The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
High school football playoff region projections
NOTE: The 16-team playoff expansion for all regions in 2021has necessitated a structure change in these annual projections. In years past, 12 projections were made when eight teams qualified per region. To increase the degree of difficulty and not, essentially, project who will lose less in the back half of regions, projections are being scaled back to eight.
DIVISION I, REGION 1
(teams are listed in alphabetical order; area teams in CAPS; 2020 records are listed) Contenders: Brunswick (63), Canton McKinley (5-3), EUCLID (5-3), Medina (6-4), MENTOR (9-2), St. Edward (6-2), St. Ignatius (3-4), Stow-Munroe Falls (5-2) What to look for: Division I alignment presents an unfortunate reality in regard to disparity with this move to 16 playoff qualifiers. Region 1 has 17 teams total, so only one team will not make it. Basically with this structure, if a team goes 1-9 in this region, it will likely seal a playoff berth. Beyond that unusual facet, the top half of the region should be dominated by the usual suspects. Area-wise, while Mentor did graduate quite a bit from its Division I state final four squad last fall, there is enough returning to be hopeful of the Cardinals contending for the top eight
in this region like usual. If the new faces on offense, especially at the skill positions, jell to complement Brenan Vernon and a potentially stout defense, Mentor should be fine. In order to assure top-four home-field viability going into Greater Cleveland Conference play,
4-1 against that meatgrinder of a nonconference slate would be a nice statement of intent. Whether the new-look Cardinals get there, though, is entirely up to them.
The interesting facet with Euclid always seems to be the Panthers graduate a ton
but find a way to transition smoothly nonetheless. The hope would be Euclid can adjust on the fly under new coach Rick Lytle and build some steam heading into a Week 4 clash with St. Ignatius. If the Panthers can get out of that 2-2or better, the top eight here is doable.
Elsewhere in Region 1, Brunswick and Medina likely vying toward the top of the GCC standings should assure good placement when it’s all said and done. Penn State recruit Drew Allar at QB will, of course, keep the Bees in good stead. St. Edward and St. Ignatius are, well, St. Edward and St. Ignatius.
They’ll be fine. Both have a full 10-game schedule not overly reliant on Canadian opponents, so the margin for error won’t be as thin as perhaps it’s been in other recent years.