Alma mater good way to finish '05

Canfield players showed their appreciation to the rest of the student body.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MASSILLON -- Minutes after the toughest loss in school history, the Canfield High football team gathered together in front of the student section, stood arm-in-arm and, like they've done after every game this season, sang the school's alma mater.
"Our fans stuck with us the whole game," said Canfield senior Joe Rosko. "They've been very loyal to us, but that's definitely not the way we wanted to finish our careers."
Over the past 15 weeks, the Cardinals -- led by 23 seniors -- evolved from a talented team into the best in school history, falling just short of the school's first state football championship.
Team set goal
"I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys," said Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky, whose team lost to Toledo Central Catholic 31-29. "They set a goal a year ago to get here and they got here.
"We just came up two points short."
Senior running back Angelo Babbaro, who broke the school's single-season rushing record by running for more than 1,900 yards this season, scored the game's first two touchdowns before leaving the game midway through the second quarter with a sprained knee.
Junior Sean Baker -- Canfield's backup quarterback and starting linebacker -- filled in well for Babbaro, rushing 21 times for 164 yards and a touchdown, but the Cardinals weren't the same.
"I don't know if we ever bounced back from [Babbaro's injury]," said Canfield senior center Nick Rousher, whose team was leading 14-3 at the time. "Our toes got stepped on a little bit."
Added Pavlansky, "Anytime you lose a back of Angelo's caliber, it hurts. But it takes more than one man to make a football team."
The Cardinals had never advanced past the regional final before this season and had finished undefeated in the regular season only once before, in 2002. But after three straight playoff wins in which they outscored their opponents 42-3, the Cardinals beat Tallmadge 17-14 in the state semifinal to earn the berth in Friday's final.
Motivation for others
"I think we had a good run, but obviously not a great run," said Rosko. "I hope this brings the motivation to the young guys to get back here."
Whether they do or not, it's obvious that no one in Canfield will forget what this year's team has done.
"Just to see the legacy these kids have left behind, they're going to be talking about this team for years," said former Canfield football coach Tony Ross, who coached the Cardinals for a decade before Pavlansky took over in 2001. "They played with heart and they left it all on the field.
"I always say, It's not what you take with you that matters, it's what you leave behind. They've left behind so much."
scalzo@vindy.com