Possible playoff matchup

If the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs began today, Warren G. Harding (5-1) would qualify as the seventh seed in Division I, Region 1. And not only that, but the Raiders would meet a familiar foe in a first-round matchup. Austintown Fitch (6-0) is currently second in the same region. The Falcons, of course, are coached by Phil Annarella, who coached Harding to a Division I state championship in 1990.

Wouldn't that be a terrific playoff matchup? Annarella and Fitch hosting Harding — which fired him after the 1995 season — in a regional quarterfinal game at Fitch Falcon Stadium.

It is, however, possible that Fitch and Harding both could lose ground in the region when the next set of OHSAA computer ratings are released on Tuesday. Both teams won easily last week, but those victories won't provide much help. The Falcons beat Massillon Jackson (2-4) and the Raiders beat Euclid (1-5).

But even if it doesn't happen, the Falcons and Raiders are destined to meet one way or another. The schools are under contract for season-opening games in 2011 and '12. Fitch historically has opened its season against West Side rival Chaney, but the Cowboys' football program isn't a shadow of what it was when Ron Berdis was coaching there, so first-year coach Chaney coach Jim Vivo and Fitch officials decided — by mutual agreement — to mercifully end the series.

Here's hoping Vivo can resurrect the Cowboys at some point, because the West Side rivals really ought to be playing every season in a perfect world. At present, however, the game does nothing to help Chaney or Fitch. The Falcons have beaten the Cowboys every year since 2003, including 62-7 in '09 and 58-7 in this year's season opener.