Week 8 showdown

October 18, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

The eyes of the high school football world will be focused on the Mahoning Valley tonight when Poland visits Hubbard. The game will go a long way in determining each team’s conference and playoff fate.

Poland (7-0, 4-0 All-American Conference, American Division) is second in the latest Division III, Region 7 computer rankings. According the Drew Pasteur’s fantastic50.net, the Bulldogs have already earned a playoff berth. With a win, the Bulldogs likely secure a first-round home playoff game. A victory would also give the Dogs an outright AAC title.

Hubbard (7-0, 3-0) is ranked fourth in Region 7. A win would secure a playoff spot for the Eagles, and give them at least a share of the AAC title.

Hubbard closes its season with a trip to AAC foe Canfield, while the Bulldogs finish with back-to-back non-conference games against Youngstown East and Beaver Local.

Poland and Hubbard are among 54 teams statewide still with an opportunity to log a perfect regular season. There are 52 teams with 7-0 records, while Lakewood St. Edward and Liberty-Benton are both 6-0.

The Poland-Hubbard showdown is the only game in the state pitting a pair of 7-0 teams. However, there are a number of unbeaten teams which will be tested. Another Region 7 showdown will feature Louisville (7-0) hosting Marlington (6-1). The Leopards and Dukes are ranked seven and fifth respectively in Region 7.

The Louisville-Marlington matchup is one of eight statewide which pit a 7-0 team against an opponent with a 6-1 mark.

Meanwhile, Lakewood St. Edward hosts Cleveland St. Ignatius (4-3) in a key Division I, Region 1 contest.

Locally, five teams — Poland, Hubbard, Austintown Fitch, South Range and Western Reserve — are 7-0.

Fitch hosts Marion Local (3-4) on Saturday, then travels to Lake (4-3) and Cardinal Mooney (4-3).

South Range clinched a playoff spot, and controls its own destiny for a home playoff game.

Western Reserve owns a commanding lead atop the Division VII, Region 23 standings. The Devils have already clinched a home playoff game. They travel to Sebring (2-5), but then close the season against a pair of teams with wining records — Mineral Ridge (4-3) and Wellsville (6-1).

The area has had at least one team go undefeated in each of the past 15 years.