High School Football: Week 10, Part 1 (Who's In, and Who's Out)

The final week of the Ohio high school football regular season is this week, and only 192 schools will get invited to play beyond this weekend, when the pairings are announced on Sunday afternoon.

According to Joe Eitel (joeeitel.com), the following area schools are in:
- Pickerington Central (8-0) and North Union (9-0) are locked up the # 1 seeds in their regions
- Marion-Franklin (9-0), Bishop Watterson (7-1), New Albany (9-0), and Heath (8-1) will all be playing at home next Friday or Saturday night.
- Bishop Hartley (7-2), Newark Catholic (7-2), West Jefferson (9-0), Fredericktown (9-0), Clinton-Massie (9-0), Jonathan Alder (8-1), Thornville Sheridan (9-0), Hilliard Davidson (9-0), and Westerville South (8-1) have all clinched playoff spots.

Across the State:
In Region 1, perennial playoff power St. Ignatius will be hanging up their cleats after this weekend, as will North Canton Hoover in Region 2. In Region 23, last year's State Semifinalist, Grove City Christian will be done after this weekend as well, but will Grove City Christian's opponent (8-0 Fairfield Christian) be done as well?

LOCAL GAMES WITH HUGE PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
(Predictions will be later on in the week)
Bishop Ready Silver Knights (4-5) at Bishop Hartley Hawks* (7-2)
Upper Arlington Golden Bears (6-3) at Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (7-2)
Hilliard Darby Panthers (8-1) at Hilliard Davidson Wildcats* (9-0)
Gahanna Lincoln Lions+ (4-5) at Groveport Madison Cruisers (6-3)
Pickerington North Panthers (6-3) at Grove City Greyhounds+ (3-6)
Beechcroft Cougars at Northland Vikings (both 7-2)
Franklin Heights Golden Falcons+ (0-9) at Big Walnut Golden Eagles (7-2)
Grove City Christian Eagles+ (3-6) at Fairfield Christian Academy Knights (8-0)
Johnstown Johnnies (6-3) at Northridge Vikings+ (1-8)
Olentangy Liberty Patriots (5-4) at Westerville South Wildcats (8-1)
Lancaster Golden Gales (6-3) at Newark Wildcats+ (1-8)
Teays Valley Vikings (5-4) at Canal Winchester Indians (8-1)
Walnut Ridge Scots (7-2) at Independence 76ers+ (3-6)
Eastmoor Academy Warriors (5-3) at Africentric Nubians+ (3-6)
Jonathan Alder Pioneers (8-1) at St. Charles Cardinals (5-3)
Bexley Lions (3-6)+ at Licking Valley Panthers (7-2)
Hamilton Township Rangers (7-2) at Fairfield Union Falcons+ (3-6)
Harvest Prep Warriors (5-4)+ at Grandview Heights Bobcats (6-3)
Amanda-Clearcreek Aces (6-3) at Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs+ (1-8)

Saturday Night:
Granville Blue Aces (6-3) at Newark Catholic Green Wave* (7-2)
DeSales Stallions (4-5) at Cleveland Benedictine Bengals+ (2-7)

*- Already Clinched Playoff Spot
+- Already Mathematically Eliminated

This is what the predictions for 2010 were (before the start of the season) by Bruce Monnin- http://www.nktelco.net/bdmonnin/project-2010.html. On Sunday, the actual 2010 pairings will be announced.