Division shuffle includes Valley schools

By KEVIN CONNELLY

kconnelly@vindy.com

The path to a football state championship became a lot less familiar for nine area high schools on Tuesday.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced its latest changes to football divisions and playoff regions based on the newest school enrollment numbers, reshuffling a handful of Valley schools in the process.

The most notable move sends Cardinal Mooney High School from Division IV, where it has won two state championships, to Division V, with cross-town rival Ursuline High School.

The Cardinals have played in five Division IV state title games and two in Division III since 2004. They have never played a season in Division V in school history.

Cardinal Mooney football coach P.J. Fecko did not return a phone call seeking comment.

South Range High School also is moving to Division V, jumping up from Division VI.

Another considerable change drops Hubbard from Division III, where it has made back-to-back regional final appearances, to Division IV. Girard will also join the Eagles in Division IV, moving up from Division V.

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary has been a thorn in Hubbard’s side in the regional tournament, knocking the Eagles out of the last two postseasons. Hubbard sent four players to D-I college football programs from last year’s team, including Vindicator fall athlete of the year L.J. Scott.

The Eagles will return running back George Hill, who is committed to Ohio State. The move will perhaps give the Eagles a fresh start.

Hubbard football coach Brian Hoffman did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The football divisions are based on school enrollment data provided by the Ohio Department of Education for males in grades 9, 10 and 11 as of October 2014, according to the OHSAA.

Other area changes include:

East Liverpool jumps up from Division IV to Division III with a male enrollment of 277. The maximum number of boys Division IV schools can have is 270.

United, Western Reserve and Mineral Ridge will all be newcomers to Division VI. United is coming from Division V, while the other two are moving up from Division VII. Western Reserve has been a state semifinalist two of the last four years under head coach Andy Hake. Noted Division VII power Maria Stein Marion Local will also make the jump up to Division VI.

Jackson-Milton will drop from Division VI to Division VII.

Football practice begins Aug. 1 and regular season games begin the week of Aug. 24.