HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Friday night football

LOWELLVILLE (9-0, 6-0) vs. MCDONALD (3-6, 2-4)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at McDonald High.
Last meeting: Lowellville won 18-14 last year.
Notebook: Lowellville hasn't won at McDonald in 39 years. If the Rockets can snap that streak, they will win the Inter-County League title outright. Springfield, which plays at Jackson-Milton, sits in second place with a 5-1 record. The Rockets will also use the regular-season finale as a tune-up for the postseason; they already have secured a home playoff game. McDonald, meanwhile, hopes to play the spoiler role and finish the season successfully. Lowellville is second in Division VI, Region 21 of the computer ratings, behind Mogadore. If the season ended today, the Rockets would play host to Leetonia. Lowellville, coached by John Protopapa, is coming off a 42-0 victory over Western Reserve, in which Andy Peterson rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson has totaled around 1,300 yards this season. McDonald, coached by Dan Williams, lost at Springfield. The Blue Devils were held to 109 total yards.
LIBERTY (6-3, 4-2) vs. GIRARD (8-1, 6-0)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium, Girard.
Last meeting: Girard won at Liberty in Week 10 last year, 40-6.
Notebook: Liberty beat Brookfield, 48-6. In the game, Bradley Fletcher scored three touchdowns and rushed for 253 yards on just six carries. Steve Patterson scored once and finished with 82 yards on nine carries. Mike Marvin also tallied twice, while Andrew Amodio scored once. Girard beat Hubbard 27-7 to clinch its first share of a league crown since 1987, when it was in the Mahoning Valley Conference. The Indians can win the Trumbull Athletic Conference title outright by beating Liberty. Girard's defeat of Hubbard snapped the Eagles' 24-game home winning streak. It avenged a 31-24 loss to Hubbard at Girard in 2001. Hubbard was fourth in Region 9 of Division III. Girard was No. 5 in Region 13 of Division IV. QB Matt Zuppo completed 17 of 22 passes for 229 yards. He also ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns. The Indians are out-scoring their opposition, 249-89. Girard's lone loss was 14-12 to Howland in Week 2. Girard's offensive line (C Jake Racick, Gs Dan Hazen, Todd Prodnick, Allen Gordon and Ts Paul Cole & amp; Andrew Stevens) gave Zuppo time to throw. Dustin Helle had five catches, while Nick Shirey, Victor Mills, Mark Grdinich and Nick Canterino had three catches apiece. Replacing Adam Grdinich, who blew out his knee, has been Sal Ponzio, a 5-10, 185-pound junior, who is FB in the I formation and the lone back in the spread offense.
EAST PALESTINE (8-1, 6-0)vs. COLUMBIANA (7-2, 4-2)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Firestone Park, Columbiana.
Last meeting: Last year, East Palestine won, 20-14, in overtime.
At stake: Playoff berths. The Bulldogs have clinched a Division IV playoff spot but could earn a home game with a win. The Clippers need a win for any chance to play in Week 11.
Common opponents: Both teams defeated Southern, Crestview, Sebring and United. They split against Lisbon (42-14 win for East Palestine, 32-13 loss for Columbiana) and Leetonia (10-6 win for East Palestine, 21-17 loss for Columbiana).
Notebook: Running back J.D. Powers led the Bulldogs with 180 yards and two touchdowns in last Friday's 50-19 victory over Southern that clinched East Palestine's first league title in 27 years. Quarterback Smitty Kendrew completed six of 12 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Pat Brennen caught two of them, covering 55 and 38 yards. In the Clippers' 14-7 win over United, quarterback Adam Fast ran for 89 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown. Fast also hit Dean Stokes with a 10-yard touchdown pass.
-- Vindicator staff reports