HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Friday night football

STRUTHERS vs. POLAND
When: 7:30.Where: Poland High School.Last year: Poland won, 25-10.Struthers (5-4, 2-2 Metro Athletic Conference) scouting report: The Wildcats put a huge crimp in the playoff hopes of Howland last week with a 26-15 victory over the Tigers. Jim Tabak led Struthers with 78 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. On the season, he has 778 yards on 174 carries. Quarterback Nick Leiter completed 9-of-14 passes for 62 yards. On the year, he has completed 59-of-126 attempts for 694 yards, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.The coach says: "When the season started with one victory and two losses and the injuries were piling up, we were just hoping, as time went on, for a respectful season. It didn't seem that things would work out," Struthers coach Gary Zetts said. "So to be playing in Week 10 with the opportunity to still make the playoffs is special." Zetts was pleased with the Wildcats' performance against Howland because it was "the first complete game we played both mentally and physically." As for Poland, Zetts said he was impressed with how well Poland played against Chaney in their Week 6 game (Poland's only loss). "Poland is deep everywhere. They have an outstanding defensive line and linebackers who run well. On offense, their receivers run fast. They have the complete package." Zetts said the Bulldogs' defense is similar to the 1999 team that went 15-0 and won the Division III title.Poland (8-1, 4-0) scouting report: The Bulldogs clinched their second MAC title in three seasons with last week's win over Canfield. Senior tailback Lou DaVanzo scored a 7-yard touchdown. On the season, he has 870 yards on 162 carries with 13 touchdowns. "Lou has done a nice job leading the team by example," Coach Paul Hulea said. "When things have gone bad, we have looked to him for leadership." Junior quarterback Sean Clayton tossed a 3-yard scoring strike to Josh Bero. On the season, Clayton leads the MAC in passing by completing 105-of-157 passes for 1,251 yards, with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. The coach says: Hulea said the game he'll never forget was Poland's 24-14 victory over Canton Central Catholic, last year's state champion, in Week 4. "That was the week of the tragedies at the Trade Center and the Pentagon, so it was a very emotional game. As for me coaching, it was the most emotionally-charged game of my career. Everybody was in an emotional pitch -- the bands, the fans, the players, the coaches let it all out there. That was a big win for us, not just for the 2001 season but for always." With little to play for except maintaining momentum for the postseason, Hulea said the Bulldogs won't have trouble getting ready for the Wildcats. "Anytime Poland plays Struthers, it's a great game. We have nothing but respect for their players and coaches," Hulea said.Radio: WBBW (1240).
WARREN JFK vs. HOWLAND
When: 7:30.Where: Lombardo Stadium.Warren JFK (9-0) scouting report: No. 3 in Division V, Region 17. The Eagles have already clinched a first-round home playoff game. It marks JFK's 12th postseason appearance. The last time JFK went 9-0 was in 1992 when it lost the last regular season game to Poland, 21-20. The Eagles still went to the playoffs, but lost to CAPE in the Div. V state championship game. In 1972, JFK was 9-0 before losing to Howland, 14-12, in the season finale. The 2001 Howland-JFK game isn't only a Div. II school vs. Div. V, but one school battling for the playoffs and the other for a perfect season. Hoping to closing out 10-0 are 15 seniors: three-year letterman T-T Jason Davis, QB Alex Senk, TB-CB Josh Cayson, FB/N Don Fox, C-DT Jared Poweski, two-year starter RG Ken Gilbert, two-year letterman OG-DE Paul Lepro, G/N Harry Nidel, two-year starter T-T Christopher Canaan, monster Dan Groff, three-year starter LB/Flk Gary Gerba, Flk Justin Eschman, SE-CB Christopher Williams, SE Mike Reese and SE O'Ryan Knepp. Fox and Poweski have been injured. The coach says: "This is like the Hatfields and McCoys, only worse. We're worrying about this one. It's very important to our kids, coaches and school. There's a lot at stake. It