When the OHSAA state football playoffs begin this week, three Richland County teams will be represented.
There were 716 schools that played varsity football this fall and now 224 are playoff qualifiers, including seven schools that are in the playoffs for the first time and another school that is in the playoffs for a state-record 35th time.
Shelby, which defeated Loudonville last Friday night 55-7, finished in 4th place in the Division VI, Region 15 computer rankings with a 9-1 record. The Whippets will host Bloom Carroll on Friday; the Bulldogs finished 7-3.
In the other two contests, Richland County teams will travel to their opponent’s locations for Saturday contests. Lucas, which finished 7-3 and is ranked 7th in Division VII, Regional 26, will head to Arlington, which has the same record. Meanwhile, the 7-3 Lexington Minutemen, ranked 6th in Division III, Region 10, will have their hands full against the 8-2 Clyde Fliers.
