Staff report

Unbeaten Western Reserve remains the top-rated Mahoning Valley high school football team in the latest computer ratings, released Tuesday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

The Blue Devils (6-0) are first in Division VII, Region 23, which is dominated by area teams. Lowellville (5-1) is second, Wellsville (5-1) is fifth and Mineral Ridge (4-2), Southington (3-3), Mathews (4-2) and Leetonia (4-2) occupy the ninth through 12 spots, respectively, in the same division.

Lowellville, which knocked Wellsville from the ranks of the unbeaten last week, visits Western Reserve on Friday night in an Inter Tri-County League, Tier Two matchup.

South Range (6-0) is the area’s next highest-rated team. The Raiders are second in Division VI, Region 19. Springfield (5-1) is sixth, McDonald (4-2) is seventh and Brookfield (4-2) is eighth in the same region.

The area is also well-represented in Division V, Region 15. Crestview (5-1) is fourth, Liberty (4-2) is fifth, Ursuline (2-3) is eighth and Champion (3-3) is 11th.

Hubbard (6-0) is third in Division III, Region 7. Poland (6-0) is fourth and Howland (4-2) is ninth. The Bulldogs visit the Tigers on Friday in an All-American Conference, American Division game.

Austintown Fitch (6-0) is fourth in Division I, Region 1. The Falcons host Massillon (6-0), now in its first season as a Division II program, on Friday in what figures to be one of the top matchups in Ohio in Week 7.

Warren G. Harding (4-2) is 18th in Division I, Region 1.

Struthers (4-2) is ninth in Division IV, Region 11. Lakeview (3-3) is 11th in the same region.

The top eight teams in each region make the playoffs, with the exception of Division I. Each of the state’s two big-school regions will send 16 teams to the postseason.