Four area teams earn No. 1 spots in football computer rankings

Four area teams, including three newcomers, were rated No. 1 in their respective regions of the high school football state computer rankings that were released by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Tuesday.

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Fort Loramie (Division VII, Region 28) maintained its top spot from last week. The Cross County Conference leader was joined by Bellbrook (D-III, Region 11), Alter (D-III, Region 12) and Marion Local (D-VI, Region 24), all of which bumped up to No. 1 spots.

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Teams are awarded first-level points for wins and second-level points for wins by a defeated opponent. The top eight teams in each region following the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs. The top four seeds among those eight will host first-round games.

Bellbrook (8-0) vaulted from No. 3 in Region 11 following a 56-28 defeat of visiting Brookville (6-2) in what likely will serve as the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division championship. The Golden Eagles still haven’t clinched a playoff spot, but can do so by defeating visiting Oakwood (2-6) in a Week 9 game on Friday.

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Alter (7-1) traded places with No. 2 Chaminade Julienne (7-1). The Knights did so by defeating Badin (5-3), while the Eagles couldn’t muster enough second-level points after downing McNicholas (1-7).

Marion Local (8-0) went from second to first after Coldwater, last week’s D-VI, Region 24 leader, was upset by Anna. Coldwater (7-1) also was overtaken by No. 2 Mechanicsburg (7-1) following the Indians’ defeat of Triad (5-3). Marion Local, Mechanicsburg and Coldwater already have clinched playoff spots.

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Fort Loramie (7-1) also has clinched a D-VII, Region 28 playoff spot and home game.

Two more area teams rose one spot to No. 2. Clinton-Massie (7-1) trails only unbeaten Cincinnati Wyoming in D-IV, Region 16. Massie defeated Goshen (5-3) last week and could take over the top spot by defeating New Richmond (6-2) this week.

Middletown Madison (8-0) overtook Portsmouth West to rank No. 2 in D-V, Region 20. Like Bellbrook, the Mohawks are in great position to go unbeaten in the regular season and defend their SWBL Buckeye championship.

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Five Greater Western Ohio Conference teams remain in D-I, Region 3 playoff contention: Northmont (No. 3), Springfield (No. 4), Fairmont (No. 6), Miamisburg (No. 7) and Wayne (No. 8). Those positions will adjust in Weeks 9-10 following head-to-head GWOC matchups.

Teams have either clinched a playoff spot, control their own destiny (by winning) or are on the bubble and need help (more wins by defeated opponents). The OHSAA will announce first-round playoff pairings on Sunday, Oct. 28.

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• Northmont vaulted to No. 6 in this week’s Associated Press D-I state football poll. Bellbrook and Alter were 2-3 in D-III, Madison No. 2 in D-V and Marion Local No. 1 in D-VI.

• There are two 7 p.m. Thursday football games: Catholic Central at Greeneview and Meadowdale vs. Ross at Welcome Stadium. Friday’s Belmont vs. Ponitz game in the Dayton City League has been canceled.

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• Carroll swept the boys and girls GCL Co-Ed cross country championships at Fenwick last Saturday. It was the eighth straight year the Patriots boys have won and 12th in the last 13 years.

Carroll junior Grant Arnold was the boys winner (16:10.49). Teammates Kevin Agnew and Michael Osgood were second and third.

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Most area boys and girls teams will run in the Divisions I, II and III district meets at Cedarville University of Saturday. The regional meets at Troy will be the following weekend, then the season-ending state meets at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

• Taylor Ewert of Beavercreek is believed to be only the third girl in state history to break 17 minutes in a cross country 5K (3.1 miles) when she won the GWOC championship at Northmont last weekend in 16:57.9.

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Katy Radkewich (Cleveland Heights Beaumont) won a 1996 D-II state title in 16:59.8. Brittany Tinsley (Indian Lake) also went sub-17 minutes in a regular-season meet at Anna in 2004.

• The girls and boys soccer sectionals began this week. Beavercreek’s girls completed a perfect 16-0 regular season by defeating Centerville last week 3-0 to clinch an outright GWOC National East title.

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Beavercreek’s boys (12-3-1) are the defending D-I state champ. However, the Beavers go into postseason play on Thursday against visiting Sidney after finishing the regular season 0-2-1.

Both Beavercreek teams are No. 1 seeds.

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