The six-week spectacle that is the Ohio high school football postseason kicks off Friday with a new format and no shortage of storylines.

How will the new 12-team regional model change the playoff landscape?

How will a bye week affect the top four seeds in each region?

Will the home-field advantage be even more important since higher-seeded teams now get to host through the regional semifinals?

We’ll find out in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here’s a by-the-numbers look at this week’s opening round of the playoffs:

1993

The last year Mount Vernon qualified for the postseason. The Yellow Jackets snapped a 32-year drought after finishing 6-4 this fall. Mount Vernon is the No. 10 seed in Region 7 of Division II and will visit No. 7 Ashland (9-1) for an opening-round game Friday. The Yellow Jackets participated in the playoffs in 2020, when all schools were eligible.

.583

Postseason winning percentage for Ontario. The Warriors are 7-5 all-time in playoff games, one of just a handful of area teams to have a winning postseason record. Ontario (6-4) earned the No. 11 seed in Region 10 of Division III and will visit No. 6 Toledo Central Catholic (6-4).

34

All-time playoff victories for Danville, an area-high. The Blue Devils, who reached the state semifinals in Division VII last year, are 34-23 all-time in the postseason. No. 11 seed Danville (5-5) will makes its area-best 24th playoff appearance Friday, visiting No. 6 Steubenville Catholic Central (6-4).

19

All-time playoff appearances for Clear Fork. The eighth-seeded Colts (6-4) host No. 9 Orrville (6-4) in a matchup of former Ohio Cardinal Conference members. The teams met every year from 2004 to 2015. The teams previously met in the playoffs in 1994, 1997 and 2009. Orrville won all three postseason meetings.

12

Consecutive playoff appearances for Lucas. The 10th-seeded Cubs (5-5) are at No. 7 Strasburg-Franklin (7-3) on Friday. Lucas’ current streak began in 2014. The Cubs reached the Division VII state championship game in 2019.

10

Years since Fredericktown’s last playoff victory. The 10th-seeded Freddies (8-2) are at No. 7 Fairview (8-2) on Friday. Fredericktown has qualified for the playoffs six straight years but hasn’t enjoyed a postseason victory since reaching the regional finals in 2015.

5

Area teams to earn first-round byes in the new-look playoffs. Lexington, Shelby, Galion, Centerburg and Hillsdale all finished in the top four in their regions. Shelby (Division IV, Region 14), Centerburg (Division VI, Region 23) and Hillsdale (Division VII, Region 27) are No. 1 seeds.

1

State championship won by north central Ohio schools. Galion captured the Division II crown in 1985.