The high school football playoffs mark an extremely exciting time of year.
It’s a reward for the hard work that successful teams have put in since practice began in late July.
The Journal-Tribune’s coverage area has been fortunate to have playoff teams nearly each season for the better part of the past three decades.
As a matter of fact, it was 30 years ago when the 1991 Marysville Monarchs became the first team in our coverage area to earn a playoff berth.
Since that time, we’ve had very few seasons in which at least one of our teams hasn’t been to the post-season.
Fairbanks, Jonathan Alder, North Union and Triad have all had multiple playoff years, along with MHS.
Jonathan Alder has earned post-season berths every year, except, I believe three, since 2001.
The playoff picture for the past two seasons has had different looks.
The 2020 regular campaign was shortened to six games due to COVID-19. As such, each team could opt into the playoffs if it wanted.
All five of our schools decided to do that.
Marysville went 1-1, Fairbanks was eliminated after one game and Triad split its two post-season games.
North Union and Jonathan Alder had the longest 2020 playoff runs.
The Wildcats won three of their four post-season contests, while JA went 2-1.
With the exception of last year, previous seasons saw the top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.
This year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association doubled that number so that 16 teams from each region are preparing for Week No. 11.
I realize the additional lineup of playoff teams allows both Jonathan Alder and Fairbanks to continue the 2021 campaign.
They are both seeded tenth.
MHS is No. 1 and North Union is seventh.
However, there are instances, especially in Division I, where the doubled amount of teams is downright silly.
Take for instance, Region 4 of Division I.
There are 17 teams in that region, so only one of those squads failed to make the playoffs.
Cincinnati Moeller, which has one of the longest and most successful playoff pedigrees in Ohio high school football history, earned the top seed in the region.
Moeller will be hosting No. 16 Cincinnati Oak Hills, which has yet to win a game.
Region 1 of D-I is basically the same with only 17 teams.
No. 1 Lakewood St. Edward (8-1) will face 1-9 Lorain, the bottom team in the region.
Granted, there are fewer Division I football schools in the state.
Maybe, though, the OHSAA should not have extended the D-I playoffs to 16 teams.
I think that division should have especially remained at eight teams in each region.
The inequity isn’t quite as bad among teams in Divisions II-through-VII.
Those divisions have far more teams in each region.
The playoff qualifiers, though, in those divisions are still too many.
For example, nearby Mechanicsburg (10-0) is the top seed in Region 24 of Division VI.
The Indians will host 2-7 St. Bernard-Elmwood Place on Saturday.
In years past, a 2-7 squad wouldn’t have received a sniff of the post-season.
They shouldn’t have this year, either.
I especially feel sorry for teams that are seeded anywhere from 13 on down to 16.
In my opinion, they really don’t have any business playing guys who are so much better than they are.
Granted, you’ve seen 15 or 16 seeds upset upper seeded teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
That, however, is extremely rare.
I doubt very much if we see that type of shocker during the first weekend of the state football playoffs.
Why did the Ohio High School Athletic Association expand the post-season?
Was it to make more money on the backs of kids who may get hurt playing against vastly superior teams?
I don’t know.
Was it to give more athletes the experience of taking the field for the playoffs?
If that’s the case, what type of experience will it be for a 16 seed to get waxed 60-0 by a No. 1?
I only hope the top teams take it easy on their opponents once they reach the 30-point, running clock rule in the second half.
This shouldn’t be considered a rant against either of our No. 10 seeds.
It’s not.
I’m a big fan of all our teams.
Both Fairbanks and Jonathan Alder have played hard and had some shining moments.
I just think eight teams from each region was and still should be the right number for playoff qualification.