Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Brookfield running back Rico Smith (0) fights off a tackle from Champion’s Quin McDermott during the first half of a game a in Brookfield on Sept. 12.

Friday will kick off Week 9 of the high school football season, which means there’s only two more weeks for teams to solidify a spot in the playoffs.

With only the top-12 teams in each region making the tournament this season, the final two weeks could be crucial for some area programs. And the Mahoning Valley saw some jockeying by some of the top teams fighting for a first-round bye and the introduction of a couple more into Tuesday’s OHSAA computer ratings.

Austintown Fitch (19.1587 points) moved up from fifth to second in Division II, Region 5. Meanwhile, Boardman (10-6186) slid back one spot to 12th, and Warren G. Harding (6.7045) re-entered the rankings by taking 16th.

In Division III, Region 9, Canfield is still the top team with 26.975 points and the only Mahoning Valley team in the rankings for that region.

As for Division IV, Region 13, West Branch saw a jump as the Warriors (16.575) moved up from sixth to second. Hubbard (13.35) remained at ninth, and Salem (10.025) moved up one spot to 10th.

The quartet of Cardinal Mooney, Girard, Garfield and Poland are still atop Division V, Region 17, but the order has changed. Mooney (19.3937) remained first in the region, but Girard’s last-minute win over Poland allowed the Indians (18.2348) to jump Poland (15.6). Garfield (13.0694) stayed put in fourth. Meanwhile, Liberty (8.6125) moved up to sixth after being 10th last week, South Range (8.1375) stayed at eighth, Pymatuning Valley (8.0778) remained at ninth and Lakeview is still on the outside looking in as the Bulldogs (4.4773) were still in 14th.

There was a little movement for the teams in Division VI, Region 21. Crestview (15.8375) slid one spot to third, and Springfield (11.3254) moved up to eighth after being 11th last week. Mineral Ridge (9.6327) fell from seventh to 10th and Brookfield (6.3169) is one spot away from the top 12 after the Warriors moved up from 15th to 13th. Columbiana (4.8333) remained in 16th.

McDonald (12.0778) remained in third in Division VII, Region 25. East Palestine (8.5125) got a slight boost, going from sixth to fifth.

However, the biggest jump among local programs belonged to Lowellville (3.8163), who beat Jackson-Milton on Friday and went from unranked to 11th.

There are four Valley programs still in the hunt for the 12th spot. Western Reserve (3.4478) went from 15th to 13th, Jackson-Milton (3.2921) fell from 10th to 14th, Leetonia (3.1492) slipped from 13th to 15th and Warren JFK (2.3125), who has won three straight games, made its way onto the list at 16th.