Week nine is complete. That means the playoff picture is coming into focus.

Or is it?

Until the season reaches the ninth week, too many variables can alter the course of the teams qualifying for the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason playoffs.

Until now, only the Ironton Fighting Tigers had locked up a playoff berth. But the rest of the region is starting to give a more clear picture of what needs to happen for teams to qualify and just what position they will finish.

Ironton will be first in Region 15 of Division IV. Coshocton is second and can hold that spot by beating Portsmouth West. A loss by Coshocton and a win by Bellaire over Martins Ferry will send Bellaire to the No. 2 slot.

Westfall is fourth and could stay there if Martins Ferry loses, but a win by Martins Ferry gives them a home game and drops Westfall.

Granville, sixth this week, faces another tough game this week against Worthington Kilbourne. Granville will be fifth or sixth with a win, but will slip with a loss and a Rock Hill win.

Fairland (6-3) can lock up a playoff spot by beating River Valley. The eighth spot is up in the air if Rock Hill loses to Chesapeake.

Rock Hill could still finish eighth even with a loss provided its defeated opponents generate enough secondary points. Lurking in the wings is Portsmouth which could qualify in eighth place with a win over Columbus St. Charles and its defeated opponents winning.

Chesapeake (7-2) has locked up a playoff spot and is fourth this week. The Panthers will be at home with a win, possibly against Wheelersburg. A loss could send put them on the road to Wheelersburg or possibly Woodsfield Monroe or Nelsonville-York.

The Symmes Valley Vikings (8-1) are in the playoffs for the second straight year and a home game is possible if they beat Hamilton New Miami and either Centerburg or Shadyside lose.

The probable scenario has the Vikings playing at Centerburg, a small town just north of Columbus.

Final computer results will be announced Sunday.

Divisions II, IV and VI play on Saturdays while Divisions I, III and V are on Fridays.