Week 10 features pride, playoffs on the line
Week 10 features pride, playoffs on the line
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Undefeated seasons, conference titles and playoff berths are on the line this weekend as the 2026 high school football regular season comes to end.
For 336 schools statewide, the season will continue beyond Week 10 in the form of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament.
For 370 other schools, the stadium lights will be turned off until next August.
Week 10 kicks off tonight with Warren John F. Kennedy (5-4) hosting Cleveland JFK (1-7). Warren JFK holds the final playoff spot in Division VI, Region 21. The Eagles will likely advance to Week 11 with a win, though they would not mathematically clinch depending on the outcome of several Friday games.
The area's marquee matchup will feature the 82nd meeting between McDonald (8-1) and Mineral Ridge (9-0). Both the Blue Devils and Rams are heading to the playoffs, but Mineral Ridge is looking to log its first undefeated season since 1985. A win for the Rams would also give them a Mahoning Valley Conference (Scarlet Tier) championship.
A win for McDonald would force a possible three-way tie in the Scarlet Tier standings.
The Blue Devils and Rams first squared off in 1927. The series ended in 1941, then resumed in 1961. The two teams will play for the 66th consecutive year, making this the longest continuous current series in Trumbull County.
McDonald leads the series 55-22-4.
Along with Mineral Ridge, Girard is the only other Trumbull County school without a loss. The Indians will look to log back-to-back 10-0 campaigns for the first time in school history when they host Niles (4-5).
Niles and Girard are meeting for the 84th time in a series which began in 1898. Niles leads the series 44-31-8, however, Girard has won four of the last five meetings.
A win for Girard would extend its regular-season winning streak to 22 games and give the Indians their second straight Northeast 8 Conference title.
Girard is heading to the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year - the longest active streak among area schools.
Garrettsville Garfield (9-0, 6-0) is also seeking perfection. The G-Men will look to win their fourth MVAC (Grey Tier) outright title since joining the league in 2021 when they travel to Brookfield (7-2, 5-1). A Brookfield win would force a three-way tie with the G-Men, Warriors and Liberty.
Brookfield is likely advancing regardless of this week's outcome.
West Branch and Salem will match 8-1 records when the Warriors and Quakers square off in Beloit. Both teams are playoff-bound, but West Branch is seeking its seventh consecutive outright Eastern Buckeye Conference title and 37th consecutive league victory. Salem would claim a share of the league title with a win.
West Branch leads the series against Salem 32-22. The two schools played for the first time in 1964, with Salem winning 12-0 at Reilly Stadium. During the early years of the series, the rivalry was intensified due to the fact that West Branch played some of its home games at Salem, prior to the construction of Clinton Heacock Stadium.
Last Friday, West Branch recorded its 200th win at Clinton Heacock Stadium in a 29-0 win over Alliance.
After starting its season with a loss followed by a bye week, Austintown Fitch (7-1) has reeled off seven straight wins, securing a home playoff game and a likely first-round bye. The Falcons will look to win their eighth straight game when they host Warren G. Harding (4-5).
Harding could secure a playoff spot with an upset win over the Falcons. With a loss, the Raiders would need considerable help to advance.
Harding and Fitch are meeting for the tenth time since 2020. In addition to regular season games, the two schools met in the playoffs in '20, '21 and '24.
Fitch owns a 21-18 record against Harding.
Youngstown's Holy War will take place for the 71st time when Ursuline and Cardinal Mooney match 6-3 records.
Both the Irish and Cardinals have already clinched a playoff berth.
Mooney leads the series 41-26-3, however, the Irish currently own a six-game winning streak against the Cardinals. The first game in the series was played in 1958, and the two teams have since met on an annual basis, with the exception of last year. Three times (1968, 1990, 1995) the Cardinals and Irish played twice in the same season.
With a win, Ursuline would equal the longest winning streak in the series. Mooney won seven straight from 1976-82.
Other teams expected to reach the postseason include; Howland, Poland, Liberty, South Range, Columbiana, United, Springfield and Lowellville.
Hubbard can secure a playoff berth with a win over South Range. However, even with a loss the Eagles are expected to advance. Mathews knows it will advance with a win over Conotton Valley. Even with a loss, the Mustangs (5-4) have a strong chance of moving onto Week 11.
The playoff field and all first-round matchups will be officially released on Sunday. First-round games will be played Oct. 30.