PREP PREVIEWS | Friday's games

DIVISION II
CANFIELD (11-0)vs. COLUMBUS WATTERSON (10-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Massillon.
Radio: WSOM-AM 600.
Last week: Canfield defeated Columbus Beechcroft, 28-0; Watterson defeated Columbus Marion-Franklin, 30-13.Notebook: "We're a running football team, there's no doubt about that," said Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky, whose team threw the ball only 11 times in last Friday's regional quarterfinal game. "In the past, we'd throw 20-25 times a game. But we play to our strengths." Canfield is led by TB Angelo Babbaro, who has more than 1,700 yards rushing. "He's a special back and some college is going to be very lucky when they give him a scholarship," Pavlansky said of the 5-9, 170-pounder who could be used as a cover cornerback or return man in college. His speed and Canfield's team speed may give the Cardinals the advantage on Massillon's turf surface. He's scored 28 TDs and is averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Against Beechcroft, Canfield turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions. That can't happen against Watterson, a team that defeated Mooney, Ursuline, Cleveland Benedictine and Columbus DeSales this season. "When you say Bishop Watterson, you think of one of the top Division I-II football programs around the state. They're the real deal. It's probably the best football team we've played in the five years I've been at Canfield. It's going to take a great effort by our kids on Friday. Our kids are looking forward to it, but we certainly can't turn the ball over four times and expect to win. We need to control the time of possession of the game. We need to keep their offense on the sidelines because they're big, strong and physical. "If Canfield can't successfully run at Watterson's 5-3 defense, the Cardinals will be forced to run outside or forced to pass. If it can throw effectively, Watterson may switch to a four-man front. "If they do," Pavlansky said, "then we'll have a chance." He added, "We can't rely solely on the run. We may have to mix it up more than we have all year." Last Sunday, Marcus Whitman won the New York class C state title. Canfield beat Whitman, 33-0, of Rushville, N.Y. on Sept. 24. "They were a team a lot of people didn't think was very good," Pavlansky said. "They lost one ballgame and averaged 42 points a game." Against Watterson, both Babbaro (bruised rib) and TE Pat Bellish (slight shoulder separation) are expected to play. Bellish alternates series with Chris Ulery on an offensive line that also includes: C Nick Rousher, guards Justin Bonanno and Mike Martynyszyn and tackles Nate Brode and Matt Glove. In addition to Babbaro, other backfield regulars are FBs Kyle Banna and Joe Rosko, and QBs Frank Ross and Sean Baker. Ross and Baker rotate series by series. Banna and Rosko average 5 yards a carry. Mooney coach P.J. Fecko had this comment about Watterson: "They're kind of Jekyll and Hyde. I've seen them when they're very good and I've seen them struggle at times. Their quarterback is going to be key. If he's on, he's pretty good. He played very [well] against us.
DIVISION III
LIBERTY (11-0)vs. MENTOR LAKE CATHOLIC (10-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stewart Stadium, Solon.
Last week: Liberty defeated Parma Heights Holy Name 22-0; Lake Catholic defeated Cleveland Benedictine 21-17.
Scouting report: The Leopards, who are 3-2 all-time in the playoffs, played arguably their best game of the season last week, outgaining Holy Name 364-141. Running backs Robert Hightower and Chris Harden each gained more than 100 yards in the win. Hightower needs 45 yards to top 1,000 for the season and Harden needs 180. "I think we're starting to peak a little bit right now," Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker said. "I thought we played at a very good level Friday night and we obviously need to continue to kick it up a notch. With each week, the challenge gets more difficult." Benedictine's offense is balanced -- and scary. Quarterback Rick Stanzi has thrown for 1,754 yards, 20 TDs and seven INTs. His main target is Vince Petruziello, who has 44 receptions for 797 yards. Nick Spahar (24 for 397) and Alex Kurowski (19 for 306) are also threats. On the ground, Stanzi (625 yards), Cory Pruneski (577) and Dane Gardner (518) share the wealth. Matt Lyons has a team-high four interceptions on defense. "They're good; there's no doubt they're good," Whittaker said. "They've got an outstanding quarterback who can run the ball, they're big, they're very skilled on offense and they play a nice 3-5 defense with players that get to the ball. They're everything you expect them to be." Lake Catholic, whose only loss came to Padua Franciscan in Week Eight, average 34 points per game. They played five playoff teams during the regular season and have twice beaten Benedictine, the two-time defending Div. III state champs. The Cougars are 23-10 all-time in 14 postseason appearances and have won three state titles. Liberty, led by linebacker John Humphrey (Purdue), has given up just 6 points per game this season and is averaging 32 points per game. But the Leopards haven't played a team this tough since they faced Mooney in last year's Div. IV regional final. "We hope to get ourselves fired up and be ready to go up and play some hard-nosed football," Whittaker said.
