NON-CONFERENCE Canfield's defense turns back East Liverpool, 7-0

The Cardinals earned a berth in the Div. II, Region 7 playoffs.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANFIELD -- The 2004 season has presented its share of challenges for the Canfield High football team.
After starting the season 3-0, the Cardinals suffered through a mid-season slump, dropping its next three contests and falling to 3-3.
"I told the kids that they were going to write their own chapter in Canfield history one way or another," Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said. "The senior class really took that to heart and stepped it up."
And so has the Cardinals' defense.
Defense was difference
Canfield's offense ran just four plays in the third quarter, but the defense stopped East Liverpool on two key fourth downs inside the Cardinals' 20 to lift Canfield to a 7-0 victory Friday night.
The win clinches a Division II, Region 7 playoff berth for the Cardinals, their first since 2002.
"It feels really good right now," said Pavlansky, whose squad won its last four regular season games to finish a 7-3. "Our defense played a great game tonight, like they have all year. We came up with some big stops there in the third quarter when we needed to."
Clinging to a 7-0 lead, the Canfield defense spent all but four plays on the field in the third quarter. But instead of wearing down, the unit was up to the task.
On the Potters' opening possession of the quarter, they drove to the Canfield 17 with just over five minutes left. On fourth-and-2, East Liverpool elected to go for it, instead of try a field goal.
Junior linebacker Kyle Banna stopped quarterback Joey Wines in the backfield for a 2-yard loss, as Canfield took over on downs.
After a three-and-out by the Cardinals, the Canfield defense was again forced to hold the 7-0 advantage. East Liverpool took over at its own 45 with 2:55 left in the quarter and marched to the Canfield 7.
Potters gamble
The Potters gambled on another fourth-and-2 situation, and lost again.
Banna threw running back Jason Randolph for a 1-yard loss and the Cardinals dodged another bullet.
"We were out there a long time, but we just had to play with heart and not get tired," said Banna. "We had to go hard on every play for 48 minutes if we wanted to make the playoffs. That was a huge motivator for us tonight."
The Canfield defense's work still wasn't finished. With 3:24 left in the contest, the Potters made one last run for the end zone. An 8-yard jaunt by Hines to the Canfield 38 set up another fourth-down conversion.
This time East Liverpool (6-4) went to the pass, but Tim Lawson's throw fell incomplete off the hands of Roosevelt Kirby and Canfield took over on downs with just over a minute remaining.
"We did just enough to win tonight," said Pavlansky. "We'll have to go back and look at the film and try to get better. Whoever we play in the first round will be a good football team so we have to come out ready to play."
Offense struggles
Canfield's offense struggled much of the game, managing just one touchdown. The game's only score came on the first play of the second quarter.
The Cardinals cashed in on excellent field position after a 19-yard East Liverpool punt. Canfield began the drive at the Potters' 37.
After just two yards on two plays, quarterback Jamie McNally scrambled for 9 yards and a first down on a critical third-and-8.
Angelo Babbaro did the rest. On the last play of the quarter, he gained 6 yards to the East Liverpool 20. On the first play of the second quarter, he dashed 20 yards for the score.