Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Things are pretty certain for the Fairland Dragons. Things are certain in terms of what has to happen for the Ironton Fighting Tigers and South Point Pointers. And things certainly don’t look good for the Symmes Valley Vikings.

The final week of the regular season has Fairland with a Division V Region 17 playoff spot already locked up, Ironton needing a win to join the Division V postseason party, and the Vikings looking for a lot of help to qualify in Division VII Region 25.

The top of Region 17 has Bishop Hartley (8-1) in first place and the Hawks have secured a home game for the first round. Martins Ferry (8-1) climbed to No. 2 and also has locked up a home game.

Wheelersburg (8-1) fell to No. 3 after its loss to Lucasville Valley for the third straight year. The Pirates have clinched a playoff spot but need a win over No. 10. Portsmouth West (5-4) to get a home game.

St. Clairsville (8-1) is No. 4 followed by Liberty Union (7-2), Fairland (6-3), Adena (5-4) and Ironton (3-6) to round out the top eight spots.

Ironton needs to win at Raceland, Ky. (7-2) this week to secure a playoff spot and possibly climb to the No. 7 position. Fairland finishes with River Valley (1-8) and probably won move out of the No. 6 slot, thus sending the Dragons to play at the No. 3 finisher.

South Point (7-2) is sitting at No. 9 and needs to beat Coal Grove and hope for a couple of teams ahead of them to lose as well as Portsmouth West who is one spot behind them.

Hartley has a tough game against unbeaten Bishop Ready. Martins Ferry plays arch-rival Bellaire. If Hartley loses, Martins Ferry could ascend to No. 1 with a win.

St. Clairsville should beat Union Local (3-6) and Liberty Union is a heavy favorite against Fairfield Union (1-8).

If those teams win, Wheelersburg will need to beat Portsmouth West to get a home game. However, Adena is in a toss-up game with Westfall (4-5) and could lose, thus opening the door for West to qualify if the Senators upset Wheelersburg.

Symmes Valley (5-4) is 10th in the region and will need something short of a miracle to make the playoffs.

No. 7 Beallsville (5-4) should win but they are playing winless Bellaire St. John. No. 8 South Gallia (5-4) faces Van, W.Va. (3-5) and No. 9 Fairfield Christian (6-3) plays Lancaster Fisher Catholic (4-5). The Vikings travel to play winless Buffalo, W.Va. (0-8).

The first round of the playoffs had No. 8 at No. 1, No. 7 at No. 2, No. 6 at No. 3 and No. 5 at No. 4. The 1-8 winner plays the 4-5 winner while the 2-7 winner plays the 3-6 winner in the semifinals.