Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Halfway through the high school football season, 22 Mahoning Valley teams show up in this week’s OHSAA computer playoff ratings.

If the regular season were over, 13 of those teams would have qualified for the postseason. But with five weeks to go, many key games still to come are going to shake the standings.

Austintown Fitch (3-2), the Valley’s only Division I program, is ranked 14th in Region 1. In that division, the top 16 teams in each region qualify. In the other six divisions, only the top eight teams get to play in Week 11.

Division VI’s Region 19 has the most Valley teams competing. Lisbon (5-0) is third and Springfield (3-2) is fifth. On the outside looking in are Columbiana (4-1) in ninth, Western Reserve (3-2) in 10th, McDonald (3-2) in 11th and Brookfield (4-1) in 12th. On Oct. 9, Western Reserve will play at McDonald.

In Division II, Warren Harding (4-1) is sixth in Region 3.

Division III’s Region 7 has Poland (5-0) in second and Canfield (4-1) in sixth. The Bulldogs and Cardinals will play each other in the regular-season finale. Howland (3-2) is one of three teams tied for 11th.

At 3-2, Ursuline is the No. 5 team in Division IV’s Region 11. West Branch (3-2) is tied with Pepper Pike Orange for ninth. Hubbard (3-2) and Lakeview (3-2) are 11th and 12th.

In Division V’s Region 15, Crestview (5-0) is first and LaBrae (4-1) is third. South Range (3-2) is tied with Cleveland VASJ for eighth place.

Warren JFK (4-1) has the top spot in Division VII’s Region 23. At three and four are Mathews (4-1) and Jackson-Milton (4-1). Wellsville (2-3) is tied for 12th with Windham.

This Friday, Jackson-Milton and McDonald will play in an Inter Tri-County League showdown.