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Here’s a look at how the conference races are shaping up across Clark and Champaign counties heading into Week 9:
GWOC National East: Springfield's two most important games of the season will come with both the division title and a playoff berth on the line.
The Wildcats are 7-1 and 2-0 GWOC National East Division race. Springfield can clinch at least a share of its first conference title since 2010 with a victory over Wayne (6-2, 3-0) on Friday. A loss means Wayne will win the division title outright.
The Wildcats can win it outright with a victory over Fairmont (6-2, 1-1) in Week 10. The Firebirds lost to Wayne 49-44 last week. If Fairmont can earn back-to-back wins over Centerville and Springfield, the division would end in a three-way tie.
All three teams remain in hunt for a Division I, Region 3 playoff berth — Springfield is fourth, followed by Fairmont (seventh) and Wayne (eighth).
Springfield will have home-field advantage as both of its final two games will be played at Evans Stadium.
Ohio Heritage Conference North Division: Arguably one of the toughest small school divisions in the area, the OHC North touts five teams with winning records — Mechanicsburg (7-1, 2-1), West Jefferson (6-2, 2-1), West Liberty-Salem (6-2, 2-1), Fairbanks (5-3, 2-1) and Triad (5-3, 1-2).
Essentially, all four teams atop the division control their own destiny to earn a share of the championship.
Mechanicsburg is on the road for both of its final two games. The Indians travel to Northeastern (1-7, 0-3) this week, then Fairbanks in Week 10.
West Liberty-Salem travels to West Jefferson this week before hosting Northeastern in Week 10.
Triad must win its final two games and get some help to earn a share of the title. The Cardinals host Fairbanks and travel to West Jefferson in Week 10.
OHC South Division: Greeneview can clinch its second straight division title with a win against Catholic Central (0-8, 0-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Don Nock Field.
The Rams have yet to lose an OHC division game since the conference realigned last season. With back-to-back wins against Central and Madison Plains, the Rams can finish a perfect 5-0 in the division for the season straight season.
Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division: Bellefontaine beat Jonathan Alder 22-13 last week to earn a least a share of its third straight division title. The Chieftains control their own destiny and can win the title outright with a victory over Shawnee (4-4, 0-2) on Friday.
While the Braves have been eliminated from contention, a victory over the Chieftains can open the door for either Tecumseh (5-3, 1-1) or Alder (5-3, 1-1) to earn a share of the title.
The Arrows travel to Jonathan Alder on Friday. If Shawnee can pull off the upset, the winner will have a chance to pull even with Bellefontaine in its last game of the season.
Tecumseh hosts Kenton Ridge (5-3, 1-2) — which has also been eliminated from contention — and the Pioneers travel to Shawnee in Week 10.
CBC Mad River Division: Indian Lake (3-5, 3-0) clinched at least a share of its fourth straight division title with an 8-7 victory over Northwestern (5-3, 2-1) last Friday.
But all is not lost for the Warriors or Urbana (3-5, 1-1).
With an Urbana win next week and a Northwestern victory at Graham in Week 10, the Warriors can still earn their first conference title since 1967.
With back-to-back home wins over Indian Lake and Benjamin Logan, Urbana can also clinch a share of the division title. The Hillclimbers are hitting their stride this season, beating Shawnee 47-12 and Graham 45-6 in back-to-back weeks.
NOTES
Playoff Sunday: The Ohio High School Athletic Association playoff pairings will be released on Sunday, Oct. 28. The top eight teams in each region advance to the playoffs; the top four teams will all host regional quarterfinal playoff games.
Playoff games for Divisions I, II, III and VI will all be played on Friday night, while D-IV, V and VII will be played on Saturday night.
All football state championship games will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Century mark: Greeneview's Clay Payton (109) and Southeastern's Hayden McKee (100) have eclipsed 100 tackles this season. Tecumseh's A.J. Betleyoun has 99 tackles for the Arrows.
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