If the Ohio High School Athletic Association football post-season began today, eight schools in Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties would be represented.
The OHSAA released the first official weekly football computer ratings Tuesday afternoon.
The weekly computer ratings are released every Tuesday beginning in the fifth week of the season, leading up to the final report on Nov. 3, when 224 schools (top eight in each region) officially qualify for the playoffs.
Here is a look at area schools in position, after week four, poised to earn playoff berths:
MANSFIELD SENIOR –– The unbeaten Tygers (4-0) are in second in Division III, Region 10, trailing only Bay Village Bay (3-1). Mansfield Senior has a huge computer-points game at Arlin Field on Friday night against Sandusky (4-0), currently tied for fourth in the same region.
GALION — The unbeaten Tigers (4-0) are third in Division IV, Region 14, trailing only Canal Fulton Northwest (4-0) and Wauseon (4-0). Galion is at Marion Harding (2-2) on Friday before a week six clash against Clear Fork (3-1), which has playoff and Mid-Ohio Athletic League-title implications.
CLEAR FORK — The Colts, who have only lost to Division III Granville (4-0), are in fifth place in Division IV, Region 14. Clear Fork is at River Valley (3-1) on Friday before the showdown game at Galion.
SHELBY — The Whippets are in ninth place in Division IV, Region 14, but Shelby likely still controls its own destiny with a big game at home Friday against Marion Pleasant (3-1) and week seven and week 10 games against Galion and Clear Fork, respectively.
HILLSDALE — The Falcons (4-0) are in third place in Division VI, Region 22, trailing Northmor (4-0) and Attica Seneca East (4-0). Hillsdale hosts Rittman (3-1) on Friday.
COLONEL CRAWFORD — The Eagles (3-1) are in fifth place in Division VI, Region 22. Colonel Crawford hosts Wynford (2-2) on Friday and still has a week nine game looming at home against Seneca East.
CRESTVIEW — The Cougars (3-1), with only a loss to Hillsdale on their record, host perennial power Norwalk St. Paul (4-0) on Friday. The Flyers have given up just eight points in four games.
LUCAS — The Cubs (3-1) are tied for eighth with McDonald (2-2) in Division VII, Region 25. Lucas plays at winless Willard (0-4) on Friday, but the Cubs have big games against Division II Columbus St. Charles (3-1), Division VII Lancaster Fisher Catholic (4-0) and Division VI Lima Central Catholic (3-1) still on their schedule.
