15 Valley teams to vie in football playoffs

Leetonia’s players have to travel about 150 miles for a playoff game.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

Fifteen area teams have qualified for the OHSAA state football playoffs, which will begin Friday at home sites.

Cardinal Mooney High, which has won two of the past three Division IV state championships, is making its 21st appearance in the postseason, which began in 1972. The Cardinals (10-0) will begin the quest for a seventh state title Saturday against Coshocton. The game is expected to be played at Stambaugh Stadium, although the site hasn’t been officially announced.

Though the Cardinals lead all area schools in playoff appearances, Mathews High is making its first appearance.

The Mustangs (10-0), who won the East Suburban Conference in a showdown last Friday against Pymatuning Valley, will play at Gilmour Academy in the Cleveland suburb of Gates Mills. The game is expected to be played Saturday at 1:30 p.m., because Gilmour’s facility doesn’t have lights.

Mooney, Warren JFK (in Division VI for the first time) and South Range (Div. V) all qualified for the fifth consecutive season.

Lakeview (Div. III) qualified for the fourth time in school history, but the first time since 2000. And Boardman qualified in Div. I for the first time since 2001.

Seven schools will host games this weekend, but Leetonia must make the longest road trip, approximately 150 miles. The Bears will play at Hopewell-Loudon, which is located in Bascom in Seneca County, between Tiffin and Fostoria.

Also qualifying for the postseason are Howland and Canfield in Div. II, Poland, Hubbard and West Branch in Div. III, Ursuline in Div. V and Columbiana and McDonald in Div. VI.