With one week to go in the 2012 season, when it comes to the high school football playoffs, the area is down to two possibilities.

Entering Week 10, Jefferson is in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Division II, Region 5 computer ratings, according to Ohio high school football rating-system wizard Joe Eitel.

Meanwhile, Madison is ninth in the Division II, Region 5 ratings, according to Eitel.

The top eight teams in each of the Buckeye State’s 24 regions, sliced and diced into six divisions, qualify for the playoffs, with the higher-seeded squad earning the right to host a first-round, regional-quarterfinal matchup, should their facilities be deemed adequate to do so.

The problem for coach Jimmy Henson’s Falcons (7-2) is they play the winless Conneaut Spartans on Friday night at Falcon Pride Stadium. Just a sliver behind Jefferson are the Hubbard Eagles (6-3), who sit ninth. Hubbard hosts a 2-7 Canfield squad Friday night, leaving the distinct possibility it would pass Jefferson, should both teams win this week.

Jefferson has reached the playoffs once in its history — in 1999, when Hall of Fame coach Joe Kearney led it to the promised land.

Coach Tim Willis’ Blue Streaks (6-3) must prevail on the road against Premier Athletic Conference rival Riverside (6-3) on Friday night at Riverside Stadium and hope the Howland Tigers (7-2), who hold the eighth and final spot in the Division II, Region 5 ratings, fall at Struthers (6-3) on Friday night. Should coach Dick Engle’s Tigers defeat Struthers, they will make the playoffs.

Here’s how Eitel has all 10 area teams rated heading into the drop-the-curtain clashes on the 2012 regular season:

Division I, Region 1 (32 teams) — 16, Riverside (6-3).

Division II, Region 5 (28 teams) — 9, Madison (6-3); 22, Geneva (3-6); 23, Lakeside (1-8).

Division III, Region 9 (30 teams) — 8, Jefferson (7-2); T29, Conneaut (0-9), along with Sheffield Brookside (0-9).

Division IV, Region 13 (32 teams) — 13, Edgewood (6-3 overall, but 5-3 in games counted toward the computer ratings); 18, Grand Valley (6-3); 19, Perry (4-5); 25, Pymatuning Valley (3-6).

The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s weekly computer ratings will appear in our Wednesday edition.

Our own resident expert, Slingin’ Steve Goldman, will map out exactly what has to happen in order for Jefferson and/or Madison to reach the playoffs in this weekly column on the race tot he postseason later this week.

To view all of Eitel’s information, visit his website at www.joeeitel.com.



What a rush!

Six area running backs bettered the century mark during their Week 9 performances and, more importantly, all did so in victories:

Scott Davidson, Jefferson — Ran for a career-high 257 yards on 35 carries and scored from 14, 2 and 34 yards out in the Falcons’ 34-26 All-American Conference clash at Girard.

Aaron Rossi, Geneva — The area’s leading rusher carried 39 times for 228 yards and crossed the goal line on jaunts of 2, 5, 1, and 23 yards in the Eagles’ 34-26 PAC win against visiting North.

Mark Murray, Madison — He ran for 159 yards on 23 attempts and scored from 11, 2 and 22 yards out in the Blue Streaks’ 54-20 PAC triumph against visiting Lakeside.

Mason Martin, Perry — He amassed 145 yards on but 15 carries and had touchdown scampers of 67 and 3 yards in the Pirates’ 41-26 Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division win at Wickliffe.

Dylan McCaleb, Edgewood — He rumbled for 113 yards on 13 carries and scored on a 5-yard dash in the Warriors’ 27-21 win at archrival Conneaut.

Quintin Ratliff, Pymatuning Valley — He ran for 113 yards on 26 attempts and had a 5-yard touchdown run in the Lakers’ thrilling 10-8 Northeastern Athletic Conference win against visiting Southington at Laker Stadium.



Passing fancy

Three area quarterbacks topped the 100-yard mark last week:

Tyler Loftus, Lakeside — The Dragon set an Ashtabula County season-high with 363 yards, completing 20 of 39 efforts, including a 74-yard touchdown pass to Chase Knight in Lakeside’s 54-20 loss at Madison.

Tony Chiacchiero, Jefferson — With Davidson carrying the mail, the area’s leading passer wasn’t called on often, but completed 9 of 14 attempts for 144 yards — including touchdown strikes of 27 yards to Kyle Ashburn and 8 yards to Brett Powers — in the Falcons’ triumph at Girard.

Troy Colucci, Conneaut — He hit on 11 of 22 attempts for 128 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown toss to Alex Gerdes, in the Spartans’ tough loss to Edgewood.



Gift of grab

Lakeside’s Knight set an area season-high with 198 yards on 10 catches, including his 74-yarder, in the loss at Madison.



Stop, thief!

Grand Valley’s Jake Vormelker not only picked off two passes in the Mustangs’ 45-21 NAC whipping of visiting Mathews at Grand Valley Stadium, but also returned them for touchdowns — from 32 and 60 yards out.