Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Fighting Tigers and Symmes Valley Vikings got some unexpected but welcomed guests to the postseason party.

Unofficially, Ironton and Symmes Valley had already qualified for the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason playoffs before Friday’s games. The surprise came when the Coal Grove Hornets joined the group.

Coupled with losses by Nelsonville-York and East Knox, the Hornets (6-3) slid into eighth-place in Region 19 of Division V.

All three teams will await the official word on who they play and where. The final results and pairings will be announced Sunday by the OHSAA.

Unofficially, Ironton (6-3) will be second in Region 15 of Division IV and will probably host the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs (5-5) who held off Hamilton Township 30-25 on Friday.

In the playoff format, No. 8 is at No. 1, No. 7 at No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3 and No. 5 at No. 4.

The winner of 8-1 plays the winner of 4-5 and the winner of 2-7 plays the winner of 3-6.

St. Clairsville (10-0) will finish first in the region. Johnstown-Monroe (8-2) is expected to be third, Minford (8-2) was fourth followed by Piketon (8-2), Indian Valley (6-4), Bloom-Carroll and Harrison Central (7-3).

By virtue of their eighth-place finish, the Hornets will travel to Lucasville Valley (10-0) for a rematch of week three when they lost 34-18 at Valley.

Oak Hill (8-2) is second and entertains Hillsdale (7-3) while Wheelersburg (8-2) is third and will host Liberty Union (8-2). The other regional quarterfinal has Bucyrus Wynford (8-2) hosting Loudonville (8-2).

Symmes Valley (8-2) got big points with its win over Buffalo, W.Va., but Vikings were edged out of a home game by Zanesville Rosecrans (7-3)). The Vikings will travel to Zanesville on Friday to face a Rosecrans team that lost its leading rusher to an injury a few weeks ago.

Danville (9-1) is expected to lead the region followed by Newark Catholic (8-2) and Trimble (9-1).

After the Vikings will be North Robinson Colonel Crawford (8-2), Lancaster Fairfield Christian Academy (82-) and Hannibal River (7-3).