High school football playoffs: Rematch with Strongsville looms for Medina

A strange football season featuring an unusually high number of forfeits throughout the state threw another curveball at Medina County on Saturday.When Medina went to bed Friday evening, the 12th-seeded Bees were locked into traveling to fifth-seeded Perrysburg for the first round of the Division I, Region 1 playoffs. News then broke Saturday that 11th-seeded John Marshall (3-7) opted out, opening the door for St. Ignatius (1-9) to earn the No. 12 spot and Medina to bump to 11th.That now means the Bees (3-7) will get a rematch with sixth-seeded Strongsville (8-2) on Friday instead of traveling more than two hours to Northwest Ohio. The winner plays at No. 3 Canton McKinley (8-2) in the quarterfinals.The weekend drama highlighted the county's six qualifiers when the official pairings were released Sunday afternoon. The lone team to miss was Black River (6-4), which finished one spot out in D-VI, Region 21.Highland (10-0) edged Wadsworth (10-0) via a tiebreaker of opponents' victories for the top spot in D-II, Region 6. Buckeye (10-0) grabbed the top seed in D-III, Region 10 as all three schools will have first-round byes in the OHSAA's new 12-team regional format. Brunswick (5-5) and Cloverleaf (6-4) will join Medina in action on Friday.The 10th-seeded Blue Devils will play at No. 7 Massillon Jackson (5-5) in a 2024 rematch that the Polar Bears won 24-3. The winner advances to play at second-seeded Mentor (10-0) in the quarterfinals.The Colts fell to 10th in D-IV, Region 14 and will get a rematch of their own at No. 7 Bay (6-4), which won 41-14 last season. No. 2 Galion (9-1) will host the winner.The top seed allows Highland to avoid defending state champion Avon until the regional finals. The Hornets open next week against the winner of No. 8 Brecksville (6-4) and No. 9 Oregon Clay (6-4).Wadsworth also will host a quarterfinal, welcoming the winner of No. 7 Toledo St. Francis de Sales (6-4) and No. 10 Valley Forge (5-5) to Art Wright Memorial Stadium.Buckeye earned a dream draw that gives it a realistic path to reach the regional finals for the first time. The Bucks will host the winner of No. 8 St. Marys Memorial (7-3) and No. 9 Copley (7-3), then would be projected to play No. 4 Revere (8-2) or No. 5 Rocky River (8-2) if the seeds hold.Heavily favored Toledo Central Catholic (6-4) is seeded sixth and on the other side of the bracket.Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.Playoff pairingsDIVISION I Region 1 — No. 1 St. Edward (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Mentor (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Canton McKinley (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Toledo Whitmer (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 St. Ignatius (1-9) at No. 5 Perrysburg (8-2); No. 11 Medina (3-7) at No. 6 Strongsville (8-2); No. 10 Brunswick (5-5) at No. 7 Massillon Jackson (5-5); No. 9 Cleveland Heights (5-5) at No. 8 Berea-Midpark (6-4). Region 2 — No. 1 Middletown (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Troy (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Findlay (6-4), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Springboro (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Marysville (5-5) at No. 5 Springfield (6-4); No. 11 Galloway Westland (5-5) at No. 6 Huber Heights Wayne (6-4); No. 10 Dublin Jerome (5-5) at No. 7 Hilliard Bradley (5-5); No. 9 Kettering Fairmont (5-5) at No. 8 Lebanon (7-3). Region 3 — No. 1 Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Pickerington Central (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Pickerington North (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Lewis Center Olentangy (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Newark (6-4) at No. 5 Powell Olentangy Liberty (6-4); No. 11 Westerville Central (4-6) at No. 6 Upper Arlington (8-2); No. 10 Groveport Madison (5-5) at No. 7 Gahanna Lincoln (7-3); No. 9 Grove City (5-5) at No. 8 Delaware Olentangy Berlin (5-5). Region 4 — No. 1 Cincinnati Elder (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Cincinnati St. Xavier (7-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Cincinnati Princeton (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Morrow Little Miami (3-7) at No. 5 Cincinnati Winton Woods (8-2); No. 