Following the fourth week of playoff football, three teams have emerged in Divisions I, II and IV from Northeast Ohio in hopes of bringing State Championship crowns back home.

Representing Ohio in Division I on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. will be the Glenville Tarblooders who are making their first appearance ever in the state final. In Division II, the Maple Heights Mustangs, who a few years back were 0-10 will duke it out Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in hopes of completing their turnaround. And in Division IV, undefeated Chagrin Falls will try and remain perfect at 11:00 a.m. Saturday.

Here are the match ups for this upcoming football filled weekend:

    VS.   

Glenville Tarblooders (13-1) VS. Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (12-1)

Saturday, Dec. 5. Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Canton Fawcett Stadium

Despite both Glenville and Hilliard Davidson being talented squads this season, heading into the playoffs the Tarblooders and Wildcats were not favored in either of their regions. In Region I, No. 1 St. Ignatius and No. 2 Solon looked to be the favorites, however head coach Ted Ginn Sr. and the Tarblooders knocked off both the Wildcats and the Comets to reach the State Semifinals where they got by Massillon Washington in a relatively easy manner. Hilliard Davidson is from the Columbus region and only played nine regular season games finishing 8-1. Questions lingered about the Wildcats heading into the postseason, but quarterback Jack Trubiano and the rest of this talented squad have defeated a tough Dublin Coffman team and then last week got by Cincinnati powerhouse Elder 26-20.

    VS.    

Maple Heights Mustangs (12-2) VS. Cincinnati Winton Woods (12-2)

Friday, Dec. 4 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Massillon Tiger Stadium

A few years ago, former Mustangs head coach Jeff Rotsky left Maple Heights after turning around the program from 0-10 to 10-0. Rotsky did a great job revitalizing the program, however after he left for a job at Cleveland Heights, the Mustangs program began to slip again. That is until a dedicated coaching staff, led by head coach Todd Filtz arrived. This season, Filtz and his coaching staff have done a tremendous job bringing Maple Heights football back to heights it is very familiar with. After a huge regional final win over Lake Catholic, the Mustangs have all the confidence they need to win the Division II title. Cincinnati Winton Woods lost two games in the regular season and most people thought maybe they could make the regional final. Wow! They were wrong. Winton Woods is not running their triple-option to perfection and it has proven to do wonders the past four weeks. The athletic Cincinnati squad is a very speedy team, but Maple Heights may be a faster squad than Glenville.

   VS.   
Chagrin Falls Tigers (14-0) VS. Kettering Alter Knights (14-0)
Saturday, Dec. 5 Kickoff at 11:00 A.M. @ Canton Fawcett Stadium

It will be a battle of unbeatens Saturday morning when the Tigers duke it out with the defending State Champion Knights down at Canton Fawcett Stadium. Kettering Alter sure looks to be the favorite providing balance on both the offensive and defensive side of the football, however head coach Mark Iammarino and the Tigers can move the ball on anyone. Chagrin Falls has not seen an offense like the Knights, but if quarterback Chris Trinetti and running back Chris Gorman can provide big plays and score some points early on, the Tigers have as good a shot as anyone in Division IV to hand Kettering Alter their first loss of the season in the biggest stage either team has played on all year long.   

* Rankings are based on OHSAA Computer Point Rankings

DIVISION I REGION 1 SEMIFINAL GAMES:

