---- — Week 9 of the regular season normally would indicate must-win scenarios. However, generally, Herald coverage-area squads already are making postseason plans, though some are jockeying for seeding for the annual District 10 tournament.

And even though its the regular season’s next-to-the-last weekend in PIAA play, no team wants to back into the playoffs, nor enter the postseason coming off a loss or poor performance.

As of this writing it would appear no less than 8 Mercer County clubs — 4 each in Class A and AA — will qualify for the district-wide tourney, plus Brookfield in the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

There’s even hope for a bubble team, such as Reynolds.

“We’ve gotta be spoilers now,” Raiders’ head coach Jerry Pacifico said following last week’s loss at Greenville.” We’ve gotta go out and get Hickroy and hope for the best.”

Tonight’s Games

(Games begin 7 p.m.)

Reynolds (3-3, 5-3) at Hickory (5-1, 7-1)

Despite Reynolds’ rivalry loss last week at Greenville, the Raiders’ resolve resonated through arguably the best player on the field that night — Jamar Henry.

Henry spent almost as much time in Greenville’s backfield as Josh Riffe, Tyler Fattman and Cody Nellis, recording a trio of quarterback sacks, and also eagerly demonstrated his athleticism by catching a pass and returning a pooched kickoff (both were negated by penalties).

To place into perspective Pacifico’s improvement in Reynolds program: The ’05 Raiders established a school single-season standard for wins (11), but during the ensuing 6 seasons the program posted a composite 7-52 ledger — meaning that, with 2 more wins this year’s edition will equal that output. However Hickory has handled Reynolds during that recent span by an aggregate 209-43 differential.

In less than 2 full seasons, Stingers’ speedster DeShawn Coleman is closing in some Hickory High hallmarks set a generation ago by Andre Coleman.

DeShawn Coleman has rushed for 3,479 yards (11.3 yards/carry) and scored 50 rushing touchdowns (62 overall). Interestingly, his offensive production this season has been based on substantially fewer touches (99 carries, 7 receptions, 1 pass attempt) than last year, when Coleman carried 208 times.

West Middlesex (5-0, 7-1) at Lakeview (3-2, 5-3)

West Middlesex has won 7 straight since a season-opening setback. The state-ranked (Pennsylvania Football News’No. 9; Harrisburg Patriot-News No. 7) Big Reds can secure an undefeated Region 1-A campaign and outright crown with a win.

West Middlesex has won the last 2 meetings between these programs, but only by 10-6 and 14-13 decisions. Last season Sailors’ speedster Blake Reddick rushed for 154 yards against the Reds, but Trey Staunch’s PAT and field goal proved decisive.

Conversely, the Sailors are seeking an upset, rather than a 2-game skid as they chart their course toward the playoffs. Lakeview last won against West Middlesex in ’09 (28-13).

The game will be broadcast on NewsTalk 790 (WPIC AM), with Ryan Briggs and Chris Burtch calling the action.

Greenville (4-2, 4-4) at Wilmington (5-1, 6-2)

The ’Hounds have had a stranglehold on this series recently, but Wilmington is still vying with Hickory and Grove City for Class AA playoff seeding.

Greenville gained a purchase on the playoffs with last week’s stunning rally against Reynolds. The Trojans have triumphed in 4 of their last 6 tilts, erasing an 0-2 start; however Reynolds was their lone victim with a winning record, so tonight’s trek to New Wilmington will be a true test.

Greyhounds’ headmaster Terry Verrelli (268-112-3) is on the verge — with 2 more triumphs — of surpassing former Warren coach J.B. Leidig for most career wins in District 10 annals.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN 96.7 (WLLF FM), with Mark Slezak and Bob Greenburg calling the action.

Brookfield (9-0) at LaBrae (1-8)

Coach Randy Clark’s club is ranked 6th in Division IV in the OHSAA (1st in Region 13) this week.

With a win the Warriors would assure themselves the program’s best single-season won-lost record (9-0 in 1978), which consequently would almost guarantee a home-field opening-round playoff game.

Brookfield has bombarded 9 foes, outscoring (46.3 to 11.4) and outgaining (403.5 to 178.4) opponents.   

In the last 2 seasons — as the beneficiary of Brookfield’s bulky lines — quarterback Jeremy Quinlan has connected for twice as many TD tosses (17) as interceptions (8). and has completed 101 of 181 passes (56 percent) for 1,357 yards. Also, Ryan Mosora has manufactured 3,435 yards rushing (8.9 yards/carry) and 36 TDs. Like Hickory’s Coleman, Mosora could conceivably surpass last season’s production (1,953 yards, compared with 1,482 this year) on significantly fewer attempts (243 in 2011 to 142 this year).

Last week the Vikings were vanquished at Champion (31-14). The Golden Flashes fashioned 354 yards rushing, according to The (Youngstown) Vindicator, led by Mike Cyrus’ 210-yard, 3-TD performance. Leading LaBrae was the area’s tallest — but perhaps most aptly named — scholastic signal-caller, 6-foot-7 Peyton Aldridge, who tossed a TD, and Carl Brown, who rushed for another.

Grove City (5-1, 7-1) at Sharon (1-5, 1-7)

Since their lone loss at Hermitage, the Eagles have eased to a quartet of consecutive conquests — the last 3 of which by an aggregate 131-35 differential. Not coincidently, Grove City also has gotten healthier since that setback.

Sharon has surrendered 40-plus points in consecutive losses to Hickory, West Middlesex and Wilmington — a trio of titans with a combined 20-4 ledger.

On the last occasion that these programs met (’07), Grove City garnered a 42-36 overtime shootout.

Farrell (3-2, 5-3) at Mercer (0-5, 2-6)

At times, the Steelers’ have struggled this season — Farrell has not forged back-to-back wins since the first 2 weeks of the season. But the Steelers surged back into the postseason picture with last week’s win over Conneaut.

That would signal for Steelers’ skipper Jarrett Samuels a return to the District 10 playoffs — following last year’s hiatus — where his squads 3-peated during his prior stint at the helm.

Mercer will miss the playoffs for the 1st time since mentor Pat McClearn’s 2nd season at the helm; however, upsetting the Steelers would serve as a surrogate Steads’ playoff success.

Saturday’s Game

Conneaut (1-4, 4-4) at Kennedy Catholic (1-4, 1-7), 1 p.m.

Conneaut is coming off a loss at Farrell (20-18), one of a quartet of setbacks inflicted by Mercer County clubs — including Lakeview (28-14), Sharpsville (30-27) and West Middlesex (32-7). Only half of the Eagles’ wins — Girard (35-16) and Eisenhower (41-21), which are 5-3 and 6-2, respectively — occurred over teams with winning records. Conneaut clobbered Conneaut, Ohio (51-12) and Mercer (39-21), also.

The Golden Eagles have endured 6 straight setbacks.

Prior to its merger with Conneaut Lake and Conneaut Valley, Linesville’s Lions mauled KC in 5 consecutive meetings by a 209-56 margin, though only 25-22 last season. Kennedy’s last conquest of Linesville occurred in ’06 (32-13).

The game will be broadcast on ESPN 96.7 (WLLF FM), with Jeff Wimer and Mike Piddington calling the action.



Herald sports writer Rob Malsom contributed research for this preview.