Week nine ticker.....

Finishing up a beautiful late October day with the NLCS on TV. The Phillies and Dodgers are scoreless early on. Speaking of playoffs we're coming into week nine of the '09 high school football season and some teams have already clinched a playoff berth and are working on making sure they are home come week 11. Other teams have a crucial week this week hoping they win to assure a postseason appearance while yet others must be content with playing out the season knowing they will be done after next weekend.

Dodgers up 1-0.

We begin the ticker in Region 2 with the only team to have clinched a playoff berth so far, the Panthers of Toledo Whitmer. Whitmer(7-1), the current #1 team in R2 hosts the Bowsher Rebels Friday night. Bowsher(3-5) shouldn't be much of a problem for the Panthers in this CL game. A win and Whitmer moves one step closer to playing in their beautiful stadium come week 11.

Perrysburg(6-2) currnently sits in 8th in R2. The Yellow Jackets, 15-14 winners over Springfield last Friday night can't slip up this week at Sylvania Northview(3-5). Perrysburg needs to continue to win to stay ahead of ninth ranked Hudson. Northview may give the Jackets a battle but this one should go P-Burgs way.

Sylvania Southview is not out of the R2 playoff race but may need some help to get in. The Cougars(5-3) currently sit in 10th place but have games left against Bowling Green(2-6) this week, and crosstown rival Northview next week. Assuming Southview wins, and they should, they are not going to garner a lot of points from beating the two.

Toledo St. Johns(5-3) is still sniffing the playoffs in R2. The Titans currently sit in 11th place and are at Toledo Waite(3-5) this week. Not many points to be gained with a win there but win the Johnnies must if they want to have a shot at the postseason going into their game against Central Catholic next weekend.

In R6 Toledo St. Francis controls their own destiny. The Knights currently sit in first the the region. SFS(7-1) takes on Toledo Scott(2-6) this weekend and should have no problems handling the Bulldogs.

Toledo Central Catholic(6-2) currently sits in third in R6. The Irish host Toledo Libbey(1-6) on Friday night. Central is coming into the game on the heels of a 14-7 loss last week to Whitmer while the Cowboys were shut out by Waite last week 28-0. CCHS names the score in this one.

The Rogers Rams(7-1) can assure themselves of a week 11 appearance by knocking off Oregon Clay(4-4) on Friday night. Rogers sits in fourth in the region and would get some decent harbins by winning over the D1 Eagles. Rogers wins 41-14.

Maumee(7-1) clings to the eighth spot in R6 this week. The Panthers, 34-6 victors over BG last week take on the Blue Devils of Springfield(3-5). Maumee doesn't want to slip up with a huge rivalry showdown next Friday against D1 Perryburg.

We cannot forget the current 13th ranked team in R6, the Blue Streaks of Sandusky. A win Friday night for the Streaks(4-4) over Napoleon would catapault Sandusky near the top eight, if not into it. The Wildcats are ranked first in R10 and would provide a lot of computer points if they were to lose. Should be a good GBC showdown at the Buck.

Speaking of R10, the Perkins Pirates hope to rebound from that 27-13 loss to Clyde last weekend by beating Port Clinton(4-4). Perkins is currently fourth in the region and need a win to help assure a home game in the first round. PC is currently 17th in R18 and would garner a lot of points with an upset win this week. Combine that with a win over Huron next weekend, along with a little help and who knows.

Those same Clyde Fliers who knocked off the unbeaten Pirates last week are in ninth place this week in R10. Clyde will need to win out to get into the playoffs. The Fliers face Oak Harbor(2-6) this week and then travel to Milan next weekend to take on the Edison Chargers who currently sit at 7-1 on the season.

Bellevue(4-4) is currently in 12th in R10. The Redmen who were shocked in OT by Upper Sandusky last week, 41-34 will not get a lot of points this week by beating 0-8 Norwalk but the Redmen cannot afford any slipups and can't be looking ahead to next weeks game against current undefeated Galion(8-0). Bellevue wins out and who knows what the postseason could hold.

The those same Tigers of Galion can assure themselves of a home game in the first round of the playoffs with wins the next two weeks. Galion host Willard(2-6) before travelling to BAF next weekend to take on the Redmen. Galion is currently in first in R14.

The second place team in R14 are the very powerful Genoa Comets(8-0). No opponent has come close to challenging Genoa this year. The Comets can name the score this Friday night against Otsego(0-8), and probably next weekend against Elmwood(3-5). Genoa will need both wins to chase down a home field advantage in week 11.

The Crimson Streaks of Fremont SJCC currently sit in fourth place in R22. The Crimson Streaks(7-1) take on the Tigers of Seneca East(4-4) this Saturday night at the Don. SJCC cannot look ahead to next weeks showdown at Carey or the could slip up and miss out on a home game in the first week of the postseason.

Enjoy week nine. Go out and support your favorite team. Support the kids.