Big weekend to shake up ratings
Top showdowns will take a toll on Mahoning Valley’s playoff hopefuls
Staff report
With two weeks remaining in the high school football season, 13 Mahoning Valley teams are currently in position to play in Week 11.
But plenty of key matchups this weekend could deal severe blows to some playoff dreams.
One of the biggest games will be Boardman (5-3, 0-1 All-American Conference Gold Tier) traveling to Austintown to play Fitch (6-2, 1-1) in their annual showdown.
In this week’s computer playoff ratings released Tuesday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the host Falcons are the number six team in Division I, Region 1. The Spartans are the number six team in Div. II, Region 5. The winner most likely will punch a ticket to the postseason.
Another game with huge playoff implications has East (6-2, 4-0 AAC Red champions) traveling to Warren to play Warren Harding (6-2, 3-0 AAC Gold champions).
The host Raiders are fifth in Boardman’s region. The Golden Bears are part of the logjam of local teams playing in Div. IV, Region 13. East is fourth after last Friday’s 12-7 upset of Canfield (7-1).
Hubbard (8-0, 5-0 AAC White), which has already clinched a share of the league crown, can win it outright with a victory over Poland (6-2, 3-1). The Eagles are third in Region 13 and Poland is fifth.
East Liverpool (5-3) has the eighth spot. On the outside hoping to climb are Struthers (5-3) at nine and Girard (7-1, 4-0 AAC Blue) at 11.
The Indians will be playing for their playoff lives when they host LaBrae (8-0, 5-0), the number-two team in Div. V, Region 17. With a victory. the Vikings would win the league crown outright and secure a home game in Week 11.
Canfield is the number-two team in Div. III, Region 9. The Cardinals also are playing for a home game in Week 11 when they host Howland (1-7).
Crestview (5-2) has the sixth spot in Region 17. South Range (4-4) dropped to 11th and plays St. Clairsville (8-0), the number-one team in Div. IV, Region 15.
Southern (7-1) is the number six team in Div. VI, Region 21 and is playing for a share of the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference crown when the Indians host Columbiana (5-3).
Also in that region are Springfield (7-1) at nine, McDonald (8-0) at 10, United (6-2) at 11 and Western Reserve (7-1) at 12.
McDonald and Western Reserve play on Friday, Springfield hosts Lowellville (3-5) and United hosts Toronto (3-5).
Three local teams are in contention in Div. VII, Region 25. Valley Christian (5-3, 1-2 Portage Trail Conference) plays Mogadore (7-1), the top team in Region 21.
Southington (6-2, 3-1 Northeastern Athletic Conference) is seventh and Leetonia (3-5) is eighth.