PREP FOOTBALL Chaney, Canfield in different routes to victory last week

The Cowboys exploded early against Poland, while the Cardinals pulled out its win over Niles McKinley.
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It only took four minutes in one game and four thrilling quarters of another to counter the mystique of two of the Valley's better high school football teams.
A shanked punt and a fumble in the first four minutes helped the Chaney Cowboys grab a 12-0 lead on the unbeaten Poland Bulldogs. The Cowboys then scored on their next two possessions for an insurmountable 25-0 lead en route to a 38-17 victory.
In Niles, undefeated Canfield was expected to cruise past the winless Red Dragons. But Niles led 12-7 late in the fourth quarter and the Cardinals were down to their final fourth down play when quarterback Leo Sorice fired a desperation pass, which Jake Wargacki hauled in at the Niles 1, setting up the winning score in Canfield's 13-12 victory.
Canfield leading MAC
The Cardinals (6-0, 2-0) remain in first place in the Metro Athletic Conference, with Poland (5-1, 1-0), Struthers (3-3, 1-0) and Howland (5-1, 1-1) close behind.
Poland quarterback Sean Clayton passed for 352 yards, but most of them were picked up after Chaney opened up a 31-3 halftime lead.
"We showed some character," Poland coach Paul Hulea said. "We have a strong belief in this football team. The only thing we can control is preparing for Salem."
The Bulldogs' conference and playoff chances will rest on games against Howland on Oct. 11 and Canfield on Oct. 18.
Chaney (4-2) coach Ron Berdis said his team considered the Poland game a playoff game, because a loss probably would have meant the Cowboys could not come up with enough points in the computer ratings to finish in the top eight of Division II, Region 5.
"This puts us back in the hunt," Berdis said. "If we go to 3-3, I don't know how much help we're going to get. So we looked at this [game] as a milestone because from here on out [every game is like a playoff game. [The season] now has that sense of urgency to it."
Friday, Chaney plays Mooney (3-2) at Stambaugh Stadium. The Cowboys close the season against Rayen, Canton Timken and Niles.
Also Friday, Boardman (5-1, 1-0 Steel Valley Conference) plays host to Warren Harding (6-0, 2-0). A win for the Raiders, the top-rated Div. I team in the state in the Associated Press poll, would clinch a tie for first place in the SVC.
Two other SVC teams in need of computer points, Ursuline (3-3) and Austintown Fitch (4-2), meet at the Falcons' stadium.
Big ICL contest
Another game that will go a long way in settling a league championship will be played in New Middletown, where Lowellville (6-0, 3-0 Inter-County League) faces Springfield (4-2, 3-0).
In the Trumbull Athletic Conference, Hubbard (6-0, 3-0) and Girard (5-1, 3-0) are on a collision course for a week 9 game to settle first place.
Girard plays host to Champion then visits LaBrae before playing at Hubbard on Oct. 18. Hubbard has games against LaBrae and Champion.
In Columbiana County, Lisbon (5-1, 3-0 Tri-County League) and East Palestine (5-1, 3-0) face the challenge of not looking ahead to their week 8 showdown. The Blue Devils will be at home against surprising Southern (3-3, 2-1) while the Bulldogs travel to Leetonia (4-2, 2-1).