The first high school football computer ratings were unveiled on Tuesday, and several Toledo-area teams have used hot starts to get into good early position to host home playoff games.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association releases its football computer ratings every Tuesday beginning in the fifth week of the season, leading up to the final report on Sunday, Oct. 27.
The top 16 schools in each region of the state's seven divisions qualify for the playoffs.
Teams will reach the midpoint of the regular season on Friday.
Oak Harbor (4-0) is the only team from northwest Ohio that currently occupies the top spot in its respective region.
But many local schools are among the top eight in their divisional regions and would host home playoff games if the season ended now.
In 2021, playoff qualifiers were expanded from 12 to 16 schools per region. There are no first-round byes.
The higher-seeded team will host home games in both the first and second rounds. In the past, the higher seed had only hosted a first-round game. Neutral sites are then used beginning with the regional semifinals.
Here are four takeaways from the first report of the season.
NLL well represented in D-I: Two of the top four teams in Region 1 in Division I are members of the Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division.
Undefeated Perrysburg (4-0) currently occupies the No. 2 seed. Whitmer (3-1), which joined the NLL last season, is currently ranked No. 4. The Toledo area's other Division I team, Findlay, also would be in the playoffs. The Trojans (1-3), also of the NLL, are ranked No. 10.
Perrysburg is outscoring foes 141-28, including a 37-0 shutout of Marysville. The Yellow Jackets host Clay (3-1) on Friday. Whitmer's only loss is to two-time defending state champion Central Catholic. The Panthers host Southview (2-2) on Friday.
Perrysburg and Whitmer both would host playoff games in the first two rounds. Both teams plus Findlay made the playoffs last season.
Perrysburg plays at Whitmer on Oct. 4.
All but two schools in D-I, Region 1 will make the playoffs. Mentor (4-0) is the top-seeded team in the big school division.
Toledo-area teams aplenty in Division V: Six of the top eight teams in Region 18 of Division V hail from northwest Ohio.
Unbeaten Oak Harbor (4-0) sits tied atop the region with Wooster Triway. The Rockets have outscored their foes 190-30. Oak Harbor was the fourth seed in the final computer region ratings last season and reached the regional semifinals.
Liberty Center (4-0), the team that defeated Oak Harbor in the playoffs, is currently third in the D-V ratings.
Surprising Delta (4-0), which finished 3-7 last year and did not make the playoffs, is fourth in the ratings.
Also hosting home playoff games would be: Eastwood (4-0, fifth), Genoa (3-1, seventh), and Liberty-Benton (3-1, eighth). Archbold (2-2, 12th) and Lake (2-2, 14th) also would be in but Port Clinton (2-2, 17th) and Northwood (2-2, 18th) are currently on the outside looking in.
In the hunt, seeking home games in D-II: Anthony Wayne is the only local Toledo-area team in Division II that currently would host a first-round playoff game.
The Generals (4-0) have the fifth-most points in Region 6 of D-II.
St. Francis de Sales (3-1, ninth), Clay (3-1, 10th), Start (2-2, 13th), and Southview (2-2, 14th) also would be in the playoffs but would start on the road. Fremont Ross (1-3, 17th) is currently one spot out at No. 17.
Maumee currently in, would host playoff game: Central Catholic and Maumee would host first-round playoff games in Region 10 of Division III.
The Irish are ranked No. 2 and the Panthers are No. 6. Both teams are 3-1.
Maumee just missed out on making the playoffs last season, finishing 0.55 points behind a Bowling Green team that earned the final spot in Region 10. Both teams went 5-5.
Bowling Green (2-2) also currently would earn a berth with the 12th seed.
In Region 14 of Division IV, only Otsego (3-1, 8th) and Napoleon (2-2, 13th) would be in the playoffs.
In Division VI, Region 22, Ottawa Hills (3-1) has the second most points behind Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (4-0). Patrick Henry (3-1) is eighth, Van Buren (2-2) is 11th, and Evergreen (2-2) is 12th.
Undefeated Edon (4-0) is second in Division VII, Region 26. McComb (3-1, 10th) and Gibsonburg (2-2, 11th) also would be in the playoffs.
Below is a look at Toledo-area regions after Week 4 .
