PREP PREVIEW | Weekend football

FRIDAY
URSULINE vs. POLAND
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Poland Stadium.
Last meeting: First meeting.
Scouting report: Forget about all the pre-game hype; both teams just need a win. Ursuline is coming off a 24-8 loss to Steubenville in which the Irish managed just 126 yards and had four turnovers. Senior running back Alex Allen finished with 101 yards in the loss, but the Irish offense struggled to get going. Ursuline needs to get the ball to senior wideout Derrick Stewart, but sophomore quarterback Scooter Hargate is still experiencing some growing pains. Hargate completed just 4 of 13 passes for 70 yards and threw three interceptions against Big Red. Poland didn't fare any better last Friday, committing five turnovers in a 29-3 loss to Metro Athletic Conference rival Alliance. The Bulldogs, who struggled offensively in a 27-13 opening loss to Louisville, need to get their running game -- particularly running back Jim Shurilla -- jump-started if they want to beat the talented Irish.
TV/Radio: WKBN-AM (570); Fox 17/62 (10:30 p.m. tape delay)
MOONEY vs. EAST CLEVELAND SHAW
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
Last meeting: Mooney won 31-6 last year.
Scouting report: On paper, at least, this is a mismatch. After an easy opening win over East Liverpool, Mooney had little trouble against St. Thomas Aquinas despite losing three fumbles in the first half. Mooney outrushed the Knights 340-70 in the 24-3 victory and Mooney's defense has given up just three points in two games. Eric Mariotti had a game-high 162 yards on 12 carries against Aquinas. Shaw, on the other hand, has lost big in both its games, albeit to quality opponents. Avon Lake, which won last year's Division II state title, beat Shaw 49-0 last week. Chardon, which lost to Avon Lake in last year's state semifinals, beat Shaw 47-28 in the opener.
CANFIELD vs. ALLIANCE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Union Stadium.
Last meeting: Alliance won 24-7 last year.
Scouting report: Canfield has looked good in opening wins over Rayen and Canton South, but the Cardinals get their first big test this week. Alliance lost to Minerva in Week One, but it was misleading. The Aviators were missing several suspended starters in the opener and were back to full strength against Poland last Friday. Senior running back Kendall Davis, a Div. I college prospect who won two state sprinting titles in June, ran for 144 yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs. Canfield senior quarterback Jamie McNally looked strong against the Wildcats, completing 9 of 15 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns after a so-so start in the opener.
HUBBARD vs. STRUTHERS
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Struthers High Stadium.
Last meeting: Hubbard won 20-7 last year.
Scouting report: After thunderstorms washed out Hubbard's opener against Albert Gallatin, the Eagles looked good in a 34-0 win over Cleveland East. Tony Giancola had three touchdown runs and Ben Lane added two more. Hubbard's defense held East under 100 yards. The Eagles have a tougher test this week against Struthers, which lost two starters (Eric Anderson and Jim Kribel) to injury in Friday's 47-16 loss to Warren JFK. The game marks the return of former Struthers coach Gary Zetts, who was hired as an assistant at Hubbard after the Wildcats chose not to renew his contract last spring. Struthers coach Pete Pirone is still looking for his first win.
WARREN JFK vs. GIRARD
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium, Girard.
Last meeting: JFK won 24-23 last year.
Scouting report: Has any team looked more impressive in the early going than JFK? After an opening 35-23 win against a tough Newton Falls team, the Eagles rolled up a 27-0 halftime lead against Struthers. Running back Tony Elzy ran for 224 yards despite resting most of the second half and Jack Henderson added two touchdown runs. Girard, meanwhile, is off to its typical strong start, especially on offense. Running back Brett Dutton had 152 yards rushing and four touchdowns (he also added an interception return for a TD) and quarterback Bobby Ovesny added 131 yards passing for the Indians in their 42-26 win over Campbell on Friday.
Radio: WBBG-FM (106.1).
WARREN HARDING vs. AKRON BUCHTEL
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Last meeting: Harding won 21-6 last year.
Scouting report: Warren Harding needed a last-minute interception return by senior standout DB Mario Manningham to squeak out a 30-26 win over Cleveland Glenville on Saturday. The schedule doesn't get any easier this week, as Division III-power Buchtel looks to continue its strong start after wins over Massillon Washington (33-20) and North Canton Hoover (36-16). Griffins running back Bryan Williams has rushed for 100 yards in each of the first two games and has five touchdowns, including a 61-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that put last Friday's game away. Manningham, meanwhile, has lived up to the promise he showed his sophomore year after a so-so junior season. The Michigan recruit scored four touchdowns against Glenville -- all of them 50 yards or more -- and almost single-handedly saved Harding's 29-game home winning streak. But is this the week the streak ends?
Vindicator staff reports