The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Who’s in and who needs help for playoffs
It’s Week 10. So you know what that means, right?
It’s do or die time when it comes to the playoffs.
Who’s in? Who’s out? Who has a chance? Why not take a look? Here is where all of The Morning Journal area teams stand.
IN >> Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Sure, it may only be three teams, but that’s how it should be. We’re talking about the playoffs.
Now, just because these teams are going to play in November it does not mean that their respective Week 10 games are meaningless. It’s quite the opposite. Each of these teams have something on the line in Week 10:
• Avon and Avon Lake: The Eagles clinched a playoff game in Week 9, but there is a streak that the Eagles will want to keep alive that dates back to 2015: Week 11 at Joe Firment Stadium. And the same applies of Avon Lake. The Shoremen will want to bring playoff football back to Avon Lake for the first time since 2010. And it’s a simple mission for both teams: win and play at home the following week.
• Bay: Everything said for Avon and Avon Lake applies here. Win, and the Rockets host Week 11. The difference? The No. 1 overall seed is on the table for Bay. Sure, it would take a win and a crazy amount of other pieces to fall into place, but it is still a possibility.
OUT >> Brookside, Elyria, Fairview, Firelands, Keystone, Lorain, Lutheran West, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Vermilion, Wellington, Westlake CONTROL OWN DESTINY >> Clearview, Elyria Catholic, Rocky River
These three have the simple mission: win and in.
But, when has anything relating to playoffs ever been simple?
• Clearview: The Clippers need only beat a struggling Brooklyn team and they will qualify. Where it gets complicated for Clearview is when it comes to home field. A win sets the Clippers up nicely, but doesn’t guarantee a home game in Week 11. Losses by Marengo Highland and Napoleon (along with a Clearview win) would lock in home field. Otherwise, Clearview needs wins from at least half of the teams it beat this year, along with a loss from either Van Wert or Marengo Highland.
• Elyria Catholic and Rocky River: And, of course, this one would not be simple. These two teams face off in Week 10. It’s a game where the playoffs are literally on the line. The winner makes it in. The loser needs some help. An Elyria Catholic loss would be less devastating to playoff
chances than a Rocky River one would be. If the Panthers lose, it would take wins by three or four of the seven teams Elyria Catholic has defeated this season to qualify. If the Pirates lose, Rocky River would need at least three victories by teams it beat coupled with losses from a few teams like Padua, Bowling Green, Sandusky or Lexington. NEEDS A WIN AND SOME
HELP >> Columbia, Olmsted Falls, North Olmsted
This one is tricky, but here’s how it looks:
• Columbia: There are five spots open in Division VI, Region 21, with seven teams hoping to snag one. However, of those five spots, only one is not owned by a team that controls its own destiny. Luckily for Columbia, only two of those teams are in a position where the games should be sure-fire victories. So, realistically, there are three spots for five teams. First and foremost, Columbia must win in Week 10. Without a win, the Raiders are most likely out. Losses by Garaway and New Middletown Springfield along with wins from three of the teams the Raiders have beaten should be enough to get Columbia in.
• Olmsted Falls and North Olmsted: There are four spots open with six teams fighting for them in Division II, Region 6. Neither Olmsted Falls nor North Olmsted controls its own destiny, but both would be virtual locks with a win. And, since they play each other in Week 10, it’s likely that only one makes it in. Either way, a bit of cheerleading will need to happen for the winner to make it in. Some Level 2 points would be huge, but the best scenario for either team would be if Bay beats Valley Forge. It’s still possible for both to make it in, but there would need to be a large number of other games that fall into place for that to happen.
LONGSHOTS >> Amherst It’s not a place the Comets want to be in, but they aren’t quite out of it yet. Unfortunately, it’s going to take the perfect storm of happenings for Amherst to make it in. Wins by Midview, Berea-Midpark, Clearview and, of course, Amherst are a must. If any of them lose, count Amherst out. On top of that, losses by Springfield, St. John’s Jesuit and North Olmsted must happen, too. Then it’s a matter of hoping that the Level 2 points for the three previously mentioned team don’t fall in place.
Playoff picture
After nine weeks, computer points guru Joe Eitel has seven Morning Journal area teams in playoff position:
• In Division II, Region 6, three teams are holding spots. Avon Lake and Avon swapped spots, with Avon jumping from No. 4 to No. 3 and Avon Lake falling from No. 3 to No. 4. Olmsted Falls jumped back into the playoff picture, coming in at No. 6 after being No. 10 entering Week 9. Amherst slipped from No. 8 to No. 10, while North Olmsted remained on the outside looking in at No. 9.
• In Division III, Region 10, Bay slipped from No. 2 to No. 3, while Rocky River jumped a spot from No. 8 to No. 7.
• In Division IV, Region 14, Clearview finally jumped back into the playoff picture, coming in at No. 4 after entering Week 9 at No. 9.
• In Division V, Region 18, Elyria Catholic jumped up a spot from No. 6 to No. 5.
Game balls
Here are some of the top area performers in Week 9:
• TOP PASSER >> Vermilion’s Addison Painter was 19-for31 for 325 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-35 win over Edison.
• TOP RUSHER >> Olmsted Falls’ Jack Spellacy rushed for 313 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries in a 34-31 win over Avon Lake.
• TOP RECEIVER >> Brookside’s Jacob Cole hauled in five passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 28-21 win over Wellington.