STAFF REPORT

It’s do or die, postseason-wise, for a few Valley football teams this weekend.

Five in particular must win to have any shot at the OHSAA playoffs — Canfield, Lakeview, Cardinal Mooney, LaBrae and Youngstown Christian.

Canfield (7-2), ninth in Division II Region 7, plays host to Poland (7-2), which is No. 4 in Div. III Region 11.

The Cardinals must win to get a playoff berth, but cannot get a first-round home game.

Poland is almost assured of a postseason berth even with a loss — the Bulldogs would need only three defeated opponents to win this weekend to get in — but they could finish in the top four with a win to earn a first-round home game.

Lakeview (6-3), which plays host to Champion, could finish as high as sixth with a win, but needs teams ahead of it in Region 9 to lose.

Mooney (7-2) is in a similar position in Div. IV Region 13. The Cardinals, who play host to Columbus Watterson Saturday at Fitch Falcon Stadium, could finish as high as second with a victory — or as low as 10th. Mooney could also get in with a loss but would need help.

LaBrae (8-1) is ninth in Region 13 and must defeat Steubenville Catholic Central and could get in simply by winning, but the Vikings will probably need to win and get help.

Also in Region 13 Girard (8-1) sits 12th but could finish as high as No. 5 with a win over Liberty (8-1).

In Div. VI Region 21 Youngstown Christian (7-2) can slide up to No. 6 with a victory over Pymatuning Valley Saturday night, but the Eagles’ chances would also greatly be helped by a team ahead of them losing.

Heading into the final weekend, only Liberty in Div. III, Ursuline and Crestview in Div. V and McDonald in Div. VI have locked up playoff spots.

Howland (Div. II), Hubbard (III), Poland and South Range (V) can get in simply by winning.

Others who can get in by winning and getting varying degrees of help are Warren Harding (I), West Branch (III) and in Div. VI, Western Reserve, Leetonia, Columbiana and Wellsville.