PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW Warren Harding vs. Cincinnati Elder

What: Division I state championship game.
When: 8 tonight.
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton.
Last meeting: The teams split their 2000 and 2001 meetings. Harding won 24-19 in 2000 at Mollenkopf Stadium and allowed a 14-3 halftime lead to slip away last season, losing 24-14 in Cincinnati.
Playoff history: Harding is making its fourth appearance in the playoffs, where the Raiders are 12-1. Harding is in the state championship for the third time, having won state titles in both of their previous appearances -- in 1974 and 1990. Although Elder has made nine appearances in the playoffs, with a 14-7 record, it will play in its first state championship game.
If you go: Take Interstate-76 west to I-77 south until you get into Canton. Exit at Fulton Road by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and proceed through the light. You can also turn right on Fulton and then left on any of the side streets.
WARREN HARDING (14-0)
53Cleveland South8
35Cleveland JFK0
28Strongsville21
42Cardinal Mooney0
71Toledo Whitmer0
43Ursuline10
20Boardman19
38Canton McKinley7
31Massillon27
10Austintown Fitch0
Playoffs
24Cleveland St. Ignatius17
18Lakewood St. Edward16
14Mentor7
21Massillon20
Raiders scouting report: Coach Thom McDaniels' three-year influence in the program can reach its peak Saturday when he attempts to earn Harding its third state championship. McDaniels also will try to become the first coach in Ohio history to win Division I titles with two different schools; he won with Canton McKinley in 1997. The Raiders survived another close call last week when they defeated Massillon in overtime. Senior QB Mike Kokal scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and Massillon missed an extra-point attempt as Harding rallied from a 14-7 deficit. Kokal has completed 83 of 151 passes for 1,083 yards and eight TDs, with two INTs. Senior QB Mike Phillips has completed 53 of 94 passes for 680 yards and six TDs, with three INTs. Junior RB Richard Davis has 209 carries for 1,410 yards and 16 TDs. The leading WR is senior Treymayne Warfield with 47 catches for 585 yards and five TDs.
CINCINNATI ELDER (13-1)
42Dixie Heights (Ky.)7
20Trinity (Ky.)44
42Cincinnati Western Hills8
45Roncalli (Ind.)7
45Cleveland St. Ignatius35
21Cincinnati St. Xavier17
47Cincinnati Moeller21
29Cincinnati LaSalle19
45Cathedral (Ind.)30
35Cincinnati Oak Hills8
Playoffs
20Cincinnati St. Xavier14
31Huber Heights Wayne3
28Cincinnati Colerain21
34Findlay31
Panthers scouting report: Elder isn't worrying too much about the four-hour bus ride to Canton. It's hard to complain when you're playing in your school's first state championship game. The Panthers gained confidence midway through the season with a victory at St. Ignatius, followed by a win over St. Xavier that snapped a six-game losing skid against that school. Coach Doug Ramsey cites his team's offensive line as a catalyst in this season's success. The line has pass protected for junior QB Rob Florian (120 of 222, 2,078 yards, 23 TDs, eight INTs) and opened holes for junior RB Bradley Glatthaar (322 carries, 930 yards, 32 TDs). Senior WR Bill Poland has 57 catches for 1,333 yards and 13 TDs, while junior WR Kurt Gindling has 37 catches for 566 yards and four TDs.
TV/Radio: ONN; WKBN-AM (570), WBBW-AM (1240).
-- Vindicator staff report