No. 1 teams keep their top status in computer ratings

Playoff positioning steps up as regular season winds down.

Centerville (Division I, Region 3), Trotwood-Madison (D-III, Region 12), Valley View (D-IV, Region 16), Anna (D-V, Region 20) and Marion Local (D-VI, Region 24) all retained their status as the No. 1 teams in their respective regions following the release of the Ohio High School football computer ratings Tuesday.

Anna is the only one of those five leaders to have lost, 32-7 to Marion Local in Week 6. However, the Rockets rebounded with a 21-19 defeat of Midwest Athletic Conference rival St. Henry (5-2) last week.

Playoff positioning will take on more significance as the regular season winds down, with just three games remaining. The top eight in each of the 28 regions throughout the state — representing seven divisions — qualify for the playoffs. The top four qualifiers in each region are awarded first-round home games.

■ The Greater Western Ohio Conference has seven teams among the top 12 in D-I, Region 3. Northmont’s 22-10 Week 7 defeat of Springfield enabled the Thunderbolts (No. 7) to swap positions with the Wildcats (No. 9). Northmont (5-2) hosts Centerville (7-0) on Friday. Centerville will likely clinch a playoff spot by winning and Northmont could do the same.

Other key GWOC games with maximum playoff impacts this week are Wayne (5-2; No. 6) at Fairmont (6-1; No. 4) and Beavercreek (5-2; No. 10) at Springfield (5-2; No. 9).

■ Coldwater (5-2) has recovered well after a 1-2 start. The Cavaliers (D-VI, Region 24) have won four straight after losing to Clinton-Massie (7-0) and Marion Local (7-0) and are No. 4 in their region.

■ At 3-4, traditional Greater Catholic League South Division powers Cincinnati Moeller (D-I, Region 4) will be hard pressed to make the postseason. The Crusaders are ranked No. 6 in D-I, Region 4, but have regular-season games remaining against Cleveland St. Ignatius, Lakewood St. Edward and Cincinnati Winton Woods. All are 7-0.

■ Like Coldwater, Alter (6-1) continues to make a D-III, Region 12 run. The Knights, currently No. 4, have won six straight since losing the opener at Fairmont. Alter is at Badin on Friday and finishes against McNicholas and Chaminade Julienne. Those three teams are 5-2.

■ Another GWOC game this week with playoff implications is Troy (5-2) at Sidney (7-0). Sidney is No. 4 in D-II, Region 8 and Troy No. 9. Between those teams is unbeaten Belmont (7-0) of the Dayton City League at No. 5.

■ Clinton-Massie (7-0) could overtake Valley View in D-IV, Region 16 should the Falcons defeat Goshen (7-0) and New Richmond (6-1) in its next two games.

■ Unbeaten Greeneview (D-V, Region 20) is in a tenuous position at No. 6 despite being 7-0. The Rams host winless rival Cedarville on Friday and finish against Catholic Central (3-4) and Madison Plains (3-4).

Teams collect first-level computer points for wins and second-level points for wins by a defeated opponent.