                            VS.    
# 5 Glenville Tarblooders VS. # 1 St. Ignatius Wildcats

11/14 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Lakewood Stadium

The Tarblooders and Wildcats met in the first week of the regular season 10 weeks
ago with head coach Chuck Kyle’s squad winning the opening week match up 14-13 on a late touchdown pass by senior quarterback Mark Myers. Since that loss Glenville has trounced every other foe they have faced on their way to a Senate Athletic League Championship and a defense that is only allowing 6.8 points per contest. Ted Ginn Sr. and the Tarblooders were on the road in the first round of the 2009 OHSAA Playoffs and as expected dismantled the North Royalton Bears 41-16. Opposing defenses cannot just focus on one offensive weapon because the Tarblooders have too many. Quarterback Cardale Jones is a dual threat to both run and pass while running back Robert Walton Jr. is a premier tailback in Northeast Ohio. Focusing on Jones and Walton just sets up for wide receivers Latwan Anderson and Shane Wynn to do some damage downfield though, so the Wildcats need to be ready for anything. Unlike last season heading into this game the Wildcats do already have a win over the Tarblooders and know what it will take to defeat such an athletic, quick group of players. Since Week 1 St. Ignatius has become dangerous at airing out the football. Obviously in order to win this game ‘Cats junior running back Robert Grebenc has to run the football behind a big veteran-laden offensive line, but Myers and the rest of the offense need to pass the football. Glenville will dare the Wildcats to throw the football as they could put up to as many as nine defensive players in the box to guarantee stopping Grebenc. You would think this match up between the Tarblooders and Wildcats would be a toss up, especially having so many great match ups over the years and a close game in Week 1, but that is not the case. St. Ignatius should definitely win this football game. Is Glenville faster? Yes. Are they more athletic? Absolutely. However, the Wildcats are the overall better football team; and while Glenville may contain St. Ignatius’ high powered offense, at some point they are bound to make a mistake or four. The only chance the Tarblooders have to win this game is if they play perfect mistake-free football and outcoach one of the best coaching staff’s in the country. We just don’t see that happening Saturday night at Lakewood Stadium. 


                     VS.   
# 3 Mayfield Wildcats VS. # 2 Solon Comets

11/14 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Byers Field

Why two East side teams are going out to the West side to play this game in Parma draws many questions, especially when Bedford Bearcat Stadium is in both teams’ backyards, but we will leave that up to the OHSAA. This other Division I Region 1 semifinal match up is also a rematch from Week 6 of the regular season when the Comets defeated Mayfield 27-20 at Stewart Field. Now the game is at a neutral site, the Wildcats have players back from injuries that they did not have five weeks ago and Solon defensive end and Ohio State recruit Darryl Baldwin is questionable following a sprained ankle he suffered in the Comets’ first round win over Euclid. All things look to be pointing in head coach Larry Pinto’s squad’s favor. Well…....maybe. The fact is the 27-20 win for Solon five weeks ago was actually not as close as the final score might indicate. Throughout the entire night head coach Jim McQuaide’s squad controlled the tempo and had a defensive mind lapse on Mayfield’s first touchdown, a Lee Longo bomb pass to wide receiver Chuck Zavarella. And despite having a defense that boasts 10 shutout victories in the last two seasons, quarterback Jake Voigt and the Comets offense scored at will on the Wildcats and defensively Solon actually looked to be the better overall unit and have proved it allowing just 9.8 points per contest. It is hard to beat a team twice though, and despite the final score being closer than the game actually was, Pinto’s squad wants revenge and feels they are indeed the better team. Wildcats kicker Carey Spear certainly has a lot to prove as five weeks ago he missed an extra point and two chip-shot field goals in the loss to Solon. Since his time at Solon, McQuaide has never made it past the second round of the postseason, that should change this week though because while Mayfield is certainly a top team in Region I, the Comets have a special group boasting balance on both sides of the football, something the Wildcats are lacking.

DIVISION I REGION 2 SEMIFINAL GAME:

                                          VS.  
# 3 Massillon Washington Tigers VS. # 2 Twinsburg Tigers

11/14 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Canton Fawcett Stadium

