CINCINNATI -- The news that Dayton Dunbar forfeited two regular season games - Weeks 9 and 10 - caused a major shakeup among the area high school football playoff projections early Saturday night.
"Crazy," one Cincinnati area athletic director described it to WCPO.com.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association confirmed Dunbar, a Division IV program, had used an ineligible player to participate the past two weeks. The player didn't pass five classes during the fall quarter, according to spokesman Tim Stried.
Dunbar's exit from the playoff picture in Region 16 caused a ripple effect throughout Southwest Ohio. In Division II, Region 8, Anderson (7-3) is now projected as the No. 8 team in the playoffs.
Princeton (6-4), which had been No. 8 until early Saturday night, is out of the playoffs, according to JoeEitel.com and longtime area projections analyst Steve Shuck. Princeton defeated Dunbar 41-12 Sept. 9. But, Princeton lost computer points when Dunbar forfeited the two games. A team receives points for its defeated opponents' wins.
Anderson has 17.6 points, bypassing Princeton's 17.1 points.
In Division III, Region 12, Belmont (7-2) enters the picture after winning by forfeit over Dunbar Friday night. Mount Healthy (8-2) drops to sixth. Piqua dropped out of the No. 8 spot.
In Division IV, Region 16, Wyoming (10-0) moves up to the No. 1 seed. Clinton-Massie (9-1) drops to No. 2. Indian Hill (9-1) rises to sixth. Taft (8-2) is currently in the seventh spot. The Senators lost to Dunbar 41-12 Oct. 21 but earned seven second-level level wins with Dunbar's other wins after news of the forfeit.
Shuck said there are still other factors remaining to determine Alter's position in the region along with Waverly. Unioto and Valley View have also qualified.
The top eight in each region qualify for the playoffs. The top four host first-round games at the respective schools.
In Division I, Region 4, the order became official Saturday night. Cleveland St. Ignatius defeated Lakewood St. Edward 34-7 Saturday night so St. Xavier (5-5) earns the No. 5 seed and travels to No. 4 seed Fairfield (7-3) Friday night. Elder (6-4) is the No. 6 seed and goes to No. 3 Mason (6-4).
Division I, Region 4:
- Colerain (10-0)
- Lebanon (7-3)
- Mason (6-4)
- Fairfield (7-3)
- St. Xavier (5-5)
- Elder (6-4)
- Sycamore (6-4)
- Springboro (7-3)
Colerain, ranked No. 5 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 1 in the state, captured its third consecutive Greater Miami Conference title and 17th overall Friday night with a win over Oak Hills.
Updated Division II, Region 8:
- Troy (9-1)
- Turpin (10-0)
- La Salle (8-2)
- Miamisburg (8-2)
- Kings (8-2)
- Edgewood (8-2)
- Harrison (6-4)
- Anderson (7-3)
La Salle, which won its first outright Greater Catholic League South division in program history Friday night, is trying to become the first Division II team to win three consecutive state titles.
Updated Division III, Region 12 order is set:
- Franklin (10-0)
- Wapakoneta (9-1)
- New Richmond (9-1)
- St. Marys Memorial (9-1).
- Belmont (7-2)
- Mount Healthy (8-2)
- Trotwood-Madison (8-2)
- Tippecanoe (7-3)
In Division V, Region 20 the order is set:
- CHCA (10-0)
- Coldwater (9-1)
- Carlisle (8-2)
- Milton-Union (7-3)
- Aiken (7-3)
- Jamestown Greeneview (8-2)
- Brookville (5-5)
- Blanchester (7-3)
Aiken is making its first playoff appearance in program history. The school started varsity football in the 1963-64 school year.
Another interesting storyline is that Blanchester at CHCA. Blanchester is coached by Brandon Sammons, who is also the father of Auburn defensive lineman and former CHCA standout Prince Sammons.
In Division VI, Region 24, the order is set
- Marion Local (9-1)
- Delphos Jefferson (9-1)
- Mechanicsburg (10-0)
- Spencerville (8-2)
- St. Henry (7-3)
- Miami East (7-3)
- Summit Country Day (7-3)
- West Liberty-Salem (6-4)
In Division VII, Region 28, the order is set:
- Covington (10-0)
- Troy Christian (9-1)
- Minster (6-4)
- Ada (7-3)
- Fort Recovery (6-4)
- Sidney Lehman Catholic (7-3)
- Scioto Valley (7-3)
- Hillcrest (8-2)
The official Ohio High School Athletic Association first-round playoff schedule will be released at 3 p.m. Sunday. The playoffs start Nov. 4.
Starting this season, Division I playoff games will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday instead of the traditional Saturday nights. Divisions II, IV and VI also play Fridays.
The Saturday night games (7 p.m. kickoff) include Divisions III, V and VII.
