Staff file photo / Preston Byers Springfield’s defense and Lakeview’s offense get set before a play during the teams’ season opener in New Middletown on Aug. 22. The Bulldogs won 10-7 in overtime.

Perfect seasons, conference titles and playoff berths are on the line tonight as the 2025 high school football regular season comes to an end.

For 336 schools statewide, the season will continue beyond this weekend in the form of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament.

For 370 other schools, the stadium lights will be turned off until next August.

A slew of backyard rivalries will take center stage, including the 81st meeting between McDonald (9-0) and Mineral Ridge (7-2). Both the Blue Devils and Rams are playoff-bound, but McDonald is looking to secure a Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (Scarlet Tier) title while also locking up its 17th undefeated season in program history. The Devils last accomplished both feats in 2018.

Mineral Ridge can earn a share of the conference crown with a win.

The Blue Devils and Rams first squared off in 1927. The series ended in 1941, then resumed in 1961. The two teams will play for the 65th consecutive year, making this the longest continuous current series in Trumbull County.

McDonald leads the series 54-22-4.

GIRARD AT NILES

Trumbull County’s oldest ongoing rivalry resumes when Niles (0-9) and Girard (9-0) meet for the 83rd time. The Red Dragons and Indians first met on the gridiron in 1898 – the year Niles fielded its first football team. According to newspaper accounts, that first encounter was played “in the cow pasture on Evan Morris’ farm” in Girard.

Niles leads the series 44-30-8.

Girard has already clinched a playoff spot, but the Indians are also seeking a 10-0 season. A win would also give the Indians an outright Northeast 8 Conference title.

Girard is heading to the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year – the longest active streak among all area schools.

The Indians are looking to become just the second team in school history to log an undefeated record. In 2009, Girard went 10-0 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Niles is hoping to avoid its first winless season in school history.

CANFIELD AT BOARDMAN

Last year, Boardman snapped an eight-game losing streak to State Route 224 neighbor Canfield. The victory propelled the Spartans into the playoffs. The Spartans (4-5) can duplicate the feat tonight with a home win over the Cardinals (9-0).

Canfield has already secured a playoff spot and a first-round bye. However, the Cardinals are looking to log their first 10-0 season since 2017.

LaBRAE AT CRESTVIEW

Crestview (9-0) is also seeking perfection. The Rebels can become just the second team in school history to finish their regular season 10-0 with a home win over LaBrae (5-4).

Crestview’s previous perfect regular season came in 2012.

The Rebels, 6-0 in league play, can also win their first outright MVAC Gray Tier title with a win over the Vikings.

SALEM AT WEST BRANCH

West Branch and Salem have both clinched a playoff spot in Division IV, Region 13. However, plenty will be on the line when the Eastern Buckeye Conference foes meet in Beloit.

West Branch (8-1, 4-0) is seeking its sixth consecutive outright EBC title, and its 31st consecutive league victory. Salem (6-3, 3-1) can claim a share of the title with a victory.

West Branch leads the series 31-22. The two schools played for the first time in 1964, with Salem winning 12-0 at Reilly Stadium. During the early years of the series, the rivalry was intensified due to the fact that West Branch played some of its home games at Salem, prior to the construction of Clinton Heacock Stadium.

AUSTINTOWN FITCH AT WARREN G. HARDING

Austintown Fitch (7-1) has already clinched a playoff spot. The Falcons will now look to secure a first-round bye with a win over a very familiar foe in Warren G. Harding (3-6).

Harding and Fitch are meeting for the ninth time since 2020. In addition to regular season games, the two schools met in the playoffs in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

Overall, the series has been incredibly close, both in the win column and in overall scoring. Fitch owns a slim 20-18 edge in wins. In the 38 meetings, Fitch has outscored Harding by just 29 points (780-751).

PLAYOFF HOPES ON THE LINE

Warren John F. Kennedy (4-5) owned a 0-5 record four weeks ago. Now, the Eagles can clinch a playoff spot with a road win at Lutheran East (4-5).

Jackson-Milton (5-4) and Western Reserve (3-6) will meet in North Jackson for what is essentially a play-in game. The winner will advance in Division VII, Region 25.

Hubbard (7-2) is one of 17 area teams that have already clinched a playoff spot. South Range (5-4) is among a handful of area schools whose playoff fate will be decided tonight. The Raiders can earn a spot in the tournament with a home win over the Eagles. With a loss, the Raiders’ six-year playoff run will be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, East and Chaney will be playing for permanent bragging rights. The Golden Bears and Cowboys will meet for a final time before the two schools and football programs consolidate, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

The playoff field and all first-round matchups will be officially released on Sunday.