PLAYOFF PREVIEW | Friday's games

DIVISION IICANFIELD vs. LOUISVILLE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Mollenkopf StadiumRadio: WSOM-AM 600, WNIO-AM 1390
CANFIELD (12-0)
17Rayen1321Canton South037Alliance049Chaney3533Marcus Whitman (N.Y.)035Howland1438Salem938Niles763Struthers1427Poland7
Playoffs
28Cols. Beechcroft07Cols. Bishop Watterson3
Cardinals scouting report: Senior running back Angelo Babbaro tied one school record and inched closer to two others in Friday's win. His touchdown run tied John Tillery (1976) for most TD runs in one season with 29, while his 229 carries for 1,787 yards are closing in on the school marks for rushing attempts in a season (239, set by Adam Shuster in 1999) and rushing yards in a season (1,809, set by Tony Pannunzio in 1993). Canfield's offense did not get a first down in the second half against Watterson but the defense held the Eagles to 122 yards. The Cardinals' defense is giving up 138.9 yards per game while the offense is averaging 363.5 per game. Senior Frank Ross (43 of 78, 665 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs) and junior Sean Baker (11 of 21, 193, 2, 2) alternate at quarterback. Kyle Banna (59 carries, 509 yards, 5 TDs) and Joe Rosko (63, 296, 1) are also ground threats, while Babbaro (13 receptions, 224 yards, 2 TDs) and Mike Hoelzel (11, 206, 3) are the main receiving targets. Defensive back Damon Buente has a team-high five interceptions while linebackers Banna (86 tackles) and Rosko (66 tackles) are among the top defensive players. Justin Wolf (8 sacks), Ryan Pitzer (5 sacks) and Pat Bellish (4 1/2 sacks) will apply pressure up front. Senior Adam Jones is a two-year kicker who is 32 of 34 in PATs and 2 of 3 in FGs. Jones made second-team Div. I All-Ohio in soccer. Punter Justin Wolf has a 32.1 average. Coach Mike Pavlansky is 39-16 in five seasons.
LOUISVILLE (12-0)
18Poland735Madison Comprehensive1335North Canton Hoover2928Alliance745Marlington2127Canton South2114Canal Fulton Northwest048West Branch627Carrollton648Minerva7
Playoffs
48Dublin Jerome1328Dublin Scioto23
Leopards scouting report: Louisville quarterback Drew Kuhn, the Stark County player of the year, is main cog in the Leopards' offensive machine, running 198 times for 1,145 yards and 19 TDs and completing 138 of 229 for 2,026 yards, 22 TDs and 12 interceptions. Running back Brian Whaley (135 attempts, 686 yards, 8 TDs) and receivers Kyle Smith (37 receptions, 781 yards, 10 TDs), Ben Schmucker (35, 417, 3) and Bill Poyser (33, 592, 6) are also threats on offense. "They throw to four anytime out of the shotgun," Pavlansky said. "They want to snap the ball once every eight seconds. It's a high-tempo offense, so we've go to be ready for it." Led by senior Austin Power, the Leopards' defense is holding opponents to 232 yards per game (86 rushing, 146 passing) and 13 points per game. Louisville, the top-seeded team in Region 7, is averaging 371 yards per game (189 rushing, 182 passing) and is scoring 33 points per game. The Leopards, who lost to Uniontown Lake in a regional semifinal last year, are 6-9 all-time in the postseason. Canfield is familiar with Louisville because the two schools have scrimmaged the last four years. "They're physical and athletic," Pavlansky said. "I don't think there are many secrets between the two teams." In 2000, a Tony Ross-coached Canfield team beat Louisville in the first round when the No. 2-seeded Leopards lost to the No. 7 Cards, 21-7. Canfield was eliminated in the next game by Millersville West Holmes.
DIVISION IIILIBERTY vs. AKRON BUCHTEL
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Ravenna Stadium (Gilcrest Field)Radio: WBBG-FM 106.1If you go: Take I-76 west toward Akron. Get off at State Route 14 (Exit 43) toward Alliance/Ravenna. Turn right on State Route 14 for 4.7 miles to State Route 59. Turn left on State Route 59 (Main St.) and follow it to stadium.
LIBERTY (12-0)
37Struthers648Akron East641Campbell716Champion1042Hubbard1435LaBrae021Lakeview629Newton Falls721Brookfield048Girard7
Playoffs
22Parma Hts. Holy Name017Mentor Lake Catholic14
Leopards scouting report: Senior halfback Robert Hightower went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season last week in the victory over Mentor Lake Catholic. Hightower now has 1,082 yards, while his fellow backfield mate, senior Chris Harden, is just 99 yards short of 1,000 yards for the year. Last week in the 17-14 win over Lake Catholic the Leopards allowed two touchdowns for only the second time this season. Senior linebacker John Humphrey, a Purdue University recruit, is the team's standout on that side of the ball. They went into Friday's game allowing just 6 points a contest. "Our defense has been the one thing that has been consistent all season long," said Whittaker. "And they're going to have to be at their best again this week." Liberty is now 4-2 overall in the playoffs and have matched their furthest advancement from a year ago when they lost to eventual state champion Cardinal Mooney while competing in Division IV. Before last season, the Leopards were 0-1 lifetime in the playoffs.