Now this game is a toss up. Not necessarily because Twinsburg and Massillon are so evenly matched, but because it is merely impossible to predict which two teams will show up Saturday night at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium. Both Jason Hall and Mark Solis, the respective head coaches, have seen their fair shares of ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ football this season from both of their teams, and it is a matter of which team will show up. If it comes down to athleticism, Twinsburg certainly has the edge. Running backs Joe Hiller and Dion Johnson are a great 1-2 combo for the blue and white, while senior quarterback Andrew Collier keeps defenses guessing due to his ability to throw the football. Collier’s favorite target, Waqueim Comar has the ability to break for the end zone any time he touches the football. Defensively the key is Twinsburg defensive tackle Brandon Bucknell. In “T-Burg’s” recent first round win over Brunswick, Bucknell and the defense held a talented Blue Devils offense to just 14 points on the entire night. Along with the most passionate fans in high school football comes a Massillon Tigers team that may have overachieved in the regular season. Following a 35-21 loss to longtime rival Canton McKinley and a close 17-10 win over North Canton Hoover in the first round of the OHSAA Playoffs questions have been raised about the orange and black. There is no doubt quarterback Rob Partridge is a special player who can move the football with his arm and legs, but in recent weeks the ground attack just has not been there for Massillon. It was certainly evident in their Week 7 loss at Steubenville. Bo Grunder is a dangerous wide receiver, but the Tigers will let their famous fans down if they can’t run the football on Twinsburg. Due to the way these two teams have been “on and off” this season, this game is a toss up, but we won’t be surprised if Twinsburg snags a victory.

DIVISION IV REGION 13 SEMIFINAL GAME:

                                       VS.   
# 5 Cortland Lakeview Bulldogs VS. # 1 Chagrin Falls Tigers

11/13 Kickoff 7:00 P.M. @ Aurora InkStop Field at Veterans Stadium

One of the more highly anticipated match ups in the 2009 OHSAA Playoffs was a second round match up between Chagrin Falls and Manchester. Cortland Lakeview ruined those hopes with a 24-13 win over the Panthers at James R. France Stadium and now they are hoping to make it two upsets in-a-row this time against top seeded Chagrin Falls. The Bulldogs will go with what got them this far and that’s junior running back Te Elias, who has 25 touchdowns this season and is literally a scoring machine behind a veteran-laden offensive line. Defensively Cortland Lakeview isn’t perfect, but the Tigers certainly will not put up 41 points on the Bulldogs as they did in their first round victory over Campbell Memorial. Tigers quarterback Chris Trinetti is better than any quarterback the Bulldogs have faced, and the minute they focus on him it will be the Chris Gorman show, as the senior running back is also a viable option for head coach Mark Iammarino. With such a talented Chagrin Falls offense, the defense is sometimes overlooked, but we’re taking notice as the Tigers “D” boasts a steady front seven and is only allowing just 9.8 points per contest. In order to keep their ‘Cinderella’ run alive, the Bulldogs have to find another option besides Elias. It just seems like the Tigers have too many weapons and a win could set up a great match up in the Division IV Regional Final between Iammarino’s squad and either undefeated Girard or Woodridge, who the Tigers only beat 32-26 in Week 3 of the regular season.  

* Rankings are based on OHSAA Computer Point Rankings

WTAM 1100 will be covering the playoffs in regions where teams in our coverage area remain. As long as local teams remain in the postseason we will keep covering them. However, once local teams are eliminated from an entire region, we will stop covering that region as a whole. 

DIVISION I REGION 1 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                         VS.         
# 8 Boardman Spartans VS. # 1 St. Ignatius Wildcats

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Byers Field

Aren’t the OHSAA Playoffs designed to give the top team in each region an easy first round game? Apparently not in Region I this year. Other than No. 5 Glenville, the Spartans are the toughest opponent of all the lower seeds and would most likely beat No. 4 North Royalton. Youngstown Boardman finished the regular season 7-3, a season that featured big wins and heartbreaking losses. To put in perspective just how tough head coach D.J. Ogilvie’s squad is, they lost to the top team in the state regardless of division, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, by only six points and defeated 2009 postseason teams North Canton Hoover and Canton GlenOak by a combined score of 42-7. The Spartans are led by 6-2, 210 lbs. quarterback Rob Boyd who is a dual threat to both run and pass the football behind a veteran-laden offensive line. The top ranked squad in the region, St. Ignatius, finished with 40.9515 computer points, dominating the rest of the region in that category with No. 2 Solon second at 33.6000, a huge margin of separation. Head coach Chuck Kyle’s squad defeated rival St. Edward 28-0 in the final week of the season and their two big guns on offense, quarterback Mark Myers and running back Robert Grebenc led the charge as they have all season. The Wildcats went undefeated in the regular season with a very tough schedule, and their defense, led by linebacker and Ohio State recruit Scott McVey allowed just 13.1 points per game in a docket that featured some of the best offenses in Ohio. The obvious choice in this game would be to pick St. Ignatius, especially being home at Byers Field, but this game is actually a toss up. Youngstown Boardman is big and athletic, and if they can run the football they have a chance to knock off the Wildcats. Spartans running back Nick Buonavolonta is a steady running back that will have to move the football in order for Boyd to open up the passing game. If Grebenc and Myers a clicking it could be a long night for Boardman, but the Spartans defense is athletic and flies to the football. This is the top first round game in Region I.

