STATE CHAMPION Poland

Coach: Paul Hulea.
Season record: 15-0.
Schedule:
Regular season
42Springfield0
28Lakeview0
33Woodrow Wilson6
38Girard7
17Niles0
28Salem0
38Chaney0
38Howland14
43Canfield7
24Struthers7
Playoffs
51Rayland Buckeye Local0
17Thornville Sheridan6
23Steubenville21
31Orrville21
20Columbus Bishop Watterson13
Notable players: Senior Ben Bair was a three-year starter at quarterback, and junior Pete Perry was a standout running back. The defense, coach Paul Hulea labeled, was a team of leaders. Numerous Bulldogs from that season went on to play in college. They are: Fullback/linebackers Shaun Saad (Clarion) and Tim Clayton (Kenyon); linemen Phil Gallo (Ashland) and Aaron Detwiler (Westminster); receiver/defensive backs Pete Modelski (Fordham) and Mike Yost (Malone); tight end/linebacker Micah Harris (Duke); and kicker Jason Resch (Dayton). Bair is a former player at Youngstown State who now attends Ohio State. Perry is also a former player at YSU.
Notebook: Poland became the first team in the state to win 15 games in a season. The Bulldogs won their state title on Friday, and Sandusky Perkins finished their perfect season on Saturday. The Bulldogs went 9-2 in 1998 and brought a lot of experience, especially on the defensive side, into their '99 season. The title team also became the first at Poland to win the Associated Press poll championship. The deficits Poland faced in the final three weeks of the playoffs were 14-3 to Steubenville, 21-7 to Orrville and 6-0 to Bishop Watterson. Hulea said the rally against Steubenville, in particular, made his players believe.
-- Brian Richesson