State football playoff pairings announced

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the brackets for the state football playoffs on Thursday, and it didn't come without confusion and conflict for teams in Norwalk. In Division III Region 10, Norwalk (3-2) is the No. 7 seed among the 22 teams and has a bye into the second round, where it is slated to host No. 10 Copley (4-0) at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Contractors Stadium at the Warren C. Whitney Complex. However, in Div. VII Region 25, St. Paul (4-1) was seeded No. 8 and is slated to host No. 9 Salineville Southern (4-1) — also on Oct. 16 in the second round. The OHSAA has informed both schools neither game can be moved to the following night. Per the OHSAA rules for the 2020 playoffs, if a team is unable to play a playoff game on the assigned day according to the bracket, its opponent will advance on the bracket. Therefore, as of Thursday night, the start times for each game is still to be determined. There remains the possibility of the St. Paul game beginning at 4:30 p.m. — which causes logistical issues for Southern, about a 2.5-hour drive to Norwalk — with the Truckers then hosting Copley at about 8 p.m. Another possibility is St. Paul hosting the game at a nearby venue that is not hosting a game that night. Also around the area, there will be just two games on the opening night of the playoffs next Friday (Oct. 9). Also in Region 25, Plymouth (3-2) was seeded No. 13 and will entertain Lisbon David Anderson (1-4) at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field. Located south of Youngstown near the Ohio border, the Blue Devils will make the 112-mile trip to Plymouth for the matchup. Also Oct. 9, South Central (0-5) is No. 21 and visits No. 12 Fairport Harbor Harding (4-1) at 7 p.m. — a 93-mile trip to the east of Mentor in the Northeast corner of the state. On Saturday, Oct. 10, four area teams will be in action in Divisions IV, V and VI. In Div. IV Region 14, Edison (4-1) is the No. 13 seed and will entertain playoff regular Bellville Clear Fork (1-4), the No. 20 seed, at 7 p.m. in Milan. In Div. V Region 18, No. 23 Willard (0-5) also has a lengthy trip. The Crimson Flashes will visit No. 10 Lewistown Indian Lake (2-3), a 91-mile trip to the southwest near Sidney and Wapakoneta. A pair of Firelands Conference teams will be in action on Oct. 10 in Div. VI Region 22. No. 10 Western Reserve (3-2) is hosting No. 23 Margaretta (0-5) at 7 p.m. at Balchelder Field in Collins. Meanwhile, No. 26 New London (0-5) makes the 107-mile trip Northwest near Napoleon and Defiance area to face No. 7 Liberty Center (3-2). Finally, also earning a first-round bye in Div. VII Region 25 is Monroeville (5-0). The Eagles are the No. 7 seed and will host No. 10 Independence (4-1) at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Marsh Field. A total of 648 schools have opted to participate in the playoffs. In a normal 10-game regular season, 224 teams typically qualify for the playoffs, with eight schools from each of the 28 regions earning a bid through the computer ratings system. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, the OHSAA opted for a six-game regular season with all teams eligible for the playoffs beginning in Week 7. Coaches in each region voted to determine the seeding and brackets in their region earlier this week. Division I, II, III and VII will play on Friday nights, with Divisions IV, V and VI on Saturday nights. All games begin at 7 p.m. For each game through at least the regional semifinals, the higher seeded team will have the first opportunity to host the game. If the higher seeded team cannot host, the other team will host the game. The OHSAA will determine sites for the regional finals, state semifinals and state championships. Schools eliminated from the OHSAA playoffs or that chose not to enter the playoffs have the option to schedule additional regular season contests through Saturday, Nov. 14 (maximum of 10 regular season contests). All venues are still limited to 15 percent of the stadium's capacity, per the latest order from the Ohio Department of Health. Marching bands and cheerleaders for the home team can still attend, while the away team cheerleaders are permitted to attend as well. All playoff tickets will be sold online and will be available beginning Tuesday. The Div. I state championship game will be played on Friday, Nov. 13. The other remaining six title games will be played within the Nov. 19-22 date range. Sites will be announced at a later date, but the OHSAA indicated it is unlikely that all seven games will be played at the same venue. There will be no state championship games that happen simultaneously, as each game will have its own time slot. Area playoff schedule Friday, Oct. 9 Division VII Region 25 No. 20 Lisbon David Anderson (1-4) at No. 13 Plymouth (3-2), 7 p.m. No. 21 South Central (0-5) at No. 12 Fairport Harbor Harding (4-1), 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 Division IV Region 14 No. 20 Clear Fork (1-4) at No. 13 Edison (4-1), 7 p.m. Division V Region 18 No. 23 Willard (0-5) at No. 10 Lewistown Indian Lake (2-3), 7 p.m. Division VI Region 22 No. 23 Margaretta (0-5) at No. 10 Western Reserve (3-2), 7 p.m No. 26 New London (0-5) at No. 7 Liberty Center (3-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 Division III Region 10 No. 10 Copley (4-0) at No. 7 Norwalk (3-2), TBD Division VII Region 25 No. 10 Independence (4-1) at No. 7 Monroeville (5-0), 7 p.m. No. 9 Salineville Southern (4-1) at No. 8 St. Paul (4-1), TBD