Eagles win first poll title in school history

Staff report

The Hubbard High football team finished the regular season as Ohio’s best Division III team.

Now the Eagles will try to finish the postseason the same way.

Hubbard captured the first Associated Press poll title on Monday, earning 16 of 25 first-place votes to finish with 224 points, well ahead of second-place Athens (197).

“It’s a real honor for our program to receive such state recognition,” said Eagles coach Brian Hoffman, who thanked his team, his coaching staff, his administration and the community. “I realize on Friday night that everyone is 0-0 and we’ll prepare accordingly, but it’s definitely an honor for our program and it’s something we’ll take pride in.”

Hubbard is the first Mahoning Valley team to win a poll title since Western Reserve in 2011. Ursuline did it in 2010 and South Range in 2006.

Area teams have won 20 poll titles, including 17 since the OHSAA began playoff competition in 1972.

Four of those teams went on to win championships: Cardinal Mooney in 1987 and 2006, Poland in 1999 and Ursuline in 2008 and 2010. Through 2013, 58 of Ohio’s 201 AP poll champions have gone on to also win the state playoff title.

The Eagles were ranked first in seven of the eight weekly polls this week, but Hoffman said he hasn’t spent much time talking about the poll this season.

“People have made comments throughout the year but as a coach you really try not to dwell on it,” he said. “It’s a poll. It’s an opinion. What really matters is what happens on the field.”

In Division VI, McDonald (10-0) finished sixth and Western Reserve (9-1) was sixth in Division VI. In Division IV, Cardinal Moooney (5-4) finished 11th, two points behind Kenton.

In Division V, Ursuline (6-4) finished 11th with 20 points, while Liberty (9-1) finished 13th with 16 points.