PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Weekend playoffs

TODAYDIVISION IIISOUTHEAST vs. CLEVELAND BENEDICTINE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium, Bedford.Directions: Take Ohio Turnpike west to Streetsboro exit 187, take I-480 north 10 miles to Bedford exit, turn left onto state Route 14 and go two miles, turn right onto state Route 8 and go three miles. School is on the right.
SOUTHEAST (8-2)
28West Branch20
20Newton Falls18
41Garrettsville Garfield34
38Rootstown27
7Atwater Waterloo3
13Mogadore Field17
0Mogadore20
26Windham7
38Mantua Crestwood18
55Peninsula Woodridge28
Pirates notebook: Athletic director Felix Carmello reported this week that the Portage County community is excited. For good reason. The Pirates are in the playoffs for the first time, and fans are enjoying the run -- even if the program is matched against one of Ohio's best teams. Sophomore Joe Knopick and senior Sean Fisher have played quarterback this season. Knopick has completed 42-of-80 passes for 642 yards and one TD, while Fisher has completed 28-of-44 passes for 377 yards and three TDs. Senior Dustin Stewart is the leading rusher with 1,239 yards on 191 carries and 22 TDs. Knopick has added 613 yards on 104 carries and six TDs. The top receivers are senior Jon Steele (16 catches, 334 yards, one TD); Stewart (14 catches, 183 yards, two TDs); and sophomore Frank Locher (13 catches, 169 yards). Senior LB Jeremy Mika and Knopick, also a linebacker, lead the team in tackles with 108 and 93 total tackles, respectively.
BENEDICTINE (9-1)
31Howland3
34Massillon20
49Lake Catholic7
49Fremont Ross10
21Bishop Watterson10
48Akron SVSM7
34Walsh Jesuit0
17Mooney0
30Cleve. VA-SJ10
13Lakewood St. Edward18
Bengals notebook: Benedictine is making its third straight appearance in the playoffs and 14th overall. The Bengals are led by Mr. Football candidate Raymond Williams, who has 238 carries for 1,994 yards and 23 TDs. He is the all-time leading scorer in school history with 436 points. The QBs are Joe Laffey (16-of-55, 404 yards, 3 TDs) and Andrew Cole (10-of-17, 162 yards, 1 TD). Lorenzo Hunter has 13 catches for 327 yards and four TDs. Senior K Sam Koyl is 38-of-41 on extra points and has four field goals this season. Junior DB Joe Cigas has five INTs, and LB Joe Schaefer leads the team with 94 total tackles.
SATURDAYDIVISION IWARREN HARDING vs. SOLON
Game time: 7 p.m. at Mollenkopf Stadium.
TV/Radio: WKBN-AM (570); WBBW-AM (1240); WANR-AM (1570); FOX 17/62 tape delay at 10:30 p.m.
WARREN HARDING (10-0)
69Cleveland South0
61Cleveland JFK6
21Akron Buchtel6
21Cardinal Mooney19
27Lakewood St. Edward20
31Ursuline12
43Boardman14
45Canton McKinley21
31Massillon15
26Austintown Fitch14
Raiders notebook: Warren Harding hopes to avenge last year's loss in the state title game -- to Cincinnati Elder -- with another run at it this season. The Raiders, coached by Thom McDaniels, finished second in Region 1 and first in the Associated Press state poll. They also are ranked third in the nation by USA Today. Running the offense is senior QB Alex Engram, who has completed 90-of-150 passes for 1,235 yards and 16 TDs, with one INT. Senior RB Richard Davis has 117 carries for 723 yards and 17 TDs in nine games, while junior Jon Richardson has 54 carries for 470 yards and six TDs in seven games. Senior RB Delbert Ferguson was lost for the season in Week 8 against Massillon after breaking a leg. Junior Mario Manningham is the leading receiver with 23 catches for 449 yards and nine TDs, while Pete Sparks has 20 catches for 234 yards and two TDs in eight games.
