HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Columbiana, United square off Friday

The state-ranked teams will battle for the Tri-County League lead.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Firestone Park in Columbiana is playing host to a hot high school football match-up Friday night.
Columbiana and United, both state-ranked, take center stage in their quest to take over first place in the Tri-County League.
"We've expected it," Columbiana senior quarterback Adam Fast said last week of his team's season. "I don't know if other people around the league or from our community expected it."
Added Clippers senior lineman Ryan Carletti, "It's a lot easier to come to practice when you're winning."
Plenty of points
Based on their seasons so far, expect a high-scoring game from Columbiana (6-0, 4-0) and United (6-1, 4-0) teams that are averaging 40 and 43 points per game, respectively.
The Clippers, ranked 13th in last week's Division V state poll, are led by Fast, who's a threat running or throwing the ball. Making his job easier are a number of experienced players around him.
A lot of Columbiana's success Friday night will be based on its ability to stop United's playmakers.
Or, to put it simply, the Clippers will have their hands full with Manfull.
A 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior, Corey Manfull excels as a running and receiving threat for the Golden Eagles, ranked 12th in Div. IV, whose only loss came Sept. 5 at Mineral Ridge.
Manfull is coming off a performance in which he ran for 164 yards and scored four touchdowns in United's 42-7 victory over Crestview last week.
Columbiana hasn't won the TCL since 1997, which is the last time it qualified for the playoffs. United shared the title with Lisbon in 1999.
This is a big week in the TCL. In addition to Columbiana-United, the league features a match-up between Lisbon (6-1, 3-1) and Leetonia (6-1, 3-1).
Around the area
Week 8 actually begins with two games Thursday night. Chaney (6-1, 1-0) and Rayen (2-5, 1-0) will play in the City Series at Stambaugh Stadium, while the Metro Athletic Conference has Struthers (4-3, 2-1) visiting Niles (2-5, 0-3).
Friday's biggest game involving an area team will be played in Cleveland, where Cardinal Mooney (6-1) tests its talent against Cleveland Benedictine (7-0), the top-ranked team in Div. III.
Past Warren Harding-Canton McKinley games probably have had more luster than this year's should Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium -- with the Bulldogs struggling at 2-5 -- but the Raiders (7-0) continue their march back to the Div. I playoffs.
Of course, Harding coach Thom McDaniels faces his old team once more. The Raiders are one of four area unbeaten teams, joining Beaver Local, Columbiana and South Range, with just two weeks remaining before the 2003 playoff field is determined.
richesson@vindy.com