The new-look Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs have arrived, and for a handful of area teams, they will get a rare breather before beginning their postseason journey.

The top 12 teams in each region qualified for the postseason — down from the top 16 teams last season — and the top four teams in each section will have the upcoming weekend off with a first-round bye. Seven of the 24 area squads that qualified for the postseason will have a bye before returning to action next weekend in the regional quarterfinals.

The first three rounds of the OHSAA playoffs will be hosted by the higher-seeded team, which is an increase from last year when it was just the first two rounds. All regional and state semifinal playoff games will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday nights, with t

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