Aurora, Garfield, Mogadore, Rootstown, Southeast, Streetsboro football in line for Week 11
If the high school football season were to end today, six Portage County teams would make the postseason, according to the computer ratings released by the Ohio High School Athletic Association Tuesday.
Five of the six — Aurora, Garfield, Mogadore, Rootstown and Streetsboro — are in the top five of their respective regions. Southeast is slotted 15th in Region 21 with the top 16 earning the chance to play in Week 11.
Let's take a closer look at the six and a few other local teams that are just outside the top 16 of their respective regions:
Aurora
Basic Info: 4th in Region 9, 7-1 record, 16.2875 computer points, remaining games are at Barberton (5-3) and at Highland (7-1)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): already in, 97 percent home, 65 percent home twice
Outlook: The Greenmen are, quite simply, in great shape. With remaining games against 5-3 and 7-1 Division II teams, Aurora could still pick up plenty of points and climb as high as the second seed, according to Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50. Even if the Greenmen split their final two, they're likely home for the first round and probably the second as well, according to the site. And, yes, even if they were to lose both games, they'd still be postseason-bound and would likely get a home game.
Streetsboro
Basic Info: 3rd in Region 13, 7-1 record, 17.2247 computer points, remaining games are home against Springfield (0-8) and at Coventry (1-7)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): already in and home, 20 percent home twice
Outlook: Even if the Rockets win out, as they are projected to do, they may drop down a bit in the ratings, perhaps as low as sixth, according to Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50. That's because they won't get too many points from beating winless Springfield and one-win Coventry. Still, the Rockets are in great shape for another postseason berth, and at least one tournament game at Quinn Field.
Garfield
Basic Info: 5th in Region 17, 8-0 record, 12.8444 computer points, remaining games are home against Crestview (4-4) and Brookfield (4-4)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): already in and home, 84 percent home twice
Outlook: It's no surprise the undefeated G-Men sit high in the computer ratings. Why isn't Garfield even higher? Largely because only one of the G-Men's first eight opponents hold a winning record. With upcoming foes Crestview and Brookfield at four wins apiece, Garfield could land as high as third or fourth, per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50.
Rootstown
Basic Info: 2nd in Region 21, 7-0 record, 12.7384 computer points, remaining games are at Southeast (6-2) and home against Mogadore (6-2)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): already in and home, 96 percent home twice
Outlook: The Rovers are a postseason lock and pretty much a lock for a first-round game at Robert C. Dunn Field as well, per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50. With one more win, Rootstown would lock down a top-three seed, per the site, and the chance to play at home in Week 11 and Week 12.
Mogadore
Basic Info: 3rd in Region 21, 5-2 record, 11.7078 computer points, remaining games are home against Aquinas (0-8) and at Rootstown (7-0)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): already in and likely home, 80 percent home twice
Note: Some places list Mogadore as 5-2. Some list the Wildcats as 6-2. The latter is their overall record, but their game against the Columbus Crusaders doesn't count in the computer ratings, so as far as the computer is concerned, Mogadore is 5-2.
Outlook: A Week 10 clash with the Rovers is highly intriguing, but if both Mogadore and Rootstown win in Week 9, a Wildcats' win in Week 10 probably wouldn't be enough to pass the Rovers, according to Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50. Still, that Week 10 game is likely going to be huge for Mogadore. It could well be the difference between playing a potential Week 12 game on the road or at Mogadore Memorial Stadium. Drew Pasteur projects a 6-3 Mogadore team landing a six seed and a 7-2 Wildcats team getting the three.
Southeast
Basic Info: 15th in Region 17, 6-2 record, 5.3327 computer points, remaining games are home against Rootstown (7-0) and Warren JFK (2-5)
Postseason Status (per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50): strong contender (80-98 percent), 94 percent
Outlook: The Pirates are likely in the postseason regardless of what happens the next two weeks, per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50. A win over Rootstown or Warren JFK would help cement a berth and help Southeast avoid state power Kirtland in the first round. Wins against the Eagles and Rovers would allow the Pirates to really rise and perhaps even earn a home game at Freedom Field.
Beyond the six local teams in the top 16 of their respective regions, a few more teams remain just outside the top 16:
Crestwood, 19th in Region 17 and a "contender" per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50, will likely need to beat Grand Valley in Week 10 to have a shot at the postseason.
Field, 18th in Region 13 and a "fringe contender" (2 to 19 percent) per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50, would likely get into the postseason with an upset of either Norton (Week 9) or Woodridge (Week 10).
Waterloo, 19th in Region 21 and a "fringe contender" per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50, would need an upset of Lowellville this week to have a realistic shot at the postseason.
Ravenna, Roosevelt and Windham are all "long shots" (under two percent) to make the postseason in their respective regions, per Drew Pasteur's Ohio Fantastic 50.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Six Portage County football teams currently slated to make postseason