                  VS.      
# 7 Euclid Panthers VS. # 2 Solon Comets

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Stewart Field

Up until the evening on Saturday, Oct. 31, the Comets were slated to face No. 8 Youngstown Boardman, but games involving St. Ignatius and Youngstown East affected the final OHSAA Computer Point Standings and now head coach Tom Gibbons’ Panthers will visit Solon at Stewart Field this Saturday night. The undefeated Comets definitely caught a break, but that isn’t to say their first round playoff game is a walk in the park. Euclid comes into the playoffs riding a three-game winning streak that features big wins over Maple Heights and Shaw. The Panthers defense is full of athletes which could pose problems for Solon quarterback Jake Voigt early on to get rid of the football. One problem for Euclid is their depth. The guys that Gibbons plays are good, no doubt, but if the Panthers defense is out on the field too long, Solon can take advantage late in the game as head coach Jim McQuaide’s squad is very deep. For the most part it’s a two-man show on offense for Euclid with quarterback Chuck Bradford and running back Devon McGowan carrying most of the load, so receivers like Seth Morgan will have to step up and make plays if the Panthers have a shot at knocking off the talented Comets. Solon and Euclid have never played in the history of the two schools but the Comets are definitely favorites in this first-ever match up. Voigt uses up to six receivers, his main target being Tres Barksdale, which is a perfect compliment for a very dangerous running attack led by juniors Kyle Hammonds and Christian Jackson. We have to give the edge to Solon in the trenches, as they boast size and veterans, but Euclid will be one of the more quicker teams the Comets have faced this season. The Panthers are going to try and make this an offensive shootout and that is probably the only way they could win this game, but it just seems too tough to try and come in and score 40 points on a defense, led by DE Darryl Baldwin and LB Tony Davidson that is only allowing 10.2 points per game. Euclid will come out firing, but as the game wears on Solon should pull away and by the fourth quarter should have victory in hand. 

                  VS.    

# 6 Parma Redmen VS. # 3 Mayfield Wildcats

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Mayfield Municipal Stadium

For the first time in school history Parma has qualified for the OHSAA Playoffs, but head coach Bob Cyr’s squad does not have much time to enjoy their postseason qualification as they take on No. 3 Mayfield this Saturday night in the first round. Other media outlets are already saying this game is a lock-win for Mayfield, but they have not done their homework. The Redmen come into the playoffs riding a four-game winning streak and have improved with each passing week. The red and silver team visiting Mayfield Municipal Stadium Saturday is a completely different squad than the team that lost to Padua Franciscan 35-0 and to Solon 42-6. And even in their loss at Solon, the Redmen had a chance to tie the ball game at 14-14 in the second quarter before fumbling on the two-yard line and then letting things get out of hand in the second half. Cyr’s squad does not boast much depth on both offense and defense which could hurt Parma if things get tight late in the game. Parma is led by running back Mike Von Benken, who must have a good game on the ground, if quarterback George Blake is going to have any time in the pocket against one of the top defenses in the state of Ohio. The Wildcats are definitely favorites in this showdown, but offensively have somewhat fallen off from where they were at the beginning of the season. Quarterback Lee Longo keeps improving and may go to the air first against the Redmen, in which case he’ll look to wide receiver Chuck Zavarella. In previous years Mayfield has been a running team, but head coach Larry Pinto has switched some things up this season so it is never a guarantee what could happen when the green and white have the ball. Despite wanting to pass, the Wildcats have a great 1-2 punch in running backs Tim Wetzel and Cory Hayes, who both also see time on a defense that is only allowing 7.6 points per contest. And if things do get close with Parma Saturday, senior kicker Carey Spear is the top place kicker in the state and can be the difference between a win and a loss. The big advantage for the Wildcats though is defense. Even if Pinto’s squad is struggling to move the ball offensively, their “D” can bail them out shutting down the Redmen attack, and eventually Longo will likely guide a scoring drive. Mayfield should win this game, but it will not be as one-sided as people think.  

