PREVIEW Friday night football

CHANEY 4-2 vs. MOONEY (3-3)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Last time: Chaney won, 27-10, in 2001.
Notebook: Cowboys tailback Ed McElroy stunned unbeaten Poland last Friday with five touchdowns and 306 yards rushing in Chaney's 38-17 upset of the Bulldogs. Defensively, Chaney gave up 353 yards passing by Poland's Sean Clayton, but most of them came after Chaney opened up a 31-3 halftime lead. The Cowboys consider this a must-win game as far as their postseason hopes are concerned. That's because their last three opponents (Canton Timken, Rayen and Niles) have a combined five victories, which means there won't be much help in the computer ratings. This week, Chaney is the number-seven team in Division II Region 5 (thew top eight teams qualify for the playoffs). Last Saturday, Mooney, this week's number-seven team in Division IV Region 13, was an extra-point kick away from forcing overtime against Steel Valley Conference rival Fitch, but the Falcons' Davanzo Tate broke through the Cardinals' line and blocked Dustin Hinkle's boot in Mooney's 17-16 victory. The Cardinals' ground game struggled against the Falcons (30 yards on 25 carries), but quarterback Ron Stoops completed eight of 17 passes for 128 yards.
BOARDMAN (5-1, 1-0)vs. WARREN HARDING (6-0, 2-0)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
Last meeting: Harding won 16-6 in last season's Division I regional quarterfinal game. The Raiders have won five of the last six meetings.
Notebook: Boardman is ranked No. 8 in Division I of the Associated Press Poll and is sixth in Region I of the computer playoff ratings. The Spartans rebounded from a Week 5 loss to Massillon Jackson by pasting Painesville Riverside last week. Brad Beck led the Spartans with 96 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Tom Zetts, one of the area's best quarterbacks, has several targets to choose from, including tight end Mike Villagrana and wideouts Nick Burnett, Rob Perryman and Josh Susany. The Spartans have beaten St. Ignatius, Chaney, Wilson and Ursuline, but face their toughest test of the season. Warren Harding is ranked No. 1 in the AP poll and second in Region 1. Running back Richard Davis rushed for 102 yards in last Friday's 43-10 win over Ursuline. The Raiders rotate two quarterbacks: Mike Phillips is the better runner and Mike Kokal is the better passer. Receivers Treymayne Warfield, Antwaun Molden and Danny Stella key an explosive offense. Defensive backs Rob Massucci and Prescott Burgess are among the area's best.
TV/Radio: Fox 17/62; WKBN-AM 570.
URSULINE (3-3, 0-2)vs. FITCH (4-2, 1-0)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.
Last meeting: Ursuline won 38-22 last year.
Notebook: Fitch can keep pace for first place in the Steel Valley Conference with another victory. It would also help the Falcons' cause for a postseason berth. They are seventh in Region 1 of the Div. I computer ratings. Fitch is coming off a 17-16 victory over Mooney. Davanzo Tate's block of an extra-point kick preserved the victory at Stambaugh Stadium. QB Jason Aikens leads the Falcons in rushing with 374 yards on 99 attempts and 6 TDs. He doesn't throw often, having completed 15-of-27 passes for 253 yards and 0 TDs. Tate has totaled 615 all-purpose yards, third-best in the SVC. Ursuline, ranked 11th in the Div. IV state poll, is seeking its first SVC win this season after last week's 43-10 loss to Warren Harding. The Irish have playmakers in RB Delbert Ferguson (691 yards, 82 carries, 7 TDs), QB Daryll Clark (52-of-88 passes, 1,104 yards, 10 TDs) and TE Louis Irizarry (18 catches, 489 yards, 5 TDs). Ferguson also leads the SVC with 759 all-purpose yards.
Radio: WNIO-AM 1390.
-- Vindicator staff reports