Who’s in and who needs help for playoffs

Seven area high school football teams have clinched playoff berths, but that number could jump quickly depending on how Week 10 games go.

According to Joeeitel.com, which uses the same (yet unofficial) process the OHSAA uses to formulate playoff points, Mentor, Euclid, Riverside, Kenston, Perry, Gilmour and Kirtland have already clinched playoff spots before the final week of the regular season arrives.

A number of others are still mathematically alive — some controlling their own destiny, meaning if they win in Week 10, they’re in the postseason dance.

Official OHSAA tabulations are released Oct. 23, but Eitel is generally spot-on with its mathematics.

A look at who is in, who could get in, and what would need to happen for those on the bubble to get to the state playoffs.

Division I

• Mentor (8-1) has already clinched a home game in the Division I, Region 1 playoffs thanks to its dominating 29-7 win over host Euclid on Oct. 19.

The Cardinals are currently first in the region and could be with the top overall seed, even tough a win over visiting Elyria (0-9) won’t be worth many playoff points on Oct. 26.

• Euclid (7-2) was stung by Mentor in Week 9, but still has a Region 1 playoff berth wrapped up.

The Panthers are currently fifth in the region, but a win over Shaker Heights (5-4) and second-level points from opponents they’ve already beaten could/should get the Panthers a home game in Week 11.

Division II

• Riverside (7-2) has a playoff game wrapped up here, and is likely destined to be on the road in Week 11 regardless of how they do in Week 10 against visiting Mayfield (5-4).

The Beavers are currently sixth in Region 5.

There are three other teams still alive for playoff spots here, so there’s a lot of possibilities.

• Mayfield (5-4) is currently eighth, and even though the Wildcats aren’t listed as a “controls own destiny” team, a win over 7-2 Riverside would put Coach Ross Bandiera’s team in a prime spot for a playoff berth.

• Benedictine (3-6) is currently 10th and Brush (4-5) is 11th. Both might need a number of teams ahead of them — including Mayfield — to lose in Week 10 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Benedictine hosts winless Walsh this week, while Brush goes to 3-6 Madison.

Division III

• Kenston entered Week 9 as the top-ranked Division III team in Ohio, but took a 27-24 loss to visiting Chardon.

The Bombers (8-1) are still first in Region 9 and have clinched a playoff berth. A win over 2-7 South this week would certainly mean a home game in Week 11, but they Bombers might get passed as the top seed in the region if Canfield beats Poland this week.

• Four other teams are also alive for playoff spots in Division III, but the best bet is Chardon. The Hilltoppers (6-3) are riding mega-points accrued by giving Perry and Kenston their only losses of the season.

Coach Mitch Hewitt’s team hosts 2-7 North this week. Eitel has them as a “controls own destiny” team, so a win over the Rangers means a playoff berth for Chardon — maybe even at home in Week 11.

• NDCL (7-2), Lake Catholic (6-3) and University (4-5) are all still alive, but have faint heartbeats for playoff berths.

NDCL (13th in Region 9) goes to undefeated Hoban this week, Lake (14th in Region 9) hosts Padua and University (16th in Region 10) goes to Steubenville.

Even if all three win, getting into the top eight might be a stretch. It’s mathematically possible, but a lot would have to happen for any of them to get in.

Division IV

• Only one area team is in play here — the 8-1 Perry Pirates, currently first in Region 13.

The Pirates have already clinched a home game in Week 11, but can strengthen their case for the top overall seed with a win this week against 1-8 Harvey.

Perry will end up first, second or third in the region depending on how 9-0 Hubbard (currently second in the region) and 8-1 Steubenville (currently third) fare this week.

Ideally, Perry would like to be cross-bracketed from Steubenville and meet the Big Red later in the postseason for the third year in a row.

Division V

• With it’s 46-6 win over VASJ on Oct. 26, Gilmour (9-0) locked up a Region 17 playoff berth.

The Lancers aren’t guaranteed a home game in Week 11 with a win this week against 2-7 St. Thomas Aquinas, but the odds are pretty good.

• Wickliffe (8-1) is currently fifth in the region and “controls its own destiny,” according to Eitel. That’s because the Blue Devils host undefeated Kirtland this week.

It would be a monumental upset if Wickliffe beat Kirtland, which has given up only 20 points all season, but if it did, the Blue Devils would be hosting a playoff game in Week 11. Even without a win, Wickliffe is in a good spot to be dancing in Week 11.

• Beachwood (6-3) is currently 11th in the Region. A win over Division VI Orange (6-3) would be huge for playoff points, but the Bison will be short-handed from suspensions lingering from the Week 8 game with Harvey. Do the Bison have the bodies to beat Orange? Stay tuned.

Division VI

• Kirtland (9-0) is currently second and travels to 8-1 Wickliffe with the CVC Valley title on the line this week.

At stake this week is the Region 21 top seed. Mogadore currently holds that spot. A win over 9-0 Rootstown means Mogadore will have the overall top seed in the region.

Honestly, seeds don’t matter here. The Hornets are built for a deep tournament run and have state title aspirations, so whether they are the first, second or third seed doesn’t mean much to the Hornets.

Division VII

This is the craziest region of them all, involving local teams.

With one week remaining in the regular season, 20 teams are still alive for the eight playoff berths. Stunningly, 13 of them have losing records.

Among those teams are Fairport (3-6) and Richmond Heights (3-6). The Skippers are 15th in the region and the Spartans are 17th. They play each other this week, so the winner remains in the hunt, while the loser is out.

Things to remember

• The Padua-at-Lake Catholic game has been moved from Saturday, Oct. 27 to Thursday, Oct. 25, at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium.

• When the playoffs arrive, Divisions I, II, III and VI will play games on Fridays, while Divisions IV, V and VII will be on Saturdays.

• Nomination forms for The News-Herald all-star football team will be sent this week. Coaches are asked to fill them out and return them by Friday, Nov. 2, as the annual Northeast Lakes all-district football meeting is Nov. 5. That is the first step in earning allOhio honors.