PLAYOFF PREVIEW | Friday's game

DIVISION IICANFIELD vs. TALLMADGE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. at Twinsburg StadiumRadio: WSOM-AM 600, WNIO-AM 1390If you go: Take the Ohio Turnpike west to Exit 187 (Streetsboro). Take I-480/Route 14 west 6 miles to Exit 37. Turn right onto Ohio route 91 and go a half mile to Ravenna Road. Turn left onto Ravenna Road and proceed 1 mile.
CANFIELD (13-0)
17Rayen1321Canton South037Alliance049Chaney3533Marcus Whitman (N.Y.)035Howland1438Salem938Niles763Struthers1427Poland7
Playoffs
28Cols. Beechcroft07Cols. Bishop Watterson37Louisville0
Cardinals scouting report: Senior running back Angelo Babbaro has been hampered by a sore ankle, but Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky said he'll play this week. "At this point in the year, everyone is banged up," Pavlansky said. "These guys just show up and play." Babbaro gained just 50 yards on 19 carries against Louisville and now has 1,837 yards this season, breaking Tony Pannunzio's school record of 1,809 set in 1993. He also holds school records for carries in a season (248) and TDs in a season (29). Fullback Kyle Banna, who has more than 500 yards rushing, was in the hospital until 3 a.m. before last Friday's game after a bad reaction to antibiotics. He had three interceptions against the Leopards. "He probably had his best game of the year," Pavlansky said of Banna. Senior Frank Ross (almost 700 yards passing) will alternate with junior Sean Baker (200 passing) at quarterback. Baker has been playing with a separated shoulder since the fifth week and Ross has a bad back. Joe Rosko will also see time at running back. Mike Hoelzel is the main wideout threat. Banna and Rosko lead the team in tackles. Canfield's defense has been superb the past three weeks (and all season, for that matter) but the lack of offense over the past two weeks is a concern. "The small things are just killing us," Rosko said. "We miss a block here, miss a block there. Miss an assignment. Stuff like that." Added Banna, "We definitely need to improve." The Cardinals are making their fifth playoff appearance and their first in the state semifinals. Canfield is 6-4 all-time in the postseason. Coach Mike Pavlansky is 38-16 in five years at the school.
TALLMADGE (13-0)
23Nordonia038Akron Ellet1465Akron North1431Revere1225Copley1369Highland2169Barberton1447Wadsworth2334Green1535Cloverleaf14
Playoffs
28Bedford1342Copley2019Akron Hoban7
Blue Devils scouting report: The offense revolves around senior running back Jamel Miller (5-11, 190), who has carried 246 times for 2,088 yards and 26 touchdowns. "He's very explosive," said Canfield linebacker Kyle Banna. "He hits the hole really fast. He's similar to [Howland's] Lance Smith." Senior Andrew Hill (668 yards, 9 TDs) and Justin Yelling (289 yards, 7 TDs) will also see a few carries. "They've got a lot of big guys on the line," said Cardinals linebacker Joe Rosko. "It's going to be a big challenge for us. We need a collective effort on defense. Everyone's got to run to the ball." Tallmadge will have a size advantage up front, but that's no big deal for the Cardinals. "Most of the teams we face are bigger than us," Banna said. "We have to use our quickness to our advantage." The Blue Devils may be without their best player, senior WR/DB Kyle Harrison, who has a separated shoulder. Harrison has 528 yards receiving and 299 rushing this year. Quarterback Allen Price (6-0, 195) is 66-of-119 for 1,156 yards, 15 TDs and four INTs. With Harrison out, his main target will be Tommy Fortner, who has eight receptions for 286 yards and three TDs. Kicker Bobby Grossman made his first two field goals of the season last week. Top defensive players include defensive end Yianni Karvounides, defensive tackle Sandy Kline and linebacker Justin Yelling. Tallmadge is in the playoffs for just the second time in school history. Its only loss came to Avon Lake in last year's state semifinals. Head coach Joe Vassalotti has a 32-14 record in four years.
Vindicator staff report