The regular season closes out with some games that will affect playoff positioning, games with teams that have slim playoff hopes and one long-time rivalry.

Three local team are locks for the postseason, with two guaranteed to host playoff games in Week 11. Two others are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot but would need a win Friday and lots of help to slip in.

Wynford (5-4, 3-3 N10) at Bucyrus (3-6, 2-4 N10)

This game is big for both schools even when nothing else is on the line besides the Picking Copper Kettle, for which they’ve played since the inception of the rivalry in 1977.

The Royals are in a position unfamiliar to them in recent years: They do not control their own destiny to the postseason. Wynford is currently 10th in Division VI, Region 22 but mathematically still alive for a playoff spot. However, lots of other things would have to happen — both with teams above and below in the rankings — for that to happen.

Bucyrus has been eliminated from playoff consideration but the Redmen have incentive besides the rivalry itself. Wynford has won the Copper Kettle the past 20 meetings so a Bucyrus win would cap off a season that has been frustrating at times for the Redmen.

Wynford will need to shore up its defense that has surrendered 89 points in the past two games and try to contain a Bucyrus running game that totaled over 400 yards in last week’s 41-7 win at Upper Sandusky.

The Redmen have played with the top teams in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference for a half but will need to do so for four quarters if they hope to upset the Royals.

Carey (6-3, 4-2) at Colonel Crawford (5-4, 3-3)

Carey, while not officially controlling its own destiny according to Joe Eitel, would likely be playing in Week 11 with a win at Colonel Crawford.

The Blue Devils currently sit sixth in Division VI, Region 22 and would need three teams to jump over them to miss the playoffs, assuming they win.

The Eagles have now fallen short of the postseason for the second straight year after a promising 3-1 start. Back-to-back 14-7 losses to Wynford and Mohawk, respectively will probably prove to be the factors that kept Colonel Crawford from playing an 11th game.

Carey’s offense has gained momentum as the year has progressed. The Blue Devils have scored 223 points in their last five games, going 4-1 in that stretch. Quarterback Ethan Berringer has thrown for over 1000 yards and Jordan Dasher has nearly 900 in rushing and receiving combined.

For the Eagles, QB Zye Shipman has thrown for over 1000 yards despite missing two games due to injury. However, the CC defense will be key to playing spoiler, one that has pitched two shutouts and given up 14 or fewer in five other games.

Galion (5-4, 2-4 MOAC) at Buckeye Valley (5-4, 5-1 MOAC)

Amazingly, both these teams are still in the postseason conversation with their identical 5-4 overall records. Galion is 13th in Division IV, Region 14 and Buckeye Valley is 11th in Division III, Division 11. The top eight per region get in.

Both would need an improbable series of outcomes in other games to sneak in. The only thing either can control is winning this game and seeing where the chips fall.

The Tigers have the top quarterback statistically in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in Elias Middleton. He has thrown for 1409 yards — tops in the MOAC — and has a 15-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Middleton is also fourth in the league in rushing with 803 yards and 10 scores.

Middleton’s favorite target is Isaiah Alsip, who is second in catches in the MOAC with 46 but leads in yards with 838 and 11 touchdowns.

The Barons have about as impressive a 5-4 record as a team could have. After starting the season 0-3, with losses to a Division I and a pair of Division II schools, Buckeye Valley has won five of its last six, with the only loss in that stretch coming to 9-0 Clear Fork.

In their five wins, the Barons have allowed only 61 points, so this could be a battle of the irresistible force (Galion) versus the immovable object (Buckeye Valley). The winner will be scoreboard watching after the game.

Seneca East (8-1, 5-1 N10) at Buckeye Central (0-9, 0-6 N10) 

Seneca East has clinched a home game in the playoffs and no worse than second place in the N10. The Tigers offense continues to roll, scoring no fewer than 20 points in any game this year.

Blaine Swartzmiller is the backbone of the Seneca East offense, rushing for 1635 yards — nearly double his closest competitor — while scoring 19 touchdowns with no fumbles.

A win clinches the top spot in Division VI, Region 22 for the Tigers. If the playoffs started this week, Seneca East would host Hicksville. However, there are still 10 teams mathematically alive for the bottom four spots in the region, so that could change dramatically come Saturday.

A ray of sunshine gleamed through Buckeye Central’s difficult season last week as the Bucks put up a season-high in points in their 61-26 loss at Carey. A win over backyard rival Seneca East would send the seniors out on a positive note, but it will be a tall order.

Upper Sandusky (3-6, 1-5) at Mohawk (9-0, 6-0)

Mohawk has taken on all comers so far, using a relentless if not explosive offense and a solid defense that has allowed more than two scores in a game just once — in a 31-24 win over Seneca East.

The Warriors occupy the top spot in Division VII, Region 26 and even with a loss, only Edgerton would have a chance to pass them. Quarterback Keith Jenkins has passed for 1077 yards and rushed for 896 more, accounting for a combined 16 touchdowns.

Upper Sandusky has fallen on hard times in the second half of the season. After starting 3-2, the Rams, hampered by injuries, have lost four straight games by a combined score of 203-40, including last week’s 41-7 loss to Bucyrus.

Mohawk is coming off a 44-0 win over Wynford and will not likely want to lose momentum going into the playoffs by looking past Upper Sandusky in this Wyandot County rivalry contest.

Northmor (9-0, 6-0 KMAC) at Highland (8-1, 6-0 KMAC)

Northmor is having a historic year in football with its unblemished record through nine games. Only Highland stands between the Knights and a Know Morrow Athletic Conference title.

The Scots are a big obstacle, however. Despite having just one loss, Highland has not clinched a playoff spot. The Scots are currently seventh in rugged Division IV, Region 14 and they do not control their playoff destiny even with a win.

Northmor has secured a postseason spot, with the Knights now occupying the second spot in Division VI, Region 23. A win at Highland would likely give Northmor a home game in Week 11, but that is not guaranteed.

It should be a dandy at Sparta Friday night and it will be carried on WQEL 92.7.

Troy Christian (7-2) at Crestline (4-5)

Crestline also could play the spoiler this week. Troy Christian has the eighth spot in Division VI, Region 24. However, the Eagles are not even sure of a postseason appearance even with a win. Two team behind them could pass them if they also win.

Crestline is out of the playoff hunt but could secure a .500 season with a victory, something it has not accomplished since its 8-2 record in 2005.

The Bulldogs squeaked by Ashtabula St. John, 18-16, last week after beating the Heralds 52-0 two weeks prior in Crestline. As a note, the Eagles have only beaten one team with a winning record to date.

Ridgedale (2-5) at Grove City Christian (3-6)

All three of Grove City Christian’s wins have come against teams with a combined 0-27 record. However, the Eagles did play Berne Union (7-2) close, losing only 36-32.

Ridgedale lost to Berne Union 32-7 but there is no transitive property of football, so the Rockets do have a chance to end the season on a positive note.