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Area sending five teams to state football playoffs

Staff report

It’s official: Five area teams have qualified for the high school football state playoffs.

Ravenna, Aurora, Field, Woodridge and Mogadore will continue their 2009 campaigns when they open postseason action this weekend.

The Ravens (8-2), champions of the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division, qualified as the No. 8 seed in Division II, Region 5. They will play at No. 1 seed Mentor Lake Catholic (9-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

It’s the second time in three years the Ravens and Cougars have met in the first round of the playoffs, with Mentor Lake Catholic edging Ravenna 21-20 in 2007.

Also in Division II, Region 5, Aurora (8-2) has qualified as the No. 5 seed. The Greenmen, who won the Division III state championship last season, will travel to No. 4 seed Canfield (9-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Field Falcons will play in the postseason for the third straight year after qualifying as the No. 8 seed in Division III, Region 9. The Falcons (8-2) face a tall order when they travel to Youngstown to take on state powerhouse Cardinal Mooney (10-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The tradition-rich Cardinals are the region’s No. 1 seed.

The area will see a new face in the playoffs this year as the Woodridge Bulldogs are in the postseason for the first time ever, coming on the heels of their first-ever league title after sharing the PTC County Division crown with Mogadore. Woodridge (8-2) is the No. 6 seed in Division IV, Region 13, and will travel to play No. 3 seed Martins Ferry (7-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Speaking of Mogadore, the Wildcats are in the playoffs for a staggering 23rd time and will be seeking their fourth state championship after winning it all in 1979, 1996 and 2002.

The PTC County Division co-champion Wildcats (9-1) earned the No. 3 seed in Division VI, Region 21 and will host No. 6 seed Warren John F. Kennedy (7-3) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.