LANCASTER — Heading into Week 9 of the high school football season, four area teams are in the playoff hunt.
If the playoffs began today, Fisher Catholic and Fairfield Union would qualify for the postseason, while Berne Union and Blom-Carroll are on the cusp of making the playoffs. It goes without saying that all four teams need to continue winning the final two weeks of the season.
The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.
The Irish (6-2) are No. 6 in Division VII, Region 27. They will host Grove City Christian on Saturday, Oct. 17, before finishing the season with a nonconference game against Manchester. The Irish are also fighting for a Mis-State League-Cardinal Division title with a 4-1 mark in league play.
Fairfield Union (6-2) is ranked No. 12 in Division VI, Region 15. The Falcons need to win at least one of their last two games to punch their ticket. They travel to Alexander on Oct. 16 for a nonconference game before finishing out the regular season with a huge MSL-Buckeye Division game at home against Hamilton Township.
Berne Union (5-3) has a ton to play for in the final two weeks of the season. The Rockets lead the MSL-Cardinal Division with a 4-0 record. They host Fairfield Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 16, and close out the regular season at home against Zanesville Rosecrans in a pair of league games. If they win both games, they will take home the MSL championship.
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As for its ranking in the playoffs, Berne Union is on the outside looking in at No. 13 in Division VI, Region 23.
Bloom-Carroll (4-4) has the toughest path to the playoffs, but if the Bulldogs can win their last two games, there is a possibility they can sneak their way into the postseason. They are No. 16 in Division III, Region 11. The Bulldogs travel to Circleville Friday before closing out the regular season with a home game against Amanda-Clearcreek.
STAT LEADERS
Thanks to Eagle-Gazette contributor Eric Singer, who has compiled season stats, here is a list of the area’s leaders.
Passing yards: Carson Kiger, Berne Union – 917 yards; Dean Clark, Fairfield Union – 913; Caiden Schooley, Bloom-Carroll – 863.
Passing touchdowns: Kiger - 13; Clark - 11; James Wilkinson – Fisher Catholic – 7.
Pass receptions: Jack Pompey, Lancaster – 22; Kohen Arnett, Fairfield Union – 20; Jackson Little, Berne Union - 19.
Receiving yards: Arnett, Fairfield Union – 357; Damian Neal, Fisher Catholic – 315; Dillan Cornell, Berne Union – 301.
Receiving touchdowns: Cornell, 6; James Hocking, Berne Union, 5; Kohen Arnett – Fairfield Union, 4.
Rushing yards: Kyson Cline, Bloom-Carroll - 1,370; Lane Burkhardt, Fairfield Union - 803; Sam Tencza, Fisher Catholic - 652.
Rushing touchdowns: Cline - 13; Burkhardt - 12; Tencza - 9.
Tackles: Jackson Reynolds, Lancaster - 94; Ethan O’Rielley, Fisher Catholic – 80; Geno Capretta, Lancaster - 72.
Sacks: Isaac Boyden – Lancaster - 4; Colton Moore, Berne Union – 4; Jude Clum, Fisher Catholic – 4.
Interceptions: Damian Neal - Fisher Catholic, 4; Jackson Little - Berne Union, 3; Dean Clark, Fairfield Union - 3.
This Week’s Games
Canal Winchester (5-3) at Lancaster (2-6)
Fairfield Christian Academy (3-5) at Berne Union (5-3)
Bloom-Carroll (4-4) at Circleville (5-3)
Fairfield Union (6-2) at Alexander (4-4)
Liberty Union (0-8) at Amanda-Clearcreek (2-6)
Zanesville Rosecrans (1-7 at Millersport (2-6)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Grove City Christian (3-5) at Fisher Catholic (6-2)
Last Week’s Results
Reynoldsburg 27, Lancaster 14; Fairfield Union 40, Amanda-Clearcreek 0; Hamilton Township 7, Bloom-Carroll 0; Circleville 41, Liberty Union 14; Berne Union 23, Fisher Catholic 7; Fairfield Christian Academy 28, Millersport 8.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Football Notebook | How many area teams are fighting for playoff spots?