HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Friday games

SPRINGFIELD vs. MCDONALD
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.Where: McDonald High School.Last year: Springfield, which went unbeaten in the regular season, won, 35-13.At stake: Springfield has a long-shot chance to tie South Range for the Inter-County League title. McDonald needs a win and some help to qualify for the playoffs.Common opponents: Both lost to South Range by similar margins (McDonald, 38-6; Springfield, 41-0). Both teams defeated ICL rivals Western Reserve, Mathews, Jackson-Milton and Mineral Ridge. They split against Lowellville: the Blue Devils lost (18-14) while the Tigers won (27-21).Springfield (5-4, 5-1) scouting report: Dan Zitkovic rushed for 277 yards and scored three touchdowns in last week's 63-38 win over Western Reserve. On the year, he has 1,180 yards. Quarterback Pat Birch completed 11-of-20 passes for 141 yards. Overall, Birch has passed for approximately 1,300 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.The coach says: "We're treating this game as if it's our state championship game. With a win, we go out on a winning note. That would be pretty good considering where we started from after 23 graduated from last year's team," first-year coach John Smith said. "We're very excited because it's an opportunity to keep another team out of the playoffs." Smith calls the Blue Devils "a very good McDonald team. When I think of McDonald, I think of tradition. McDonald has pushed Springfield around for a long time, so there's a little animosity between the teams." Smith praised Birch for making "solid decisions. Our strength has been our skill positions. We use a four-receiver package that gives us the opportunity to spread [defenses] and take pressure off our young offensive line." Smith said the key to stopping Ashton will be gang tackling. "He's a very powerful runner and we'll need lots of guys to take him down. He's a huge part of their offense" -- Smith.McDonald (5-4, 4-2) scouting report: In last week's loss at South Range, quarterback Jason Joynes threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Greg Gustovich for the Blue Devils' only points. The Blue Devils are ninth in this week's computer playoff ratings for Division VI Region 21. Jeff Ashton leads McDonald in rushing with 1,085 yards. He rushed for 64 yards against the Raiders.The coach says: "A win puts us in the playoff picture, but we also could be out even if we win," Blue Devils coach Dan Williams said. "We're real happy to be in this situation. The state playoffs are always a stepping stone for an improving program. Our kids were there last year, so they know how important this is." Williams credited his young offensive line for clearing the way for Ashton. "We have just one starter back for last year. Our kids stepped in and did good job." Defensively, Williams said the team did better after a few early-season position changes. "We face a real test this week. Springfield shows a lot of formations and has a lot of weapons. South Range lines up and runs it at you. Springfield throws much more and that's always a concern when you have to prepare your defense for passing games" -- Williams.
BOARDMAN vs. FITCH
When: Friday, 7:30 Where: Spartan Stadium.Fitch (3-6, 1-2) outlook: Coming off a 31-3 win over Mooney, the Falcons have a two-game winning streak. In 2000, Boardman beat Fitch, 12-0, when the Spartans completed a long pass near the end of the third quarter to extend a one-touchdown lead to two. Dajawn Stubbs was Steel Valley Conference player-of-the-week against Mooney as the 6-2, 190-pound senior wide receiver/safety had an interception, two receptions and eight tackles. Key seniors among the 17 who will play in their last game are: QB Steve Burnich, WR Ross Watson, WR/S Dajawn Stubbs, RB Ray Betts, OT Mike McMahon and defensive players Chris Bowmaster, Travis Beckett, Jeff Koval.The coach says: "As in the Chaney and Harding games earlier this season, we were finally healthy again last week and had a full complement of players. No excuses, but it's nice to have that for the last few weeks of the season. It helps being full strength and not wishing someone was in the huddle. A lot of that is mental -- when the kids look around and see everybody in the huddle, it helps, physically, as well as mentally. We're coming along as a program, but we're not deep enough to handle a lot of injuries. Most of those were up front. We battled through it and, now, we're going to give it our best effort. I remember the Boardman game last year when their defense did a great job against us. Considering how outstanding Boardman's offensive line is and with Evan Beard behind them, Bowmaster, Beckett and Koval are going to have to have great games for us." -- Carl Pelini.Boardman (7-2, 2-1) outlook: The Spartans are coming off