Monarch quarterback Ethan Musel passes the ball last week against Olentangy Berlin. MHS will once again host Dublin Jerome for the opening round of the state playoffs on Friday, Oct. 9. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
The Marysville High School football team will host a familiar foe during next week’s opening round of the Division I state playoffs.
That opponent will not have that far to travel to arrive at the Monarchs’ field.
MHS (4-1), which has been seeded No. 7 in its region, will host Dublin Jerome, which is the No. 10 seed.
Kickoff will take place at 7 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 9.
There were no first-round byes for teams in Marysville’s region (II) of D-I.
Brackets with multiples of four did not have byes.
There are 16 teams in MHS’ region, therefore, there are no byes.
The Monarchs defeated the Celtics (2-3), 31-23, on Sept. 11.
Marysville head coach Brent Johnson said he likes his team’s seed for the opening round.
However, he wasn’t thinking that far ahead during a break in Thursday’s practice.
“We’re just concentrating on Friday night,” said Johnson. “This is a really big one.”
The Monarchs have an opportunity to capture their first Ohio Capital Conference divisional championship in a number of years.
The MHS gridders last won an OCC crown in 2007.
The Jonathan Alder Pioneers (5-0) have earned a first-round bye for the Division III post-season.
That’s because there are 23 teams (no multiple of four) in JA’s Region 11.
The Pioneers, who are the No. 4 seed, will open the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 16, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
JA will host the winner of the Zanesville (No. 13)-Buckeye Valley (No. 20) contest that will be played on Oct. 9.
Alder boss Brett Glass said he’s happy with the bye.
“We’re a veteran team and I don’t think we need to play every week,” he said. “Let’s get healthy before we begin the playoffs.
“I think we’re going to need a break after playing a physical game like we’ll play tonight against London.”
The Panthers of Fairbanks (4-1) also earned a first-round bye in the Division VI playoffs.
There are 22 teams in Region 24, of which FHS and Triad are members.
FHS is seeded No. 9 and will travel to No. 8 Fort Recovery (2-3).
The Panthers’ first post-season game will be played on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
Fairbanks head coach Patrick Cotter said he can look at the bye in two different ways.
“One, you can look at it as a week you can get healthy,” he said. “Two, you can look at it maybe getting you out of your rhythm.
“It is what it is.”
Cotter said the ninth seed is about where he expected the Panthers would be when the brackets were determined Thursday afternoon.
“We were guessing we’d be anywhere from seventh on down to 12th,” he said.
Cotter said he doesn’t know much about Fort Recovery, which will take a 2-3 record into tonight’s regular season finale against St. Henry.
“I know they’ve had a solid football tradition over several decades and have earned numerous playoff spots,” he said.
Triad will also be on the road for its initial playoff game.
The Cardinals (1-4) are seeded No. 17 in the Region 24 bracket.
They will play at No. 16 National Trail (2-2) on Saturday, Oct. 10 (7 p.m.).
Cardinal coach Dylan Wears did not want to comment about the post-season.
He preferred to concentrate, he said, on tonight’s game against Northeastern.
North Union will open Division V post-season action at home on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats (3-2) are seeded No. 8 in Region 18.
They will host No. 25 Fostoria (0-5).
NU coach Nick Hajjar said he is pleased with the Wildcats’ draw.