The high school playoff season has begun and local teams are represented well in the action. Last night, Highland faced off against Linden McKinley , and today, there are four games scheduled featuring community schools that receive local support.
Here is a preview of each matchup.
East Knox vs. Reedsville Eastern
East Knox is the highest local seed (4th) playing today and gets a home game, facing 13th-seed Reedsville Eastern.
After tying for the KMAC championship, the Bulldogs head into the playoffs having lost only to playoff-bound and undefeated Ashland Crestview and playoff team Northmor. East Knox beat six playoff teams this season – Highland, Centerburg, Fredericktown, Northridge, Conotton Valley and Danville (in last week’s Devil-Dog game).
Reedsville is on a scoring binge, putting up 133 points in its last three games while allowing only 13 points. The winner of the match will play the winner of the Glouster Trimble-Fisher Catholic Round One game.
Centerburg vs. Nelsonville-York
Ninth-seeded Centerburg travels to play eighth-seeded Nelsonville-York tonight at 7 p.m. in Division VI Region 23 playoffs.
The Trojans lost to KMAC foes East Knox, Highland and Fredericktown, all of whom made the playoffs. They had a big win against playoff team Northmor and finished third in the KMAC.
Their opponent, Nelsonville-York, is on a seven-game winning streak after losing its first three games this season, and all three defeats came to playoff teams.
The winner of this Round One game plays the winner of the Fort Frye vs.Johnstown-Northridge game. Fort Frye is the tournament’s No. 1 seed
Fredericktown vs. Northmor
Fredericktown faces a familiar foe in Northmor, as the 11th-seeded Freddies travel to play the 6th-seeded Golden Knights. The Freddies lost to Northmor 40-20 earlier this season and also lost to teams that finished above them in KMAC play – East Knox and Highland – but toppled Centerburg this season. Northmor was on fire with an 8-0 run to start the season before losing its last two to playoff-bound Centerburg and Highland. It did beat East Knox and Danville.
The first-round winner draws the winner of the West Jefferson-Lucasville Valley game.
Danville vs. Newark Catholic
Danville finished 4-6 but drew the final seed and will square off against No. 1 seed Newark Catholic. The Blue Devils handled weaker foes, but lost all six to playoff teams – Lucas, North Union, Northmor, Highland, Centerburg and East Knox. However, they were able to defeat playoff team Fredericktown. Newark Catholic’s only loss this season came at the hands of a strong playoff team from Heath, and it beat six playoff teams.
The game winner gets the winner of the Caldwell-New Matamoras Frontier matchup.
