Howland rallies past Canfield

The unbeaten Tigers pulled out a 21-14 MAC victory.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- For three quarters, the Howland and Canfield high school football teams displayed a nip-and-tuck dogfight you would expect from two of the Mahoning Valley's best big school football programs.
But in the fourth quarter, the Tigers displayed the dominance and strength that has propelled them to a perfect first half of the season.
With Canfield's defenders struggling to keep up, tailback Lance Smith powered the Tigers to the final quarter's only score in Howland's 21-14 victory Friday at Cardinals Stadium.
"We're in the driver's seat -- now we have to make sure we don't make the wrong turn," said Smith after rushing for 193 yards on 27 carries.
Winning score
With the score tied 14-14, the Tigers marched 63 yards on 13 plays for the winning score, six of them runs by Smith for 38 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown.
"We know [Smith] is a special back, but he has a special line," Canfield (3-2, 1-1 Metro Athletic Conference) coach Mike Pavlansky said of the Tigers' (5-0, 2-0) key performers.
Howland coach Dick Angle agreed.
"Canfield is a quality football team and our offensive line pounded them a little bit," Angle said. "To be 5-0 and win three games on the road, that's the quality thing that makes a good football team.
"We have a long way to get to be a great team; hopefully we get the opportunity and we'll do it," Angle said.
With a seven-point cushion late in the game, the Tigers defenders harassed the Cardinals on their final seven offensive plays for a net loss of 19 yards.
On the other side, Smith and fullback Nick Lyon combined for 89 rushing yards in the final quarter.
"He looked like a tailback out there," said Smith of Lyons, who gained 48 yards on five carries.
Canfield controls early
Early on, the Cardinals were in control, taking the opening possession deep into Howland territory.
But tailback Sean Baker was hit from behind and stripped of the ball at the Howland 5. Linebacker T.J. Sudol recovered in the end zone and was stopped at the 1.
"We kind of thrive on bending but not breaking, [but] we bent a little too much for my nerves," Angle said. "We probably should have taken a knee in the end zone."
After being limited to 6 yards in the first quarter, Smith broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown.
Canfield responded. After a flea flicker pass from quarterback Jamie McNally to wide receiver Jordan Ferns picked up 52 yards, running back Angelo Babbaro ran 27 yards to the 1 to set up McNally's 2-yard score. A bad snap led to a blocked extra-point kick, giving the Tigers a 7-6 lead at halftime.
On Howland's first offensive play of the third quarter, Smith scored a 65-yard touchdown for a 14-6 lead.
"They're fun, but without the offensive line, you wouldn't be able to do it," Smith said of his success.
Cardinals respond
Once again, the Cards responded, this time on a nine-play drive capped by Babbaro's 9-yard touchdown run where he broke three tackles. McNally's pass to Ferns tied the score.
"That showed a lot of character in our football team," Pavlansky said. "After those two long runs, we were able to respond, and that's a good sign for us.
"Coming into the game, we knew two keys were to win the turnover battle -- we certainly lost that -- and not to give up any long runs for touchdowns -- and there were two," Pavlansky said.
Leading the Tigers on defense was cornerback Aaron Womack with two interceptions.
"I guess I was just in the right place at the right time," Womack said. "I made pretty good reads."
Babbaro had 58 yards on eight carries before leaving the game with a third-quarter leg injury.
williams@vindy.com