By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

The candidates have filed. Now it’s time to get the campaign in full gear.

There are 10 teams with a chance to make the postseason playoffs in Region 15 of Division IV and two of them are the Ironton Fighting Tigers and Chesapeake Panthers.

Ironton (4-3) needs two wins out of their final three games to secure a playoff spot and three wins would give the Fighting Tigers a home game.

Chesapeake (5-2) must win its final three games to qualify for the playoffs and get a lot of help. Other teams in the region must lose in order for the Panthers to have a home game.

Wellston faces the tough road. The Golden Rockets should beat Meigs this week, but they must get a win over unbeaten Athens next week.

Tuscarawas Valley and Indian Valley are both 4-3 and meet in the final game of the season. The winner will likely make the playoffs.

Martins Ferry is on the bubble. The Purple Riders have unbeaten and Region 15 leader St. Clairsville next week. They close out the season at rival Bellaire in a Saturday afternoon game.

As it stands, look for Ironton, Chesapeake, St. Clairsville, Coshocton, Johnstown-Monroe and Amanda-Clearcreek to qualify.

The Symmes Valley Vikings (6-1) should make the playoffs and wins over Oak Hill, South Gallia and Portsmouth Notre Dame would secure a home game.

The Vikings are currently third in Region 23 of Division VI. They face Oak Hill this Friday and the Oaks are only 1-6. However, the last two games are against Notre Dame and South Gallia who are both 6-1 and looking to make the playoffs as well.

Notre Dame sixth in the region and South Gallia is one spot back.

The Coal Grove Hornets’ playoff chances may hinge on whether they play their postponed game against Trimble.

Even though the two teams agreed earlier to play on Monday, Oct. 17, Trimble has listed the game on the OHSAA website as an open date and is taking an average.

Coal Grove listed the game but had it removed. The Hornets are the home team and have the final call on the game. Trimble balked at playing back on Sept. 16 when there were some cases of viral meningitis became known in the Dawson-Bryant school district.

The Lawrence County Department of Health said the disease was no more dangerous than the flu and sent a letter announcing it was OK to play the game. Trimble refused to play at that time and agreed to the Oct. 17 date.

However, Trimble will get more points with an open date average. Obviously, the Tomcats get no points with a loss. They are currently fifth in Region 23 of Division VI.

Trimble’s final three games are against Belpre (0-7), Racine Southern (2-5) and Federal Hocking (2-5).

Coal Grove closes with River Valley (1-6), Fairland (3-4) and Chesapeake (5-2).

Here are the remaining schedules for teams in Region 15 with records in parenthesis.

Ironton (4-3)

At Bishop Hartley (6-0)

Simon Kenton (3-4)

Portsmouth (2-5)

Chesapeake (5-2)

At Fairland (3-4)

South Point (1-6)

At Coal Grove (3-3)

St. Clairsville (7-0)

At Buckeye Local (5-2)

At Martins Ferry (5-2)

Union Local (0-7)

Coshocton (6-1)

Meadowbrook (3-4)

At Bishop Hartley (6-0)

At River View (1-6)

Johnstown-Monroe (7-0)

Danville (5-2)

At East Knox (1-6)

Northridge (3-4)

Amanda-Clearcreek (5-2)

At Fairfield Union (0-7)

Bloom-Carroll (1-6)

Logan Elm (7-0)

Matins Ferry (5-2)

At Edison (3-4)

St. Clairsville (7-0)

At Bellaire (3-4)

Wellston (4-3)

Meigs (4-3)

Athens (7-0)

At Vinton County (1-6)

Tuscarawas Valley (4-3)

At Cuyahoga Valley Christian (5-2)

Wooster Triway (0-7)

Indian Valley (4-3)

Indian Valley (4-3)

Navarre Fairless (2-5)

At Tuslaw (3-4)

At Tuscarawas Valley (4-3)