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The latest Ohio high school football playoff predictions as the regular season comes to a close
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The latest Ohio high school football playoff predictions as the regular season comes to a close

CINCINNATI — Ohio high school football’s postseason picture began to take center stage late Friday night across seven divisions in Greater Cincinnati.

Joe Eitel, a computer scoring analyst who assists the Ohio High School Athletic Association with weekly football computer score ratings throughout the season, updated his latest playoff predictions on Friday night. The regular season ends on Saturday.

Eitel’s predictions are considered unofficial until the OHSAA announces playoff qualifiers, likely Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

The OHSAA said the 448 schools in the top 16 in each region will qualify for the playoffs. The Ohio high school football playoffs begin Nov. 1.

In Division I, Region 4, Moeller (9-1) is the unofficial No. 1 seed.

Lakota West (9-1) and Winton Woods (9-1) are the names that can take 2nd or 3rd place. Lakota West shut out Mason to capture the Greater Miami Conference title with Princeton (8-2) on Friday night.

Princeton’s 4th, Hamilton (8-2) 5th, St. Xavier (7-3) is predicted to rank 6th.

Lakota East (7-3), Elder (7-3) and West Clermont (7-3) are ranked No. 7-9.

Mason (5-5) is No. 10. Milford is No. 11, Oak Hills (4-6) is No. 12. Fairfield (2-8) is No. 13.

Little Miami (1-9), Walnut Hills (1-9) and Sycamore (1-9) are Nos. 14-16.

In Division II, Region 8, Anderson (10-0) is the No. 1 seed. La Salle (8-2) is in 2nd place and Xenia (9-1) is in 3rd place. Badin (8-2) is in fourth place.

Many seeds are still being determined, including Mount Healthy, Harrison and Kings.

Withrow is No. 10 and Aiken is No. 12.

In Division III, Region 12

McNicholas (8-2) is projected as the No. 5 or 6 pick. Batavia is number 7 or 8. Ross (4-6) could be No. 12 to No. 15. Wilmington could be No. 10 or No. 11, or as low as No. 16.

Clinton-Massie (8-2) is No. 1 in Division IV, Region 16. Wyoming (10-0) is No. 2.

Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (9-1) is No. 4, Taft (8-2) is No. 5. Taylor (8-2) could be #6 or #7. Indian Hill (7-3) No. 8 or No. 9.

New Richmond, Shroder and Roger Bacon are also in play.

In Division V, Region 20, Williamsburg (9-1) will likely host its first-round game. Madeira (5-5) also guaranteed to stay in the play-offs.

In Division VI, Region 24, Cincinnati Country Day (9-1) is ranked No. 2. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place (8-2) is ranked No. 5.

Miami Valley Christian Academy (4-6) and Purcell Marian clinched the playoffs. Deer Park (4-6) is also in.

In Division VII, Cincinnati College Prep could be at Nos. 2-5. The Lions will host Dayton Christian on Saturday afternoon.

Lockland is expected to be ranked 16th.

All playoff rounds prior to the state finals will be held on Fridays for all seven divisions. The top eight seeds in each of the regions host the first round matches.

There are 707 schools in the 11-player football computer rankings. The 72 largest schools are in Division I, while the remaining schools are evenly divided in Divisions II through VII (about 106 schools in each division).

Regional semifinals, regional finals and state semifinals will be held at neutral venues.

The state finals will be held Dec. 5-7 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Program:

Thursday, December 5 – Part II, 19:00

Friday, December 6 – Part VII, 10:30

Friday, December 6 – Part III, 15.00

Friday, December 6 – Part I, 19:30

Saturday, December 7 – Part VI, 10:30

Saturday, December 7 – Part V, 15:00

Saturday, December 7 – Part IV, 19:30

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