It’s Week Eight of the high school football season in Ohio and there are some compelling games for not only the teams at the top of their regions, but also the squads trying to jockey for playoff position.

The important change this season is that the top 12 teams in each region qualify for the postseason, rather than 16, and the top four get a first-week bye. That creates some drama that didn’t exist previously.

Here’s our top five games to see this week:

Olentangy Orange (7-0) at Upper Arlington (6-1)
Olentangy Orange has been rolling since the first week, averaging 40 points a game and giving up a measly eight points per outing. Their offense is led by quarterback Levi Davis, an Ohio U. commit, and running back Lucas Fickel, who ran for 139 yards in 14 attempts and three TDs last week against Dublin Coffman.

The Golden Bears lost for the first time last week, 16-6 at Olentangy Liberty, in a game that was tight until the very end. The Patriots, who are the defending DI state champs, are once again finding their stride, having won four in a row. For UA, this week is a key indicator of where they are heading to the postseason. A win would almost certainly seal a bye for the Golden Bears in Week Eleven.

Jonathan Alder (7-0) at London (7-0)
In what is the biggest game in Madison County this season, unbeaten Jonathan Alder and London do battle for bragging rights and the lead in the Kenton Trail Division of the Central Buckeye Conference.

London has averaged 46 points in their last three games while its defense has pitched three shutouts. The Red Raiders have won 30 straight regular season contests. Jonathan Alder’s seven wins have been a tad closer but two have been against 5-2 teams in Columbus Academy and Bloom-Carroll.

Mechanicsburg (6-1) at West Jefferson (7-0)
In the key game of the Ohio Heritage Conference’s North Division, Mechanicsburg makes the short trip to West Jefferson to take on the Roughriders. Always rivals, but seldom in the same league over the years, this season’s contest has the import that it has always deserved.

West Jeff has escaped a couple of times in its seven wins, including an overtime victory over Northeastern that saw the Roughriders score a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the waning moments of regulation to send it to extra time and give the Jets their only loss. The Indians are averaging 51 points in their last four outings.

Columbus Academy (5-2) at Buckeye Valley (6-1)
After winning in double overtime in Week Four, Columbus Academy has reeled off three big wins including a shutout last week at an improved Franklin Heights. Buckeye Valley fell at Franklin Heights in Week Six and rebounded last Friday with an impressive victory over Bishop Ready. 

A win this week would give the victor the solid path to capture the Central Buckeye League championship. Buckeye Valley is currently fourth in DIII’s Region 11 and would like to stay in position for a postseason bye, as would Academy, which is in the fourth spot in DV’s Region 19.

Grove City (4-3) at Pickerington North (6-1)
Pickerington North’s only loss came in Week One to perennial power Lakewood St. Edward. Its defense has posted three shutouts and their offense has steadily improved as the season has progressed.

Despite those impressive results, the Panthers find themselves in fifth in DI’s impressive Region 3, with the Greyhounds only three spots back. Friday’s game will go a long way for the winner to cement an solid position in the region.