Staff report

A battle of Mahoning Valley unbeatens Poland and Hubbard on Friday night is going to change things in the All-American Conference’s American Division.

The game also will have a huge impact in the battle for playoff berths in Division III, Region 7.

Poland (7-0, 4-0) is second in the latest Ohio High School Athletic Association computer ratings, which were released on Wednesday. Hubbard (7-0, 3-0) is fourth.

Howland (4-3, 0-2) is 10th in the same region.

The Mahoning Valley’s other unbeaten teams also remain in prime playoff contention.

Fitch (7-0), coming off a 30-27 win over Division II Massillon Washington, is third in Division I, Region 1. The Falcons are the only Division I team in playoff contention. Warren G. Harding (4-3) dropped out of the top 20 in the region after a 21-14 loss to Euclid, which entered last week’s game with only one victory.

South Range (7-0) is the top-rated team in Division VI, Region 19. Western Reserve (7-0) is the top-rated team in Division VII, Region 23.

In Division IV, Region 11, Struthers (5-2, fifth), Lakeview (4-3, 10th) and Cardinal Mooney (4-3, 11th) are still vying for playoff berths.

Crestview (4-3) is third in Division V, Region 15, followed by Liberty (4-3) and Ursuline (3-3), which are sixth and seventh, respectively.

Brookfield (5-2), Springfield (5-2) and McDonald (5-2) join South Range in Divison VI, Region 19. The Warriors are seventh, the Tigers are eighth and the Blue Devils are ninth.

Western Reserve is one of six teams vying for the postseason in Division VII, Region 23. The others are Lowellville (5-2), Southington (4-3), Mineral Ridge (4-3) and Youngstown Christian (2-4). The Rockets are fifth, the Wildcats are ninth, the Rams are 10th and the Eagles are 12th.