would be decent to go undefeated. We've been working since July 7 and now it's coming to fruition. If it happens, wonderful, but it's not going to be a pushover. These two teams don't like each other and they play hard against each other. Throw the records out no matter what when we play Howland every year." -- Tony Napolet. Howland (6-3) scouting report: No. 7 in Div. II, Region 5. The Tigers lost to Struthers, 26-15, their third straight, yet they're still hanging on in the computer rankings. RB Mark Rek has 1,080 yards rushing on 150 attempts, with eight TDs, while QB Rick Clark has completed 19-of-51 passes for 240 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions. RB Brian Spence has scored eight touchdowns for the Tigers.The coach says: "[The last three weeks] we have played three good football teams who were turning the ball over earlier and decided not to do it against us. One thing leads to another and our confidence level is shaken. We're still a young program, no matter where we've been or are. Our intensity level has dropped a little bit, but we're trying to increase that. The big focus is, we're trying to get back to believing in ourselves, executing and being better tacklers and finishing plays on offense. We're excited about playing Kennedy and playing them for a reason. Since the Warren schools merged, the Kennedy-Howland game is the biggest rivalry in Trumbull County." -- Dick Angle.TV: WYFX (17/62) will broadcast the game on tape delay at 11:35 p.m.
When: 7:30.Where: Lombardo Stadium.Warren JFK (9-0) scouting report: No. 3 in Division V, Region 17. The Eagles have already clinched a first-round home playoff game. It marks JFK's 12th postseason appearance. The last time JFK went 9-0 was in 1992 when it lost the last regular season game to Poland, 21-20. The Eagles still went to the playoffs, but lost to CAPE in the Div. V state championship game. In 1972, JFK was 9-0 before losing to Howland, 14-12, in the season finale. The 2001 Howland-JFK game isn't only a Div. II school vs. Div. V, but one school battling for the playoffs and the other for a perfect season. Hoping to closing out 10-0 are 15 seniors: three-year letterman T-T Jason Davis, QB Alex Senk, TB-CB Josh Cayson, FB/N Don Fox, C-DT Jared Poweski, two-year starter RG Ken Gilbert, two-year letterman OG-DE Paul Lepro, G/N Harry Nidel, two-year starter T-T Christopher Canaan, monster Dan Groff, three-year starter LB/Flk Gary Gerba, Flk Justin Eschman, SE-CB Christopher Williams, SE Mike Reese and SE O'Ryan Knepp. Fox and Poweski have been injured. The coach says: "This is like the Hatfields and McCoys, only worse. We're worrying about this one. It's very important to our kids, coaches and school. There's a lot at stake. It would be decent to go undefeated. We've been working since July 7 and now it's coming to fruition. If it happens, wonderful, but it's not going to be a pushover. These two teams don't like each other and they play hard against each other. Throw the records out no matter what when we play Howland every year." -- Tony Napolet. Howland (6-3) scouting report: No. 7 in Div. II, Region 5. The Tigers lost to Struthers, 26-15, their third straight, yet they're still hanging on in the computer rankings. RB Mark Rek has 1,080 yards rushing on 150 attempts, with eight TDs, while QB Rick Clark has completed 19-of-51 passes for 240 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions. RB Brian Spence has scored eight touchdowns for the Tigers.The coach says: "[The last three weeks] we have played three good football teams who were turning the ball over earlier and decided not to do it against us. One thing leads to another and our confidence level is shaken. We're still a young program, no matter where we've been or are. Our intensity level has dropped a little bit, but we're trying to increase that. The big focus is, we're trying to get back to believing in ourselves, executing and being better tacklers and finishing plays on offense. We're excited about playing Kennedy and playing them for a reason. Since the Warren schools merged, the Kennedy-Howland game is the biggest rivalry in Trumbull County." -- Dick Angle.TV: WYFX (17/62) will broadcast the game on tape delay at 11:35 p.m.