Ohio high school football playoffs 2023: Division VII brackets, predictions, upset alerts
As the end of October nears, it is time for the Ohio high school football postseason to begin.
All seven divisions will begin the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 27 with all games being played on Friday nights throughout the state semifinals (unless circumstances force a game to be moved to Saturday).
>> Ohio high school football playoff brackets 2023 <<
The first two rounds will be played at the home site of the higher seed, with all games in later rounds at a neutral site to be determined by the OHSAA. The state semifinal pairings will be announced following the regional finals.
The seven OHSAA football State championship games will be played in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
But before anyone can make it to Canton, they must first get through their region.
Here, we will take a look at the top four seeds in each region of Division VII, along with a team to watch outside the top four, an upset alert for the first round and ultimately, a prediction on who will win each region.
Stay with SBLive Ohio for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2023 OHSAA football playoffs.
Division VII, Region 25
Top Seeds: Dalton, Danville, Berlin Center Western Reserve, Toronto
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Malvern
First round upset alert: No. 11 Steubenville Central Catholic over No. 6 Lowellville
Predicted region winner: Danville
Division VII, Region 26
Top Seeds: Hopewell-Loudon, Tiffin Calvert, Waynesfield-Goshen, Antwerp
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 6 McComb
First round upset alert: No. 10 Ayersville over No. 7 Lima Central Catholic
Predicted region winner: Hopewell-Loudon
Division VII, Region 27
Top Seeds: Reedsville Eastern, Beaver Eastern, Caldwell, Fairfield Christian Academy
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 6 Portsmouth Notre Dame
First round upset alert: No. 10 Corning Miller over No. 7 Waterford
Predicted region winner: Beaver Eastern
Division VII, Region 28
Top Seeds: Marion Local, Ansonia, De Graff Riverside, Cincinnati College Prep
Team to watch outside top 4: No. 5 Minster
First round upset alert: No. 13 New Bremen over No. 4 Cincinnati College Prep
Predicted region winner: Marion Local
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh
(Feature photo: Marion Local players hoist the 2022 Division VI state championship trophy, The Flyers are back down in Division VII in 2023. photo credit: Jeff Harwell)