11 Cincinnati Oak Hills (4-6) at No. 6 Liberty Township Lakota East (7-3); No. 10 Hamilton (4-6) at No. 7 West Chester Lakota West (6-4); No. 9 Mason (5-5) at No. 8 Fairfield (5-5). DIVISION IIRegion 5 — No. 1 Archbishop Hoban (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Walsh Jesuit (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Austintown Fitch (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Uniontown Lake (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Willoughby South (5-5) at No. 5 Hudson (8-2); No. 11 Green (5-5) at No. 6 Garfield Heights (9-1); No. 10 Twinsburg (6-4) at No. 7 Nordonia (7-3); No. 9 Youngstown Boardman (5-5) at No. 8 Painesville Riverside (7-3).Region 6 — No. 1 Highland (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Wadsworth (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Avon (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 North Ridgeville (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Toledo Start (6-4) at No. 5 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (6-4); No. 11 Fremont Ross (6-4) at No. 6 Olmsted Falls (6-4); No. 10 Valley Forge (5-5) at No. 7 Toledo St. Francis de Sales (6-4); No. 9 Oregon Clay (6-4) at No. 8 Brecksville (6-4). Region 7 — No. 1 Sunbury Big Walnut (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Columbus St. Francis DeSales (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Massillon (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Canal Winchester (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Louisville (6-4) at No. 5 Westerville South (8-2); No. 11 Columbus Northland (7-3) at No. 6 Hoover (8-2); No. 10 Mount Vernon (6-4) at No. 7 Ashland (9-1); No. 9 Worthington Kilbourne (7-3) at No. 8 Columbus Walnut Ridge (7-3).Region 8 — No. 1 Cincinnati Anderson (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Kings Mills Kings (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Trotwood-Madison (6-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Xenia (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Cincinnati Turpin (5-5) at No. 5 Cincinnati La Salle (7-3); No. 11 Cincinnati Aiken (6-4) at No. 6 Lima Senior (8-2); No. 10 Vandalia Butler (6-4) at No. 7 Harrison (7-3); No. 9 Piqua (6-4) at No. 8 Cincinnati Withrow (8-2).DIVISION IIIRegion 9 — No. 1 Canfield (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 CVCA (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 10 vs. No. 7; No. 3 Hawken (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 11 vs. No. 6; No. 4 Villa Angela-St. Joseph (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 12 vs. No. 5; No. 12 Maple Heights (7-3) at No. 5 Chardon (6-4); No. 11 Benedictine (8-2) at No. 6 Akron East (8-2); No. 10 Geneva (8-2) at No. 7 Alliance (8-2); No. 9 Madison (7-3) at No. 8 Kenston (6-4).Region 10 — No. 1 Buckeye (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Wapakoneta (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 10 vs. No. 7; No. 3 Lexington (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 11 vs. No. 6; No. 4 Revere (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 12 vs. No. 5; No. 12 Midview (5-5) at No. 5 Rocky River (8-2); No. 11 Ontario (6-4) at No. 6 Toledo Central Catholic (6-4); No. 10 Holy Name (6-4) at No. 7 Lima Shawnee (7-3); No. 9 Copley (7-3) at No. 8 St. Marys Memorial (7-3). Region 11 — No. 1 Columbus Bishop Watterson (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Newark Licking Valley (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Steubenville (7-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Dresden Tri-Valley (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Columbus Independence (6-4) at No. 5 Columbus Hamilton Township (8-2); No. 11 The Plains Athens (9-1) at No. 6 Delaware Buckeye Valley (8-2); No. 10 Columbus Linden McKinley (8-2) at No. 7 Carroll Bloom-Carroll (7-3); No. 9 Thornville Sheridan (7-3) at No. 8 Granville (7-3).Region 12 — No. 1 London (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Tipp City Tippecanoe (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Hamilton Badin (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Jackson (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Hillsboro (5-5) at No. 5 Washington Court House Miami Trace (9-1); No. 11 Bellbrook (6-4) at No. 6 Kettering Archbishop Alter (7-3); No. 10 Goshen (7-3) at No. 7 Oxford Talawanda (9-1); No. 9 Chillicothe (6-4) at No. 8 Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas (6-4).Division IVRegion 13 — No. 1 Perry (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Glenville (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Mentor Lake Catholic (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 West Branch (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Ashtabula Edgewood (6-4) at No. 5 Norton (9-1); No. 11 West Geauga (6-4) at No. 6 Streetsboro (8-2); No. 10 Salem (6-4) at No. 7 Northwest (6-4); No. 9 Hubbard (7-3) at No. 8 Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (7-3).Region 14 — No. 1 Shelby (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Galion (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Napoleon (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Lima Bath (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Clyde (4-6) at No. 5 Bellevue (7-3); No. 11 Clearview (5-5) at No. 6 Sandusky Perkins (7-3); No. 10 Cloverleaf (6-4) at No. 7 Bay (6-4); No. 9 Orrville (6-4) at No. 8 Clear Fork (6-4).Region 15 — No. 1 New Lexington (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (9-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Plain City Jonathan Alder (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Chillicothe Unioto (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Canton South (5-5) at No. 5 Columbus East (9-1); No. 11 Johnstown (7-3) at No. 6 Wintersville Indian Creek (9-1); No. 10 Duncan Falls Philo (6-4) at No. 7 Circleville (7-3); No. 9 Heath (6-4) at No. 8 Lancaster Fairfield Union (6-4). Region 16 — No. 1 Cincinnati Indian Hill (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Germantown Valley View (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Cincinnati Taft (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Cleves Taylor (6-4) at No. 5 Clarksville Clinton-Massie (9-1); No. 11 Middletown Bishop Fenwick (6-4) at No. 6 Brookville (9-1); No. 10 Cincinnati Roger Bacon (5-5) at No. 7 Cincinnati Wyoming (9-1); No. 9 New Richmond (4-6) at No. 8 Washington Court House Washington (5-5)DIVISION VRegion 17 — No. 1 Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (7-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Girard (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Poland Seminary (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Garrettsville Garfield (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Andover Pymatuning Valley (7-3) at No. 5 St. Clairsville (7-3); No. 11 Urichsville Claymont (6-4) at No. 6 Youngstown Liberty (8-2); No. 10 Richmond Edison (6-4) at No. 7 Akron Manchester (7-3); No. 9 Burton Berkshire (6-4) at No. 8 Canfield South Range (6-4). Region 18 — No. 1 Liberty Center (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Triway (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Genoa Area (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Norwayne (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Delta (6-4) at No. 5 Findlay Liberty-Benton (10-0); No. 11 Port Clinton (6-4) at No. 6 Milan Edison (7-3); No. 10 Fredericktown (8-2) at No. 7 Fairview (8-2); No. 9 Oak Harbor (8-2) at No. 8 Pemberville Eastwood (8-2).Region 19 — No. 1 Wheelersburg (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Gahanna Columbus Academy (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Nelsonville-York (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Barnesville (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Amanda-Clearcreek (5-5) at No. 5 Portsmouth (7-3); No. 11 Belmont Union Local (7-3) at No. 6 Columbus Africentric (7-3); No. 10 Chillicothe Zane Trace (8-2) at No. 7 Lucasville Valley (8-2); No. 9 McConnelsville Morgan (7-3) at No. 8 Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant (8-2). Region 20 — No. 1 Williamsburg (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Lewistown Indian Lake (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Casstown Miami East (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 St. Paris Graham (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 West Liberty-Salem (5-5) at No. 5 Carlisle (8-2); No. 11 Cincinnati Mariemont (6-4) at No. 6 Cincinnati North College Hill (8-2); No. 10 Arcanum (7-3) at No. 7 Camden Preble Shawnee (9-1); No. 