Staff report

Boardman High’s 17-14 victory over Canton GlenOak last weekend did more than clinch a tie for the Spartans’ first Federal League championship.

It virtually assured the Spartans their second trip to the OHSAA playoffs in the last three seasons.

Boardman (6-2), which visits Canton McKinley on Friday night, is in seventh place in Division I, Region 1, of this week’s OHSAA computer rankings.

The Spartans, though, have a margin of more than 3 points over the No. 9 team, Eastlake North, and can probably split their last two games and still qualify.

Boardman is one of 16 teams in the Valley who are in the top eight of their respective region in this week’s rankings.

The top eight teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the postseason, which begins Nov. 5-6 with the first round at home sites.

The most-populated region is in Div. V, Region 17, where Crestview (7-1) is third, Campbell Memorial (6-2) is fourth, Columbiana (7-1) is fifth and Southern (7-1) is sixth.

Also in Region 17, Springfield (6-2) is No. 9.

In Div. II, Region 5, Howland (8-0) is No. 2 and Canfield (6-2) is No. 6.

Cardinal Mooney (5-2) is No. 2 in Div. III, Region 11, while Poland (5-3) is No. 7.

Girard (7-1) remains No. 1 in Div IV, Region 13, despite suffering its first defeat of the season last weekend, to Campbell Memorial. Als on Region 13, Brookfield is No. 5 and LaBrae is No. 7.

Girard plays host to LaBrae on Friday night in a key All-American Conference Blue Tier game that will also have an impact in the OHSAA rankings.

In Div. VI, Region 21, Western Reserve (8-0) remained No. 1 and Youngstown Christian (7-1) is No. 2.

Warren JFK (5-3) is No. 7, while Wellsville (3-5) is No. 11 and Mineral Ridge (4-4) is No. 12.