PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW Friday night playoffs

DIVISION II
CHANEY vs. WHITEHALL-YEARLING
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Whitehall-Yearling High stadium.
Radio: WKBN-AM (570).
Directions: From Youngstown, take I-76 west to I-71 south. In the Columbus area, take the I-270 bypass heading east for about 13 miles. Exit at Broad Street, merge to the left-center lane and head west. Proceed to the fourth traffic light and turn left on South Yearling Road. Proceed through three traffic lights. Following the third light, turn right into the school entrance.
CHANEY (9-1)
14Austintown Fitch27
22Uniontown Lake15
24Boardman18
20Warrensville Heights0
48Woodrow Wilson0
14Poland7
28Slippery Rock26
27Rayen6
57Canton Timken0
55Canfield13
Cowboys notebook: The Cowboys earned their playoff berth by finishing fifth in Region 7, and they ended the regular season 10th in the Associated Press state poll. Chaney, coached by Ron Berdis, does most of its damage on the ground, led by senior RB Mike Hall, who has 1,300 yards of offense and 13 TDs. Senior QB Justin Hood has 1,500 yards of offense and 18 TDs. Senior LB Chris Eskew is the leading tackler, adding six sacks in seven games, but has missed the latter part of the season after suffering a gunshot wound. Also providing leadership on both sides of the ball are senior WR/LB Andy Bowell, senior WR/DB Joe Loto and junior TE/DE Mike Rosa.
WHITEHALL-YEARLING (9-1)
42Northland16
41Franklin Heights0
48Eastmoor Academy13
63Lakewood0
42New Albany14
44Columbus Academy14
28Bexley0
14Licking Valley26
73Heath30
42Granville14
Rams notebook: QB David Wess has completed 94-of-136 passes for 1,650 yards and 20 TDs. He had just interceptions. Matt Angle is Wess' favorite target as he has caught more than half of the completions (48) for 878 yards and 13 TDs. The Rams' balanced attack features Dre' Ratliff, who has gained 1,092 yards on 121 carries (9.02 average). Ratliff has 14 TDs. Allen Smith has 717 yards on 95 carries. Defensively, lineman Kyle Bailey is the leading tackler with 73. Ratliff, who plays strong safety, is next with 58. Whitehall-Yearling qualified for the playoffs after finishing fourth in Region 7 and ninth in the AP poll.
HOWLAND vs. TWINSBURG
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Lombardo Stadium, Howland.
Radio: WBBG-FM (106.1).
HOWLAND (9-1)
3Cleveland Benedictine31
41Girard7
39Lakeview7
24Poland14
34Canfield6
46Salem20
29Niles0
42Alliance14
57Struthers28
34Warren JFK14
Tigers notebook: Coach Dick Angle's team is making its third straight trip to the playoffs and playing host to its first postseason game in the program's history. The Tigers are doing so after finishing first in Region 5, and they ended sixth in the AP poll. The offense is led by the poise of junior QB Brad Lockney, the running of Penn State recruit Tony Davis (1,380 yards on 200 carries and 15 TDs) and the receiving of WR Josh Settlemire (19 catches, 366 yards, 3 TDs). The defense returns senior LB Mike Zambelli from injury; he leads the team with 133 tackles. The special teams are sound, with senior K/P Cody Chappell.
TWINSBURG (5-5)
7Hudson27
17Copley20
16Maple Heights0
25Roosevelt6
10Ravenna9
23Nordonia38
14Solon21
7Kenston25
16Brush9
35Mayfield0
Tigers notebook: Quarterback Aaron Swenson has completed 65-of-164 passes for 959 yards and six TDs. His leading receivers are Dontez Williams (12 catches, 194 yards) and Albert Sardelle (11 catches, 133 yards). Nick Ranallo has rushed for 670 yards on 116 carries. Dontez Smith has 132 carries for 440 yards. Defensively, linebacker Shawn Janecek is the leading tackler with 61. Twinsburg finished the regular season .500 but qualified for the playoffs after a strong schedule in which five of its opponents also made the playoffs. The Tigers, who finished eighth in Region 5, run a spread offense and either throw the ball or run the option, something Howland hasn't seen a lot of this season.
DIVISION V
SOUTH RANGE vs. INDEPENDENCE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at South Range stadium.
TV/Radio: WNIO-AM (1390); WBBW-AM (1240); FOX 17/62 tape delay at 10:30 p.m.
SOUTH RANGE (10-0)
48East Palestine8
21Crestview7
27Hickory20
13Springfield7
14Lowellville0
34Mathews3
33McDonald6
47Jackson-Milton7
7Mineral Ridge3
40Western Reserve20
Raiders notebook: The Raiders love to run the football. Ben Johnston leads the team with 939 yards on 134 carries (7.01 average) and 15 TDs. Tony Darkadakis has gained 664 yards on 106 carries (6.26 average) and scored five TDs. QB Ryan Maxwell has run 95 times for 574 yards and seven TDs. Maxwell has completed 61-of-106 passes for 987 yards, eight TDs and eight INTs. His leading receiver is Matt Novak, who has 10 catches for 226 yards and three scores.
INDEPENDENCE (9-1)
24Rocky River10
42Hawken14
14Aurora6
3Gilmour Academy24
40Richmond Heights7
49Brooklyn7
49Beachwood22
41Lutheran West7
42Columbia13
34Cuyahoga Heights7
Blue Devils notebook: Independence finished seventh in Region 17 to qualify for the playoffs. Senior RB Mark Guinto has run for 1,557 yards and 20 TDs to lead the Blue Devils. Independence has qualified for the playoffs eight times, but this is its first appearance since the 2000 season.
WARREN JFK vs. SMITHVILLE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Radio: WANR-AM (1570).
WARREN JFK (8-2)
24Newton Falls14
7Struthers19
24Girard23
56Kennedy Catholic6
28Jefferson6
17Steubenville Catholic Central0
14Sharpsville6
50Cleveland Rhodes12
47Campbell Memorial15
14Howland34
Eagles notebook: Coach Tony Napolet's team hopes to bounce back from last week's loss to rival Howland. JFK qualified for the playoffs after finishing second in Region 17, and it ended 14th in the final AP poll. The Eagles run a spread offense, led by 6-foot-5 senior QB John DiFiore, who has completed 89-of-158 passes for 1,141 yards and 15 TDs. He has plenty of weapons to work with. Senior WRs Shane Golden and Adam Rossi lead the team. Golden has 24 catches for 274 yards and four TDs, while Rossi adds 21 catches for 325 yards and four TDs. Senior Jimmy Kokrak also has five receiving TDs. Senior Anthony Ambeliotis handles most of the running duties, with 180 carries for 846 yards and nine TDs. Junior LB Bryan Markle and Kokrak anchor the defense with 75 and 73 first hits, respectively.
SMITHVILLE (9-1)
53North College Hill0
28Loudonville0
7Manchester3
48Northwestern0
54Rittman7
23Norwayne6
46Chippewa6
19Dalton22
29Waynedale22
66Hillsdale7
Smithies notebook: Smithville, which finished sixth in Region 17 and seventh in the AP poll, are back in the playoffs after losing in the 2002 state championship game to Marion Pleasant. The Smithies have been playing the second half of the season without injured senior FB/LB Caleb Middleton, 2002's Northeast Ohio Inland District Defensive Player of the Year. The offense is run-oriented with seniors Eric Beichler (80 points) and Kris Kendle (66 points), and junior Aaron Long (60 points). Defensive leaders are senior LB Eric Horst (130 tackles) and senior DL Justin Sheeter (113 tackles). Coach Keith Schrock is in his 26th year.
-- Vindicator staff report