Staff report

Unbeaten Hubbard and five other area high school football teams remain in line to control their own destinies and host first-round playoff games.

The latest computer ratings, released Tuesday, have the Eagles (8-0) first in Division III, Region 7. Hubbard — coming off a 48-16 rout of All-American Conference, American Division rival Howlamd — has a comfortable lead over second-place Aurora (8-0).

The top eight teams in each region (other than Division I, Regions 1 and 2) make the playoffs. The top four host playoff games.

Poland (7-1) is seventh in Division III, Region 7. Howland (6-2) is 10th. Hubbard visits Canal Fulton Northwest on Friday, while Poland hosts East and Howland visits Struthers.

Ursuline (6-2), Liberty (7-1) and Western Reserve (7-1) also are currently in position to host first-round playoff games.

The Irish are second in Division V, Region 15. They host rival Cardinal Mooney in Youngstown’s Holy War on Friday night at Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium.

The Leopards (7-1), winners of seven consecutive games, are third in the same region. They visit AAC National Division rival Newton Falls on Friday.

Western Reserve (7-1) is second in Division VII, Region 23. The Blue Devils trail only Norwalk St. Paul (8-0) in the region. Western Reserve hosts Inter Tri-County League, Tier Two rival Sebring McKinley on Friday.

Fitch (6-1) is fifth in Division I, Region 1. The top 16 teams in the two Division I regions make the playoffs, with the top eight in each region hosting.

Wellsville (6-2) is fourth in Division VII, Region 23.

Other Valley teams in playoff contention include Lakeview (5-3, ninth in Division IV, Region 11), Jefferson (6-2, 10th in Division IV, Region 11), West Branch (4-4, 11th in Division IV, Region 11), United (6-2, sixth in Division V, Region 15), Crestview (4-4, ninth in Division V, Region 15), Girard (6-2, 12th in Division V, Region 15), McDonald (8-0, fifth in Division VI, Region 19), Springfield (6-2, eighth in Division VI, Region 19), Lisbon (6-2, ninth in Division VI, Region 19), South Range (5-3, 12th in Division VI, Region 19), Mathews (5-3, ninth in Division VII, Region 23) and Lowellville (4-4, 11th in Division VII, Region 23).