NILES, OHIO- November 11, 2022: Ursuline Irish vs Canfield Cardinals at Bo Rein Stadium- 2nd qtr., Canfield Cardinals' Broc Lowry (12) runs away from Ursuline defenders on his way to a rushing td. MICHAEL G. TAYLOR | TRIBUNE CHRONICLE/VINDICATOR

The fourth week of the Ohio High School Athletic Association football tournament will see four area schools play for the right to advance to the state semifinals.

Canfield, West Branch, South Range, and Warren John F. Kennedy were all victorious over the weekend. The four schools will now play in the title games of their respective regions.

Ursuline, Cardinal Mooney, and Southern bowed out of the tournament. All three teams lost to other area schools.

For each of the four area teams left in the tournament, the hope is that playing into the third weekend of November brings with it a “third time’s a charm” reward.

For Canfield, the hope is that its third consecutive postseason meeting against Chardon results in a Division III, Region 9 title. The Cardinals and Hilltoppers will meet Friday at Gilchrist Field in Ravenna. Canfield defeated Ursuline 33-25 to advance to the regional final.

The Cardinals (11-1) were ousted from the playoffs in both 2020 and 2021 by Chardon (11-1). The Hilltoppers would go on to win a state title each year.

Two years ago, Chardon defeated Canfield 38-6 in a regional title game en route to a 12-0 campaign. Last year the Hilltoppers downed the Cardinals 27-14 in a third-round game. The Hilltoppers became the first team in Ohio history to finish the season 16-0.

Since 2020, Chardon owns a 39-1 record. Its only loss during the span occurred on Sept. 9, a 21-7 setback at Painesville Riverside.

Ironically, both Chardon and Canfield had an opening on their schedules this year in week seven. Though there were discussions of a game between the two teams, both coaches opted for a bye week.

Canfield is seeking its first regional title since 2005.

South Range (13-0) kept its perfect season alive Friday with a 34-6 win over Cardinal Mooney. The Raiders will now look to win 14 games for the first time in school history Friday when they play Perry (11-2) at Great Lakes Cheese Stadium at Berkshire High School in Burton.

South Range is hoping that a third consecutive trip to the Division V, Region 17 title game brings with it a regional title. The Raiders were ousted by Kirtland in both 2020 and 2021. Kirtland is now in Division VI.

South Range is seeking its third regional title. The Raiders reached the state semifinals in both 2005 and 2017.

Perry is in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.

West Branch (12-1) will be seeking its third regional title Saturday when the Warriors play Jefferson (10-3) in the Division IV, Region 13 championship game. The teams will meet at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles.

West Branch last advanced to the state semifinals in 1998. They also accomplished the feat in 1994 when they won the Division III state title.

Like South Range, West Branch is looking to win 14 games for the first time in program history.

Prior to this year Jefferson had made just two playoff appearances (including the all-inclusive 2020 season) and had never won a postseason game. At one point this season the Falcons were 5-3 following back-to-back losses to Struthers and South Range in which they were outscored 84-21. They have since won five straight.

Warren JFK (11-1) is looking to make it three straight Division VII, Region 25 championships Saturday when the Eagles play Danville (11-2) at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium in New Philadelphia.

Kennedy won a regional title in 2020 and advanced to the state title game before falling to New Bremen. A year ago the Eagles fell to Newark Catholic in a state semifinal. Overall JFK owns nine regional championships.

Danville reached the title game in dramatic fashion. Last week the Blue Devils halted a two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of play to defeat Hillsdale 42-41. On Saturday, Danville trailed Lucas 20-0, then scored 27 unanswered points in the final 7:46 of the game to secure a 27-20 victory.

South Range, West Branch, and Kennedy are all No. 1 seeds. Canfield was a No. 2 seed. Twenty-one of the 28 top-seeded teams entering the tournament have advanced to the regional finals.

The tournament concludes the first weekend of December with the crowning of seven state champions.