Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline, state finalists last year, return to the postseason.

STAFF REPORT

Thirteen area high school football teams have qualified for the OHSAA playoffs.

Games will be contested Friday and Saturday at home sites. Games in Division II, Division IV and Division VI will be played Friday, with games in Division I, III and V Saturday.

Among area teams, Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline, who both played in state championship games in 2007, return to the postseason.

The Fighting Irish (10-0), who should be ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press that’s released today, will play host to Cuyahoga Heights (9-1) in Div. V Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

Ursuline had the highest average point total in the state, and should be a favorite to win the region.

Ursuline has qualified for the 14th time.

Also in Div. V, No. 2 seed Crestview (9-1) will play host to Apple Creek Waynedale (8-2), and No. 6 South Range (8-2) travels to Kirtland (10-0).

South Range qualified for the 12th time overall and the sixth straight year. The Raiders have advanced nine of the last 10 years.

Mooney (8-2), which lost only to Ursuline and Mentor, which qualified for the postseason in Div. I, will open against Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (CVCA) Friday in a Div. IV game, also to be played at Stambaugh Stadium, at 7:30 p.m.

Mooney qualified for the playoffs for the 22nd time, most among area schools, and the sixth consecutive season.

Also in Div. IV, LaBrae (9-1) advanced and will play at Massillon Tuslaw (10-0).

Four teams advanced in Div. VI and two of them will play. McDonald (10-0), the No.3 seed, will play host to No. 6 Western Reserve (8-2) in a rematch of their regular-season game in Week 7, won by McDonald, 47-6.

McDonald qualified for the 11th time and third year in a row.

Also in Div. VI, Leetonia (8-2), will travel to Mogadore (9-1) and No. 8 Columbiana (7-3) must travel to Hopewell-Loudon (10-0), the No. 1 seed which is located near Toledo.

Three schools qualified in Div. III and all will play at home.

In Region 9, Hubbard (8-2) will play host to Ravenna (7-3) and Liberty (8-2) will play host to Chagrin Falls (7-3).

In Region 11, Poland (8-2) will play host to Granville (8-2) from the Columbus area.

Also, Howland (7-3) will play host to Akron Hoban (6-4) in a Div. II game Friday night.