Fitch, Western Reserve atop computer ratings

Staff report

COLUMBUS

If the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs began this week, 15 Mahoning Valley teams would qualify for the postseason under the state’s new seven-division setup.

Two local teams — Austintown Fitch (4-0) and Western Reserve (4-0) — would be the top-seeds in their respective regions. The Falcons are the top-rated team in Division I, Region 1, one of just two regions for the largest schools in the state. The Blue Devils are the top-rated team in Division VII, Region 23.

The top 16 teams in each of the two Division I regions qualify for the playoffs. The top eight teams in each of the state’s other 26 regions — in Divisions II-VII — earn postseason berths.

The other area teams, by division, making their computer ratings debuts in playoff position include:

Division III, Region 7— Poland (4-0, second) and Hubbard (4-0, third).

Division IV, Region 11 — Struthers (4-0, second).

Division V, Region 15 — Crestview (3-1, fourth), Ursuline (2-2, sixth) and Liberty (2-2, seventh).

Division VI, Region 19 — South Range (4-0, second), McDonald (3-1, tied for fifth) and Brookfield (3-1, seventh).

Division VII, Region 23 — Wellsville (4-0, second), Lowellville (3-1, fourth), Mineral Ridge (3-1, tied for sixth) and Southington (3-1, tied for sixth).

The OHSAA will release its computer ratings weekly through the end of the regular season.

The final ratings are scheduled for release on Sunday, Nov. 3 and will determine which teams make the playoffs and the first-round — or regional quarterfinal — playoff pairings, which are set for Nov. 8-9.

Regional semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 15-16, followed by regional finals Nov. 22-23 and state semifinals Nov. 29-30.

The state championships will be contested Dec. 5-7 at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium and Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

The first weekly OHSAA

computer ratings can be found on Page B2.