Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Winning solves a lot of problems. Losing creates problems.
Ironton’s 35-28 loss to the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday cost the Fighting Tigers a home playoff game and will put them on the road for the first round of the Division V Region 19 playoffs.
Ironton (6-4) will probably finish seventh and maybe eighth with Oak Hill vaulting to sixth place.
A seventh play finish sends them to West Lafayette Ridgewood (9-1) and eighth place will mean a trip to Johnstown-Monroe.
Portsmouth’s win helped put them in the Division V Region 20 playoffs aided by losses to both Portsmouth West and Minford. The Trojans (7-3) will probably play at West Jefferson.
And in Division IV Region 15, the Fairland Dragons (6-4) rallied for a touchdown with 33 seconds left to beat the Chesapeake Panthers 30-26 and earn a playoff berth.
The Dragons will finish eighth in the region and travel to St. Clairsville.
The Gallipolis Blue Devils had already qualified for the Division IV Region 15 playoffs and beat South Point 44-0 on Friday.
Gallipolis (9-1) will be third and host Chillicothe Unioto in the first round.
With Ironton, Fairland, Portsmouth and Gallipolis all making the playoffs, it means four of the eight Ohio Valley Conference teams qualify for the postseason.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association will announce its final official ratings and playoff matchups on Sunday.
Divisions IV, V and VII will play on Saturday, Nov. 3. All other divisions will play on Friday.