2025 Playoff Forecast: Division 5, Region 19

With just three weeks remaining in the 2025 football regular season, it’s time to start talking postseason. 

And with that in mind, it's time to take an early look at where our coverage teams could possibly finish in their respective regions.

Keep in mind, a lot of things are going to happen between now and the final snap of week 10.

When looking at the computer ratings and remaining schedules, even the general football fan can assume some teams have "unofficially" locked themselves into a playoff spot. Now by the end of week 9, things will begin to become more clearer and become more official.

If you would like read up on how the OHSAA's Harbin Computer Rankings System works, click here.

For this forecast, our panel of high school football contributors have listed what we project to unfold over the course of the final weeks of the regular season. And for added measure, we have also added their remaining games and hypotheticals for some teams if they are to win or lose a particular game down the stretch.

Note: Teams are listed according to the current standings in the region, based on Joe Eitel's website. Our panel has taken the top 12 teams and other teams who we feel have the best chance at a playoff spot and listed a projected a final number, a final seed, and their remaining games.

Last season, our panel had mixed success. Overall, there were 4 correct finishes predicted out of the 16 qualifying teams. The panel correctly predicted 7 of the teams that finished in the top 8, just not in order. So this just goes to show that our football forecasts can be as useless as a weather forecasts or we need to stop letting the dog make 50/50 picks.

(1) Wheelersburg Pirates

Current Record: 7-0

Projected Final Record: 10-0

Projected Final Harbin Number: 27.9000

Projected Finish: 2nd

Remaining Games: vs. Waverly, at Minford, vs. Portsmouth West

Don’t be surprised if the Pirates slip into the No. 2 spot despite winning out. Their Level 2 points will take a hit against Waverly and Minford. But the Pirates should still lock up a bye and home games in the postseason.

(2) Ironton Fighting Tigers

Current Record: 6-1

Projected Final Record: 9-1

Projected Final Harbin Number: 29.1148

Projected Finish: 1st

Remaining Games: vs. Fairland, at Gallia Academy, vs. Portsmouth

One reason Ironton will finish No. 1 in the region is their L2 divisor when you compute their final average. Another reason is some of those out of state opponents are continuing to generate 2nd level points.

(3) Nelsonville-York Buckeyes

Current Record: 7-0

Projected Final Record: 10-0

Projected Final Harbin Number: 24.7500

Projected Finish: 3rd

Remaining Games: at Albany Alexander, vs. Vinton County, at Athens

The Buckeyes are sitting in a good spot. They can wrap up the third spot in the region with a win week 10 against Athens. A loss would cause them to fall to fourth in the region with an average of 19.8000.

(4) Columbus Academy Vikings

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 7-3

Projected Final Harbin Number: 19.7500

Projected Finish: 5th

Remaining Games: at Buckeye Valley, vs. Bishop Ready, vs. Whitehall-Yearling

The Vikings have a big game this week against Buckeye Valley that could determine a lot the rest of the way. The Vikings should be the favorites in their final 3 games and should lock up a home game in week 11.

(5) Barnesville Shamrocks

Current Record: 6-1

Projected Final Record: 9-1

Projected Final Harbin Number: 24.4521

Projected Finish: 4th

Remaining Games: vs. Linsly, WV, vs. Independence, WV, at Union Local

The Shamrocks really took a hit with their loss at home to George Washington. Despite the setback, they are still in the drivers’ seat to take the fourth spot and get the bye. They should be favored in all three of their remaining games.

(6) Africentric Nubians

Current Record: 6-1

Projected Final Record: 8-2

Projected Final Harbin Number: 17.3000

Projected Finish: 6th

Remaining Games: vs. Cols. South, at Walnut Ridge, at Eastmoor Academy

The Columbus city league can be unpredictable, so that makes this the most unpredictable team down the stretch. The Nubians will have their hands full against Walnut Ridge, but should be the favorites in the other two.   

(7) Zane Trace Pioneers

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 8-2

Projected Final Harbin Number: 13.3000

Projected Finish: 7th

Remaining Games: at Southeastern, vs. Paint Valley, vs. Adena

The Pioneers are going to take a hit the next few weeks with their Level 2 points. They can still earn the eighth spot and get a home game. But, they might have to do some scoreboard watching during week 10.

(8) Morgan Raiders

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 6-4

Projected Final Harbin Number: 11.3000

Projected Finish: 10th

Remaining Games: at Sheridan, vs. River View, at Philo

The Raiders are projected to lose two of the final three games, thus falling from their current position. But they should still finish in the top 12 and play week 11,

(9) Union Local Jets

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 7-3

Projected Final Harbin Number: 12.6377

Projected Finish: 8th

Remaining Games: at Buckeye Local, vs. Bellaire, vs. Barnesville

The Jets are in a situation they’ve been in all too often. They’ve pretty much clinched a playoff spot and can almost clinch a home game by winning their next two games.. If they want to improve their position, the Jets have to beat rival Barnesville to move up higher.

(10) Amanda-Clearcreek Aces

Current Record: 3-4

Projected Final Record: 5-5

Projected Final Harbin Number: 11.5000

Projected Finish: 9th

Remaining Games: at Logan Elm, at Fairfield Union, at Liberty Union

Level 2 points are a big issue down the stretch. The Aces should win against Logan Elm and Liberty Union, but can do very little to improve their playoff spot unless they beat Fairfield Union in week 9.

(11) Valley Indians

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 7-3

Projected Final Harbin Number: 9.8176

Projected Finish: 12th

Remaining Games: vs. Oak Hill, at Grandview Heights, at Minford

That loss to West could come back to haunt the Indians. They can still make the playoffs if despite a loss to Grandview Heights. But that's also taking into considering that Portsmouth loses two of its final three. So for the Indians, a win week 9 would put them in the playoffs no matter what.

(12) Portsmouth Trojans

Current Record: 4-3

Projected Final Record: 5-5 or 6-4

Projected Final Harbin Number: 13.8116 (win over Rock Hill)

Projected Finish: 7th (win over Rock Hill)

Projected Final Harbin Number: 9.7752 (loss to Rock Hill)

Projected Finish: Out (loss to Rock Hill)

Remaining Games: at Rock Hill, vs. South Point, at Ironton

The Trojans’ playoff hopes could hinge on their week 8 game at Rock Hill. A win vaults them to the seventh spot and a home game. A loss could end their hopes at postseason play.

(13) Coal Grove Hornets

Current Record: 5-2

Projected Final Record: 7-3 or 8-2

Projected Final Harbin Number: 15.3357 (win over Rock Hill)

Projected Finish: 7th (win over Rock Hill)

Projected Final Harbin Number: 11.2622 (loss to Rock Hill)

Projected Finish: 11th (loss to Rock Hill)

Remaining Games: vs. South Point, vs. Fairland, at Rock Hill

The Hornets week 10 show down with Rock Hill will be the biggest game in the region. Tons and tons of Level 2 points will be up for grabs for both teams. A win guarantees a home game to open the playoffs. A loss puts them on the road in week 11.

(14) Harvest Prep Warriors

Current Record: 2-3

Projected Final Record:

Projected Final Harbin Number:

Projected Finish:

Remaining Games: vs. Akron St Vincent-St Mary (cancelled), at Westerville South, vs. KIPP Columbus

At the time this article was put together, Harvest Prep's game this Friday night against Akron St Vincent-St Mary was cancelled. In order to qualify for postseason play, a team has to play a minimum of 8 games. Prep will taken out of our equations for the time being. If they manage to get a game played, we will update this article accordingly.