Week No. 9 starts crunch time.

With two weeks left in the high school football regular season, postseason playoff berths are beginning to take shape.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers (5-3) are fifth this week in Region 15 of Division IV and their playoff chances have improved dramatically.

Ironton can probably clinch a playoff spot with a win at Zanesville Friday. A win next week over Logan (6-2), a Division I school with 32 first level points, could vault Ironton into the top four spots and earn a home game in the first round.

Zanesville, 4-4, is a Division II school and had 19.5 points on the first level.

Westfall, 8-0, is fourth this week and is not getting a lot of help from its schedule. The Mustangs final two games are against 4-4 Unioto and 2-6 Paint Valley.

The Rock Hill Redmen (6-2) are in a “must win” situation the last two games and then they must get in a “cross your fingers” mode.

The Redmen have two tough games at Coal Grove (4-4) and South Point (3-5). Rock Hill needs to win and get teams on its schedule to win.

Columbus Eastmoor Academy is No. 8 this week and their remaining two games are 0-8 Columbus Briggs and 4-4 Africentric.

Bellaire, 8-0 in coach John Magistro’s final season, continues to lead the region. Martins Ferry, 8-0, is second. Bellaire plays Indian Creek (5-3) this week while Martins Ferry faces John Glenn (6-2).

As usual, the two schools play each other in the final game. The bitter rivals meet at Martins Ferry this season.