SALEM VS. CANFIELD Wacky MAC provides wild title race

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The Salem High football team began the 2003 season with high expectations. Many in Salem dreamed of a playoff berth. Even a league title. At the very least, a winning season.
The Quakers went 0-for-3.
"You have to prove yourself on the field," Salem coach Doug Phillips said. "Sometimes, the expectations you've been given you haven't really earned."
Salem finished 5-5 -- just one game better than 2002 -- and some wondered if the high expectations weighed too heavily on the Quakers.
"Well, there was pressure on the kids, but we needed some of that," said Phillips, who went 10-20 his first three years at Salem. "We needed to change the attitude around here. The kids needed to believe they could win.
"I'm not going to lie. I want to win MAC championships and get this program into the playoffs, but you've got to earn those things," added Phillips, who led Springfield to the playoffs in 2000.
"You have to beat good people and play good football."
Quakers in contention
A year later, they're starting to do that.
The Quakers (5-2, 3-1), who weren't expected to contend for the league title this year, have won three straight and are tied with Alliance for the Metro Athletic Conference lead with two games remaining.
Salem hasn't won a MAC title since 1994 when the Quakers shared the championship with Poland.
Their two losses came against West Branch, when they had four turnovers, and Alliance, when they missed a field goal and an extra point to fall 21-20. Since then, Salem has beaten Struthers, Howland and Poland with games against Canfield, Niles and Campbell remaining.
"They say success is a journey and we still have yet to hit our destination," Phillips said. "I told the kids this week, we haven't done nothing yet."
Coach of year praise
Still, Salem's program is getting better. And other coaches are taking notice.
"If [Niles'] Phil Annarella isn't the coach of the year in the league, then Doug Phillips should be," Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said. "Doug is coming off three very impressive wins and his team is playing as well as anyone right now."
The Cardinals, meanwhile, are trying to regain some of their early season success. After a 4-0 start, Canfield lost three in a row (to Chaney, Howland and Niles) before last week's 31-0 win over Struthers.
"We've played some really good teams, but we're sort of shooting ourselves in the foot," Pavlansky said. "We're doing all the things you look for in a loss. We're losing the turnover battle. We're giving up big plays. We haven't been sound on special teams.
"We didn't deserve to win any of those games."
Both teams are still in the playoff hunt. Canfield is eighth in Division II, Region 7. Salem is 11th in Div. III, Region 11. Both teams probably need to win out to have a chance.
Showdown
They'll meet on Friday at Reilly Stadium. Canfield has history on its side -- the Quakers haven't beaten the Cardinals since 1990.
"The only one that matters is Friday night," Pavlansky said. "We need to go down there and play our best ball game of the year."
Looking for a prediction? Expect the unexpected.
The MAC has been the weirdest, wackiest -- and, arguably, most entertaining -- league in the area this season.
"It's as competitive a league as you'll find around here," Pavlansky said. "You've got be ready to play every Friday night."
For the last three weeks, Salem has been. And Phillips hopes it stays that way.
"We're still on our journey and it's been a fun ride," Phillips said. "But I think we're gradually moving up to the top.
"Ultimately, that's our goal."
scalzo@vindy.com