LEXINGTON — It’s not how a team starts, but rather how it finishes.
Left for dead after opening the season with three straight losses, Lexington finds itself in need of just one win to lock up a playoff spot.
The Minutemen (5-4) moved up one spot to fifth in Division III, Region 10 when the Ohio High School Athletic Association released its weekly computer rating Tuesday. A victory over Division IV Canton South (2-7) at home on Friday.
Lex has won four straight after staggering to a 1-4 record through the first half of the season.
“The only thing we can do is take care of what’s in front of us,” Lex coach Taylor Gerhardt said after last week’s 42-16 win over Madison, “and everything else takes care of itself.”
Lexington is one of five area teams most likely headed to the postseason. The other four already have secured their playoff spots according to computer points authority Joe Eitel.
In Division IV, Region 14, undefeated Clear Fork locked up a home playoff game with last week’s thrilling 16-14 win over Marion Pleasant. The Colts leap-frogged St. Marys Memorial and are atop the Region 14 ratings.
In Region 22 of Division VI, Hillsdale slipped from second to third despite last week’s win over Smithville. The Falcons (7-2) can secure a home playoff game with a win over Waynedale (3-6) on Friday.
Both Lucas and Mapleton have secured playoff spots in Division VII. The Cubs (7-2) held firm to the No. 2 spot in Region 27 after last week’s 62-6 win over Hannibal River. Lucas is at undefeated Lima Central Catholic on Friday.
In Region 25, Mapleton maintained the No. 3 spot after last week’s win over New London. The Mounties (6-3) host Western Reserve (2-7) on Friday.
The OHSAA will release its final ratings Sunday. The top eight teams in each of the state’s 28 computer regional will qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 2.
