The Ohio High School Athletic Association released its first weekly computer football ratings on Tuesday.
There are two local teams listed among the top 12 squads in their respective regions.
The Jonathan Alder Pioneers (3-1) are ranked fourth in Region 16 of Division IV.
The Fairbanks Panthers (2-2) are No. 9 in Region 23 of Division VI.
The top eight teams in each region at the end of the regular season (the weekend of Oct. 27-28) will advance to the state playoffs.
The top four teams in each region at the end of the season will host a first-pound playoff game.
The Pioneers will face a big test on Friday when they travel to Indian Lake.
The Lakers also sport a 3-1 record and are currently the eighth-ranked team in Region 18 of Division V.
Alder will face two more potentially difficult opponents during the weeks after the Indian Lake contest.
The Pioneers will travel to Kenton Ridge (3-1) on Sept. 29 and host Bellefontaine (3-1) on Oct. 6.
The final three weeks will see them travel to Tecumseh (1-4) on Oct. 13, host Shawnee (2-2) on Oct. 20 and wrap up the regular season at Graham (1-3) on Oct. 27.
The Panthers will travel to Southeastern to face the 1-3 Trojans on Friday.
They will host West Jefferson (4-0) for Homecoming on Sept. 29 before traveling to Northeastern (0-4) on Oct. 6.
Fairbanks’ final three weeks will feature two very strong teams in West Liberty-Salem (4-0) at home on Oct. 13 and Mechanicsburg, 3-1, (away) on Oct. 27.
The Panthers’ ninth game of the campaign will be a home contest against Triad, which will take a 0-4 record into its home game on Friday against Cedarville.
The Indians are also winless so far this season.
The first computer ratings may be found on page 5B of today’s Journal-Tribune.