DaytonDailyNews.com

So much for the demise of the Midwest Athletic Conference.

With the rise of nontraditional powers and the way Marion Local ran through the conference, a few outside observers questioned the MAC's football strength. Now, 13 weeks later, they have their answer. Despite getting only Coldwater and Marion Local into the postseason — Marion's move up from Division VI to D-V had a lot to do with that — those teams are each one win away from the title game.

Had Marion remained in D-VI, the MAC likely would have had three or perhaps four teams in the postseason. Adding Local to Region 20 left Parkway and Anna (ninth and 10th, respectively) on the outside. But those teams that didn't reach the playoffs still gave the MAC something to brag about. In Week 1:

• Delphos St. John's (2-8) lost to D-V regional semifinalist Lima Central Catholic 6-0.

• New Bremen (2-8) lost to D-VI regional semifinalist Covington 7-3.

• St. Henry (6-4) handed D-IV state semifinalist Marion Pleasant its only loss, 17-14.

• Anna (7-3) beat D-VI regional finalist Lehman Catholic 7-3.