MAC champs: Anna, Marion Local earn football state poll titles

Anna and Marion Local of the Midwest Athletic Conference were crowned Associated Press high school football state poll champions and Springfield and Fairfield both ranked among the top 10 in Division I. The finals polls were released on Monday.

It was the first poll title for Anna (9-1), which rode a 49-8 Week 8 blasting of visiting Coldwater to overtake the Cavaliers and win in Division VI. Anna drew 11 first-place votes for a 13-point differential over runner-up New Middletown Springfield (10-0).

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Anna is at MAC rival Minster (9-1) in the D-VI, Region 23 first round on Friday.

Marion Local (8-2) had an uncharacteristic two regular-season losses to Columbus Bishop Watterson (7-3) and Minster (9-1). But the Flyers blanked Coldwater 24-0 in Week 10 to wrap up the D-VII title, their eighth and all since 2002. Marion Local’s streak of five straight poll titles was snapped last season.

Marion Local will host Mississinawa Valley (7-3) in the D-VII, Region 28 first round on Saturday.

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Springfield (9-1) rallied to edge visiting Trotwood-Madison 21-20 in Week 10. That elevated the Wildcats to No. 5 in the final D-I poll, their best regular-season record and highest state ranking since the North/South merger. A top seed, Springfield will host Marysville (6-4) in the first round of the D-I, Region 2 playoffs on Friday.

Fairfield (9-1) slid to a tie for No. 7 with Powell Olentangy Liberty (9-1) in D-I following a 16-10 overtime loss to Cincinnati Colerain in Week 10. A No. 2 seed, Fairfield will host Hamilton (5-5) in D-I, Region 4 on Friday.

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Xenia (9-1) joined the D-II final field as No. 10. It’s the best Buccaneers season since the 1969 team also went 9-1. Xenia will make its first playoff appearance by hosting Columbus Walnut Ridge (10-0) on Friday in D-II, Region 8.

Trotwood (7-3) and Chaminade Julienne (8-2) were 7-8 in D-III. CJ was upset 35-28 by Alter in Week 10 and will host the Knights (6-4) in a D-III, Region 12 rematch on Friday. Trotwood is at Wapakoneta (9-1) in D-III, Region 12.

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Clinton-Massie (9-1) fell one spot to third and Waynesville (9-1) was sixth in D-IV. Both will host D-IV, Region 16 first-round games on Saturday.

West Liberty-Salem (9-1) defeated Mechanicsburg in Week 10 and retained its No. 7 spot in D-V. The Tigers will host Cincinnati Madeira (8-2) in the D-V, Region 20 first round on Saturday.

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Minster and Coldwater were 5-6 in D-VI. Fort Loramie (9-1) was runner-up to Marion Local in D-VII and New Miami (9-0) was No. 5.

Other polls champs were Mentor (D-I), Massillon Washington (D-II), Columbus Bishop Hartley (D-III), Cincinnati Wyoming (D-IV) and Kirtland (D-V). All were 10-0 except Hartley (9-1).

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Weekly voting is by Ohio media that subscribe to the Associated Press.

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