Four finish in final AP poll
Four area football teams finished in the top 10 of the Ohio high school state poll while three more finished just outside of the top 10 spots.
In Division II, Warren Harding (9-1) finished in the seventh spot, receiving one first-place vote. The Raiders fell one spot from last week’s poll after defeating Howland 40-20 in Week 10.
Troy (9-1) leap-frogged Harding after defeating Piqua 37-14 last Friday.
Cardinal Mooney (7-2) finished 10th in the Division IV poll. The Cardinals fell two spots from the Week 9 poll after defeating Austintown Fitch 7-0 to close out the regular season.
Voters were much more impressed with the two teams who overtook Mooney in the final standings. Penisula Woodridge (10-0), who was ninth in the Week 9 poll, picked up a 42-7 win over Akron Springfield. Heath (10-0), was tenth in the Week 9 poll and beat Johnstown Monroe 35-31. Woodridge finished sixth while Heath finished third.
South Range (9-1) finished ninth in the Division V poll, retaining the same spot they had a week ago after walloping East Palestine 55-14 the final week of the regular season. The Raiders had one first-place vote.
JFK (9-1) finished fourth in the Division VII poll, jumping two spots from their sixth-place spot in the Week 9 poll. Voters were impressed with the Eagles’ 28-27 overtime win over Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas in Week 10. The Eagles received one first-place vote.
Struthers (9-1) finished 14th in the Division IV poll, receiving one first-place vote.
Springfield (8-2) finished 12th in the Division VI poll, also receiving one first-place vote while Lisbon finished tied for 14th in the Division VI poll.
All four teams listed in the final poll will be hosting home playoff games this weekend.
Third-seeded Harding plays host to Brecksville Broadview Heights Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Cardinal Mooney is also a three seed and hosts Hubbard at Stambaugh Stadium also at Friday at 7:30 p.m.
South Range is the top seed in their region and will host Garrettsville Garfield Saturday at 7 p.m.
Third-seeded JFK will host Toronto also at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium.
The three other teams who finished just outside the final poll will also play in Week 11.
Fifth-seeded Struthers will play at Woodridge Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Second-seeded Springfield will host Columbia Station Columbia Friday at 7:30 p.m. while fifth-seeded Lisbon plays at St. Thomas Aquinas also on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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