Tigers upset Cards

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- As time stood still for the Howland High football team, Jonathan Airhart jogged onto the field.
The Tigers trailed Canfield by one point with 11 seconds showing on the clock.
Trying to block images of his missed extra point earlier in the game, Airhart knew he had a second chance. This time, he took advantage and so did his team.
"I was a little shaky," said Airhart, motioning toward his head, of his second-quarter miss. "But my coaches had faith in me."
Airhart kicked a 23-yard field goal with 7 seconds remaining to complete a furious comeback and give Howland a 23-21 upset victory in a Division II, Region 5 semifinal at Bo Rein Stadium.
"Once he [my holder] got it down and I heard the thud, I knew it was good," Airhart said. "It was a good snap, good hold and good kick."
Next step
The Tigers (9-3) advanced to next Friday's regional final against Olmsted Falls, a 21-20 winner over Louisville.
"This is one of the greatest victories I've ever been associated with," Howland coach Dick Angle said, "and I've had a lot of great victories in my life."
Howland's dramatic victory capped an emotional week for the program, school and community as they mourned the death of 25-year-old assistant coach Scott Smith, who passed away after a heart attack. A moment of silence in his honor was observed before the game.
"They went through some adversity that you never think of going through," Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said.
With the memory of Smith etched in their minds, the Tigers overcame a 21-6 deficit by scoring 17 fourth-quarter points.
"We're establishing ourselves as a good football team. We've played well the last few weeks," Angle said. "Now I get to kick their [butt] for another week of practice and I don't have to rake leaves."
Howland senior quarterback Chris Settlemire threw two touchdown passes, and senior Steve Boyle provided big plays on both sides of the ball in the waning minutes.
A defensive back, Boyle stripped Canfield senior running back Tom Rogers and recovered the loose ball, giving Howland possession for its game-winning drive, which started on its own 43.
Boyle's recovery gave the Tigers a second chance at the win.
After Boyle caught a 20-yard scoring strike from Settlemire with 2:58 remaining to get Howland within 21-20, Angle elected to go for a two-point conversion and the win.
Stopped
The Canfield defense, however, stopped Howland senior running back Maurice Smith to preserve the Cardinals' lead.
"I thought it was a good choice. We had them on their heels," Angle said. "We probably should have gone with another play, but they did a good job of stopping us."
Then, on first down, Rogers broke loose for an impressive 22-yard run, in which he broke several tackles and stayed on his feet.
But Boyle was waiting. The Howland defensive back wouldn't be denied, stealing the ball and providing Howland with one last hope to end Canfield's unbeaten season.
The Tigers marched 51 yards in seven plays. Boyle keyed the drive with a 38-yard reception from Settlemire.
"Boyle knows how to get open and he catches the ball every time," said Settlemire, who also tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to senior Matt Zakrajsek to begin the fourth-quarter scoring.
When Howland got the ball to the 6-yard line and 11 seconds left, it called upon Airhart to end the game and continue its season.
"I just looked up and said a thousand prayers in a second," Settlemire said of the game-winning kick. " 'Jonny A' pulled through."
Canfield (11-1) held a 21-6 lead after three quarters. Senior quarterback Leo Sorice threw a touchdown pass to senior Chase Axelson and ran for scores of 1 and 7 yards. Sorice was 8-of-10 passing for 154 yards.
"We'll remember 2002 as one of the finest seasons in Canfield history," said Pavlansky. "When the pain goes away, they will realize what they accomplished."
Smith and senior James Justice led Howland's rushing attack, with 77 and 58 yards, respectively. Smith scored the Tigers' first touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Richesson@vindy.com