                             VS.    

# 5 Glenville Tarblooders VS. # 4 North Royalton Bears

117 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ North Royalton Stadium

One of the things this site has been known for is telling it like it is. And when dealing with Saturday’s first round match up between Glenville and North Royalton, we have to tell it like it is…the Bears do not stand a chance. Yes the game is at North Royalton Stadium, yes they are the higher seed, yes Glenville has been known to make mistakes against fundamentally sound teams and yes Bears head coach Nick Ciulli is making a name for himself as a premier coach in Northeast Ohio, but the Tarblooders are just too tough for North Royalton to try and pull off the upset. The tandem of quarterback Cardale Jones and running back Robert Walton Jr. should be enough to get the job done offensively, but even if they are ineffective against the North Royalton front seven, Glenville wide receivers Shane Wynn and Latwan Anderson are speedy targets that Jones loves to go to. In order to stop the running attack of Walton Jr. and Jones, Ciulli’s squad will have to throw nine guys in the box which will perfectly set up Anderson and Wynn with man-to-man coverage that they simply cannot be stopped with. North Royalton is led by a talented signal caller in senior Jon Capadona, but there is only so much he can do. Unless the Bears successfully run the football with running back Logan Pierce, it is going to be a long night. The Tarblooders have no respect for the North Royalton rushing attack, so their focus will be solely on Capadona. While being pursued by one of the best front seven in Ohio, Capadona will look for wide receiver Stachon Warren, but chances are Glenville defensive back Christian Bryant will be locked on the Bears’ talented wideout all night. The only chance North Royalton has to pull off the biggest upset in recent high school football history is if Pierce rushes over 200 yards forcing the Tarblooders defense to concentrate on a ground attack allowing Capadona to work his magic through the air. Don’t count on it though; head coach Ted Ginn Sr. and the Senate Champions should have this game well in hand before the fourth quarter even starts.

DIVISION I REGION 2 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                                VS.   
# 7 Brunswick Blue Devils VS. # 2 Twinsburg Tigers

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Twinsburg Tiger Stadium

Was there ever any doubt that these two teams would meet again come playoff time? Albeit not in the first round, but a great 9-1 regular season by the Tigers coupled with some uncharacteristic losses by head coach Rich Nowak’s squad has set these teams up to do battle once again this Saturday night in Summit County. Twinsburg won the first time five weeks ago 21-9, in a game where everything seemed to go right for head coach Mark Solis’ squad, while many mistakes were made by the Blue Devils at Judy Kirsch Field. This time Twinsburg is the host team, but as many already know, it is hard to beat a team twice, especially two talented squads as balanced as Brunswick and the Tigers. Twinsburg will look to jump on the Blue Devils early again using suffocating defense and the big play to shift momentum in their favor. Tigers defensive tackle Brandon Bucknell anchors a “T-Burg” defensive unit that is only allowing 8.4 points per contest and boasts one of the most athletic defensive backfields in the area where both safeties and cornerbacks have the ability to take back interceptions for touchdowns. During their first match up in Week 5, the Tiger defense used early turnovers to help put Twinsburg in command. The offense is led by quarterback Andrew Collier who is one of the best passing quarterbacks in the area and goes to wide receiver Waquiem Comar a lot and rightfully so. Comar has the ability to score a touchdown any time he touches the football. The successful Tigers passing attack is aided by a great 1-2 punch at running back in seniors Dion Johnson and Joe Hiller. All of the ineligible player allegations have finally been put to rest about Brunswick quarterback Jess Smatana which should help the team focus on the task at hand in Twinsburg. Smatana is a very talented quarterback who is actually a bigger threat to run the football. Both Smatana and running back Lorenzo Pace carry the load on offense, but the Tigers know they can’t just focus on the Blue Devils ground attack because the minute Solis’ defense is respecting the run, Smatana will air it out to senior wide receiver Jared Kaderbek and a solid core of receivers. Nowak and his squad are too good to let Twinsburg beat them twice in one season, but the Tigers are certainly the better team Saturday night, which makes this game a toss up. One thing is guaranteed though, the winner of this first round showdown has a great shot of playing in the State Semifinals against the winner of Region I.

