Why doesn't Strongsville's last-place football team drop to a lower NOC division? Hey, Tim!

Hey, Tim: Nice update on the Northeast Ohio Conference last week. Why is Strongsville still in the Valley Division (for football) when they are not competitive anymore especially against teams like Mentor, Brunswick, etc.? North Royalton or Shaker Heights would be a good choice to move up and replace the Mustangs. Also, I hear St. Edward and St. Ignatius...

Strongsville's Dustin Stout dives for a touchdown against Lake Catholic last year. The Mustangs are not looking to dive down a division in the Northeast Ohio Conference despite not winning a league game in two years. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

Hey, Tim: Nice update on the Northeast Ohio Conference last week. Why is Strongsville still in the Valley Division (for football) when they are not competitive anymore especially against teams like Mentor, Brunswick, etc.? North Royalton or Shaker Heights would be a good choice to move up and replace the Mustangs. Also, I hear St. Edward and St. Ignatius are having a hard time scheduling football games for next season and one of them might not be eligible for the playoffs. – Gary Kozich, Mentor

Hey, Gary: To Strongsville's credit, it's not seeking an easier path to competitiveness and chooses to stay in the tougher Valley Division. Strongsville athletic director Paul Moses said the Mustangs feel they still can compete and have the motivation to play at the top level. Also, no teams are looking to move up to the Valley Division.

St. Edward has nine games and St. Ignatius has eight, and both are working to fill those gaps. St. Ignatius probably will have at least nine games, and an open week won't hinder either team's playoff chances.

St. Edward opens with six straight home games. Its schedule thus far: Glenville, Buchtel, Washington D.C. Woodson, Cincinnati Elder at Bay, Erie (Pa.) McDowell, Cardinal Mooney, open, at Cincinnati St. Xavier, Cincinnati Moeller and St. Ignatius at Byers Field.

St. Ignatius' schedule thus far: Detroit Brother Rice at Wayne State, at Mentor, Erie (Pa.) Strong Vincent, Erie (Pa.) McDowell, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, Lawrence (Ind.) Central, open weeks 7 and 8, Cincinnati St. Xavier at John Carroll and St. Edward.

Of note, St. Ignatius lost Glenville because the Senate Athletic League is going to a Weeks 4-10 league schedule. Brother Rice, Paramus Catholic and Lawrence Central were state champions in their respective divisions last year.