DIVISION I, REGION 1
Ratings
1. Mentor (4-0) 10.25, 2. Perrysburg (4-0) 9.575, 3. Lakewood St. Edward (3-1) 9.2628, 4. Whitmer (3-1) 7.675, 5. Lorain (4-0) 7.15, 6. Canton McKinley (2-2) 4.8422, 7. Massillon Jackson (2-2) 4.8, 8. Parma Normandy (2-2) 3.825, 9. Cleveland Heights (2-2) 3.125, 10. Findlay (1-3) 2.7, 11. Strongsville (1-3) 2.275, 12. Cle. St. Ignatius (1-3) 2.225, 13. Medina (1-3) 2.1, 14. Berea-Midpark (1-3) 1.625, 15. Cle. John Marshall (1-3) 1.375, 16t. Brunswick (0-4) 0, 16t. Elyria (0-4) 0, 16t. Canton GlenOak (0-4) 0
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Mentor vs. No. 16 Brunswick/Elyria/GlenOak
■ No. 2 Perrysburg vs. No. 15 John Marshall
■ No. 3 Lakewood St. Edward vs. No. 14 Berea-Midpark
■ No. 4 Whitmer vs. No. 13 Medina
■ No. 5 Lorain vs. No. 12 Cleveland St. Ignatius
■ No. 6 Canton McKinley vs. No. 11 Strongsville
■ No. 7 Massillon Jackson vs. No. 10 Findlay
■ No. 8 Parma Normandy vs. No. 9 Cleveland Heights
DIVISION II, REGION 6
Ratings
1. Amherst Steele (4-0) 9.625, 2. Avon (4-0) 9.275, 3. North Ridgeville (4-0) 9, 4. Medina Highland (4-0) 8.45, 5. Anthony Wayne (4-0) 7.95, 6. Wadsworth (4-0) 7.875, 7. Lakewood (3-1) 7.2778, 8. Olmsted Falls (3-1) 6.75, 9. St. Francis de Sales (3-1) 5.8422, 10. Clay (3-1) 5.775, 11. Avon Lake (2-2) 4.5631, 12. Westlake (2-2) 3.75, 13. Start (2-2) 3.425, 14. Southview (2-2) 3, 15. Cle. Rhodes (2-2) 2.8535, 16. Sandusky (1-3) 2.475, 17t. Fremont Ross (1-3) 2.05, 17t. Parma Hts. Valley Forge (1-3) 2.05, 19. Springfield (1-3) 1.975, 20. North Royalton (1-3) 1.5
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Amherst Steele vs. No. 16 Sandusky
■ No. 2 Avon vs. No. 15 Cleveland Rhodes
■ No. 3 North Ridgeville vs. No. 14 Southview
■ No. 4 Medina Highland vs. No. 13 Start
■ No. 5 Anthony Wayne vs. No. 12 Westlake
■ No. 6 Wadsworth vs. No. 11 Avon Lake
■ No. 7 Lakewood vs. No. 10 Clay
■ No. 8 Olmsted Falls vs. No. 9 St. Francis
DIVISION III, REGION 10
Ratings
1. Cleveland Benedictine (3-1) 7.4362, 2. Central Catholic (3-1) 7.25, 3. Rocky River (3-1) 6.65, 4. Medina Buckeye (3-1) 5.675, 5. Grafton Midview (3-1) 5.475, 6. Maumee (3-1) 5.35, 7. Richfield Revere (3-1) 4.85, 8. Norwalk (2-2) 4.625, 9t. Cle. Central Cath. (2-2) 4.025, 9t. Defiance (2-2) 4.025, 11. Lima Shawnee (2-2) 3.825, 12. Bowling Green (2-2) 3.725, 13. Tiffin Columbian (2-2) 3.5846, 14. Parma Padua Franciscan (2-2) 3.3, 15. Parma Hts. Holy Name (2-2) 3.05, 16. Copley (1-3) 2.1, 17. Mansfield Madison Comp. (1-3) 2.05, 18t. Lexington (1-3) 1.5, 18t. Rogers (1-3) 1.5
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Cleveland Benedictine vs. No. 16 Copley
■ No. 2 Central Catholic vs. No. 15 Parma Heights Holy Name
■ No. 3 Rocky River vs. No .14 Padua Franciscan
■ No. 4 Medina Buckeye vs. No. 13 Tiffin Columbian
■ No. 5 Grafton Midview vs. No. 12 Bowling Green
■ No. 6 Maumee vs. No. 11 Lima Shawnee
■ No. 7 Richfield Reserve vs. No. 10 Cleveland Central Catholic/Defiance
■ No. 8 Norwalk vs. No. 9 Cleveland Central Catholic/Defiance
DIVISION IV, REGION 14
Ratings
1. Sandusky Perkins (4-0) 10.175, 2. Lorain Clearview (3-0) 9.0556, 3. Shelby (4-0) 8.35, 4. Ontario (4-0) 8.2, 5. Clyde (3-1) 6.45, 6. Galion (4-0) 6.35, 7. Lodi Cloverleaf (3-1) 5.6932, 8. Otsego (3-1) 5.525, 9. Vermilion (4-0) 5.45, 10. Bay Village Bay (2-2) 5.15, 11. Caledonia River Valley (2-2) 4.45, 12. Bellevue (2-2) 4.225, 13. Napoleon (2-2) 3.925, 14. Orrville (2-2) 3.675, 15. Ottawa-Glandorf (2-2) 3.55, 16. Sheffield Brookside (2-2) 2.225, 17t. Bellville Clear Fork (1-3) 1.975, 18t. Elida (1-3) 1.975.
