FOOTBALL Top area high school teams are focusing on the playoffs

An exception occurs in the Girard-Liberty game, which will be for the TAC crown.
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With most of the league races decided, the focus turns to playoff seeding for most of the Mahoning Valley's better high school football teams.
Howland's 57-28 romp over Struthers gave the Tigers (8-1, 6-0) their first Metro Athletic Conference title.
Before the game, the Tigers were the second team in Division II, Region 5 of the state computer playoff ratings. The top four teams in each region will open the postseason at home.
Howland coach Dick Angle said the Tigers' win over the Wildcats pretty much assures them a home playoff game no matter what happens Friday against Div. V Warren JFK, the No. 2 team in Region 17 before Friday's 47-15 romp over Campbell.
Jockeying for top spot
The Eagles and unbeaten South Range are jockeying for the top spot in Region 17. The Raiders were third before their 7-3 victory over Mineral Ridge that gives them a share of the Inter-County League title. The Raiders will win the title outright by defeating Western Reserve (2-7).
For Div. I Austintown Fitch, the playoffs essentially begin Friday when the Falcons welcome Region 1's third-ranked team, Warren Harding, to Falcon Stadium. The Falcons were eighth before their 34-26 win over Boardman.
"I expect a great ball game," said Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels. "I scouted them [Friday] night and they do some things differently on offense. They sort of run a goal line offense all the time, so we have to be in a goal line defense the whole game.
"Their coach [Neal Kopp] has done a nice job in his first year. It'll be a tough win to get."
Preparation
Kopp vows that the Falcons (6-3) will be working hard all week knowing they need an upset win over the Raiders (9-0) to extend their season.
In Div. II, Chaney (8-1), whose region includes teams from Columbus, can save themselves a long road trip with a win at Canfield (3-6).
In Div. III, Hubbard remains alive for a Region 9 berth after the Eagles pounded Girard, 33-19.
In Region 11, undefeated Beaver Local will open at home after a 55-20 walloping of Eastlake North.
Poland needs win, help
Poland (6-3), which shut out arch-rival Canfield 13-0, could be the Beavers' first-round opponent if the Bulldogs can defeat Struthers and get help. The Beavers were No. 3 in Region 11, while the Bulldogs were 10th.
A win for Struthers (5-4) would give it a major boost in Div. IV, Region 13. The Wildcats were No. 3, while Mooney (7-2) was fourth before the Cardinals defeated Ursuline, 24-21. A loss could mean the end of the season for the Wildcats.
In Div. V, Columbiana (8-0) clinched a tie for the Tri-County League title by defeating East Palestine, 49-3. A Clippers win over Leetonia would give them the title outright and assure them of a Region 17 playoff berth.
Lisbon (8-1) needs a win at United (7-2) to get into the Region 17 playoffs.
Leetonia's loss to Crestview and Lowellville's defeat to McDonald means the Mahoning Valley may not have a Div. VI team playing in Week 11.