SOLON (7-3)
13Strongsville23
7Medina10
7Mentor45
37Stow-Munroe F.16
22Cuyahoga Falls10
28Kenston24
21Twinsburg14
24Mayfield (3OT)17
34Nordonia20
27Brush6
Comets notebook: Solon, which finished seventh in Region 1, isn't new to the postseason. The Comets have qualified for the playoffs the last five seasons, losing in the state title game in 2000. Senior QB D.J. Matz has completed 90-of-168 passes for 1,365 yards and six TDs, with seven INTs. The Comets get production on the ground from sophomore Brandon Shimits with 854 yards on 158 carries and 15 TDs, and sophomore Aleksey Tigay with 439 yards on 69 carries and two TDs. The leading receivers are senior Mike Studer with 37 catches for 689 yards and five TDs, and junior David Ravida with 31 catches for 385 yards. Senior LB Matt Ross is the leader in tackles with 113. Jim McQuaide is in his first year as head coach.
DIVISION IVCARDINAL MOONEY vs. CLEVELAND VILLA ANGELA-ST. JOSEPH
Game time: 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Radio: WSOM-AM (600); WNIO-AM (1390).
CARDINAL MOONEY (8-2)
40East Liverpool0
35Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas10
31East Cleveland Shaw6
19Warren Harding21
55Painesville Riverside0
28Austintown Fitch7
16Canton Central Catholic0
0Cleveland Benedictine17
24Ursuline21
14Boardman7
Cardinals notebook: Mooney has not been in the playoffs since Don Bucci led the Cardinals to the Division IV state semifinals in 1999. The Cardinals finished third in Region 13 and sixth in the final Associated Press state poll. Senior QB Ron Stoops leads a balanced offense. He has completed 45-of-94 passes for 614 yards and seven TDs. The leading RBs are Frank Cassese (472 yards, eight TDs); Eric Mariotti (387 yards, four TDs); and Mike Rich (305 yards, nine TDs). Kyle McCarthy is the leading receiver with 17 catches for 223 yards and one TD. LBs Bob McCabe and Anthony Childs and DE David Zidian make it tough on opposing offenses.
VA-SJ (6-4)
20Bellevue40
14NDCL (OT)22
35Warrensville H.8
28Euclid23
17Cleveland S.7
0University S.6
45St. Thomas A.7
47Akron SV-SM13
10Benedictine30
28Madison14
Vikings notebook: In a must-win game last week against Madison, Vikings quarterback Mike Cvelbar rushed for 114 yards and scored a touchdown in a 28-14 win over Madison. His three touchdown passes helped the Vikings climb from 11th to sixth in the computer ratings. Catching scoring tosses were Anthony Ramos (29 and 80 yards) and C.J. Kostranchuk (14 yards). Tony Skrtic, a 6-foot, 310-pound two-way senior tackle, leads the defense.
DIVISION VLISBONvs. GATES MILLS GILMOUR ACADEMY
Game time: 1 p.m. at Gilmour Academy High.
Radio: WSOM-AM (600).
Directions: From Lisbon, take state Route 45 north to Salem, then state Route 14 to Streetsboro where merges into I-480 west. Follow I-480 until it merges into I-271 north. Take I-271 (stay in local lanes) to Cedar Brainard exit #32 and continue straight to light. Turn right and immediately get into the left turning lane. Turn left onto Cedar Road and travel two miles to SOM Center Road. turn left onto SOM Center. The school entrance is 500 yards on the right.
LISBON (9-1)
27Martins Ferry19
34LaBrae14
49Wellsville7
13Columbiana27
24Crestview17
21Southern10
41East Palestine14
49Leetonia0
39Sebring13
14United12
Blue Devils notebook: Jay Yorty is the engine that drives the Blue Devils offense. Yorty ran the ball 150 times for 858 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also completed 52 of 102 passes for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns. Frank Gallo gained 652 yards on 127 carries and scored nine touchdowns. R.J. Wills is the leading receiver with 16 catches for 231 yards. Defensively, Andy Garwood and Adam Sweeney led with 77 and 67 tackles, respectively.
GILMOUR ACADEMY (10-0)
26Berkshire16
28Clearview27
21Hawken0
24Independence3
35Beachwood0
42Richmond H.7
21Lutheran W.0
22Cuyahoga H.19
53Brooklyn0
42Columbia16
Lancers notebook: The Lancers feature a balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Brian Herbe has thrown for more than 1,000 yards. His favorite targets are A.J. Tremont and Sean Hyland, who have combined for 640 yards receiving. Tremont, Eric Tupta, Tremont and Adam Lesko have combined for more than 1,300 yards rushing. Second-year coach Bob Spicer has the Lancers in the playoffs for the second-straight year.
-- Vindicator staff report