PREP PREVIEWS Weekend games

CHANEY (4-3, 1-0) VS. RAYEN (4-3, 1-0)
Game time: Today, 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.Last meeting: Chaney won 27-6 last year.Computer ratings: Chaney is 14th in Division II, Region 7. Rayen is 15th in Div. III, Region 11.Notebook: Lamar Sykes led the Cowboys with 137 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 42-0 win over City Series-foe Canton Timken. Chaney's three losses came against Fitch, Northwest and Newark, who have a combined record of 19-2. Rayen's passing game got into high gear in last week's 23-20 loss to Alliance. Tigers quarterback Gary Thornton hit Tony Rice for two touchdown passes, covering 94 yards. The Tigers have lost two straight this season and have not beaten Chaney since winning back-to-back games in 1988-89.
UNIONTOWN LAKE (6-1, 4-1)VS. FITCH (7-0, 4-0)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Fitch High Falcon StadiumLast meeting: First meeting.AP poll: Fitch is second in Div. I. Lake is seventh in Div. II.Computer ratings: Fitch is first in Region 1. Lake is first in Region 7.Notebook: The Blue Streaks, fresh off a 28-14 win over Canton GlenOak, bring a balanced offensive attack into Fitch, led by quarterback John Rutan -- a running and throwing threat -- and workhorse running back A.J. Workman. Lake's only loss came by three points at Jackson, when Workman went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and missed the rest of the game. The Falcons, meanwhile, got a scare from North Canton Hoover, which threw for 303 yards in a 34-27 loss. Mike Eliseo had two touchdowns for the Falcons, who had 431 yards rushing.
AKRON ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY (4-3)VS. MOONEY (4-2, 0-1)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.Last meeting: Mooney won 28-0 in 1995.AP poll: SVSM is unranked. Mooney is 10th in Div. IV.Computer ratings: SVSM is 14th in Div. IV, Region 13. Mooney is 11th in Region 13.Notebook: Both teams need a win to stay alive in the playoff race. New coach Keith Wakefield -- the longtime Massillon Perry coach -- has kept the Irish competitive in all three losses, which came against likely playoff teams Akron Hoban, Akron Garfield and Cleveland Benedictine. Mooney's defense surrendered more points last Friday against Benedictine (49) than in its previous five games combined (32). Watch out for Cardinals quarterback Kyle McCarthy, who is a threat to run or throw.Radio: WKBN-AM (570)
URSULINE (5-2)VS. COLUMBUS WATTERSON (6-1)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Hagley Field, Columbus.If you go: Take I-76 west through Akron to I-71; go south on I-71 to exit 113; turn right on Weber Road, the left on Calumet Road; proceed to Aracadia Avenue and turn right. Hagley Field is on the right.Last meeting: Watterson won 30-24 in overtime last year.AP poll: Watterson is sixth in Div. III; Ursuline is 12th in Div. IV.Poll/computer ratings: Watterson is first in Region 10. Ursuline is fifth in Region 13.Notebook: Ursuline's defense gave up 500 yards rushing to Hoban standout Tyrell Sutton in last week's 61-28 loss. It doesn't get any easier this week, as the Irish face Watterson, which toppled Hoban 31-7 two weeks ago. Quarterback Robbie Rosner leads the Eagles' passing game and the running game has several talented backs, led by Mike Kundla. Irish Running back Alex Allen had 223 yards rushing against the Knights, while wideout Derrick Stewart scored two touchdowns. Ursuline's other loss came against Steubenville -- Div. III's top-ranked team.
CLEVELAND JFK (6-1)VS. WARREN HARDING (5-2)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Mollenkopf Stadium.Last meeting: Harding won 61-6 last year.AP poll: Neither team is ranked.Computer ratings: JFK is ninth in Region 1 and Harding is third.Notebook: JFK has won six straight after an opening 34-0 loss to Steubenville. Harding has lost three straight -- Lakewood St. Edward had to forfeit its win over the Raiders -- including a 56-0 loss to St. Ignatius on Saturday. Quarterback Roger Matlock and wideout Mario Manningham lead the Raiders' offense.
CANFIELD (4-3, 2-2)VS. SALEM (5-2, 3-1)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Reilly Stadium.Last meeting: Canfield won 43-42 in overtime last year.AP poll: Neither team is ranked.Computer ratings: Canfield is eighth in Region 7. Salem is 11th in Div. III, Region 11.Notebook: The Cardinals routed Struthers 31-0 last Friday to end a three-game losing streak. Quarterback Jamie McNally found wideout Jordan Ferns five times for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Salem, which has not beaten the Cardinals since 1990, will rely on wideout Jarin Heath and running back Grant Sevek. QB Mark Kolich threw for 75 yards in last week's 21-7 win over Poland.
MINERAL RIDGE (6-1, 3-0)VS. SOUTH RANGE (7-0, 3-0)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at South Range High stadiumLast meeting: South Range won 7-3 last year.AP poll: Mineral Ridge is 12th in Div. V and South Range is third.Computer ratings: Mineral Ridge is third in Region 17 and South Range is fourth.Notebook: Mineral Ridge has not beaten the Raiders since 1998. This game will likely be decided with the ground game as South Range will look to pound the ball behind running backs Ben Johnston and Tony Darkadakis. The Rams will counter with Micah Hall and Levi Leigh. South Range has won two of the last three Inter-County League titles and is on pace for its seventh playoff appearance under Dan Yeagley.
CRESTVIEW (6-1, 4-0)VS. LEETONIA (6-1, 4-0)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Leetonia High stadium.Last meeting: Crestview won 45-7 last year.AP poll: Crestview is 18th in Div. V. Leetonia is 15th in Div. VI.Computer ratings: Crestview is sixth in Region 17. Leetonia is sixth in Div. VI, Region 21.Notebook: Has there been a quieter 6-1 team this season than Leetonia? Jon Williams ran for 152 yards in last week's 16-7 win over Lisbon, which established the Bears as legitimate Tri-County League contenders. The Bears have won six straight after an opening loss to Mineral Ridge, but they'll have their hands full with Crestview, which has won five straight since a last-minute loss to South Range in Week Two.
Vindicator staff reports