                            VS.     
# 5 Wadsworth Grizzlies VS. # 4 GlenOak Golden Eagles

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ GlenOak Stadium

All playoff games are important, but this match up between the Grizzlies and Golden Eagles seems much more crucial because both teams have the ability to knock off top seeded Toledo Whitmer and a win here would pit the victor into next week’s Regional Semifinal with the Panthers on a neutral field. Less than half a computer point caused this game to be at GlenOak Stadium and Wadsworth head coach Greg Dennison isn’t happy about it. Now the 9-1 Grizzlies must play on the road in the first round despite a shocking Week 8 upset to Medina Highland and the Eagles have two losses. Similar to Brunswick, Wadsworth’s senior quarterback Caleb Busson is a run-first quarterback that has rushed for over 100 yards five times this season. He is complimented in the backfield by talented sophomore running back Jack Snowball. Coming into the season opposing teams tried to focus on Wadsworth senior wide receiver Anthony Schrock, but Busson and Snowball have guided the offense for the most part, but the second teams focus on the Grizzlies backfield, Busson has no problem connecting with one of the most talented wideouts in the state of Ohio in Schrock. Even heading into the postseason though, questions still linger about the Grizzlies defensive unit. All season Dennison’s squad has given up what coaches call “the big play”. Lowly squads like Nordonia (scored 29) and Green (scored 21) scored at will on Wadsworth which should help head coach Scott Garcia and the Golden Eagles who do not boast a juggernaut offense. Canton Glenoak quarterback Brandon Martin isn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he has helped the Golden Eagles to a solid 8-2 regular season and was a huge factor in their Week 6 win over Canton McKinley. At running back for Garcia’s squad is senior Colin Mitchell. The Golden Eagles squad is built on defense. Linebackers Spyro Spondyl, Thomas Ross and Andrew Garman are three of the best defensive players in Ohio all on one team. All three have been instrumental factors in Canton GlenOak holding opponents to just 12.6 points per contest. This Division I Region II first round match up is the tale of two opposite squads, but sets up for a big showdown when the Grizzlies offense is on the field with the Golden Eagles defense. At a neutral site this might be a toss up, but defense wins close games and the team with the better defense is the Golden Eagles and to boot, this game is at GlenOak Stadium.  

    

DIVISION II REGION 5 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                 VS.       

