HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Maizel one Irish pillar paving way in playoffs

The tackle was one of the 15 seniors who didn't want the season to end after 10 games.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The front cover of the 2004 Ursuline football program is entitled "Pillars of Strength," with 15 seniors pictured on the steps of Stambaugh Auditorium.
Little did they know that Samson would be right around the corner.
Samson, in this case, was a brutal 10-game schedule.
But the Irish ended up 6-4 and squeezed into the Division IV, Region 13 playoffs.
One of those pillars is two-way tackle Corey Maizel, a 6-3, 290-pound senior.
What's amazing is that, by coincidence, Maizel has been through three coaches in four years and lost about 50 pounds.
"He's a very talented lineman," coach Dan Reardon said. "He's been one of the anchors of our offensive line."
All in a row
Maizel is the right tackle, alongside right guard Mike Costantini, center Dom Cutrone, left guard Don Hanni and left tackle James Hodge. Jerome Jones, Andrew Frasco and Joe Underwood flip-flop at tight end.
"We felt we had a solid senior class and good supporting players," said Reardon. "By playing seven playoff teams, the pieces fell in place. The kids did a great job sticking to our game plan and coming back every week with a positive attitude."
Maizel was a freshman when Jim Vivo was varsity coach, followed by his sophomore and junior seasons under Dan Murphy before Reardon took over this year.
"Since January, he dropped from about 340 pounds," the coach said. "That made him significantly quicker and increased his endurance."
The improved mobility raised his value and enabled him to contribute on both sides of the ball.
Obviously, the player worked hard to drop the weight.
"The coaches told me it would help my endurance and make me stronger," said Maizel. "I took that to heart. I listened to the coaches because they know what's best."
Maizel's emergence helped a unit depleted by injuries when Mike Bartos and Matt Savon were lost.
Low snap count
Savon, a tackle, hasn't played snap because of a knee injury and Bartos broke his leg during the first quarter of the first game.
There's a chance that Bartos, who could play guard or tackle, may return this week.
Maizel, mentioned in the preseason publication Ohio High, was a letterman in 2002 when Ursuline last made a playoff appearance.
Current seniors who started two years ago were Derrick Stewart and Brad Turnbull.
The playoff-clinching comeback victory over Erie Cathedral Prep last Saturday capped a roller-coaster regular season.
"We were up against the wall," Reardon said, "but the kids got the job done. At halftime, we told our seniors that they have two quarters -- 24 minutes, guaranteed. The rest was in their hands. We felt we could stop Prep and move the ball. The kids bought into what we said and came out and performed in the third quarter."
The 17-year-old Maizel gave his recollection of the third quarter:
"We came out with fire and passion and let Alex [Allen] run loose through their defense. We made no adjustments, period. The line just created a few holes and Alex was gone."
Lowellville ties
Maizel, whose father, Doug, played at Struthers, then at Lowellville his last two high school seasons, said he was relieved that Reardon's arrival was well-received.
"He was open-minded. He brought the kids together and made the transition real easy for us."
Playing Steubenville Big Red, Mooney, Akron Hoban and Columbus Watterson, not to mention Warren Harding and the rest, would shake even the strongest pillar.
"We probably could have played harder, but those were very good opponents," Maizel said. "But that prepared us for the playoffs."
Now that Ursuline conquered Samson, there's still Delilah to deal with.