BUCHTEL (10-2)
14Steubenville2718Warren Harding1021Cuy. Falls Walsh Jesuit2837Shaker Heights2239Akron North749Akron East730Akron Central-Hower666Akron Kenmore1421Akron Ellet642Akron Garfield28
Playoffs
38Southeast1448Aurora7
Griffins scouting report: Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker, who has led the Leopards to all three of the school's postseason berths, was impressed after watching Akron Buchtel on film. "They are a very good football team, but when you get to this point in the playoffs they are all good teams remaining," he said. "They are fundamentally sound, well-coached and have good speed. Their quarterback is a threat every time he touches the football." The Griffins are 24-9 all-time in the playoffs and won back-to-back state titles in the late 1980s with running back Ricky Powers. Coach Claude Brown is 81-25 in nine seasons at Buchtel. The Griffins, who have won nine straight games, have looked terrific in two playoff games this season. Quarterback Rayshaun Dent was 8 of 11 for 152 yards against Aurora and running back Earnest Pitts ran for 116 yards on 13 carries. Buchtel thrives on big plays, so the Leopards will need to play disciplined defense in order to shut down the Griffins' high-powered attack.
DIVISION VSOUTH RANGEvs. WEST SALEM NORTHWESTERN
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Lowell Klinefelter Stadium, CantonRadio: WKBN-AM 570If you go: Take Rt. 62 west to I-77 north, exit at Tuscawaras Street and head west for 2 miles. The stadium is on the left.
SOUTH RANGE (12-0)
35East Palestine717Crestview1441Champion1762Sebring035McDonald748Jackson-Milton028Mineral Ridge740Western Reserve027Springfield035Lowellville6
Playoffs
35Rittman1349Crestview32
Raiders scouting report: South Range is in the playoffs for the ninth time and the third straight year (1992-96-97-99 and 2000-01-03-05). The Raiders have been to the regional finals three previous times without winning a regional championship. South Range won the Inter-County League title for the eighth time (1975-90-92-96-97 and 2001-03-05). Coach Dan Yeagley is in his 11th season at the Raiders' helm and has a 98-26 record. Senior FB Kris Davis and senior HB Matt Schlatter, capitalizing on massive holes in the line, combined for seven touchdowns and 331 rushing yards to power South Range's 49-32 win over Crestview last Friday. Schlatter and Davis are among three players over 1,000 yards. Schlatter has rushed for 1,360 yards in 115 carries and 21 TDs, while Davis has 1,055 yards in 169 carries and 21 TDs. Senior QB Mike Leskosky has thrown for 1,225 yards on 75-for-132 and eight TDs with five interceptions. His top receivers are David Rach (17 catches for 307 yards), Joe Leson (14, 195, 3 TDs), Joe Novak (11, 214, 2) and Tom DeChellis (10, 243, 2). PK Pat Majernik is 56-for-59 in extra-point kicks and 3-for-4 in field goals. The Raiders' offensive line consists of C Chris Johnson, who makes the offensive line calls; Greg Snyder, Chris Allshouse, Alex Grantz, Mike Geffert and TE Joey Leson, all seniors. South Range is averaging 37.7 points per game. South Range uses from three to five LBs, and all rank among the defensive leaders: Snyder, Allshouse and Davis, all inside LBs; and Rach and DeChellis, both outside LBs. South Range's defense has limited opponents to only 58 points or 8.6 points an outing.
NORTHWESTERN (10-2)
39Ashland Crestview317Sullivan Black River035Ashland Mapleton014Jeromesville Hillsdale728Apple Creek Waynedale2140Rittman3035Creston Norwayne741Doylestown Chippewa1214Dalton2120Smithville28
Playoffs
14Barnesville1328 Warren JFK13
Huskies scouting report: Northwestern, guided by seventh-season coach Mike Thut, is in the playoffs for the first time. Thut has a 30-30 record at the Huskies' helm. Northwestern plays in the Wayne County Athletic League, and won league titles in 1967 and 2001. The Huskies advanced to play South Range by ousting Warren JFK, 28-13, in another regional semifinal last Friday. Northwestern has scored 315 points for an average of 26.3 per game while allowing 183 for an average of 15.3. Northwestern's offense is led by ball-carrier Travis Morris, QB Kaleb Reed and receiver Mike Redick. Morris has rushed for 1,669 yards in 279 attempts and 16 TDs. Reed has passed for 1,335 yards on 94-for-173 for 13 TDs with seven interceptions, while adding 539 yards rushing in 101 attempts and nine TDs. Reed's favorite target is Redick with 22 catches for 271 yards and two TDs. The Huskies' top tacklers are Spencer Hershey with 159 tackles (33 unassisted and 93 assists), Robby White 128 (35 and 58) and Brandon Brodwolf 124 (29 and 66).
Vindicator staff reports