(This story was provided by the Logan Daily News, written by Sports Editor Craig Dunn, cdunn@logandaily.com)

LOGAN — With the exception of two-time defending champion Jackson, Southeastern Ohio Athletic League media had a difficult time predicting who will finish where in the annual SEOAL pre-season media poll conducted by The Logan Daily News.

A total of 13 sportswriters, broadcasters and Internet personnel — with each conference school represented by at least one voter — picked the Ironmen to earn their third-consecutive championship.

Gallia Academy, last season's runner-up, was picked to finish second, followed by Warren, Logan, Chillicothe and Portsmouth.

But, other than Jackson, the numbers are close.

Jackson garnered 12 of the 13 first-place votes (Warren received the other), with points awarded on a basis of six for a first-place vote, five for second, etc.

The Ironmen thus scored 77 of a possible 78 points, followed by Gallipolis (51), Warren (47), Logan (40), Chillicothe (30) and Portsmouth (28).

However, whereas Jackson was a near-unanimous first-place selection, the other five teams all received votes ranging the gamut from second place to sixth.

Gallipolis was named second on four ballots, third on six, fourth on two and sixth on another while Warren received a vote in all six positions: one for first, four for second, three for third, one for fourth, two for fifth and two for sixth.

Two voters picked the Chieftains for second, fifth and sixth; three chose the Chiefs to place third, and four more picked the Purple & White for a fourth-place finish.

Chillicothe received one second-place vote, four for fourth, five for fifth and three for sixth; Portsmouth garnered one vote for both second and third, two for fourth, four for fifth and five for sixth.

Thus, if poll results hold form, the final week of the regular season would feature all three showdowns for first (Jackson at Gallipolis), third (Logan at Warren) and fifth (Portsmouth at Chillicothe) places.

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The annual Southeastern Ohio Athletic League pre-season football poll, conducted by The Logan Daily News, is as follows. First-place votes are in parenthesis, followed by total points received (maximum of 78 possible points) ranked on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis:

1, Jackson (12) 77

2, Gallipolis 51

3, Warren (1) 47

4, Logan 40

5, Chillicothe 30

6, Portsmouth 28