Avon Lake High Gets 1st Round Bye In High School Playoffs

AVON LAKE, OH — The No.3 seeded Avon Lake Shoremen will begin their playoff football journey on Oct. 16.

The Shoremen will play the winner of Wadsworth (No. 14) and Westlake (No. 19). Those two teams will meet on Oct. 9. The winner will then play Avon Lake in the second round of the postseason.

Avon Lake will have an opportunity to host its first playoff game.

Higher seeded teams will have the first opportunity to host playoff games. If that team cannot host their playoff game, the second team can host. Tickets for postseason games are still being discussed by OHSAA and participating schools.

If any team cannot play its scheduled game, due to COVID-19 or other extenuating circumstances, the remaining team will advance automatically.

"According the latest order from the Ohio Department of Health and the Governor, only 15 percent of the stadium's permanent seating capacity are permitted to attend games, unless the site has been approved for a variance by the Ohio Department of Health. Note that the home team can have its band in attendance for its games, while both teams can have cheerleaders," OHSAA said in a statement on attendance.

In a normal season, 224 high schools qualify for the football postseason, with eight schools from each of the 28 regions earning a bid for a championship. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemc, the playoffs will instead begin Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 and all participating high schools can opt into the postseason.

The Division II state championship game will be played between Nov. 19 and Nov. 22. The site of the game has not yet been announced.