Area teams with plenty of work to do

Week four is now complete, which means later this week the Ohio High School Athletic Association will release its official computer points for the first time this season.

Barring any unknown disqualifications what is below should match the state's official computer points.

We can start with looking at which teams are looking possible for the playoffs.

Ottawa-Glandorf is the only Western Buckeye League team whose computer points look like they may be heading to the playoffs.

However, there are five WBL teams with two or more wins in region 10. Though none are in the top eight of their region right now, if one of these teams could go undefeated the rest of the way, they would have a good chance to rise into a playoff spot.

Coldwater is lurking near playoff contention in region 16. If the Cavaliers can get through the rest of the Midwest Athletic Conference they ought to qualify for the postseason. A second league loss makes them borderline, and a third will cause problems.

Marion Local, Parkway, St. Henry and Anna are all close to the top of region 20. But not all of them are going to finish in the top eight. Marion Local has the advantage of having already defeated Parkway and St. Henry, but the key for the other three teams will likely be how well they do against each other.

Fort Recovery is currently looking good in region 24, but its schedule gets nasty in a hurry with Anna, Marion Local, Coldwater and St. Henry still lurking.

As long as Ansonia keeps winning, the Indians have a shot at the playoffs with a 6-4 record, although 7-3 would make life a lot more comfortable for Fort Recovery during week 10.

Here is a listing of how all the MAC and WBL teams stand in the computer rankings after the fourth week, as well as a few other teams they are competing against for one of the highly sought after playoff berths.

The computer points for the five regions involving Mercer, Auglaize and Shelby county teams can be found at http://www.bright.net/~monninb/football.htm

Team - Ranking (Computer Points)
Region 6:
Lexington - 8th (5.98)
Wapakoneta - 26th (1.38)
Celina - 28th (0.00)

Celina and Wapakoneta both need to almost win out to have any realistic playoff hope this year.

Region 10:
Clyde - 8th (5.65)
Defiance - 15th (4.18)
Van Wert - 16th (3.75)
Kenton - 18th (3.45)
St. Marys - 22nd (2.50)
Lima Shawnee - 23rd (2.38)
Elida - 29th (0.00)

Van Wert is the only WBL team to have a record greater than 2-2, yet it has been passed in the points by 2-2 Defiance due to the lack of wins generated by the Cougars' opponents. All the other teams other than Elida still have a chance with its 2-2 records. St. Marys and Lima Shawnee are down a bit since, like Van Wert, the teams they have beaten have not won any games yet this season.

Region 14:
Ottawa-Glandorf - 4th (6.48)
Oak Harbor - 8th (5.93)
Lima Bath - 27th (0.00)

Ottawa-Glandorf is the only WBL team in the top eight of its region again this week. They are 3-1, like Van Wert, but they have gained significant secondary points from wins over Defiance, Kenton and Wapakoneta. There are still 11 teams 3-1 or better in this region.

Region 16:
Cincinnati Wyoming - 8th (5.70)
Coldwater - 10th (5.23)

Coldwater works its way four spots closer to a playoff spot thanks to its win over 3-1 Anna. A win by Kenton didn't hurt the Cavaliers either. There are still six undefeated teams at the top of this region. The Cavaliers are fighting it out with five other 3-1 teams and a couple of 2-2 squads who have large numbers of secondary points already.

Region 20:
Marion Local - 1st (7.83)
Parkway - 7th (4.83)
St. Henry - 8th (4.58)
Anna - 10th (3.95)
Versailles - 24th (0.88)

Marion Local continues to be the highest rated of the six undefeated teams in this region. MAC teams are ranked first, second and fourth highest of the five teams that are 3-1. Despite losing, Parkway holds onto its position in seventh place, as Fort Recovery, Crestview and Delphos St. John's all scored secondary points for the Panthers. St. Henry sneaks back into a playoff spot, as the Marion Pleasant computer points generating machine continues to hum for the Redskins. Anna continued to gain points from Sidney Lehman, but not from its other two previous victims.

Region 22:
Carey - 8th (3.90)
Delphos St. John's - 23rd (0.88)

Delphos St. John's got on the board with a win over Minster, but defeating winless teams don't move you up very high in the standings.

Region 24:
Fort Recovery - 7th (4.25)
Mechanicsburg - 9th (4.00)
New Bremen - 27th (0.00)
Minster - 27th (0.00)

Fort Recovery moves up to seventh, probably worrying other teams in this region who have a history of having trouble in the playoffs with MAC teams. The Indians' win over Versailles combined with another win by Ansonia moved Fort Recovery into position for a playoff berth. Minster and New Bremen each need to win five of its next six games to have any hope, something 0-4 teams rarely do.