DIVISION V
SOUTH RANGE (11-0)vs. CRESTVIEW (10-1)
Where: Reilly Stadium, Salem.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Scouting report: South Range is coming off a 35-13 romp past Rittman last Friday in a regional quarterfinal. Crestview advanced with a 28-14 win over Smithville in a regional quarterfinal. South Range and Crestview will be in a rematch as the Raiders handed the Rebels their only loss of the year, 17-14, in the second game. Pat Majernik's 28-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining decided the outcome. His winning kick finished an 89-yard drive that was spearheaded by senior quarterback Mike Leskosky, who was 8-for-9 passing during the winning march. Against Rittman, senior fullback Kris Davis scored three touchdown runs of 7, 37 and 3 yards and rushed for a game-high 151 rushing yards in 19 carries. Meanwhile, South Range's defense limited Rittman to 39 rushing yards. Senior halfback Matt Schlatter added 86 yards in 13 carries and one TD of 7 yards, while Leskosky completed 4-of-7 passes for 87 yards and one TD, a 69-yard scoring toss to Tom DeChellis. Majernik was 5-for-5 in extra-point kicks. In Crestview's win over Smithville, senior RB Adam Thompson scored two TDs on runs of 6 yards and 1 yard while senior QB Jordan Reynolds ran 3 yards to a TD, threw a 3-yard TD pass to junior WB Zech Parker and was 4-for-4 in extra-point kicks. South Range has three players over 1,000 yards. Schlatter has rushed for 1,176 yards in 101 carries and 18 TDs, while Davis has 1,008 yards in 151 carries and 17 TDs. Leskosky has thrown for 1,128 yards on 69-for-120 and eight TDs with five interceptions. Crestview is led by Thompson, who has 1,303 yards rushing and 20 TDs; Reynolds (978 yards passing and 777 yards rushing) and Parker (22 receptions for 385).
Next: The South Range-Crestview winner will play the Warren JFK-West Salem Northwest winner in a regional final next Friday. Warren JFK (10-1) and West Salem Northwest (9-2) will play their semifinal Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Stow-Monroe Falls Bulldog Stadium in Div. V.
WEST SALEM NORTHWESTERN (9-2)
vs. WARREN JFK (10-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Last week: Northwestern beat Barnesville 14-13; JFK beat West Lafayette Ridgewood 41-24.
Scouting report: The Eagles, in the playoffs for the 16th time, lost two senior co-captains to injury last Friday. Linebacker/fullback Mike Pissini broke his collarbone and tight end/defensive end Corey Davidson suffered an Achilles injury. Both are out for the season. "It's pretty hard to replace those two kids, especially when our depth is kind of limited," JFK coach Tony Napolet said. "Hopefully, the kids we've asked to step up are going to step up." JFK's offense is led by senior running back Anthony Elzy, a University of North Carolina recruit who has run for 1,940 yards and 21 touchdowns. Quarterback J.J. Townsend has 870 yards on the ground and has completed 57-of-105 passes for 1,112 yards, nine TDs and two interceptions. His main targets are junior James Broadbent (23 receptions, 487 yards, 3 TDs) and senior Dorian Rodgers (10 catches, 192 yards, 4 TDs). Pissini was a solid short-yardage runner -- he only had 21 carries this season but he's scored 10 TDs -- and Napolet will turn to sophomore Cory Fambro as his replacement. "He's a tough kid," Napolet said of Fambro. "He's not as big, but we're hoping to get the same production." Broadbent is also a key defender with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries -- both are team highs. Junior Anthony Kokal also has four interceptions for a defense that has given up 20 points per game. "We have gotten better on defense," said Napolet, who has been critical of the unit this season. "They're playing hard." Northwestern, which played its first playoff game in school history last week, is led by sophomore running back Travis Morris (who had 121 yards against Barnesville), junior quarterback Kaleb Reed (who ran for the game-winning TD from 16 yards out) and linebacker Spencer Hershey. "They're pretty good," Napolet said. "They have a nice quarterback and a nice little tailback. They've got good numbers and they run and throw equally about half the time." The Huskies run almost every formation imaginable, so they're hard to prepare for, Napolet said. "They give it all to you," he said. "The Wing-T, the empty backfield, the shotgun spread, the stacked-I. It'll be interesting." The Eagles, whose only loss came to Girard in Week Three, have played a very tough schedule, which should be an advantage. "It doesn't hurt," Napolet said. "Our schedule prepares us for every offense and defense imaginable."
Scouting report: The Eagles, in the playoffs for the 16th time, lost two senior co-captains to injury last Friday. Linebacker/fullback Mike Pissini broke his collarbone and tight end/defensive end Corey Davidson suffered an Achilles injury. Both are out for the season. "It's pretty hard to replace those two kids, especially when our depth is kind of limited," JFK coach Tony Napolet said. "Hopefully, the kids we've asked to step up are going to step up." JFK's offense is led by senior running back Anthony Elzy, a University of North Carolina recruit who has run for 1,940 yards and 21 touchdowns. Quarterback J.J. Townsend has 870 yards on the ground and has completed 57-of-105 passes for 1,112 yards, nine TDs and two interceptions. His main targets are junior James Broadbent (23 receptions, 487 yards, 3 TDs) and senior Dorian Rodgers (10 catches, 192 yards, 4 TDs). Pissini was a solid short-yardage runner -- he only had 21 carries this season but he's scored 10 TDs -- and Napolet will turn to sophomore Cory Fambro as his replacement. "He's a tough kid," Napolet said of Fambro. "He's not as big, but we're hoping to get the same production." Broadbent is also a key defender with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries -- both are team highs. Junior Anthony Kokal also has four interceptions for a defense that has given up 20 points per game. "We have gotten better on defense," said Napolet, who has been critical of the unit this season. "They're playing hard." Northwestern, which played its first playoff game in school history last week, is led by sophomore running back Travis Morris (who had 121 yards against Barnesville), junior quarterback Kaleb Reed (who ran for the game-winning TD from 16 yards out) and linebacker Spencer Hershey. "They're pretty good," Napolet said. "They have a nice quarterback and a nice little tailback. They've got good numbers and they run and throw equally about half the time." The Huskies run almost every formation imaginable, so they're hard to prepare for, Napolet said. "They give it all to you," he said. "The Wing-T, the empty backfield, the shotgun spread, the stacked-I. It'll be interesting." The Eagles, whose only loss came to Girard in Week Three, have played a very tough schedule, which should be an advantage. "It doesn't hurt," Napolet said. "Our schedule prepares us for every offense and defense imaginable."