# 8 Ravenna Ravens VS. # 1 Lake Catholic Cougars

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium

Ever since the 2009 OHSAA Playoff Pairings were announced Sunday afternoon people thought the team most likely to be upset would be Lake Catholic in an opening round match up with scrappy Ravenna. Our only question is: Why? The consensus answer is that stud running back and linebacker Richie Sanders is not back for another two weeks due to a collarbone injury that occurred in a Week 6 win over Padua Franciscan. What people are failing to understand is that ever since Sanders went down, the Cougars are 5-0 and have beaten very good competition, namely wins over Archbishop Hoban and rival NDCL. Oh, by the way, head coach Mike Bell’s squad won those two games by a combined score of 62-14. Now, we’re not predicting that the Cougars can win Division II Region 5 without Sanders, but they can surely get past the 8-2 Ravens. Lake Catholic quarterback Jerrod Ronyak has made the Cougars a passing team ever since the injury to Sanders and his trio of wide receivers Chris Kozlowski, Connor Briggs and Jonathan Tatarko are loving it, as they are not only anchoring the offensive air attack, they are setting up teams for backup running back Matt Fee to attack on the ground as well. Fee has done a great job for Bell’s squad stepping up, but it certainly helps when you have a talented quarterback with three receivers that would be the top options at Division I teams. Defensively the Cougars are rock solid as well, allowing just 8.7 points per game. An upset is possible for head coach Jim Lundardi’s squad, but the Ravens will have to play their best football of the season if they want to see the Regional Semifinals. Running back Parnell Taylor is a dangerous weapon that defenses must focus on, but not totally as senior quarterback Zach Thomas is a dual threat to both run and pass the football. Ever since a disappointing 28-19 Week 3 loss to lowly Canton South, Ravenna has won seven straight scoring an impressive 26.9 points per game during that win streak that has featured five shutout victories. Can the upset happen? Absolutely, as the season has moved on week after week the Ravens continue to get better, but with all due respect to the opponents they have played, Lunardi’s squad has not played a team the caliber of Lake Catholic. The Cougars should win this game, especially being at home…but, we’ll call it a toss up, maybe the Ravens can pull off the upset people are talking about.  

                                     VS.    
# 6 West Geauga Wolverines VS. # 3 Ashland Arrows

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Frost-Kalnow Stadium

Head coach Dave Bors and the Wolverines have been underrated all season long, and despite a tough 14-7 loss to Chagrin Falls in Week 8, West Geauga has the ability to still make it through Region 5. In order to do so though, they have to get by Ashland at Frost-Kalnow Stadium where the Arrows are unbeaten this season. The Arrows are led by stud junior quarterback Marcus Fuller who is a dual threat to both run and pass the football behind a huge veteran-laden offensive line. The problem for Ashland is their defense. The Arrows’ defensive unit is allowing 28 points per game in their last three contests, something head coach Scott Valentine should be concerned about, especially with a high powered triple-option Wolverines offense coming in that is averaging 31.9 points per contest. Bors’ squad is led by senior quarterback Joe Drenski, who uses up to as many as five wide receivers and running back Adam LaRiccia to run the tricky triple-option. Ashland is tough to beat at home, but at the same time have not faced an opponent at Frost-Kalnow Stadium as tough as West Geauga. The Arrows are giving up too many points defensively to stop a talented bunch that Bors has, and we have yet to mention Wolverines linebacker Anthony Catalioto that is helping the defense hold opponents to just 9.9 points per contest. If Fuller can make it an offensive shootout, the Arrows have a chance to protect their home turf and advance to the Regional Semifinals, but Ashland can’t stop the West Geauga offense and have enough playmakers on defense to contain Fuller which should help the unheralded team from Chesterland get through to the next round. 

                       VS.     

# 5 Aurora Greenmen VS. # 4 Canfield Cardinals

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Canfield Cardinal Stadium

Could the defending Division III State Champions get knocked out in the first round of the postseason this Friday night at Canfield Cardinal Stadium? It is definitely possible. Head coach Mike Pavlansky and the Cardinals went a solid 9-1 on the season and head into the playoffs on a six-game winning streak that was capped off by a Week 10 win over Poland Seminary, a tough squad out of Southern Ohio. Quarterback Brett Cooper is the star of the Cardinals offense, but running back and safety Kyle Vaclav is the plays both ways and leads the team in both rushing and tackles this season. One thing Pavlansky’s squad has run into at times is depth issues, but with adrenaline flowing and their playoff lives on the line, Canfield should be fine on their home turf. Aurora is led by senior quarterback Ty Watson, who is being recruited by Big Ten football programs as well as a 1-2 combo of running backs Eric Schultz and Nick Sivillo. Sivillo is more of a receiving back but has touchdown carries on the season. Tight end Tim Gardner is a reliable target for Watson, who can also get the job done on the ground scrambling when he has to. The Greenmen are probably the better overall team, but the Cardinals are very tough to beat at home so this match up Friday night at Canfield Cardinal Stadium is a toss up. No matter who wins, they’ll have their hands full with either No. 1 Lake Catholic or No. 8 Ravenna.

