I've never been really sure how they worked, but I always like to check out the computer points for area teams as the year goes on. The official rankings come out closer to the end of the season to decide playoff seeding, but http://www.joeeitel.com/ always keeps a pretty accurate tally of where teams stand in the points.

Two area teams are at the top of their respective regions at the halfway point of the season. Avon tops Region 6 with 11.2 points. Region 6 has a few area teams in it inluding Avon Lake (No. 4), North Ridgeville (No. 9), Sandusky (No. 11) and Midview.

Elyria Catholic is still rolling in Division IV, Region 14. They have the top seed with 10.25 points. Their big boost was beating Divsion I Elyria a couple of weeks ago and then following it with a fellow top team, Columbus Archbishop Hartley. EC, along with Avon and Amherst has made its case as one of the best teams in Lorain County and maybe in all of Ohio with their stellar play so far. Region 14 also has Edison (No. 7) and Clearview (No. 8) vying for playoff spots. Huron (No. 10) and Brookside (No. 12) are also still in the hunt but have two losses and will need to play perfect while getting some help to get back in the top eight. Keystone and Wellington are also in Region 14.

Over in Division I, Region 2, Amherst is ranked second behind Twinsburg with 10.55 points. The Comets are coming off of an impressive victory over Westlake last week. Playoffs are a good possibility if the Comets split their final two games with Olmsted Falls and Avon Lake. Win both those games and they could be looking at grabbing the No. 1 seed. A lot still has to happen for the Comets, though. That final stretch is brutal. Lorain High and Elyria are also in Region 2.

Another team leading its region is Collins Western Reserve in Division V, Region 18. The Roughriders are off to a 5-0 start with games against Monroeville and St. Paul still to come.

Rounding out local teams in playoff contention, Monroeville and St. Paul are ranked seventh and eighth respectively in Division VI.