As we enter into the final three weeks of the 2024 football season, that means it’s time to start talking postseason.
And with playoff season nearly here, we wanted to go ahead and get the discussion started with an early look at where local teams will finish in their respective regions.
A lot of things are going to happen between now and the final snap of week 10. There's a lot of teams who have "unofficially" locked in to the playoffs already. But by week 9, things will begin to become more clearer and it will become more official.
If you would like read up on how the OHSAA's Harbin Computer Rankings System works, click here.
Our panel of high school football contributors have listed what we project to unfold over the course of the final weeks of the regular season. And for added measure, we have added a key game for each team that could make or break their postseason plans.
Teams are listed according to the current standings in the region, based on Joe Eitel's website. Our panel has taken the top 16 teams and other teams who may still have a chance at playoff spot and listed a projected a final number, a final seed, and a key game for each team.
(1) Eastern Pike Eagles
Current Record: 7-0
Projected Final Record: 10-0
Projected Final Harbin Number: 16.9163
Projected Finish: 1st
Key Game: at South Gallia (Oct. 18)
The South Gallia game next week will be the toughest test the Eagles will have since their opening week game against Miller and it could shape up to be a good ballgame. The Eagles are the favorites in all of their remaining regular season games.
(2) Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders
Current Record: 6-1
Projected Final Record: 7-3
Projected Final Harbin Number: 11.9978
Projected Finish: 4th
Key Game: at Wheeling Central Cathoilc, WV (Oct. 11)
The Crusaders might have built themselves a big enough stockpile of computer points to slide into the 4 spot even if they're predicted to lose the next two games. Their game this week against Wheeling Catholic might be a good indicator of how good they are and whether the predictions are wrong.
(3) Trimble Tomcats
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Final Record: 7-3
Projected Final Harbin Number: 13.3000
Projected Finish: 2nd
Key Game: vs. Waterford (Oct. 18)
The Tomcats have bear down these last two weeks, but the results could be worth it. The should be a slight favorite this week against Reedsville Eastern, but Waterford will be favored next Friday in a battle for first place in the TVC. If the Tomcats can pull a win out, they'll get a boost in computer points, but it might still not be enough to surpass Eastern
(4) Danville Blue Devils
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Final Record: 7-3
Projected Final Harbin Number: 12.8999
Projected Finish: 3rd
Key Game: Centerburg (Oct. 11)
This Friday's game against the Trojans will be their biggest test down the stretch. The Blue Devilss should be favored against Fredericktown and East Knox. A win against Centerburg could bump Danville to the No. 2 spot if they win their final three.
(5) Conotton Valley Rockets
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Final Record: 7-3
Projected Final Harbin Number: 10.7474
Projected Finish: 6th
Key Game: at Toronto (Oct. 11)
The Rockets will get a good test this Friday against the Knights and will provide a good indicator of how tough they'll be in the final weeks. Conotton Valley should be favored against Steubenville Catholic in week 9 and Madonna, WV in week 10. A win this Friday gives the Rockets a chance to blast their way into 2nd place.
(6) Corning Miller Falcons
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Final Record: 8-2
Projected Final Harbin Number: 10.7787
Projected Finish: 5th
Key Game: at Bishop Rosecrans (Oct. 18)
The Falcons will be big favorites in their remaining games and should edge their way into the 5ht spot in the region. Their week 9 game against Rosecrans should be their toughest of the three remaining games.
(7) South Gallia Rebels
Current Record: 5-2
Projected Final Record: 7-3
Projected Final Harbin Number: 8.9121
Projected Finish: 7th
Key Game: vs. Eastern (Oct. 18)
While the Rebels will most definately be looking forward to their week 10 game against rival Symmes Valley, the Eastern game the week before will be a big one. South Gallia feels they can challenge the Eagles for the SOC I title despite being underdogs heading into the game.
