Tuesday, September 23, 2003
By JAMIE TRINA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HOWLAND -- After Hurricane Isabel made its way through Trumbull County, Hurricane Tony came gusting into Lombardo Field.
After his 368 all-purpose yards ended Poland's hopes of an unbeaten season, Howland senior Tony Davis once again showed why he is Big-10 bound, leading the Howland High football team (4-1) to a 34-6 victory over Metro Athletic Conference foe Canfield (1-4).
Davis' 77 yards on the ground sparked the Tigers offense, but his outstanding play on defense ignited them.
Coming into Friday's game with no interceptions, Davis picked two, one that he returned for an 85-yard touchdown.
"They threw it to my guy, and I knew what to do with it," Davis said. "I've been waiting for them [interceptions] to come."
Hurricane Tony, a Penn State recruit, brought with it tenacious thunder, most of it by the Tigers leading tackler Mike Zambelli.
Zambelli caused havoc for Canfield quarterback Jamie McNally, who was coming off a record performance of 421 yards and three touchdowns against Austintown Fitch.
Five turnovers
Though the Cardinals managed 261 yards of total offense, the Tigers defense caused five turnovers including four interceptions.
"We played pretty well, and our intensity level is up," Zambelli said. "We'd like to do that every game, and keep it up."
Howland jumped out to a 7-0 lead on an 11-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by junior fullback Dante DiVieste.
Canfield's next possession lasted three plays before Mario Zambelli intercepted McNally.
Howland capitalized from nine yards out when Davis took an inside handoff, and bounced it outside after running into a wall of white jerseys.
On a drive that found Canfield knocking on the end zone door, Howland was quick to put a lock on it with another interception.
The first play from scrimmage resulted in a 94-yard touchdown run by sophomore Lance Smith for a commanding 20-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
"Our guys like to play on Friday nights," Howland coach Dick Angle said. "We don't have to do a lot to motivate them."
The game became a defensive struggle until Davis rumbled in from nine yards out in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Later, Davis played spoiler when he picked McNally off for the second time and returned it for 85 yards and the score.