HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW Weekend football

WARREN HARDING (3-0) vs. CARDINAL MOONEY (3-0)
Game time: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Last meeting: Harding won 42-0 last season at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Notebook: Mooney has won its first three games of the season for the first time since 1998. That year, the Cardinals, under coach Don Bucci, went to Mollenkopf in the fourth week and lost 41-3. Now, Mooney finds itself in the confines of Stambaugh Stadium where it hopes to knock off the 2002 Division I runner-up. Ron Stoops tossed two touchdown passes last week as the Cardinals pounded Cleveland East, 31-6. Harding coach Thom McDaniels was less than impressed with his Raiders' 21-6 victory over Akron Buchtel, which he attributed to a lackluster week of practice. Mooney leads this series 9-7, but it hasn't beaten Harding since 1999 (29-6).
CANFIELD (1-2) vs. AUSTINTOWN FITCH (2-1)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.
Last meeting: Fitch won 62-0 in 1966.
Notebook: In a series that began in 1928, the Falcons own a 21-9-1 record against Canfield. With Miles Williams slowed last week by illness against Canton GlenOak, Fitch turned to senior Eric Chine, who ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-20 win. Quarterback John Mang provided good balance to the Falcons' offense, completing 10-of-20 passes for 151 yards and two TDs. Canfield lost its second straight game, to Alliance 24-7.
POLAND (3-0, 1-0) vs. HOWLAND (2-1)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Howland Stadium.
Last meeting: Poland won 20-10 last season.
Notebook: Two of the area's premier programs make this Metro Athletic Conference match-up enticing. The Bulldogs already have beaten new MAC member Alliance to take an early lead in the standings, but the Tigers are hot after big wins over Girard (41-7) and Lakeview (39-7). Penn State recruit Tony Davis ran for 121 yards and a touchdown last week and added a receiving TD for Howland. Poland routed Wilson 51-12 as Chris Aracich scored twice and Shawn O'Halloran kicked seven extra points.
STRUTHERS (2-1) vs. CAMPBELL (1-2)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at John Knapick Field.
Last meeting: Campbell won 10-7 last season.
Notebook: These two teams will use this old rivalry to bounce back from recent losses. Struthers' offense was corralled by Hubbard in a 20-7 defeat last week as quarterback Tim Zetts was held in check. The Wildcats played without tailback Dan Livesay, who was nursing a sore ankle. The Struthers' offense will face a Red Devil defense that surrendered 58 points last week in a 58-35 loss to Beaver Local. Quarterback Rick Quinn threw for 244 yards and three TDs for Campbell; he also ran for two more.
SPRINGFIELD (1-2) vs. SOUTH RANGE (3-0)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at South Range Stadium.
Last meeting: Springfield won 33-28 last season.
Notebook: Opening night in the Inter-County League is highlighted by this clash of rivals. South Range will be looking for redemption after Springfield's win last year, which benefited the Tigers' playoff run. Quarterback Ryan Maxwell and Ben Johnston helped lead South Range's 27-20 victory over Hickory last week. Maxwell passed for 169 yards and rushed for 90 more as he accounted for all four TDs. Johnston had 112 yards receiving. Springfield got a big game from Julian Caraballo, who rushed for 111 yards and two TDs.
HUBBARD (3-0) vs. NEWTON FALLS (1-2)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Newton Falls Stadium.
Last meeting: Hubbard won 41-21 last season.
Notebook: The Eagles begin Trumbull Athletic Conference play on the road, and the venue has coach Jeff Bayuk concerned. "Newton Falls has a lot of guys coming back, and we've never played well up there," Bayuk said after last week's 20-7 victory over Struthers. "Now, we get into the worst part of our schedule, which is the league, where anybody can win on any given week." Bayuk was pleased with his team's well-balanced offensive attack against Struthers. Still, senior Shaun Lane stood out, rushing for 222 yards against the Wildcats. Newton Falls is coming off a 35-7 pounding of Crestview, in which the Tigers totaled 340 yards, 238 on the ground. Andy Grunder caught two touchdown passes, and Matt Gillespie ran for two.
LEETONIA (3-0) vs. UNITED (3-0)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at United Stadium.
Last meeting: United won 21-20 last season.
Notebook: The Tri-County League begins its schedule with four unbeatens playing. Columbiana (2-0) travels to Lisbon (3-0), and Leetonia and United square off. United unveiled a powerful offense last week in a 45-27 loss to Mineral Ridge. Quarterback Mitch Phillis was 33-of-48 for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Tailback Corey Manfull had 16 catches for 269 yards and three TDs. The Bears rallied last week to defeat Jackson-Milton 28-20. Aaron Merrill had 187 yards rushing on 23 carries, with two TDs.
-- Vindicator staff report