OHC’s Greeneview, Mechanicsburg qualify for football playoffs

Greeneview’s Jacob Green runs over Madison-Plains’ Griffin Jones. Greeneview won the Week 10 game 35-0 to complete a 10-0 regular season. Bill Lackey/Staff

Greeneview’s Jacob Green runs over Madison-Plains’ Griffin Jones. Greeneview won the Week 10 game 35-0 to complete a 10-0 regular season. Bill Lackey/Staff
Sports
By Marc Pendleton
Oct 29, 2017
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Clark County has been shut out of the high school football playoffs for the first time since 1997.

No county team was among the playoff field that was released by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Sunday. The only area teams that qualified were unbeaten Greeneview (10-0) and Mechanicsburg (8-2) of the Ohio Heritage Conference. Bellefontaine (9-1), Indian Lake (8-2) and Jonathan Alder (8-2) of the Central Buckeye Conference also advanced.

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There are seven divisions, each comprised of four regions. The top eight teams with the most Harbin computer points qualified for the playoffs and the top four seeds host first-round games. For the first time, all playoff games will be held on Fridays through the Week 14 state semifinals. The state championships will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Most teams knew of their playoff fate following the end of the regular season this past weekend. Springfield (6-4) was knocked out of D-I, Region 3 playoff contention after falling 7-3 at Fairmont in Week 10. Springfield was the only Clark County rep in last year’s playoffs and Kenton Ridge the only county qualifier in 2015.

Greeneview is a No. 6 seed and is at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (7-2) in the D-V, Region 20 first round. Last season the Rams lost to eventual D-V state runner-up Coldwater in a regional semifinal. This is the fourth straight playoff appearance for the Rams.

Mechanicsburg, also seeded No. 6, opens D-VI, Region 24 play at Spencerville (8-2). Mechanicsburg lost only to Greeneview, 17-14, and at West Jefferson, 28-0, which also went 10-0. This is the 14th season the Indians have advanced to the postseason, all since 1999. Mechanicsburg has a streak of five straight playoff teams. Last season Mechanicsburg lost 26-15 to eventual D-VI state champ Marion Local in a regional final.

Bellefontaine has won eight straight games and lost only to Sidney, 42-33. The Chieftains are a No. 1 seed and will host Granville (8-2) in the D-III, Region 11 first round. Indian Lake (7-3) is a No. 6 seed as is at Archbold (8-2) in a D-V, Region 18 opener.

CBC newcomer Jonathan Alder (8-2) also qualified. The Pioneers are at Clinton-Massie (9-1) in a D-IV, Region 16 opener. West Liberty-Salem (8-2), also of the OHC, was No. 10 in D-VI, Region 24.

All Friday games will start at 7:30 p.m.

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About the Author

Marc Pendleton