Pavlansky has Cards riding high

Canfield takes on Columbus Watterson Friday in Massillon.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Canfield High football coach Mike Pavlansky is one of four sons of the late Dave Pavlansky, a respected legend who coached Poland to a 10-0 season in 1971.
While introducing Mike Pavlansky to the Curbstone Coaches Monday at Lockwood House, Cecil Duffett said that Dave was probably watching over his son's shoulder last Friday night when Canfield played Columbus Beechcroft in a Division II playoff game.
When Mike reached the podium, he had a reply.
"Mr. Duffett alluded to my dad watching over us last Friday. I wonder if he didn't get to the game late because we fumbled the opening kickoff."
The comment drew a collective laugh from the group seated to hear the coach of the unbeaten Cardinals.
Rolled in playoff opener
It was no joke that Canfield rebounded en route to a resounding 28-0 win in the regional quarterfinal.
"After that fumble, our defense came out and did a fantastic job," Pavlansky continued. "We held a 1,000-yard rusher to three yards and shut out a team that was averaging 25 points per game.
"Twice they had the ball first and goal -- once on the 1-yard line - and we were able to stop them."
It's significant to note that Mike Pavlansky has eclipsed his father's 10-0 twice.
Canfield's 2002 playoff team went 11-0 before losing in the second round and this year's Cardinals team (11-0) could achieve a school-first with one more victory.
The impediment to reaching that next step is a formidable one -- Columbus Watterson.
Formidable opponent
So far, Watterson (10-1) has defeated opponents such as Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline, Cleveland Benedictine and Columbus DeSales.
The game is Friday at Massillon Paul Brown Stadium.
Pavlansky believes the site choice is a testament to Canfield fans.
"We have a community that's surrounded us with lot of passion," Pavlansky said of Cardinal Stadium.
"I think that's one of the reasons we're going to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and not Mansfield," Pavlansky said of the choice. "The state realized the passion of Canfield fans and Mahoning Valley people who will follow us. They've got it a little bit closer to us than to Bishop Watterson."
Pavlansky, who has a 38-16 record in his fifth year at Canfield, gave a three-part synopsis of his football program.
"My philosophy at Canfield is the philosophy of my father, too. People say kids have changed, society changes. We have, there's no doubt, we've advanced, but the basic philosophy of who you want to be hasn't changed.
Has plenty of good people
"People who want to be good people are good people for a reason. People who have to make choices make good choices and those are the people who are successful, no matter what their society is like.
"Like most high school coaches, what happens on the field is an extension of what goes on in the classroom. We firmly believe that, if we can get a group of guys [58 players] to perform at their best level - every day in the classroom -- then we have a chance that they're going to perform real well come Friday evening on a football field."
Prior to 2005, Canfield had to replace its quarterback, wide receiver and five of seven front players defensively.
"We had a lot of people grow up," said Pavlansky.
"The first four ball games were non-league. If we progressed, we would have been happy to go 2-2. The fourth game, Chaney, was the one when our kids really believed that they could be something special. That was against one of the best teams and programs, traditionally, in our area. We had never beaten Chaney in a regular season ball game in the history of our school. At the end of that game, our kids looked around the locker room and said, 'we don't just have a chance to be a good team, we have a chance to be a special team.' "
Watched and learned
Pavlansky said this year's Canfield players watched the progress of Columbus Brookhaven every week because of their success as Division II champion last fall.
"We had at least 20 current players who went to the state championship game last year when Brookhaven beat Avon Lake at Massillon. They came back and said, 'Coach, we're going to do what it takes to get there.'
"I don't know if we're going to get there, but certainly, we're one of 16 that can and we're excited about that."
bassetti@vindy.com