METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Poland holds off Howland, 20-10

Fumble recoveries by Dave Stanton and Ryan DiNunzio preserved the victory.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
POLAND -- Fumbles can spoil a good scoring opportunity to win a game.
But they also can preserve a victory by foiling an offense that is knocking on the door. It all depends what side of the line you are on.
The Poland High football team happened to be on the right side Friday night at home against Howland -- with its outstanding defense -- and broke a two-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs' defense came up with two fumble recoveries in the second half, two of them turning back scoring drives to preserve a 13-10 lead, and paving the way to a 20-10 victory in a Metro Athletic Conference game.
Ryan DiNunzio, a junior defensive back, got the first fumble recovery at the Poland 28 in the third quarter to stop Howland, which had driven to the 30.
Then Dave Stanton, a senior linebacker, got the second and key fumble recovery for the Bulldogs (6-2, 2-1) at their 40 with about 2:00 left in the game, spoiling the Tigers' drive at the 38.
Howland deflated
The last fumble seemed to deflate Howland because Poland's offense began to slice through the Tigers' defense. On the third play, senior tailback Brandon Hardin took off on a 46-yard scoring dash with 1:48 left and Shawn O'Halloran hit the placement for a 20-10 advantage.
"Getting the ball back was paramount for us because they were driving," said Poland coach Paul Hulea of Stanton's recovery. "Our kids made the plays when they had to."
After Poland made it 20-10 and Howland had the ball in the waning seconds, Stanton also came up with an interception to end Howland's fading hopes.
"David [Stanton] really played a great game in the second half, and all season," said Hulea, who also credited five of his defensive linemen for strong performances.
"The five guys up front [played well]," said Hulea, referring to tackles Mike White and Cody Cooper and ends George McNabb, Jim Zembower and Brian Koby.
Coach Dick Angle of Howland (5-3, 1-3 MAC) said that last aborted drive doomed the Tigers.
"[Our] team was not scoring on the last drive -- that was the key," said Angle. "No question our defense put us in position to win."
Poland scores early
Poland struck quickly after the opening kickoff as quarterback Sean Clayton hit Dave Koval with a 46-yard TD pass on the fourth play of the game, and O'Halloran kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
But Howland retaliated with a 64-yard, 12-play drive capped by Jon Airhart's 30-yard field goal at 4:28 of the first period.
Then in the second quarter, Neil Harris of Poland recovered a fumble at the Howland 40 and Poland scored in seven plays on Clayton's 2-yard dash for a 13-3 lead.
But Howland then launched a 64-yard, 11-play march to score on Tony Davis' 1-yard plunge with 30 seconds left and Airhart's placement, to pull Howland within 13-10 at intermission.
Poland's leaders
Hardin rushed for 127 yards in 16 carries, while Clayton hit on 9 of 12 passes for 102 yards, five throws going to Koval for 84 yards.
For Howland, James Justice rushed for 60 yards in 14 carries, while Maurice Smith had 47 yards in 14 carries.
kovach@vindy.com