PREP PREVIEW Division V football

MINERAL RIDGE vs. DALTON
Game time: 7 p.m. at Mineral Ridge High stadiumRadio: WNIO-AM (1390)
DALTON (8-2)
25Garaway2014Tuslaw620Toronto728Norwayne044Chippewa626Waynedale1412Smithville1328Hillsdale763W. Salem Northwestern714Rittman15
Bulldogs notebook: Dalton, in the playoffs for the seventh time, is primarily a running team, led by a trio of players. Shawn Gerber has 772 yards on 158 carries and four touchdowns (he had missed the last two weeks with injury); Ryan Sullivan has 718 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns; and quarterback Jason Koontz has run for 707 yards and seven touchdowns while also throwing for 758 yards and 10 touchdowns.
MINERAL RIDGE (9-1)
23Leetonia730Columbiana2134United129Springfield014Jackson-Milton748Lowellville123Liberty Center620South Range735McDonald628Western Reserve14
Rams notebook: Coach Shawn Brown's team is making just its second playoff appearance; the Rams also advanced in 1998. This year's version is based on the team's strong running game, led by senior Levi Leigh, who has 1,451 yards on 186 carries and 17 touchdowns. He's backed by junior Micah Hall, who has 965 yards on 148 carries and five touchdowns. Junior Vance Kiersey quarterbacks the Rams, ranked ninth in the state, who secured the Inter-County League title outright by beating Western Reserve last week.
SOUTH RANGE vs. ROOTSTOWN
Game time: 7 p.m. at Rootstown stadiumIf you go: The stadium is located off state Route 44. Exit from I-76 west and turn left. Within a mile, the school will be on your left.
SOUTH RANGE (9-1)
42East Palestine1528Crestview2148Champion048Lowellville755Conneaut031McDonald726Jackson-Milton167Mineral Ridge2045Western Reserve734Springfield10
Raiders notebook: Coach Dan Yeagley's team, which qualified for its eighth playoff berth, takes to the road. The Raiders, ranked eighth in the final state poll, are led by senior running backs/linebackers Ben Johnston and Tony Darkadakis. South Range will look for a spark, much like Justin Carolyne provided last week against Springfield when he opened the game with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
ROOTSTOWN (9-1)
31Jackson-Milton038Central-Hower1923Field1431Southeast2842Crestwood935Windham1410Garfield3535Waterloo1451Woodridge2248Streetsboro13
Rovers notebook: It's been a while for the Rovers, who last appeared in the playoffs in 1981 (their only other berth) when they competed in Div. IV. Rootstown likes to go to senior running back Aaron Urchek, who is approaching the 2,000-yard mark.
CRESTVIEW vs. SMITHVILLE
Game time: 7 p.m. at Crestview High stadium
SMITHVILLE (9-1)
53Lucas042Loudonville028Akron Manchester4226Rittman044Norwayne756Chippewa613Dalton1236Waynedale649Hillsdale048W. Salem Northwestern14
Smithies notebook: The Smithies qualified for their sixth straight playoff berth after wrapping up their fifth straight Wayne County League title. Smithville, which finished fifth in its region and 17th in the state poll, is coached by Keith Schrock, who eclipsed the 200-win mark this season.
CRESTVIEW (8-1)
34Lowellville621South Range2835LaBrae2834Lisbon735Columbiana1817United640Sebring019Leetonia635East Palestine14
Rebels notebook: Crestview, which finished 15th in the state poll and fourth in its region, is making its fourth playoff appearance, but first since 2001. The Tri-County League champion Rebels, who are winless in three postseason games, will be anxious to return to the field Saturday. Their game last week against Southern was canceled because the Indians didn't have enough players to field a team.
Vindicator staff reports