Four area teams appear headed for the postseason as the Ironton Fighting Tigers as well as the Wheelersburg Pirates in Region 16 of Division IV, the Chesapeake Panthers in Region 19 of Division V, and the Symmes Valley Vikings in Region 23 of Division IV all look playoff bound.

Wednesday, October 20, 1999

Four area teams appear headed for the postseason as the Ironton Fighting Tigers as well as the Wheelersburg Pirates in Region 16 of Division IV, the Chesapeake Panthers in Region 19 of Division V, and the Symmes Valley Vikings in Region 23 of Division IV all look playoff bound.

The Rock Hill Redmen are still clinging to the possibility of qualifying in Region 16 of Division IV.

Cincinnati Wyoming remains first in Region 16 followed by Wheelersburg, Hamilton Badin, Portsmouth, Cincinnati Madeira, Cincinnati Indian Hill, Ironton, Finneytown, Waverly, and Rock Hill at No. 10. Germantown Valley View looms at No. 11 ready to make a move upward.

Ironton can make a move with wins the next two weeks over Belfry, Ky., and Columbus DeSales. Those two games alone could be worth more than 70 points.

Portsmouth made the biggest jump from seventh to fourth after beating Spring Valley, W.Va., which had won seven games that were all worth 5.5 points. However, the Trojans play Kettering Alter this week and close at home against Wheelersburg.

Alter, 2-6, stunned DeSales 20-9 last week.

Wheelersburg has an easy win ahead with Portsmouth West Friday before the showdown with Portsmouth.

Wyoming plays Saturday against Indian Hill. On Friday, Finneytown faces Madeira and Mariemont tackles North Bend Taylor.

Valley View has two major point games ahead as it plays Brookville Friday and Eaton next week. A loss in either game could eliminate the Spartans.

Rock Hill’s flickering hopes rest with the Redmen winning their final two games and teams ahead of them losing.

Chesapeake has locked up a playoff berth and sits first in the region this week, but Amanda-Clearcreek is on the verge of overtaking the Panthers. A-C plays Logan Elm this week.

Lucasville Valley, third in the region, plays Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday. Johnstown Northridge goes against East Knox, Woodsfield Monroe plays New Matamoras Frontier, Liberty Union takes on New Albany, and Barnesville meets St. Clairsville.

Symmes Valley is second in region 23 behind Beallsville. The Vikings play host to Portsmouth East Friday while Beallsville faces Buckeye Trail.

Hemlock Miller is third in the region and plays Reedsville Eastern. Bellaire St. John’s is fourth, Newark Catholic fifth, Morral Ridgedale sixth, East Knox seventh, and Danville eighth.

St. John’s plays Newcomerstown, Newark Catholic meets Col. Hartley, and Ridgedale goes against Delaware Buckeye Valley.

The top eight teams in each region of each division qualify for the playoffs.