Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The final picture remains unclear, but teams are beginning to know what they have to do.

Win.

As usual, there was some shifting in this week’s Ohio High School Athletic Association football computer playoff ratings.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers (4-1) were idle last week and slipped a spot to fourth in Region 17 of Division V.

However, Ironton can probably earn the top spot in the region by winning its final four games and possibly with just three wins.

The Chesapeake Panthers (4-2) are 11th this week and need to win out to virtually clinch a playoff spot. Three wins could get the Panthers in the postseason, but they would need some help.

St. Clairsville (6-0) is currently first in the region followed by Columbus Eastmoor Academy (6-0) and Coshocton (6-0).

St. Clairsville should win out but none of their opponents has a winning record and the point totals will be slim.

Eastmoor is in a similar situation although the Warriors do have a big game next week with 5-1 Marion-Franklin.

Coshocton hasn’t had a tough schedule to date, but the Redskins face 5-1 Meadowbrooke this week and face a tough opponent in Div. III Dover (4-2) next week.

Columbus Bishop Hartley (4-2) is fifth and has the toughest remaining schedule with Bishop Luers (6-1) of Fort Wayne, Ind., Beechcroft (6-0), St. Francis DeSales (5-1) and Bishop Ready (5-1).

The Hawks could win the region by winning out.

Wheelersburg (5-1) is sixth, Martins Ferry (5-1) seventh and Portsmouth West (4-2) is eighth.

The Senators playoff hopes hinge on getting wins over unbeaten Lucasville Valley and Wheelersburg.

Liberty Union (4-2) is ninth but faces Logan Elm (6-0), Teays Valley (4-2) and Circleville (5-1) over the next three weeks.

Alexander (4-2) is 10th but must still play Nelsonville-York (4-2), Trimble (6-0) and Meigs (3-3) and they will be an underdog in all three games.

The Coal Grove Hornets (3-3) fell to 11th in Region 21 of Division VI but can still make the playoff by winning their final four games.

Valley leads the region followed by Fredericktown (6-0), Grandview Heights (5-1), Centerburg (5-1), Oak Hill (4-2), Bishop Ready (5-1), West Lafayette Ridgewood (5-1), Woodsfield Monroe (4-2), Nelsonville-York and Belpre (4-2).

In Region 25 of Division VII, the Symmes Valley Vikings (3-3) moved up a notch to No. 10.

The Vikings have three big point games remaining including Sciotoville East (3-3) this week followed by Oak Hill and ending with Danville (4-2). The Vikings also play Portsmouth Notre Dame (1-5) in week nine.

Shadyside (6-0) leads the region followed by Trimble (6-0), Caldwell (6-0), Paint Valley (4-2), Tuscarawas Catholic (5-1), Harvest Prep (5-1), Frontier (5-1), Danville and Millersport (5-1).

The top eight team of each region in each division qualify for the postseason.

A list of the ratings appears on page 9.