with a win over Tuslaw and perhaps even with a loss.

OHSAA Division VI, Region 21

Central Catholic: The Crusaders have clinched a spot. Win or lose, they could earn a first-round home game.
Tuslaw: The Mustangs need to beat Fairless and get help elsewhere to qualify.

OHSAA Division VI, Region 23

Malvern: The Hornets have clinched a spot. With a win over East Canton, they could earn a first-round home game.

OHSAA Division VII, Region 21

East Canton: The Hornets clinch a spot with a win over Malvern and they could qualify even with a loss.

Eliminated from OHSAA playoff contention

Marlington in Division III, Minerva in Division IV, Sandy Valley and Manchester in Division V, Tusky Valley in Division VI, and St. Thomas Aquinas and Sebring in Division VII.