""I think it depends on who you talk to," said Greenon coach Josh Wooten, whose team clinched the Ohio Heritage Conference South Division championship by beating Greeneview 21-20 last week. “Some people may put an asterisk next to it. We can’t control if we play six or 10 games, so we’re excited about the opportunity to play another week."
Greenon, Shawnee, West Liberty-Salem, Mechanicsburg, Graham and Greeneview all received first-round byes and will play on the second weekend of the postseason. Eight local teams will play this weekend. Here’s a breakdown of those matchups:
Friday’s games
Division I, Region 2
No. 14 seed Toledo Whitmer (1-4) at No. 3 seed Springfield (5-1): The Wildcats, who won their first regional championship last season, led the Greater Wester Ohio Conference in scoring (38.5 points per game). Te’Sean Smoot threw 18 touchdown passes: six to Anthony Brown and five to Ben Van Noord. Whitmer’s only victory came against winless Clay (0-5).
The winner will play No. 6 Wayne (4-2) or No. 11 Centerville (3-3) in the second round Oct. 16.
Division II, Region 8
No. 17 Xenia (1-5) at No. 16 Tecumseh (3-3): The Arrows won their last two games against Kenton Ridge and Bellefontaine after losing three in a row. Wyatt Ferguson (569 yards) and Braden Berner (529) led the rushing attack.
One year after making the playoffs for the first time and finishing 9-2, Xenia has lost four times by seven points or fewer. Its only victory came in Week 5: 17-12 against Butler (1-5).
The winner will play at No. 1 seed Winton Woods (6-0).
Division VII, Region 28
No. 17 Mississinawa Valley (1-5) at No. 16 Cedarville (1-5): Cedarville beat winless Catholic Central, which opted not to participate in the playoffs, 36-14 for its only victory in Week 5. Mississinawa Valley also beat a team not participating in the playoffs, Bradford (0-6), for its only victory: 12-6 in Week 3.
The winner plays No. 1 Marion Local (6-0).
No. 19 Southeastern (2-4) at No. 14 Sidney Lehman Catholic (2-2): Wade Eriksen threw five touchdown passes and rushed for two scores in the regular season for Southeastern, which beat Catholic Central and Cedarville. Lehman Catholic had its last two games cancelled and hasn’t played since Sept. 18.
The winner plays No. 3 New Bremen (4-2).
Saturday’s games
Division IV, Region 16
No. 24 Urbana (0-6) at No. 9 Bethel-Tate (5-1): Urbana brings a 16-game losing streak to the playoffs. It last won in Week 10 in 2018. Bethel-Tate has won five in a row since a loss to New Richmond in the opener.
The winner plays No. 8 Waynesville (5-1).
No. 19 Northwestern (1-5) at No. 14 Taylor (2-4): Northwestern earned its only victory against Urbana: 41-7 in Week 2. Taylor’s best victory came against Madeira (3-3): 15-14 in Week 4.
The winner plays No. 3 Wyoming (6-0).
Division VI, Region 24
No. 17 Triad (2-4) at No. 16 National Trail (2-2): Quarterback Coleman Hauck leads the Triad offense with six passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. The Cardinals beat Southeastern and Northeastern in the regular season.
National Trail beat Mississinawa Valley and Bradford. It has not played since Sept. 18 and has not won a game a since a 2-0 start.
The winner plays No. 1 Coldwater (6-0).
No. 18 Northeastern (1-5) at No. 15 Deer Park (3-3): Northeastern lost five straight games after beating Cedarville 48-7 in Week 1. Deer Park’s best victory came in Week 6: 25-21 against Mariemont.
The winner plays No. 2 Mechanicsburg (6-0).
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