With the main focus of attention on the Ohio High School Athletic Association computer football rankings, the Associated Press poll of sports writers and broadcasters gets left in the shadows.

Wednesday, September 22, 1999

With the main focus of attention on the Ohio High School Athletic Association computer football rankings, the Associated Press poll of sports writers and broadcasters gets left in the shadows.

But the poll is interesting for at least three local teams who received votes from across the state.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers (3-1) are ranked 16th in the Division IV poll with 31 points while the Chesapeake Panthers are sitting in a tie for 21st place with Batavia in the Division V poll. Each has 27 points.

After voters found out that Germantown Valley View had already lost this season, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney jumped into the top spot of Div. IV. Mooney is 3-1, but plays virtually a Div. I schedule.

Wheelersburg moved up two sports to No. 2 with 213 points, 23 behind Mooney. Bellville Clear Fork is third and Valley View fourth.

The rest of the top 10 has Chagrin Falls, Utica, Cincinnati Wyoming, Coldwater, Sandusky Perkins, and Bellaire.

Ironton with 31 points trailed Bellaire by just 21 points.

Columbus Bishop Ready, who plays at Coal Grove Saturday night, lost to Columbus St. Charles 53-39 last week and fell out of the top 10 to No. 18.

St. Henry, a longtime Div. VI team, is up in Div. V this year but the success hasn’t changed. St. Henry is ranked No. 1 with 21 first place votes, well ahead of Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph with 222 points.

Metamora Evergreen is third followed by Bedford Chanel, N. Lima S. Ridge, Brookville, Liberty Center, Hamler Patrick Henry, Apple Creek Waynedale, and Milford Center Fairbanks.

Although Chesapeake is 21st, the Panthers are only nine points behind Milford Center.

A complete poll list appears under "Scoreboard" on page 9.