DANVILLE — The Danville football team has locked up a first round playoff game, according to the OHSAA computer poll released Tuesday.
Danville (8-1) is currently second in Division VI, Region 23, with 17.0505 points. The website joeeitel.com, which analyzes the data, claims the Blue Devils cannot fall below fourth, meaning they will host a regional quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 2.
If they finish second, Danville would face the team occupying the seventh spot.
That opponent is still up in the air. Likely prospects include Fairfield Christian, Hannival River, Colonel Crawford, Trimble and Willow Wood Symmes Valley.
A victory over East Knox on Saturday could give Danville enough points to leapfrog Newark Catholic (17.0808) to the No. 1 spot. That means the Devils would face the eighth-place team in the region, then would move on with a victory to play the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup at a neutral site.
Danville, Newark Catholic and Bishop Rosecrans are solidly in the top three spots. If Danville jumps to No. 1, it would leave a potential Newark Catholic-Rosecrans matchup in the regional semifinals.
Other local teams still have a chance to qualify for postseason play:
•East Knox (5-4) is currently 10th in Division V, Region 19. A victory over Danville will likely lock up the eighth spot and possibly as high as sixth, depending on how other teams in the region fare. The Bulldogs would then travel in their regional quarterfinal — Oak Hill, Lucasville Valley, Bucyrus Wynford and Wheelersburg are all possibilities.
A loss on Saturday would eliminate East Knox.
•Fredericktown (5-4) is currently 12th in the same region. The Freddies would have to defeat Loudonville and then get lots of help. At minimum, Fredericktown would need victories by Centerburg and either Highland or Northridge; plus losses by East Knox, Columbus Academy and Nelsonville-York.
•Mount Vernon (5-4) is actually alive despite the loss to Olentangy. The Yellow Jackets, currently 12th in Division II, Region 7, have to defeat New Albany and hope for wins by Watkins Memorial (over Olentangy Orange), Franklin Heights (over Big Walnut) and Marion Harding (over St. Charles), plus losses by at least three of the following: Walnut Ridge, Tecumseh, Hamilton Township and Mifflin.
•Highland, Utica and Centerburg have been mathematically eliminated.