HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW | Warren Harding vs. Mentor

What: Division I regional final.When: 7 p.m. Saturday.Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton.Last meeting: Harding lost 29-6 in Week 5 of the 1997 season at Mentor.Playoff history: Harding is in the playoffs for the fourth time and holds a 10-1 record. Mentor is making its sixth appearance in the playoffs but first since 1999. The Cardinals are 3-5 in those games.
WARREN HARDING (12-0)
53Cleveland South835Cleveland JFK028Strongsville2142Mooney071Toledo Whitmer043Ursuline1020Boardman1938Canton McKinley731Massillon2710Fitch024St. Ignatius1718St. Edward16
Raiders scouting report: Coach Thom McDaniels' team advanced to the regional final following one of the most dramatic victories in school history. Trailing 16-15 with just 18 seconds remaining and Harding on its own 25, senior QB Mike Kokal found sophomore WR Mario Manningham open on a 52-yard post pattern in the middle of the field. After Kokal spiked the ball to stop the clock, junior Joe Spain kicked a 39-yard game-winning FG with 5.2 seconds remaining. Harding had taken a 15-9 halftime lead, but its offense bogged down in the second half, hurting itself with turnovers and penalties. Junior RB Richard Davis ran for 125 yards on 16 carries and a TD, while Kokal, who rotated with senior Mike Phillips, finished 8 of 13 for 149 yards and two TD runs. Senior LB Stefon Alexander had an interception and fumble recovery. Senior S Prescott Burgess has played minimally for the Raiders as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
MENTOR (11-1)
48Cleveland Glenville3334Canton GlenOak73Solon2146Lorain Southview649Shaker Heights049Lorain Admiral King042Elyria1351Cleveland Heights1056Lakewood037Euclid058Ashtabula Lakeside624Solon17
Cardinals scouting report: Coach Steve Trivisonno's team is high scoring. Mentor has averaged 41 points per game this season. Its defense, which lines up in a 4-3, has surrendered 9 points per game, with four shutouts. Before the season, the coach said his team had the potential to be the school's best in 30 years. The Cardinals advanced to the regional final by prevailing in overtime against Solon, a team they lost to 21-3 in Week 3. The offense, directed by junior QB Thom Abbott, is run out of a spread formation, often with no huddle. Abbott has thrown for 2,500 yards and 25 TDs, with 16 INTs. His top WRs are senior Drew Gaborko (47 catches, 622 yards), senior Tyler Cortelezzi (44 for 658) and junior Greg Godic (36 for 651). Abbott ran 23 yards for the winning TD last week against Solon. He finished 14 of 30 for 180 yards and added over 100 yards rushing. Junior RB Matt Lieb leads the team with 737 yards rushing and 17 TDs. The Cardinals also feature 6-foot-4, 310-pound senior OL Ryan Parisi and 6-1, 215-pound senior LB Tom Brew.
Radio: WKBN-AM (570), WBBW-AM (1240).