Fans of high school football in Ohio know that this weekend will have a different feel.

It’s the first week of the playoffs, when teams begin their runs at what they hope will be state championships. That intensity will be much greater because of a simple reality — it’s the beginning of a six-week, single elimination tournament. Win and you play again. Lose and you’re done until August.

St. Clairsville, Barnesville, Bridgeport, Martins Ferry, Shadyside, Union Local, Monroe Central, River, Steubenville Big Red, Catholic Central, Indian Creek, Edison and Toronto all will be representing our area in the playoffs.

While the playoff field has expanded during the past few years, reaching the postseason remains an achievement. According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, 448 schools spread among seven divisions and 28 regions earned playoff berths this year. That means about half of the teams in the state have qualified for the post-season.

The end goal, of course, is to the reach the state title games that will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in early December.

Congratulations, then, are due to our area playoff teams.

While we would never venture a guess as to how this weekend’s games will turn out, there is confidence in predicting each will have a great deal of support whenever they play.