PREP PREVIEW \ Saturday's regional football

DIVISION IVMooneyvs. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
When: 7 p.m.Where: Stambaugh StadiumRadio/TV: WKBN-AM 570, (17/62, taped, aired 10:30 p.m.)Scouting report: Even though they were dealt a 38-20 setback by Div. II Columbus Watterson last Friday, the Cardinals (8-2), the defending state champion, are making their third straight appearance in the playoffs. Mooney is 30-13 all-time in the postseason and is making its 19th appearance. Mooney, rated first in Region 13, is led by tailback Nathan Burney, who gained 220 yards on 25 carries and scored 3 touchdowns against Watterson. This season, Burney had 1,635 yards on 245 carries for an average of 6.7 per carry, and he scored 17 TDs. QB Derrell Johnson returned to the starting lineup for the Cardinals last week will start again Saturday. "He is healthy and ready to go," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. The defensive unit is led by cornerback Desmond Marrow, who has five interceptions. "Pat Kelly and Michael Zordich, inside linebackers, Calvin Littlejohn, outside linebacker and defensive linemen Collion Chambers and Robert Walker do a great job for us," said Fecko. Burney, Marrow, Kelly and Chambers are captains. "Offensively, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy does a good job running with the football and our responsibility will be to try and shut that down. Turnovers and field position will be a big factor in this game," said Fecko. CVCA was eighth in Region 13. RBs Josh Hill (475 yards), John Weakley (689) and John Pettigrew (636) have six TDs apiece. The Royals rushed for 2,145 yards on 371 attempts this season, an average of 5.8 per carry. Junior QB Aaron Davis is 37-of-89 for 597 yards and three TDs. CVCA is 0-1 all-time in the postseason.Next: The winner of this game will play the winner of the Akron Manchester-Garrettsville Garfield game.
DIVISION VIMineral Ridge vs. Dalton
When: 7 p.m.Where: E. Z. Whittaker Field, Mineral RidgeScouting report: Mineral Ridge (9-1) is the No. 4 seed in Region 21 and Dalton is No. 5 and this game is rematch of a Div. V playoff games last year, won by Dalton, 14-11. The Rams are coming off a 58-21 win over Springfield for their third straight win since losing. The Rams have scored 331 points and allowed 120. Coach Shawn Brown (25-6) said his players "are hungry. They know what the playoffs are like, what to expect. We have four starters back on both sides of the ball. So we have a good nucleus of playoff experience. A lot of our success is a tribute to a steady improvement all year. So we are getting better and tougher every week." Brown said his offense is "really kind of a balanced attack. John Heck and Micah Hall can run the ball and Vance Keirsey is a good passer so we have a balanced attack." Heck has rushed for 1,039 yards in 107 carries for a 9.7-yard average and 15 TDs, while Hall has 761 yards in 124 carries for a 6.1-yard average and nine TDs. Keirsey has completed 74-of-135 passes for 1,360 yards and 12 TDs with 10 interceptions. The top receiver is Wade Campbell with 25 catches for 468 yards and six TDs. The leading tackler is Kent Cunningham with 107 tackles. Mineral Ridge is 1-2 all-time in the playoffs.
Regarding Dalton, Brown said: "They are going to try to run the ball if they can. One of their major improvements is the passing game. They have some skilled players. They are fast and the quarterback throws and they go get it." Dalton is coached by veteran Bob Ramsay with a 183-88-1 record. The Bulldogs have been in the playoffs eight times and are 5-7 in the postseason. The Bulldogs have a strong and well-balanced passing attack led by senior QB Andrew Miller, who has completed 66 of 161 passes for 1,102 yards and 16 TDs. His top receiver is junior TE Jeremy Wenger with 20 catches for 357 yards with four TDs. Miller also has rushed for 562 yards in 117 carries, but the team leader is junior RB Shawn Gerber with 766 rushing yards in 164 carries with three TDs. The top tackler is junior LB Eric Keyes with 120 tackles, including 38 solo stops.Next: The Dalton-Mineral Ridge winner will play the Mathews-Columbiana winner.
Columbiana vs. Mathews
Where: Firestone Park Stadium, ColumbianaWhen: 7 p.m.Radio: WNIO-AM 1390Scouting report: Mathews (7-3) is seeded No. 8 and Columbiana (9-1) is No. 1. The Mustangs beat Pymatuning Valley last Friday, 26-14. Mathews took runner-up in the East Suburban Conference behind Ledgemont. Brad Hughes leads the Mustangs in rushing with 743 yards in 95 carries for a 7.8-yard average and four TDs, followed by Nick Ocheltree with 677 yards in 110 carries for a 6.2-yard average and 15 TDs. Lucas Buckner has completed 47 of 119 passes for 737 yards and 10 TDs. Ocheltree and Chris Joseph are the top receivers with 12 catches each for 229 and 153 yards, respectively. Joseph has three TDs. Hughes leads in all-purpose yards with 1,298. Mathews coach Jim Parry called Columbiana a "dynamic" team. "They do a lot of different things and they do them well. As much as we're happy to be [in the playoffs], we're going to see what we can do and give it our best shot." Columbiana, meanwhile, will be trying to recover from a 35-14 loss to Crestview last Friday that shattered the Clippers' unbeaten record. Coach Bob Spaite is in his 11th year at the Columbiana helm with an 81-41 record. The Clippers are in the playoffs for the fourth time and are 1-3 in the postseason. Columbiana is led by QB Mike Welce with 1,111 yards passing on 63-for-125 for a 17.6-yard average and eight TDs with eight interceptions. Joe Winters is the top rusher with 963 yards in 135 attempts for a 7.1-yard average and 12 TDs. Welce also has 787 yards rushing in 163 attempts for a 4.8-yard average and 12 TDs. The leading receiver is Cory Guy with 22 catches for 292 yards and a 13.3-yard average and four TDs. Jarrett Welton has 13 receptions for 218 yards and a 16.8-yard average and two TDs. The top three tacklers are Mackie McGarry (139 tackles), Welce (124) and Anthony Melone (105).Next: The Mathews-Columbiana winner will play the Dalton-Mineral Ridge winner.
Vindicator staff reports