Ohio high school football playoffs: Breakdown of 16 games, 20 Akron-area postseason teams
Twenty Greater Akron high school football teams have made it to Week 11. That’s one more than last season.
Two-time reigning Division II state runner-up Hoban is the only top seed among the five divisions that make up the area.
Walsh Jesuit and Norton are second seeds.
Here’s a look who plays who in Greater Akron with a history lesson thrown in:
OHSAA Division I, Region 1 football
No. 14 Brunswick (3-7) at No. 3 Wadsworth (8-2)
The Blue Devils are making their 19th playoff appearance and have reached Week 11 four straight seasons. The Grizzlies are in their 15th postseason and have made the playoffs six of the last seven. Wadsworth won the Suburban League National Conference. Brunswick finished fifth in the Greater Cleveland Conference.
No. 11 John Marshall (4-5) at No. 6 Medina (7-3)
The Lawyers are making their second straight postseason and have only reached Week 11 twice. The Bees are making their eighth playoff appearance and fifth in a row. John Marshall finished fourth in the Senate League. Medina finished third in the Greater Cleveland Conference.
OHSAA Division II, Region 5 football
No. 16 Ellet (3-7) at No. 1 Hoban (8-1)
The Orangeman are in the playoffs for first time since 2020 and the fifth time overall. The Knights are in their 19th postseason and have reached the final the last three seasons and five of the last seven. Ellet finished tied for third in the City Series. Hoban is independent.
No. 15 Firestone (5-5) at No. 2 Walsh Jesuit (9-1)
The Falcons are in their fourth postseason and third in the last four year. The Warriors are making their 21st playoff appearance and have reached the playoffs the last four seasons. Firestone was tied for third in the City Series. Walsh won the Crown Conference.
No. 14 Benedictine (4-6) at No. 3 Hudson (8-2)
The Bengals are making their 25th playoff appearance and have reached the playoffs four of the last five seasons. The Explorers have made the playoffs 16 times, including the last five years. Benedictine is independent. Hudson was second in the Suburban League National Conference.
No. 12 Twinsburg (6-4) at No. 5 Nordonia (8-2)
The Tigers are making their ninth playoff appearance, but first in 13 years. The Knights are in the postseason for the 18th time and fourth in a row. Nordonia was third in the Suburban League National Conference. Twinsburg was fourth. Nordonia beat Twinsburg 38-31 in Week 6.
No. 11 Warren Harding (4-6) at No. 6 St. Vincent-St. Mary (5-5)
The Raiders are making their 16th playoff appearance and fifth in the last six years. The Fighting Irish are in the postseason for the 27th time and 14th in 15 years. Harding was third in the All-American Conference Red Division. STVM is independent. The Irish beat the Raiders 42-28 in Week 4.
No. 9 Shaker Heights (6-4) at No. 8 Barberton (7-3)
The Red Raiders are making their 12th playoff appearance. The Magics are in the playoffs for the ninth time and fourth in the last five years. Shaker Heights finished fourth in the Greater Cleveland Conference. Barberton was third in the Suburban League American Conference.
OHSAA Division II, Region 6 football
No. 14 Midview (4-6) at No. 3 Highland (8-2)
The Middies are making their 12th playoff appearance. The Hornets are in the playoffs for the 13th time and fourth in a row. Midview finished sixth in the Southwestern Conference. Highland finished second in the Suburban League American Conference.
OHSAA Division II, Region 7 football
No. 14 Columbus St. Charles (5-5) at No. 3 Green (7-3)
The Cardinals are making their seventh playoff appearance. The Bulldogs are in the playoffs for the 10th time and fourth year in a row. St. Charles finished fourth in the Central Catholic League. Green was fourth in the Federal League.
OHSAA Division III, Region 9 football
No. 10 CVCA (8-2) at No. 7 Chardon (7-3)
The Royals are making their 12th playoff appearance and sixth in a row. The Hilltoppers are in the playoffs for the 21st time, including the last six years, and won state in 2020 and 21. CVCA finished second in the Principals Athletic Conference. Chardon was second in the Western Reserve Conference.
No. 9 Canfield (6-3) at No. 8 East (8-2)
The Cardinals are in the playoffs for the 15th time and are the reigning state champions. The Dragons are making their sixth playoff appearance and have made it four years in a row. Canfield won the All-American Conference Red Division. East finished tied for first in the City Series.
OHSAA Division III, Region 10 football
No. 15 Revere (5-5) at No. 2 Norton (10-0)
The Minutemen are making their 10th playoff appearance. The Panthers are in the playoffs for the fifth time and third in a row. Revere finished fourth in the Suburban League American Conference. The Panthers won the Metro Athletic Conference.
OHSAA Division IV, Region 13 football
No. 13 Woodridge (5-5) at No. 4 West Branch (9-1)
The Bulldogs are making their 11th playoff appearance and fourth in a row. The Warriors have made the postseason 13 times, including the last four years. Woodridge finished tied for fourth in the Metro Athletic Conference. West Branch won the Eastern Buckeye Conference.
No. 9 Buchtel (5-5) at No. 8 Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (5-5)
The Cardinals are making their 32nd playoff appearance. The Griffins are in the postseason for the 17th time. Mooney finished third in the Steel Valley Conference. Buchtel finished tied atop the City Series.
OHSAA Division VI, Region 21 football
No. 14 LaBrae (5-5) at No. 3 Mogadore (8-2)
The Vikings are making their ninth playoff appearance. The Wildcats are in the playoffs for the 37th time. LaBrae finished third in the All-American Conference Blue Division. Mogadore won the Portage Trail Conference.
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 20 Akron football teams made the playoffs. Here's what to watch
