So close: Canfield outlasted in final

Canfield had the lead, fell behind and then came up short, 31-29.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MASSILLON -- Holy Toledo, Canfield High team came so close.
Junior all-purpose back Sean Baker was stopped about a yard short of the goal line in the third quarter, keeping the Cardinals two points behind Toledo Central Catholic, 24-22.
"He was close," teammate Kyle Banna said after the Cardinals fell, 31-29, in the Division II state championship game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Once Chris Willis scored the Irish's final touchdown on a 6-yard run and kicker Brodie Wagener added the extra point, the Cards knew they needed two scores in the final 9 minutes, 49 seconds. They only produced one.
The Cards scored eight minutes later, but couldn't recover Adam Jones' onside kick. With less than a minute to play, the Cards' injury-depleted offense ran four more plays before time expired.
"Turnovers in any big game are going to make a difference," Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said.
Canfield had 11-point lead
In the first half, the Cards took an 11-point lead and appeared on their way to their first state championship.
But in the middle quarters, the Irish created several big plays, going ahead 17-16 at halftime and 24-16 less than two minutes into the third quarter.
Those plays -- a fumble recovery at the Canfield 1, an interception at midfield, a hook-and-lateral play for a touchdown and a 60-yard touchdown pass were too much for the Cards to overcome.
Early on, Canfield's confidence was a bit rattled as the Irish scored on their first possession, marching to the Canfield 12 on their first five offensive plays. Wagener's 28-yard field goal put the Irish ahead, 3-0, about four minutes into the game.
Sixteen seconds of playing time later, Canfield took the lead as Angelo Babbaro juked and jived his way downfield for a title-game record 92-yard return.
Babbaro took the ball at the Canfield 8 and stumbled. Regaining his balance he ran across the field, gaining speed. At about the Central 30, Babbaro all but stopped, faked a dart that fooled Toledo's Donte Johnson and Kevin Boyle, then easily slipped down the sideline for the score.
Hudson recovers touched punt
Late in the first quarter, the Cards took advantage as the Irish touched a bobbling punt and Canfield's Tommy Hudson recovered.
On the first play of the second quarter, Babbaro took the pitch on the sweep and raced 4 yards for Canfield's second touchdown. Jones' extra point gave the Cards a 14-3 edge.
But midway through the second quarter, Babbaro sprained his knee. Baker took over as the primary ball carrier.
"He's a great player so taking him out definitely was going to hurt them," Central coach Greg Dempsey said. "We hated to see that."
After Irish quarterback Kevin Jansen connected with Boyle for a 6-yard touchdown pass, the Cards were on the move, driving to the Toldeo 2. But on the next play, Toledo defender Lee Marquette knocked the ball from quarterback Frank Ross' grasp at the 1.
Moments later, Jansen stumbled in the end zone for a safety, giving Canfield a 16-10 lead.
After forcing a punt, the Cards gambled and lost as Greg Hammond picked off a Ross pass at midfield.
Toledo ahead for good
Three plays later, Jansen threw a short toss to Xavier Graciani, who flipped a lateral to speedy Dane Sanzenbacher, who raced the remaining 42 yards. Wagener's extra point kick put Toledo ahead for good.
Late in the third quarter, Baker, who rushed for 166 yards on 21 carries, scored on an 8-yard run, but didn't get in on the conversion try.
Down 31-22, the Cards ate up much of the final quarter marching for their final score, a 1-yard run by fullback Joe Rosko with 1:48 to go.
Although losing Babbaro hurt the Cards on both sides of the ball, Rosko said the team was confident in Baker.
"We lost a great athlete in Angelo, but Sean is a three-sport athlete and can pretty much play any position on the field," Rosko said. "He played tailback for us last year, so it was old news for him.
williams@vindy.com