Staff report

Unbeaten Howland and Canfield, who clash Friday night in an important All-American Conference Red Tier showdown, are ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in the first Associated Press high school football poll, released Monday.

The Tigers (3-0), who defeated Warren Harding 16-15 on Friday night, are No. 5 with three first-place votes and 94 voting points overall.

They will play host to the Cardinals (3-0), who are No. 9 with 52 points.

Howland and Canfield are two of 11 area schools receiving enough points to be recognized in the statewide balloting by sports broadcasters and writers.

Also ranked No. 5 is Western Reserve (3-0), which garnered three first-place votes and 89 points in Div. VI. Western Reserve visits Leetonia on Friday night.

Joining the Blue Devils in the small-school division is Warren JFK (2-1), which picked up 29 points and is in 14th place. The Eagles visits Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Saturday night.

Cardinal Mooney (2-1) is No. 6 in Div. III with 106 points. The Cardinals play host to Mentor Lake Catholic on Friday night. Austintown Fitch (3-0) is No. 9 in Div. I with 60 points. The Falcons visit Canton McKinley on Friday.

Also receiving votes were Div. V teams Campbell Memorial (14th with 31 points), Crestview and Ursuline (both 16th with 27 points, and Southern (18th with one first-place vote and 24 points).