PREP FOOTBALL Playoff hopes on line this weekend

Some of the area's best games are scheduled for rivalry week.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
The high school football playoffs essentially arrive early for four Steel Valley Conference teams after three of them suffered three-point losses last weekend.
Boardman (5-3, 1-1 SVC) lost 37-34 to future Federal League rival North Canton Hoover. Spartans quarterback Tom Zetts completed 17-of-32 passes for 367 yards.
Ursuline (4-4, 1-2) lost 27-24 to Columbus Watterson. Delbert Ferguson led the Irish offense with 116 yards and a touchdown.
Mooney (4-4, 0-2) threw a scare into Cleveland Benedictine, the top-ranked team in the computer playoff ratings for Division III, Region 9. The Cardinals rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to take a 21-17 lead before losing 24-21. The game almost went to overtime, but Dustin Hinkle's 49-yard field goal attempt fell just short.
As a result, those teams and Austintown Fitch (5-3, 1-1) need playoff points in Week 9.
Two of the area's best games this Friday feature Boardman at Fitch, and Mooney and Ursuline at Stambaugh Stadium. In last week's computer ratings, Boardman was ranked No. 8 in Div. I, Region 1, while Fitch was No. 10. The top eight teams in each region qualify for the postseason, with the top four teams in each bracket getting a home game in the first round.
Fitch defeated Wilson, 53-8, last week, but with the Redmen winless, that victory won't help the Falcons. The winner of the Boardman-Fitch game will also have a chance to tie Warren Harding (8-0, 3-0) for the SVC crown.
In Div. IV, Region 13, Ursuline was No. 7 and Mooney was No. 8 before last weekend's games. East Palestine (7-1) was the No. 9 team and figures to move up after defeating Lisbon (6-2).
League races
Several teams are poised to clinch league championships or shares of titles.
Trumbull County's best matchup Friday will be in Hubbard where the unbeaten Eagles take on Girard (7-1). The winner will clinch a title tie and most likely secure a home playoff game.
The key game in the Metro Athletic Conference Friday is Poland at Canfield. Last Friday, the Cardinals (8-0, 4-0) clinched a tie for first with a 35-28 win over Salem. A Canfield win gives it the MAC crown outright.
Unbeaten Lowellville can clinch a share of the Inter-County League title with a win over Western Reserve. The Rockets close their ICL schedule at McDonald on Oct. 25.
With a win over Southern, East Palestine (7-1, 5-0) would earn a piece of the Tri-County League prize for the first time in 27 years. The Bulldogs are in the driver's seat thanks to a 42-14 defeat of Lisbon (6-2, 4-1) last Friday.
Chaney (5-3) can win the City Series outright Thursday by defeating Canton Timken (2-6).