Regional assignments are the same this season for the four Clinton County schools playing football.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the football region assignments Tuesday. The 10-week regular-season begins the week of Aug. 16, with the top 16 schools in each region qualifying for the playoffs that begin October 29-30.

Wilmington will be one of 23 teams in Division III Region 11.

Joining the Hurricane in the mostly southeast Ohio grouping are former South Central Ohio League rivals Chillicothe, London and Miami Trace.

Western Brown, a current rival with WHS in the American Division of the SBAAC, also in the region.

Wilmington defeated Marietta 56-14 in last season’s playoff opener then lost to Columbus St. Francis DeSales in the second round.

In Division IV Region 16, Clinton-Massie also has former SCOL counterparts Hillsboro, McClain and Washington Senior in the region.

Wyoming defeated Clinton-Massie 28-9 in last season’s Region 16 championship game.

Blanchester and East Clinton are again in Division V Region 20 along with SBAAC National Division school Clermont Northeastern.

Last season, the Wildcats won a 55-33 shootout with Madison-Plains in the first round then were upset by Springfield Shawnee 23-6 in the second round.

East Clinton opened with a 58-25 loss to Madison-Plains.

The 2021 football regions are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Football/Football-2021.

In all sports, coaches have an unlimited number of days from June 1 through July 31 to conduct voluntary conditioning, strength training and instructional opportunities. In football, helmets may be worn during summer voluntary sessions.

Also in the sport of football, there is a mandatory five-day acclimatization period for all student-athletes prior to contact. Two of those days can be completed in July so that shoulder pads can be worn on the first day of practice August 1.

While regional assignments are set, the schools participating in the state football playoffs is not. Schools have until October 1 to make changes to their tournament participation. In addition, multi-high school districts that restructure their high schools are required to have their enrollment reclassified as of Sept. 10 which may change their assigned tournament division.

The state championship games will be held Dec. 2-4 in Canton.