As expected, defending Division I state football champion Saint Ignatius is No. 1 in Region 1 in the first weekly computer playoff ratings by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Following the Wildcats in the top eight spots are Austintown Fitch; Willoughby South; St. Edward; North Royalton; Cleveland Heights; Mentor and Warren G. Harding.

Under the OHSAA Harbin playoff system, the top eight teams in each of the state's 24 regions at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs and the top four are awared a home game in the first round.

The Wildcats, who travel to Erie, Pennsylvania on Friday night to face a highly regarded McDowell team, remain in the top spot in the Associated Press big-school state poll and The Plain Dealer's Top 25, seven-county poll (see junior varsity football story below).

For the most part, computer playoff ratings guru Joe Eitel was right on the money with his Sunday poll.