Valley teams appear

in OHSAA ratings

Staff report

Unbeaten Mahoning Valley high school football teams Canfield and South Range top their regions in the first Ohio High School Athletic Association computer ratings of the season.

Canfield (4-0) is first in Division III, Region 9 with 10.975 points. The Cardinals are ranked just ahead of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-0, 9.8 points).

Canfield has beaten Louisville, Alliance, Chardon and Ashtabula Lakeside in its perfect start. The Cardinals host unbeaten Struthers on Friday night.

South Range (4-0) leads Division V, Region 17 with 7.95 points. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (4-0, 6.1) is second.

The Raiders’ unbeaten start has included wins over Springfield, Western Reserve, Akron Manchester and Zanesville. South Range hosts Brookfield on Friday.

The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs at the end of the 10-week regular season.

Boardman (3-1, 7.35) is second in Division II, Region 7 despite suffering its first loss of the season last week against Steubenville. The Spartans are just behind Columbus Walnut Ridge (4-0, 9.225).

The area’s Division IV teams dominate in Region 13, behind unbeaten Steubenville (4-0, 10.9) and Perry (4-0, 8.725).

The next four teams are Poland (4-0, 7.275), Struthers (4-0, 7.15), Salem (4-0, 7.1) and Girard (4-0, 7.075). Lakeview (3-1, 6.175), Beaver Local (3-1, 4.325) and Hubbard (2-2, 3.7) also are in the mix in the region.

Grand Valley (4-0, 5.85) is fourth in Division V, Region 17. Crestview (2-2, 3.25) and LaBrae (2-2, 3.15) are in the same region.

In Division VI, Region 21, Western Reserve (3-1, 4.475), Mineral Ridge (3-1, 4.45), McDonald (3-1, 3.875) and East Palestine (2-2, 3.2) occupy the ninth-12th spots.

The Valley also is well-represented in Division VII, Region 25 with Windham (4-0, 5.6), Warren JFK (3-1, 5.375), Lisbon (3-1, 4.8), Mathews (3-1, 2.975) and Lowellville (2-2, 2.2) all in contention early for the postseason.

Warren JFK is the defending state champion in Division VII.