Canfield clinches tie for MAC

A win over Poland could bring a home playoffcontest in Week 11.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- When Leo Sorice was playing freshman football, he had two simple goals for his senior year -- win a Metro Athletic Conference championship and win a state championship.
When Canfield High football coach Mike Pavlansky drew up goals before the season, first on the list was winning a league title.
When Doug Phillips took over at Salem two years ago, his goal was to first compete with the best teams in the MAC -- then beat them.
On Friday, they accomplished their first goals. Time will tell if they accomplish the rest.
Canfield (8-0, 4-0) beat Salem 35-28 to clinch a share of the league title -- its first since 1996. The Cardinals will play host to Poland this Friday with a chance to win the league outright -- and likely clinch a home playoff game.
"I can't describe this," Sorice, who hit 9-of-19 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, said. "It feels really good."
Democratic leadership
Some quarterbacks rule their teams like a king. Sorice is more like the leader of a democracy. He deflects praise. He trusts those around him. He steps up when he has to, and gets out of the way when he needs to.
"Our offensive line played great and we had a good running game," Sorice, who also ran 15 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns, said. "It set up our play action and I had a lot of easy reads."
Senior fullback Bill DeCola ran 15 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals controlled the line of scrimmage, rolling up 268 yards on the ground.
And the Cardinals ran best when it counted. After Salem cut its deficit to 28-21 with 8:44 left in fourth quarter, Canfield drove 64 yards in 13 plays -- chewing six minutes off the clock. DeCola capped the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run on a fourth and 1.
"We went nose-to-nose for four quarters," Phillips said. "We're going to take this defeat and learn from it and build upon it. We definitely want to play for a league championship in the near future."
Canfield senior linebacker Adam Squicquero forced a fumble and had two sacks. Jarek Escaro added an interception.
Improving Quakers
The Quakers (3-5, 1-3) beat Poland last week to win their first league game since 1998. They've had leads in every game but one.
After winning one game from 1999-2001, Salem is on its way back.
"They really should be 6-1 [entering Friday's game]," Pavlansky said. "They're much improved and they're going to be a force in the league for years to come."
Salem quarterback Landon Heath completed 17-of-27 passes for 247 yards -- breaking Louis Angelo's single-season school passing record in the process -- and a touchdown.
Wideout Zac Grey caught seven passes for 100 yards and a touchdown while Garrett Sevek caught five for 95 yards.
Both teams had two turnovers, but Canfield's hurt worse. On the game's opening drive, Cardinals running back Tom Rogers fumbled on the 5 and Salem junior Zach Bennett raced 95 yards for a touchdown.
Two quarters later, Canfield senior Tim Dewberry fumbled and Salem junior Lance Buckley ran for a 56-yard touchdown.
Canfield, the MAC's only unbeaten team, now prepares for its biggest rival.
"We owe them from last year," Sorice said. "If they win, they get a share of the league.
"We don't want to share it. We want it all to ourselves."
scalzo@vindy.com