Anna now No. 1 in poll; other MAC teams drop
Two Midwest Athletic Conference teams were bumped from their No. 1 spots and a third MAC team ascended to No. 1 in the Associated Press high school football state polls that were released on Monday.
The shift in MAC powers Coldwater (Division VI) and Marion Local (D-VII) from their top positions reflected Week 8 upsets. Anna walloped visiting Coldwater 49-8. That vaulted the Rockets to No. 1 in the D-VI poll and dropped the previously unbeaten Cavaliers, which had been No. 1 all season, to No. 4. Both teams are 7-1 and can clinch D-VI, Region 23 playoff spots with wins on Friday. Anna’s only loss was to Marion Local in Week 5.
Minster also landed a 27-26 defeat on host Marion Local, a multiple state poll champ and the D-VI state runner-up last season. Minster (7-1) improved to No. 5 in the D-VI poll and Marion Local (6-2) dropped to No. 2 in D-VII behind new leader McComb (8-0). Both Minster and Marion Local will clinch playoff spots with MAC wins on Friday.
Unbeaten Fairfield (8-0) retained its No. 3 position in the D-I poll. The Indians have already clinched a home game in the D-I, Region 4 playoffs.
Springfield (7-1) climbed one spot to No. 6 in D-I. That’s the highest the Wildcats have ranked since the North/South merger. Springfield has clinched a D-I, Region 2 playoff spot. Fairfield defeated Springfield 16-12 in Week 2.
No. 4 Trotwood-Madison (7-1) and No. 8 Chaminade Julienne (7-1) both improved their positions in the D-III state poll. CJ has clinched a D-III, Region 12 playoff spot and Trotwood can do the same by winning at Springboro (7-1) on Friday.
In D-IV, Clinton-Massie (7-1) improved one spot to No. 3 and Waynesville (7-1) remained at No. 8. Both will clinch D-IV, Region 16 playoff spots with Week 9 wins. Waynesville is at Northridge (6-2) on Thursday.
West Liberty-Salem (7-1) handed West Jefferson its first loss, 42-39, and improved three spots to No. 7 in D-V. Springfield Shawnee (7-1) won its seventh straight and improved to No. 8. WL-Salem and Shawnee will secure D-V, Region 20 playoff spots with wins on Friday. Shawnee is at Jonathan Alder (8-0).
Mechanicsburg (7-1) maintained its No. 9 position in D-VI. The Indians are No. 9 in the D-VI, Region 24 computer rankings and end the regular season at Fairbanks (6-2) and at WL-Salem.
Fort Loramie (7-1) won its seventh straight and improved to No. 3 in the D-VII state poll. The Redskins can secure a D-VII, Region 28 playoff spot by defeating Twin Valley South (2-6) in Week 9. New Miami (7-0) is No. 6 in D-VII. The Vikings are atop the Region 28 computer ratings and can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Cincinnati Country Day (2-5) on Friday.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association will release the Week 9 computer rankings on Tuesday.