Five Valley teams already have clinched postseason

Six more are very close and several others need some help to get to Week 11.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Here's something you don't see every day -- the Warren Harding, Fitch, Boardman, Chaney, Howland and Hubbard high football teams on the same list as Wilson, Sebring, Western Reserve and Southern.
With the final weekend of the regular season approaching, all of those teams will be idle in Week 11.
But for a lot of other Mahoning Valley teams, their fates depend on what happens this Friday.
Welcome to Week 10 of the high school football season, a time when a lot of teams suit up for pride while several others play key games that will determine who's got game next month.
Canfield, Mooney, South Range, Mineral Ridge and Columbiana already have earned November dates.
Liberty, Warren JFK, Crestview, McDonald, Beaver Local and Southeast are close to joining them in the playoffs.
Rayen, Springfield, Lowellville, Salem, LaBrae, Mathews and Ursuline could get in but probably need some help even if they win their regular-season finales.
Needed to qualify
To qualify for the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs, teams must finish in the top eight of their region. Each of Ohio's six divisions have four regions, so 32 teams qualify in each division.
For Mahoning Valley teams, the most competitive brackets are Division V Region 17 and Div. VI Region 21.
Crestview-Columbiana
"I don't know if we've clinched a spot in the playoffs or not, so we have to take care of business this week," said Crestview (8-1, 6-0) coach Paul Cusick, referring to the Rebels' Tri-County League championship showdown at Columbiana (9-0, 6-0).
"It's a big rivalry," Cusick said. "We are only a couple of miles apart and traditionally there's always a lot riding on the game."
Columbiana already has sewn up the top seed in their region.
The Rebels are the No. 7 team in the Region 17 computer playoff ratings, trailing South Range (No. 2) and Warren JFK (No. 3). Also in contention are LaBrae (No. 9) and Springfield (No. 10).
Determining games
The playoff picture will be determined after these Friday games -- South Range (9-0) at Lowellville (5-4), Warren JFK (8-1) at Howland, Springfield (7-2) at Mineral Ridge (7-2) and Newton Falls at LaBrae (4-5).
South Range is playing for the Inter-County League title as well as a home playoff seed.
"This is the last year for the ICL and our goal from a long time ago was to bring that last title home," South Range coach Dan Yeagley said. "Now, we've got a share of it.
"Lowellville is playing really well right now, so it's an important [game]," Yeagley said. "We know people are going to talk playoffs, but our focus right now is Lowellville, who is fighting for a playoff berth. They are going to bring a couple of kids to the table who are pretty good, especially [Lucas] Gonzalez."
Region 21 has Columbiana (No. 1), Mineral Ridge (No. 4), McDonald (No. 8), Lowellville (No. 9) and Mathews (No. 10).
McDonald (6-3) hosts Sebring and Mathews (6-3) plays Pymatuning Valley.
No Division I teams
The picture is much clearer in the larger divisions. For the first time in years, none of the area's Div. I teams are in contention.
Mooney (8-1) is the top team in Div. IV Region 13 and will take a strong playoff test in Columbus against Bishop Watterson (8-1).
Watterson is the No. 3 team in Div. II Region 7, one place ahead Canfield (9-0), which closes its season at Poland (4-5). The Cardinals have clinched a share of the Metro Athletic Conference crown.
Rayen (7-2), easily this year's most surprising team, is No. 9 in Region 7, and closes its season at Steubenville (9-0).
With a win over Girard and some help, Div. III Liberty (9-0) could move up from No. 5 in Region 9 to earn a home game.
When the playoffs arrive, Div. I, IV and VI games will be played on Saturdays while Div. II, III and V will kick off on Fridays.