9 Jamestown Greeneview (7-3) at No. 8 Richwood North Union (6-4).DIVISION VIRegion 21 — No. 1 Kirtland (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Columbiana Crestview (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Columbia (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Hanoverton United (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Cuyahoga Heights (7-2) at No. 5 Smithville (8-2); No. 11 Columbiana (7-3) at No. 6 Dalton (7-3); No. 10 Mineral Ridge (7-3) at No. 7 Sugarcreek Garaway (7-2); No. 9 New Middletown Springfield (7-3) at No. 8 Wickliffe (8-2).Region 22 — No. 1 Castalia Margaretta (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Archbold (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Paulding (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Defiance Tinora (5-5) at No. 5 Sherwood Fairview (9-1); No. 11 Elmore Woodmore (7-3) at No. 6 Attica Seneca East (7-3); No. 10 Collins Western Reserve (8-2) at No. 7 Bluffton (8-2); No. 9 Carey (6-4) at No. 8 Hamler Patrick Henry (8-2).Region 23 — No. 1 Centerburg (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Beverly Fort Frye (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 West Jefferson (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Mount Gilead (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Reedsville Eastern (7-3) at No. 5 North Robinson Colonel Crawford (9-1); No. 11 Columbus Grandview Heights (7-3) at No. 6 Toronto (9-1); No. 10 Caldwell (7-3) at No. 7 Grove City Christian (8-2); No. 9 West Lafayette Ridgewood (8-2) at No. 8 Newcomerstown (7-3).Region 24 — No. 1 New Madison Tri-Village (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Springfield Northeastern (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Mechanicsburg (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 St. Bernard Elmwood Place (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Covington (5-5) at No. 5 Coldwater (6-4); No. 11 Cincinnati Deer Park (5-5) at No. 6 Anna (7-3); No. 10 Miamisburg Dayton Christian (6-4) at No. 7 Ironton Rock Hill (6-4); No. 9 Portsmouth West (5-5) at No. 8 Cincinnati Summit Country Day (5-5).DIVISION VIIRegion 25 — No. 1 McDonald (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding (10-0), hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Mogadore (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Monroeville (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Ashtabula St. John (5-5) at No. 5 Malvern (6-4); No. 11 Berlin Center Western Reserve (4-6) at No. 6 East Palestine (7-3); No. 10 Lisbon David Anderson (6-4) at No. 7 East Canton (8-2); No. 9 Norwalk St. Paul (5-5) at No. 8 Warren JFK (5-5).Region 26 — No. 1 Lima Central Catholic (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 North Baltimore (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Leipsic (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Columbus Grove (7-3), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Morral Ridgedale (6-4) at No. 5 Gibsonburg (7-3); No. 11 Montpelier (6-4) at No. 6 Sycamore Mohawk (8-2); No. 10 Arlington (7-3) at No. 7 Pandora-Gilboa (7-3); No. 9 Edgerton (6-4) at No. 8 Edon (8-2).Region 27 — No. 1 Hillsdale (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 Waterford (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Lancaster Fisher Catholic (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Willow Wood Symmes Valley (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Glouster Trimble (6-4) at No. 5 Crown City South Gallia (7-3); No. 11 Danville (5-5) at No. 6 Steubenville Catholic Central (6-4); No. 10 Lucas (5-5) at No. 7 Strasburg-Franklin (7-3); No. 9 Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans (6-4) at No. 8 Bowerston Conotton Valley (7-3).Region 28 — No. 1 Maria Stein Marion Local (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9; No. 2 St. Henry (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10; No. 3 Cincinnati Country Day (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11; No. 4 Beaver Eastern (10-0), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12; No. 12 Fort Recovery (5-5) at No. 5 Cincinnati College Prep (8-2); No. 11 Cedarville (5-5) at No. 6 Portsmouth Notre Dame (8-2); No. 10 New Bremen (6-4) at No. 7 Ansonia (8-2); No. 9 Minster (6-4) at No. 8 Sidney Lehman Catholic (9-1).