Rayen Stadium to host first playoff game since reopening

By Steve Ruman

sportsmain@vindy.com

The high school football season will continue into the month of November for 13 area schools.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association on Sunday released its pairings for the first round of the playoffs, which begin Friday. Among the 224 qualifiers are five schools from Mahoning County: Fitch, Boardman, Canfield, East and Valley Christian.

Trumbull County will be represented by six schools: Warren G. Harding, Hubbard, Girard, LaBrae, McDonald, and Warren John F. Kennedy; and Crestview and Southern will carry the flag for Columbiana County.

The area will be represented in all seven divisions.

In November, playoff games in Divisions I, II, III and VI will be on Fridays, while Division IV, V and VII playoff games will be on Saturdays. First-round games will be played at the home field of the higher-seeded team, while the remaining rounds will be played at a neutral site.

All playoffs in the first four rounds kick off at 7 p.m.

Fitch (8-2) returns to the playoffs following a two year hiatus. The Falcons won their final four games of the regular season and will open the post-season at Euclid (8-2). Ironically, Fitch’s last playoff game in 2015 was also at Euclid, where the Panthers defeated the Falcons 28-7.

Boardman (6-4) is making back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in school history. Last year the Spartans had the unenviable task of traveling to Massillon for a first-round game. This year, they will visit 10-0 Maple Heights, which is averaging 42.9 points per game.

“We’ve had to battle injuries and adversity through the meat-grinder portion of our schedule, so to be playing in Week 11 we’re excited and happy for the kids,” said Boardman coach Joe Ignazio. “This week we go up against a team that has athletes all over the field and a lot of speed. If I had to compare [Maple Heights] to a team on our schedule, I’d say they resemble Youngstown East or Warren G. Harding.”

Maple Heights is guided by first-year coach Shaq Washington, who led the Mustangs to a Division II state title in 2010 as a quarterback.

Warren G. Harding (8-2) began its season 1-2, but has since reeled off seven straight wins. As a result, the Raiders will host Garfield Heights (10-0)

For a second straight year, Canfield (9-1) finished atop the Division III, Region 9 standings. The Cardinals will begin their playoff journey at home against Marlington (8-2). The Dukes opened and closed their regular season with losses. Sandwiched between those setbacks was an eight game winning streak.

Marlington faced four Valley teams in the regular season. It lost to Poland and won games against South Range, Salem and West Branch.

The area’s lone all-local match-up of the first round will take place Saturday. East (7-3) and Girard (9-1), which finished fourth and fifth, respectively in Division IV, Region 13, will square off in what will be the first playoff game at Rayen Stadium.

Girard is making is ninth playoff appearance, while East has made two post-season trips (1986 and 1997).

“This is great for the area, I know our community is excited and this should be a great atmosphere for all fans,” said Girard coach Pat Pearson. “East is probably the hottest team in the area right now. We know this is going to be a challenge.”

“We played Akron St. V’s in a scrimmage, and we played Hubbard during the regular season. I think East is on that level, with explosive athletes at all positions.”

Also in Region 13, Hubbard (9-1) will host Indian Creek (8-2). Hubbard rolled to nine straight wins before falling Friday to East. The Eagles are making their 15th playoff appearance. Indian Creek is 0-5 in five previous trips to the playoffs.

LaBrae (9-1) bounced back from its only loss of the season (Week 9 at Girard) to defeat Jefferson and earn the third spot in Division V, Region 17. The Vikings will host Wickliffe (8-2), which is coming off a 34-7 loss to Kirtland. LaBrae’s last playoff win came in 2016 when it defeated Wickliffe 29-26 on a last-second field goal.

Also in Region 17, Crestview (6-3), which won five of its last six games, will travel to Gilmour Academy (10-0). Because Gilmour Stadium is not equipped with lights, the game will be played Saturday afternoon.

McDonald (10-0) logged its 16th undefeated regular season in school history. Still, the Blue Devils finished fifth in Division VI, Region 21 and must travel to Rootstown (9-1). McDonald is one of three 10-0 teams on the road this week. The Rovers won nine straight before losing their season finale to Mogadore.

McDonald is making its 16th playoff appearance, but first since 2014.

“Our senior class was bound and determined not go leave this school without a playoff experience,” said McDonald coach Dan Williams. “They set the tone early last winter. They had a 10-0 season in their minds all year, and they fought like crazy to make it happen. Now we want to make a nice playoff run.”

Southern (9-1) also will represent the area in Region 21. The Indians, making just their second playoff appearance, travel to Norwayne to a 9-1 Creston team, which has won nine straight.

In Division VII, Region 24 a pair of 5-5 Valley teams will go in opposite directions.

Warren John F. Kennedy in an area-best fourth consecutive playoff trip(23rd overall) will visit Windham (9-1), marking the first meeting between the schools. Kennedy began its season 1-4, but won four of it last five.

Despite a current four game losing streak, Valley Christian finished sixth in the region and will travel to Ashland Mapleton (7-3).

A year ago, the area sent a record 18 teams to the playoffs. Of those 18, 12 failed to qualify this year.