The Avon Eagles, aiming for a consecutive Division II state championship, have secured the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. With a first-round bye, Avon will host a regional quarterfinal on November 7, 2023. They join fellow area teams North Ridgeville and Columbia, which also received first-round byes, as announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) on October 26.
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Eagles were ranked No. 2 but fell to the No. 3 position after Wadsworth’s impressive victory over Solon, where they won 50-21. Avon’s last game was a decisive win against Elyria, where they triumphed 47-7. Should Avon face Wadsworth in a Division II Region 6 semifinal, the game would take place at Wadsworth’s home field.
To advance to the semifinals, Avon must first defeat the winner of the matchup between No. 11 Fremont Ross and No. 6 Olmsted Falls, with that game set to occur at Olmsted Falls. If the Bulldogs emerge victorious, it would mark their tenth meeting with Avon over the past five years, highlighting their ongoing rivalry in the Southwestern Conference and playoffs.
North Ridgeville, which also received a first-round bye, is poised to host the No. 5 seed Whitehouse Anthony Wayne in their quarterfinal. In 2022, North Ridgeville nearly upset Anthony Wayne as the No. 13 seed, losing by a narrow margin of 21-16. For the Rangers to face Anthony Wayne, the Generals must first defeat Toledo Start, seeded No. 12.
Fairview’s season has been historic as they prepare for their first playoff game ever, following a 56-41 victory against Cabell Midland in West Virginia. The seventh-seeded Warriors will host No. 10 Fredericktown (8-2) in Division V Region 18, aiming for their first playoff win in program history.
In addition, Midview and Clearview earned playoff spots in the final week of regular-season play. The 12th-seeded Midview will travel to face No. 5 Rocky River, while No. 11 Clearview, riding a four-game winning streak, will take on No. 6 Sandusky Perkins. Perkins is notable as the defending Division IV state runner-up.
Columbia achieved a significant victory over Firelands to claim the Lorain County League title in their season finale. They will meet the winner of the first-round matchup between No. 11 Columbiana and No. 6 Dalton in the Division VI Region 21 quarterfinal.
With first-round games scheduled for October 31, the excitement is building for the regional quarterfinals on November 7. The matchups for the area teams are as follows:
– **Division II Region 6**:
– No. 3 Avon: First-round bye, hosts winner of No. 11 Fremont Ross at No. 6 Olmsted Falls
– No. 4 North Ridgeville: First-round bye, hosts winner of No. 12 Toledo Start at No. 5 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne
– **Division III Region 10**:
– No. 5 Rocky River: Hosts No. 12 Midview
– **Division IV Region 14**:
– No. 7 Bay: Hosts No. 10 Lodi Cloverleaf
– No. 11 Clearview: At No. 6 Sandusky Perkins
– **Division V Region 18**:
– No. 7 Fairview: Hosts No. 10 Fredericktown
– **Division VI Region 21**:
– No. 3 Columbia: First-round bye, hosts winner of No. 11 Columbiana at No. 6 Dalton
As the playoffs approach, local teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting postseason filled with competitive matchups and the pursuit of championship glory.