a 31-27 win over Ursuline and are fifth-ranked in Region 1 of Division I in the computer playoff ratings. The Ursuline game was a shootout in the first half, before settling into a defensive game the final 24 minutes when Ursuline scored once while Boardman managed to control the clock. Jay Upthegrove had two key inteceptions and three receptions and two key interceptions. The last time Boardman made the playoffs was 1999 when the Spartans beat Brunswick before losing to Pickerington in a regional semifinal. Friday, the Spartans will recognize 25 seniors, the key ones being: Upthegrove, Beard, Mike Finamore, Steve Vallos, Jason Mechling, Brian Wiser, Brian Fee, Tom Andres, Tom Haynes and Chris O'Dea. The offensive linemen protecting QB Tom Zetts while passing and paving the way for Beard are: C Kevin Tuminello, LG Jason Mechling, LT John Greco, RG Dave Sypert and RT Steve Vallos and TE Mike Villagrana. Zetts, Tuminello, Greco, Sypert and Villagrana are juniors. FB Beard has 1,024 yards, shifting from TB where Brad Beck has evolved to give the Spartans a bigger punch in the same backfield. Beck, a sophomore, has 484 yards.The coach says: "I think we have control of where we wind up by what we do this Friday, but you never know until it's finalized. It looks good going in. Even though it looks like it's not for the SVC championship, it's important because it's Fitch and it's the last game for our seniors. Fitch is spreading it out and throwing quite a bit, but they also have the capablity to run. QB Steve Burnich, RB Davanzo Tate and WR Ross Watson are three to watch." -- Garry Smith.Radio: WKBN-AM 570.
When: Friday, 7:30 Where: Spartan Stadium.Fitch (3-6, 1-2) outlook: Coming off a 31-3 win over Mooney, the Falcons have a two-game winning streak. In 2000, Boardman beat Fitch, 12-0, when the Spartans completed a long pass near the end of the third quarter to extend a one-touchdown lead to two. Dajawn Stubbs was Steel Valley Conference player-of-the-week against Mooney as the 6-2, 190-pound senior wide receiver/safety had an interception, two receptions and eight tackles. Key seniors among the 17 who will play in their last game are: QB Steve Burnich, WR Ross Watson, WR/S Dajawn Stubbs, RB Ray Betts, OT Mike McMahon and defensive players Chris Bowmaster, Travis Beckett, Jeff Koval.The coach says: "As in the Chaney and Harding games earlier this season, we were finally healthy again last week and had a full complement of players. No excuses, but it's nice to have that for the last few weeks of the season. It helps being full strength and not wishing someone was in the huddle. A lot of that is mental -- when the kids look around and see everybody in the huddle, it helps, physically, as well as mentally. We're coming along as a program, but we're not deep enough to handle a lot of injuries. Most of those were up front. We battled through it and, now, we're going to give it our best effort. I remember the Boardman game last year when their defense did a great job against us. Considering how outstanding Boardman's offensive line is and with Evan Beard behind them, Bowmaster, Beckett and Koval are going to have to have great games for us." -- Carl Pelini.Boardman (7-2, 2-1) outlook: The Spartans are coming off a 31-27 win over Ursuline and are fifth-ranked in Region 1 of Division I in the computer playoff ratings. The Ursuline game was a shootout in the first half, before settling into a defensive game the final 24 minutes when Ursuline scored once while Boardman managed to control the clock. Jay Upthegrove had two key inteceptions and three receptions and two key interceptions. The last time Boardman made the playoffs was 1999 when the Spartans beat Brunswick before losing to Pickerington in a regional semifinal. Friday, the Spartans will recognize 25 seniors, the key ones being: Upthegrove, Beard, Mike Finamore, Steve Vallos, Jason Mechling, Brian Wiser, Brian Fee, Tom Andres, Tom Haynes and Chris O'Dea. The offensive linemen protecting QB Tom Zetts while passing and paving the way for Beard are: C Kevin Tuminello, LG Jason Mechling, LT John Greco, RG Dave Sypert and RT Steve Vallos and TE Mike Villagrana. Zetts, Tuminello, Greco, Sypert and Villagrana are juniors. FB Beard has 1,024 yards, shifting from TB where Brad Beck has evolved to give the Spartans a bigger punch in the same backfield. Beck, a sophomore, has 484 yards.The coach says: "I think we have control of where we wind up by what we do this Friday, but you never know until it's finalized. It looks good going in. Even though it looks like it's not for the SVC championship, it's important because it's Fitch and it's the last game for our seniors. Fitch is spreading it out and throwing quite a bit, but they also have the capablity to run. QB Steve Burnich, RB Davanzo Tate and WR Ross Watson are three to watch." -- Garry Smith.Radio: WKBN-AM 570.