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Sandusky Perkins vs. No. 16 Sheffield Brookside
■ No. 2 Lorain Clearview vs. No. 15 Ottawa-Glandorf
■ No. 3 Shelby vs. No. 14 Orrville
■ No. 4 Ontario vs. No. 13 Napoleon
■ No. 5 Clyde vs. No. 12 Bellevue
■ No. 6 Galion vs. No. 11 River Valley
■ No. 7 Cloverleaf vs. No. 10 Bay Village Bay
■ No. 8 Otsego vs. No. 9 Vermilion
DIVISION V, REGION 18
Ratings
1t. Oak Harbor (4-0) 8.725, 1t. Wooster Triway (4-0) 8.725, 3. Liberty Center (4-0) 8.475, 4. Delta (4-0) 6.4, 5. Eastwood (4-0) 6.375, 6. Milan Edison (4-0) 6.225, 7. Genoa (3-1) 6.125, 8. Liberty-Benton (3-1) 6.075, 9. Fairview Park Fairview (3-1) 5.6742, 10. Creston Norwayne (3-1) 4.8, 11. Johnstown (3-1) 4, 12. Archbold (2-2) 3.975, 13. Johnstown Northridge (2-2) 3.9, 14. Lake (2-2) 3.6, 15. Fredericktown (2-2) 3.5, 16. LaGrange Keystone (2-1) 3.2778, 17. Port Clinton (2-2) 3.2, 18. Northwood (2-2) 2.7576.
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Oak Harbor/Wooster Triway vs. No. 16 La Grange Keystone
■ No. 2 Oak Harbor/Wooster Triway vs. No. 15 Fredericktown
■ No. 3 Liberty Center vs. No. 14 Lake
■ No. 4 Delta vs. No. 13 Johnstown Northridge
■ No. 5 Eastwood vs. No. 12 Archbold
■ No. 6 Milan Edison vs. No. 11 Johnstown
■ No. 7 Genoa vs. No. 10 Creston Norwayne
■ No. 8 Liberty-Benton vs. No. 9 Fairview Park
DIVISION VI, REGION 22
Ratings
1. Hopewell-Loudon (4-0) 8.025, 2. Ottawa Hills (3-1) 5.25, 3. Bluffton (4-0) 5.075, 4. Woodmore (3-0) 5, 5. Spencerville (3-1) 4.75, 6. Huron (3-1) 4.65, 7. Paulding (4-0) 4.325, 8. Patrick Henry (3-1) 4.225, 9. Collins Western Reserve (3-1) 4.1, 10. Sherwood Fairview (3-1) 3.825, 11. Van Buren (2-2) 3.65, 12. Evergreen (2-2) 2.7, 13. Attica Seneca East (2-2) 2.4, 14. Convoy Crestview (2-2) 2.35, 15. Harrod Allen East (2-2) 2.25, 16. New London (2-2) 2.1, 17. Mt. Blanchard Riverdale (2-2) 1.875, 18. Carey (1-3) 1.65.
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Hopewell-Loudon vs. No. 16 New London
■ No. 2 Ottawa Hills vs. No. 15 Allen East
■ No. 3 Bluffton vs. No. 14 Convoy Crestview
■ No. 4 Woodmore vs. No. 13 Seneca East
■ No. 5 Spencerville vs. No. 12 Evergreen
■ No. 6 Huron vs. No. 11 Van Buren
■ No. 7 Paulding vs. No. 10 Fairview
■ No. 8 Patrick Henry vs. No. 9 Collins Western Reserve
DIVISION VII, REGION 26
Ratings
1. Columbus Grove (4-0) 8.25, 2. Edon (4-0) 5.95, 3. Arlington (3-1) 5.65, 4. Sycamore Mohawk (3-1) 5, 5. Tiffin Calvert (3-1) 4.7, 6. Lima Central Cath. (3-1) 4.625, 7. Ada (3-1) 4.6, 8. McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley (3-1) 4.55, 9. Dola Hardin Northern (3-1) 4.375, 10. McComb (3-1) 4.35, 11. Gibsonburg (2-2) 4.1, 12. Edgerton (3-1) 4.025, 13. Pandora-Gilboa (2-2) 3.475, 14. Leipsic (2-2) 2.8, 15. Antwerp (2-2) 2.45, 16. Delphos St. John's (1-3) 2.175, 17. North Baltimore (2-2) 2.1, 18. Delphos Jefferson (1-3) 1.125.
If playoffs started today
■ No. 1 Columbus Grove vs. No. 16 Delphos St. John’s
■ No. 2 Edon vs. No. 15 Antwerp
■ No. 3 Arlington vs. No. 14 Leipsic
■ No. 4 Sycamore Mohawk vs. No. 13 Pandora-Gilboa
■ No. 5 Tiffin Calvert vs. No. 12 Edgerton
■ No. 6 Lima Central Catholic vs. No. 11 Gibsonburg
■ No. 7 Ada vs. No. 10 McComb
■ No. 8 Upper Scioto Valley vs. No. 9 Hardin Northern
First Published September 17, 2024, 9:02 p.m.
