photo by: Andrew Grimm

Steubenville’s Jeremiah Hinton shakes off Wheeling Park’s Michael Nieder for yards after the catch during Friday’s game at Harding Stadium.

COLUMBUS — Eleven Eastern District high school football teams had their fine seasons extended Sunday afternoon when the Ohio High School Athletic Association released the final playoff ratings. The top 12 teams in each division received first-round byes, with Nos. 5-8 hosting first-round games on Friday at 7 p.m.

Of the local squads, three — Steubenville (D-III, Region 11), Barnesville (D-V, Region 19) and Fort Frye (D-VI, Region 23) — received first round byes.

Big Red (7-2) finished third and will face the winner of No. 11 The Plains Athens (9-1) at No. 6 Delaware Buckeye Valley (8-2) on Friday, Nov. 7 at Harding Stadium.

The Shamrocks (8-2) were fourth after the OHSAA announced on Saturday it, according to a press release, “had removed Ironton High School from participation in the upcoming football playoffs due to numerous violations of the OHSAA’s recruiting bylaws over the last seven years. During the last several weeks, the violations were discovered by the OHSAA and shared with administrators and the coaching staff at Ironton.”

Barnesville will host the winner of No. 12 Amanda Clearcreek (5-5) at No. 5 Portsmouth (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 7.

The Cadets (8-1) finished second and will meet the winner of No. 10 Caldwell (7-3) at No. 7 Grove City Christian (8-2) in Beverly on Friday, Nov. 7.

DIVISION IV

Region 15

No. 6 Indian Creek (9-1) earned a home game at Robert S. Kettlewell Memorial Stadium in Wintersville against No. 11 Johnstown (7-3).

DIVISION V

Region 17

No. 5 St. Clairsville (7-3) will welcome No. 12 Andover Pymatuning Valley (7-3) to Red Devil Stadium and No. 10 Edison (7-3) will travel to James R. France Stadium in New Franklin to tangle with Manchester (7-3).

Region 19

No. 11 Union Local (7-3) heads west on I-70 to face No. 6 Col. Africentric (7-3) at CAEC Stadium in Columbus.

DIVISION VI

Region 23

No. 11 Grandview Hts. (7-3) travels to the Ohio Valley to meet No. 6 Toronto (9-1) at Clark Hinkel Field.

DIVISION VII

Region 27

No. 9 Bishop Rosecrans (6-4) faces No. 8 Conotton Valley (7-3) at Conotton Valley Football Field in Bowerston and No. 11 Danville (5-5) visits No. 6 Steubenville Catholic (6-4) at Harding Stadium.