Playoff field 98 percent set

The field is nearly set.

It looks like 8 teams from our coverage area managed to play their way into the postseason last night.

I have to leave for Tiffin in the next hour and a half for the regional cross country meet but here is a quick look at next week’s area football play scenario region by region.

Division VI Region 24
Looks like a rematch. It will be Ada at Hardin Northern. Get ready Hardin Northern co-Ads Bob Dysert and Don Castle because your Bears will be hosting the Bulldogs. It should be a very entertaining game. The two longtime Hardin County rivals met in Week 1 you can read about the game here.

It was a night where Hardin Northern couldn’t stop Ada’s passing game and the Bulldogs couldn’t stop HN’s rushing attack. The Bears ended up winning 67-38. It will be Ada’s first playoff appearance I believe since 1994. Someone will correct me if I am wrong no doubt. It’ll be interesting to see which team has improved the most from Week I up until now.

Division VI Region 22
The match ups in this region are set. It will be Norwalk St. Paul (8) at Mohawk (1), Liberty Center (7) at Hopewell-Loudon (2), Columbus Grove (6) at Monroeville (3) and McComb (5) at Cardinal Stritch (4).

On a muddy, mucky field the Warriors took the measure of a Sean Brickner-less Hopewell-Loudon team 21-0. From all accounts it was a very lackluster performance by the Chieftains. Then again they did turn the ball over 7 times Friday night which is as many turnover that they’ve had in their prior 9 games COMBINED. I’m fairly certain coach Brian Colatruglio’s crew will get it back together next Friday night.

Columbus Grove easily dispatched rival Bluffton to earn a playoff trip to Monroeville’s Marsh Field Friday night. What a turnaround. Kudos to the Dogs’ and coach Scott Palte for not giving up on the season after an 0-4 start. Get there early Grove fans, there won’t be much room for you on the visitor’s sideline and parking isn’t very good either. I watched a junior high game there once.

According to the playoff rules, McComb should be traveling to Cardinal Stritch for round one. Trouble is, the Cardinals don’t have their own field. They usually play their games at Northwood but from what I understand the Rangers field has reverted to the Great Black Swamp and is essentially unplayable. The Cardinals will have to make other arrangements, who knows they could play the game at Clay, Toledo Waite or maybe Lake. We’ll find out Sunday when the playoff pairings are set by the OHSAA.

Division V Region 18
Two area teams, Liberty-Benton and defending Division V state champion Patrick Henry have earned their playoff stripes in this region. But the Fremont St. Joseph-Fostoria St. Wendelin game tonight will determine the final pairings.

Right now the order is Bedford Chanel (1), Fairview (2), Wynford (3), Liberty-Benton (4), Tinora (5), Patrick Henry (6), Delta (7) and Ayersville (8).

If the Crimson Streaks beat the Mohawks (and although I would like to see my alma mater (SWHS) win I don’t see it happening) it’s so close that Ayersville would vault past PH and Delta bumping both of them down a spot in the rankings.

So hopefully, Liberty-Benton has enough Porta-Johns for it’s home playoff game against Tinora which will take place Friday night. Patrick Henry, meanwhile would have to travel to Sherwood to take on Fairview in round 1. The Apaches dropped a 19-18 decision to Tinora Friday night which allowed the Rams to get into the playoffs and threw the final Green Meadows Conference standings into a final 3-way tie between Tinora, Ayersville and Fairview.

At least the Eagles and Patriots won’t have to travel to Cleveland to take on Bedford Chanel like Delta will likely have to do.

On a side note, for you Elmwood fans out there. Had you beaten Eastwood, unfortunately you still wouldn’t have gotten enough points to get in. But a great season for the Royals nonetheless who win another SLL crown. It’s on to wrestling and basketball (the Royals were the top pick in the preseason SLL coaches’ balloting this year).

Division IV Region 14
The Ottawa-Glandorf Titans’ five game win streak to end the season paid dividends. They mauled Defiance Friday night 28-8 behind another 200-yard performance by running back Brian Recker. Recker has rushed for an amazing 1,081 yards in OG’s last 5 games.

Congrats to Coach Shriner and company on their second straight playoff appearance. They will be traveling to Southwest Ohio next week to take on top-seeded West Milton Milton Union.