(8) Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans
Current Record: 3-4
Projected Final Record: 4-6
Projected Final Harbin Number: 4.7328
Projected Finish: 10th
Key Game: vs. Portsmouth Notre Dame (Oct. 18)
The Titans have two tough games ahead of them the next two weeks. They'll be a heavy underdog against Eastern this week and a slight underdog against the Vikings next week. The Titans will need to beat Symmes Valley next week in order to secure a home game in the first round.
(9) Southern Tornadoes
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 4-6
Projected Final Harbin Number: 3.6375
Projected Finish: 14th
Key Game: at Reedsville Eastern (Oct. 26)
The Tornadoes will tumble the next two weeks despite winning their next two because they're going to struggle getting second level points. The only remedy for that wil be to beat rival Eastern on the final Saturday of the season and a boost of points for a better seed.
(10) Frontier Cougars
Current Record: 3-4
Projected Final Record: 5-5
Projected Final Harbin Number: 5.1333
Projected Finish: 8th
Key Game: vs. Monroe Central (Oct. 18)
The Cougars will be the odds-on favorites in two of their final regular season games. But next week's game against the Seminoles will be a big test for them ahead of the post season. Even with a projected loss to Monre Central, the Cougars should secure the 8th seed.
(11) Bridgeport Bulldogs
Current Record: 3-4
Projected Final Record: 3-7
Projected Final Harbin Number: 3.6257
Projected Finish:15th
Key Game: vs. Bishop Rosecrans (Oct. 11)
The Bulldogs are going to slide into the playoffs despite being projected to lose their remaining games. They have a chance to improve their spot in the playoffs this week against the Bishops. A win wouldn't be a major bump, but they could move 1 or 2 spots upward.
(12) Strasburg-Franklin Tigers
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 3-7
Projected Final Harbin Number: 3.4237
Projected Finish: 16th
Key Game: at Buckeye Trail (Oct. 11)
The Tigers are a huge favorite against Tusky Catholic in week 10, but they won't get any points to help their cause. The best chance to get any additional computer points will be this Friday against a Buckeye Trail that should be favored.
(13) Shadyside Tigers
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 3-7
Projected Final Harbin Number: 4.3000
Projected Finish: 12th
Key Game: at Caldwell (Oct. 11)
The Tigers can lock up a spot in the playoff with a win over the next three games. They should manage that next week against Bridgeport. But their game this week against Caldwell will be important to gauge themselves and try to improve their place in the postseason bracket.
(14) Fairfield Christian Academy Knights
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 3-7
Projected Final Harbin Number: 4.5500
Projected Finish: 11th
Key Game: at Berne Union (Oct. 25)
The Knights should be favored to pick up a win next week against Millersport and firmly secure a playoff spot. However they can improve their spot with a week 10 win on the road at Berne Union.
(15) River Pilots
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 2-8
Projected Final Harbin Number: 1.8214
Projected Finish: Out
Key Game: vs. Shenandoah (Oct. 11)
The Pilots are projected to fall out of contention for postseason play. The only way to avoid that fate is to pick up a win this Friday against the Zeps.
(16) Lancaster Fisher Catholic Irish
Current Record: 2-5
Projected Final Record: 4-6
Projected Final Harbin Number: 4.7328
Projected Finish: 9th
Key Game: at Berne Union (Oct. 18)
The Irish will most likely make the biggest jump in the rankings in the final three games. They will need to pick up a win on the road against the Rockets next week to secure the 9th spot.
(17) Symmes Valley Vikings
Current Record: 2-4
Projected Final Record: 4-5
Projected Final Harbin Number: 4.1110
Projected Finish: 13th
Key Game: at Notre Dame (Oct. 18)
The playoff scenario for the Vikings is that they need to win two of their final three to secure a playoff spot. They should be a heavy favorite this Friday against East which is half the equation. The real challenge will be earning that second win on the road against the Titans. However the Vikings should be a slight favorite next week.
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