The OHSAA released the final, official, football computer rankings Sunday afternoon that determing the first round playoff match-ups this Friday night. Here is a brief rundown of the opponents our area teams will face in the post-season:
#4 ZANE TRACE (10-0) vs #13 CINCINNATI CLARK MONTESSORI (6:30 94 COUNTRY WKKJ)
The Cougars finished second in the Miami Valley Conference “Gray Division” with a 4-and-1 mark. They have won three of their last four games, scoring 35 or more points in each win. The Cougars are led by QB Marquize Lewis, who has passed for 838 yards this season, with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Running back Jahkiren Oliver has rushed for 970 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, he rushed for 200 or more yards twice. He had 206 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns in a win over Lockland, and 290 yards and 4 touchdowns rushing in a win over Miami Valley Christian. Isaiah Smart leads the defense with 114 tackles, 2 sacks, and has forced 4 fumbles.
#4 UNIOTO (9-1) vs #13 CLINTON-MASSIE (5-5)
The Falcons won the Division IV state championship in 2021, beating Youngstown Ursuline 29-to-28. Clinton-Massie scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, then went for two on the extra point try, and converted, to win the title. They lost most of the talent from that team and have slowly been getting better as the season progressed. The Falcons have won five of their last six games, scoring 40 or more points in four of those. They finished tied for second in the Southern Buckeye Athletic Conference American Division with a 4-and-1 record. They are a run-oriented team, the Falcons have thrown just 31 passes in 10 games. They have five backs who’ve totaled at least 200 yards rushing this season.
#11 CHILLICOTHE (7-3) AT #6 LONDON (7-3) (6:40 NEWSRADIO 1490 WBEX)
A regular season rematch, as Chillicothe beat the Red Raiders 27-to-24 in week number two. London is a member of the Central Buckeye Conference, and tied for the Kenton Trail Division title with Bellefontaine, both finishing with 4-and-1 records (London beat Bellefontaine 28-to-14 in week 10). Noah Sollars leads a balanced London rushing attack, with 927 yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for 114 yards and scored twice in the August meeting. Two of their three losses came by three points each. The London defense has allowed 34 points total in the last four games.
#7 PAINT VALLEY (6-4) VS #10 HUNTINGTON (5-5)
The two Scioto Valley Conference rivals met in week eight at Huntington, with Paint Valley claiming the “Maple Leaf Trophy” with a 38-to-26 win. Paint Valley QB Cavan Cooper passed for 1226 yards this season, with 11 touchdowns. Running backs Braylon Robertson and Dom Chambers each rushed for over 900 yards, scoring 19 touchdowns between them. The Bearcats finished third in the SVC race with a 5-and-2 mark. The Huntsmen, making the school’s first ever playoff appearance, finished 3-and-4 in the SVC. Huntington is led by running backs Quinton Puckett and DJ Crocker, each with over 500 yards rushing. Dalton Black leads the Huntsmen in tackles with 63.
#14 PIKETON (6-4) AT #3 BARNESVILLE (10-0)
The Shamrocks are members of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference AAA Division. Only one of their games was decided by less than 10 points, and that was Friday night. Barnesville holding off Union Local 29-to-26. Only four teams have scored more than 10 points against their defense, and they have posted three shutouts. The Shamrocks have scored 28 or more points in each of their 10 games.
#9 WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE (7-3) AT #8 COLS. SOUTH (8-1) (6:40 BUCKEYE COUNTRY 105.5)
The Bulldogs are members of the Columbus City League. Their only loss of the season came in week seven, a 30-to-14 loss to Columbus Independence. They had one game postponed due to the teachers' strike in the Columbus Public Schools in August. QB Damon Griffin, Jr., is their leading rusher, with over 700 yards, he has also passed for 11 touchdowns this season. South has scored 30 or more points in six of their eight wins.
#15 MIAMI TRACE (4-6) AT #2 JACKSON (8-2)
A Frontier Athletic Conference regular season rematch of a game the Ironmen won 49-28 to start FAC play. Jackson won the league championship by beating Chillicothe Friday night 21-to-7. Jackson averaged 37 points per game this season. Running back Cade Woolford is the leading rusher, with over 700 yards. He rushed for 236 yards in the league title clinching win over Chillicothe. Jackson’s two losses were to Ironton and Tri-Valley, by a total of four points. Those two teams finished a combined 18-and-2 this season.
#14 HILLSBORO (4-6) AT #3 TIPP CITY TIPPECANOE (9-1) (6:40 WSRW 101.5 FM/1590 AM)
The Red Devils are members of the Miami Valley League and won the Miami Division with an 8-and-1 record. Their only loss was to 10-0 Xenia, a 27-to-22 defeat. QB Liam Poronsky has thrown for 1351 yards and 16 touchdowns. Running back Xavier Jones has rushed for 1010 yards, scoring 15 touchdowns. The Tipp defense has two shutouts, while the offense has scored 60 or more points in a game three times.
#6 LOGAN ELM (8-2) VS #11 CAMBRIDGE (7-3)
Cambridge finished fourth in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference AAA Division; they also are members of the Buckeye 8 Conference. QB Caden Moore has thrown for 2678 yards, and 31 touchdowns. The Bobcats have not beaten a team with a winning record this season. They have scored 30 or more points in four games this season.
#16 CIRCLEVILLE (5-5) AT #1 THORNVILLE SHERIDAN (9-1)
Sheridan’s only loss was in week two, a 27-to-24 loss to Watkins Memorial. They won the “Big School” Division of the Muskingum Valley League with a 5-and-0 mark. The Generals have had four games decided by 10 or fewer points. They average 30 points per game.
#16 WAVERLY (5-5) AT #1 CINCINNATI WYOMING (10-0)
The Cowboys have won 67 straight Cincinnati Hills League games, and six straight league titles. They have a player many feel is the best running back in Ohio in CJ Hester. He totaled 2081 yards rushing this year, and has scored 33 touchdowns. In his last three games alone, he’s rushed for 322, 228, and 351 yards, and scored 14 touchdowns. The Cowboys defense has totaled 7 shutouts, and only one opponent has scored more than 10 points in a game against them.
#14 VINTON COUNTY (6-4) AT #3 COLUMBUS EAST (8-1)
The Tigers play their home games on the field named for their most famous alum, former Ohio State great Charles "Chick" Harley. It's their second playoff appearance in a full season since 1999.