Here are five things to know as the high school football postseason begins:
1. A hard road ahead
Every postseason bracket has challenges. There are always sharks in the water, so to speak. That's the beauty of it. Everything is earned. You want to win Region 9? Well, you got to beat Chardon. Region 21? Have fun with Kirtland.
Still, this season, the sharks are closer to the beach than usual, with a number of Portage County teams facing showdowns early in the tournament.
Take Garfield, for example, which despite an 8-2 season, with its only losses coming to one-loss squads in Brookfield and Warren JFK, would likely face powerhouse South Range in the second round if it is able to get by Conneaut Friday night.