DIVISION II REGION 6 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                    VS.       

# 7 Rocky River Pirates VS. # 2 Central Catholic Fighting Irish

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Gallagher Stadium

 
Toledo Central Catholic has played some of the best competition in the state this year and won, including a 10-0 win over Toledo St. Francis DeSales in Week 7 of the regular season, while Rocky River barley snuck into the postseason losing to Fairview in the final week of their 2009 campaign 22-7. The Pirates are led by senior quarterback Robbie Plagens who is very talented, but lacks reliable targets and a consistent rushing attack. The Pirates finished the regular season 7-3 and up until last week were looking at a possible first round home game after a big 23-21 win over North Ridgeville, but if the loss to the Warriors was any indication of how they will play Friday night, the Pirates’ 2009 season is over. The Fighting Irish are led by senior quarterback David Walender and junior running back Calebb Goings. The two of them have anchored Toledo Central Catholic’s offense that is scoring 26.3 points per contest and should have no problem getting by the Pirates that have not seen a team this good all season.

                                   VS.    
# 6 Maple Heights Mustangs VS. # 3 Rogers Rams

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Sparks Stadium

The Rogers Rams come in to Friday night’s first round match up with Maple Heights as the higher seed, but it can surely be argued that the Mustangs have the better team. The Rams ride a six-game winning streak into Sparks Stadium that quarterback E.J. Tucker has been an integral part of. Defensively head coach Rick Rios’ squad is led by linebacker Ray Bush that has helped the Rams hold opponents to 5.5 points per contest during their current winning streak. The only team the Rams have seen as good as Maple Heights though is Toledo Whitmer, and the Panthers won that contest in 43-20. Mustangs quarterback Shaq Washington is only a junior but may be one of the best quarterbacks in the state, while running back DeVonte Ransom is a great compliment to the junior. The Rams may throw nine players in the box just to try and contain Washington and Ransom, but that will be just what head coach Todd Filtz wants, as talented wide receiver Andre Stubbs is becoming a viable option for the Maple Heights at just the right time. The Rams are the more balanced squad and on paper look to be the better team, but the Mustangs have looked outmatched all season long…we expect Shaq and his crew to move on and out of Sparks Stadium with a “W” Friday night. 

 

DIVISION III REGION 9 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

               VS.       
# 6 Padua Bruins VS. # 3 Archbishop Hoban Knights

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ InfoCision Stadium

In Week 9, this was one of WTAM 1100’s Games of the Week and in that game capsule, we said these two teams could meet down the road in the playoffs. Well, they didn’t get too far down the road as the Bruins and Knights will duke it out again in the first round of the playoffs, this time at InfoCision Stadium on the campus of Akron University. Archbishop Hoban won the first meeting 10-6, and head coach Ralph Orsini’s squad has the ability to win again, but Tony Shuman’s squad is too talented to lose again. Quarterback James Flowers is a premier quarterback that can get the job done, and might be able to solve the Knights’ defense when getting another chance this Saturday night. This game is a toss up. Hey! Don’t blame us, it was a four point game last time. One thing is for sure though, the winner of this game can certainly make the Regional Championship because regardless of who wins, their second round game looks winnable no matter who they play.

DIVISION IV REGION 13 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                             VS.  
# 8 Memorial Red Devils VS. # 1 Chagrin Falls Tigers

11/6 Kickoff at 7:30 P.M. @ Harris Stadium

DIVISION V REGION 17 FIRST ROUND GAMES:

                                    VS.     
# 8 Waynedale Golden Bears VS. # 1 Cuyahoga Heights Redskins

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Cuyahoga Heights High School Stadium

               VS. 
# 5 Hawken Hawks VS. # 4 Independence Blue Devils

11/7 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Stan Skoczen Stadium