HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Saturday's playoff football games

DIVISION I
CLEVELAND ST. IGNATIUS (7-3) vs. WARREN HARDING (10-0)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Last meeting: St. Ignatius won 40-33 in last year's regional final.
Record in playoffs: Warren Harding (8-1); St. Ignatius (47-5).
Harding scouting report: This is the best first-round playoff game in the state. Harding enters ranked as the No. 1 team in Div. I. The Raiders are the first team to win outright back-to-back Steel Valley Conference titles since Mooney in 1980-81. Harding is making its fourth playoff appearance, winning state titles in 1974 and 1990. Harding coach Thom McDaniels last beat Ignatius when he was at Canton McKinley in 1997. The Bulldogs won the state title that year and also won the USA Today national title. Harding is led by rotating quarterbacks Mike Kokal (the better passer) and Mike Phillips (the better runner), who also plays defensive back. Running back Richard Davis isn't Maurice Clarett, but he's got good size and speed. Senior defensive back Prescott Burgess, one of the state's best players, will likely miss the game with a shoulder injury. Harding beat three playoff teams: Strongsville (Div. I), Massillon Washington (I) and Ursuline (IV). "We think our regular season experiences have made us a better playoff participant," McDaniels said. "We've played in bad weather, we've come from behind. We've played a good schedule."
Ignatius scouting report: The Wildcats have won nine state titles -- the most in Ohio -- in 15 appearances. The Wildcats beat Cincinnati St. Xavier 37-6 to win last year's state title -- the first team with more than three losses to win a state title (they finished 11-4) and the lowest seed to do so (No. 7 in Region 1). Of this year's Div. I playoff teams, only Cincinnati Moeller has more playoff appearances (21) than Ignatius. The Wildcats are led by quarterback Brian Hoyer, running back Carter Welo, who had 20 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown in last year's regional final, and WR/DB Tony Gonzalez, who had three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in last year's regional final and will play at Ohio State next fall. The Wildcats started slow this year, but are much improved since a Week Two loss to Boardman. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle has won nine of the last 14 Div. I state titles. He coached against McDaniels seven times in the 1990s. The field could be an issue -- Mollenkopf's turf is in poor shape after last week's rain, and home games by Harding and Warren JFK.
Radio: WKBN-AM (570).
DIVISION III
POLAND (7-3)vs. CLEVELAND BENEDICTINE (8-2)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Bedford High stadium, Bedford.
Record in playoffs: In its sixth year in the playoffs, Poland is 9-4. In its 13th year in the playoffs, Benedictine is 20-8.
Last meeting: In the teams' only meeting, Benedictine defeated Poland 10-3 in 1996 and went on to win the Div. III state title.
Notebook: Poland is in the playoffs for the second straight year. The Bulldogs lost in the regional final to Mentor Lake Catholic last season after a 9-1 regular season. After going 7-3 this season, Poland, under head coach Paul Hulea, needed help to qualify for the postseason. The offense is led by senior QB Sean Clayton (1,662 passing yards, 18 TDs, four INTs); senior RB Brandon Hardin (1,006 yards, seven TDs); and junior WR Dave Koval (800 yards, 10 TDs). The defense, led by senior DB Neil Harris, has four shutouts this season. A pair of juniors, RB Raymond Williams and K Sam Koyl, lead Benedictine's charge. Williams has rushed for 2,300 yards and 30 TDs this season, moving into second place on the school's all-time scoring list with 240 points. He holds the school's single-game rushing record (337 yards), which he broke this season against Mentor Lake Catholic. Koyl has 49 points coming on 31 extra points and six field goals. He has kicked six field goals of over 40 yards in his career, including a 50-yarder last season against Cardinal Mooney. Sophomore QB Joe Laffey has completed 36-of-85 passes for 553 yards and three TDs, with six interceptions. The Bengals' defense is led by junior LB Joe Schaefer (27 solo tackles, 57 assists), junior LB Maurice White (16, 34) and sophomore DB Joe Cigas (18, 28).
Radio: WNIO-AM (1390).
BEAVER LOCAL (8-2)vs. RICHMOND EDISON (9-1)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Richmond Edison High.
Record in playoffs: Beaver Local is 0-2. This is the first appearance for Edison.
Notebook: The Beavers lost a first-round playoff game in 2000. Last week, they lost 41-12 to Edison as they fumbled 17 times and lost the ball five times. Coach Rich Wright will be counting on his defense to turn the tables on that setback. Junior defensive lineman Adam Hoppel, a 2002 state wrestling champion, and twin senior brothers Jordan and Jared Williams, linebackers, are leading tacklers for the Beavers. Jordan, a fullback, has rushed for 900 yards. Jake Robinson has started at quarterback seven times during his career and will replace Derek Smith, sidelined with a broken collar bone. Robinson scored two TDs last week. Quarterback Caleb Meyer of Edison gained 104 yards on 11 carries with two TDs and he hit on 5-of-8 passes for 61 yards and two TDs.
DIVISION V
SPRINGFIELD (6-4) vs. DALTON (9-1)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Dalton High stadium.
Record in playoffs: Springfield (3-4); Dalton (1-4).
Notebook: Don't be deceived by the 6-4 record coach John Smith turned in with the Tigers. Springfield lost to Poland (Div. II playoff squad), East Palestine (Div. IV playoff team) and to undefeated Lowellville (Div. VI playoff entry). The Tigers were 6-4 last season, also. This year they scored 215 points and permitted just 172. Dalton lost to Smithville 21-19 in the Wayne County League. Dalton is coached by Bob Ramsay, in his 22nd year. Some of the top Dalton players are senior quarterback Mark Jameson (6-1, 173), who has hit on 42 of 77 for 626 yards and seven touchdowns, and junior running back Derek Jackson (5-8, 176), who was third in the league with 203 carries, 1,090 yards and 18 TDs. Tight end Pete Kiko (senior, 6-2, 184) is a top threat, while receiver Drew Gerber (senior, 5-10, 160) has 12 catches, 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240), WBBG-FM (106.1).
NEWTON FALLS (7-3)vs. SMITHVILLE (10-0)
Game time: 7 p.m. at Smithville.
Record in playoffs: Newton Falls (0-1), Smithville (7-6).
Notebook: Newton Falls suffered three losses but two were to Trumbull Athletic Conference opponents, 41-21 to Hubbard and 13-0 to Girard. Both those teams are also in the playoffs. Newton Falls, which went 6-4 in 2001, is coached by Marc Bjelac. The Tigers scored 244 points and permitted 191. Smithville is the top-seeded team in Region 17 and won the Wayne County League. Dalton, another playoff entry, also competes in the Wayne County League. Smithville is coached by Keith Schrock, now in his 26th season. This is his first undefeated season. Fullback Kyle Kauffman (senior, 5-10, 195) ran 109 times for 621 yards and led the area in scoring with 13 touchdowns. He kicked 39 extra points. Smithville also features running back Eric Beichler (5-0, 160) with 100 carries for 703 yards and six touchdowns. He caught 12 balls for 176 yards. Drew Beichler (6-2, 180) leads all receivers with 12 catches for 183 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Andy Foster (senior, 5-8, 135) has hit on 36-of-70 for 570 yards and eight TDs with just one interception.
-- Vindicator staff report