Tuesday, October 19, 1999
St. Xavier moves up to No 1. in poll
Playoff picture is taking shape
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
St. Xavier's 30-13 victory over Elder catapulted the Bombers into first place in The Cincinnati Enquirer's Division I football coaches poll.
Undefeated and No.1-ranked Wyoming and undefeated Edgewood, remained in a close battle in the Division II-VI poll. Kings and Lebanon were tied for No.3.
Besides giving St.X the Greater Catholic League South Division title for the second consecutive season, Friday's victory also locked up a Division I playoff berth for the Bombers, now 7-0.
With two weeks remaining in the 1999 season, there are only five undefeated teams remaining. Besides St. X, Wyoming and Edgewood, the others are Cincinnati Country Day and Batavia.
According to Harbin Computer ranking expert Steve Shuck, it appears that six of the eight teams qualifying to the Division I playoffs will be from Cincinnati, along with Centerville and Wayne from Dayton.
Based on the predicted outcome of the final two weeks, Shuck has Elder first, followed by Centerville, St. Xavier, Fairfield, Wayne, Oak Hills, Lakota West and Lakota East.
“Moeller, with its win over Franklin County, waits in the wings,” Shuck said. “The Crusaders should easily win out and could use a little help in the form of an unexpected win by one of its defeated opponents.”
Shuck said Mason remains in the hunt but needs a victory over Lebanon the final week of the season.
In Division II, Shuck projects Kings, Lebanon, Edgewood, Springboro, McNicholas and Harrison. Purcell Marian should make it in DivisionIII; New Richmond is on the bubble.
Wyoming, Madeira, Indian Hill and Badin look good in Division IV; Finneytown is on the bubble.
Batavia should make it in Division V. Deer Park needs two victories to lock up a berth. In Division VI, Cincinnati Country Day will be Cincinnati's only qualifier unless the Indians falter the final two weeks.
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