PREP PREVIEW \ Football playoffs

DIVISION IV
State final
Mooney vs. Versailles
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton
TV/radio: WNIO-AM (1390), WBBW-AM (1240); Ohio News Network
Mooney (11-2)
26East Liverpool0
24St. Thomas3
35E. Cleveland Shaw0
20Warren Harding22
36Painesville Riverside7
25Cle. Benedictine49
19Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary13
55Ursuline27
14Columbus Watterson10
Playoffs
42Garrettsville Garfield21
42Chagrin Falls13
14Liberty6
28Martins Ferry6
Cardinals notebook: Mooney, which has an area-best 18th playoff appearances and four state titles, improved to 29-13 in the postseason with last Friday's win. The Cardinals' offense is predicated on a strong rushing game -- four players have at least 600 yards this season. Nate Burney leads the way with 1,682 yards, and he's scored 13 touchdowns. QB Kyle McCarthy has 1,107 yards and 13 TDs, and he's passed for 510 yards (31-of-71) and four scores. Michael Rich and Eric Mariotti have 631 and 624 yards, respectively. When the Cardinals do pass, Desmond Marrow (10 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD) and Dan Babyak (8-175-1) are the main threats. The defense is led by Jon Italiano and Todd Shuller, who have combined for 12 tackles for loss and 24 quarterback sacks. Place-kicker Jeff Seddon's strong leg could be the difference in a close game.
Versailles (11-3)
28Dayton Oakwood14
27 Minster21
41Sidney Lehman Catholic6
40Fort Recovery 0
27Delphos St. John's19
14Maria Stein Marion Local22
51New Bremen26
7Coldwater10
17St. Henry24
48Rockford Parkway2
Playoffs
41Clarksville Clinton-Massie6
28Springfield Kenton Ridge0
35Plain City Jonathan Alder28
14Coldwater0
Tigers notebook: The defending state champions, Versailles is making its ninth appearance in the state championship game -- where the Tigers have an impressive 6-2 record. Coach Al Hetrick is one of Ohio's winningest coaches, with a 325-98-4 record in 37 seasons. Yet Hetrick has never had what Versailles has this year -- a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. A running team like Mooney, the Tigers are led by senior Adam Francis, who has rushed for 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Curtis Wourms is the team's leading scorer, with 15 touchdowns to go with his 1,017 yards rushing. Linebacker Brian Dapore and end Kevin Paulus head a strong defense. Dapore has 90 tackles and two interceptions, while Paulus collected 88 tackles and nine sacks.
Vindicator staff report