Cardinals excited about home-field advantage on Friday

Unbeaten Canfield will play host to Columbus Beechcroft.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- As juniors, Canfield High football players Angelo Babbaro and Joe Rosko didn't mind when the Division II playoffs began for the Cardinals with a road trip to Columbus.
It was the playoffs, after all. Who cares where they send you as long as you're playing when many of your rivals aren't.
But this November, the Cardinals (10-0 and Metro Athletic Conference champions) are happy that their undefeated season has earned them another home date.
"Last year, we got to Brookhaven and it was awesome to play the state champs," said Rosko, a fullback and linebacker. "But that long drive to Columbus was not awesome, so it will be real nice to be in Cardinal Country for our first game."
Kickoff at 7:30
Friday at 7:30 p.m., Canfield, the No. 2 seed in Region 7, will be home against Columbus Beechcroft (8-2), the No. 7 seed.
Babbaro doesn't mind that this year, the shoe is on the other foot.
"Making that road trip is a big deal; it's a big advantage for the home team," said Babbaro who concluded the regular season last Friday by rushing for 213 yards against Poland as Canfield clinched the conference championship with a 27-7 victory.
Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said opening at home "certainly does make a difference. You play all year long so you can have a home football game in the playoffs.
"It's the second one in our school history and we're very proud of that," Pavlansky said. "And we're certainly not going to miss that bus ride."
Babbaro's memories of the trip to play Brookhaven aren't warm and fuzzy, citing a three-hour bus trip and then playing in an unfamiliar atmosphere.
"Now that we are playing at home with our great fans, hopefully, we'll get it going," Babbaro said.
In Week 10, Pavlansky threw a few new wrinkles against Poland, including having Babbaro take a few direct snaps from center Nick Rousher.
"We mixed it up a little bit -- he put me in at quarterback," Babbaro said. "It's just like getting it at tailback, but you just get it a little quicker.
Breezed through season
Since opening the season with a 17-13 victory over Rayen, Canfield rolled through the next eight games.
The Poland game started out close as neither team scored in the first quarter.
But the Cardinals turned it into a rout by scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter, including on a fake punt that saw John Pitzulo race 47 yards to put the Cardinals ahead, 20-0.
"We just concluded a magical season -- 10-0, MAC champs," Babbaro said. "And we did it at Poland, so that makes it better. It's a great feeling -- we've been waiting 365 days since we lost to Brookhaven."
Canfield is making it's fifth playoff appearance and the third in the past four seasons.
Rosko says the 2002 Canfield team that also went 10-0 was an inspiration to this year's seniors.
"We got to watch the 2002 team as freshmen but never got a taste of it," Rosko said. "We saw how everybody was so excited about, but I never would have thought that we would have the same type of season.
"We came into this season and expected to do well, but never did I think we would be here right now," Rosko said.
Second unbeaten team
In his first five seasons as Canfield head coach, Pavlansky has coached two teams to 10-0 records.
"We've had two teams that have been special to us and we're just fortunate, there's no doubt about it," Pavlansky said. "You always dream of it, but a lot of things have to fall right. We've been relatively healthy all year long -- we haven't lost anyone for the season."
williams@vindy.com