Thursday, October 20, 2005
SPRINGFIELD (7-1, 4-1 ICL)vs. SOUTH RANGE (8-0, 5-0 ICL)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at South Range.
Last meeting: South Range won last year, 34-10.
Common opponents: Both teams defeated East Palestine, Western Reserve, Jackson-Milton, McDonald and Sebring.
Notebook: With a victory, South Range will clinch a tie for the Inter-County League title. A Springfield victory would create a possible three-way tie (Mineral Ridge is 4-1). The Tigers are coming off a 61-0 romp past Sebring for its fourth straight win. Their loss was to Lowellville (27-26). The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 241-110. South Range has a scoring edge of 306-52. Their only close call came in Week 2 against Crestview (17-14). They are ranked No. 3 in this week's Associated Press poll of Ohio's Division V schools and the No. 4 team in Region 17 of the computer playoff ratings. The Tigers are the No. 9 team in Region 17.
Radio: None.
MOONEY (7-1, 1-0 SVC)
vs. URSULINE (3-5, 0-1 SVC)
Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium.
Common opponent: The Cardinals walloped Warren Harding (36-19) while the Irish lost to the Raiders (42-7).
Last meeting: Mooney won 55-27 last year.
Notebook: Last week, Mooney bounced back from its first loss of the season (Cleveland Benedictine, 28-13) with a 7-0 win over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. Ursuline suffered its third straight defeat, losing to Columbus Watterson, 21-6. The Irish have been outscored in the last three losses 91-19. Mooney has outscored its opponents, 218-105. The Cardinals are the fourth-ranked Div. IV team in the state in this week's AP poll.
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM 570, WBBW-AM 1240 (tape-delay at 11 p.m.); WYFX 17/62 (tape-delay at 10:30 p.m.)
LIBERTY (8-0, 5-0 TAC)
vs. BROOKFIELD (4-4, 3-2 TAC)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Brookfield.
Last meeting: Last year, Liberty won, 28-7.
Common opponents: Both teams defeated Champion, LaBrae and Newton Falls. The Leopards defeated Lakeview, 21-6, while the Warriors lost to the Bulldogs, 24-7.
Notebook: Liberty is this week's No. 4 team in Div. III Region 9 of the computer playoff ratings. They also are ranked No. 14 in the AP poll. Their only close call came in Week 4 against Champion (16-1). The Leopards have outscored their opponents, 259-56. In the Warriors' loss to Lakeview, Brad Harnett rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Dave Nehlen completed 12-of-21 passes for 130 yards.
Radio: None.
HUBBARD (5-3, 3-2 TAC)
vs. GIRARD (3-5, 2-3 TAC)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Girard.
Last meeting: Hubbard won 56-28 last year.
Common opponents: Girard's league losses were to Lakeview (21-14) , Champion (37-28) and LaBrae (47-19). The Eagles also lost to LaBrae (14-13 in overtime), but defeated Champion (48-7) and Lakeview (31-20).
Notebook: Steve Cinicola rushed for 149 yards on 18 carries in the Eagles' win over the Golden Flashes. In Girard's loss to LaBrae, Brett Dutton threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Stadelmyer and scored on a 26-yard run. Hubbard still has an outside shot of making the playoffs, but will need to win its final two games and gets some help.
Radio: WBBG-FM 106.1.
CANFIELD (8-0, 3-0)
vs. STRUTHERS (1-7, 0-3)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Struthers.
Last meeting: Canfield won 31-0 last year.
Common opponents: Canfield has beaten Howland and Salem, while Struthers has lost to both teams.
Notebook: Canfield cruised past Niles, 38-7, last Friday to continue undefeated, while Struthers lost to Howland, 58-37, for its fourth straight setback. The Cardinals, ranked fourth in Division II in the latest AP poll, can clinch a share of the Metro Athletic Conference title with a win. The Cardinals are second in Region 7 in the computer ratings and have already clinched a playoff berth. Look for running backs Angelo Babbaro and Kyle Banna to pace the Cardinals' offense. Quarterback Mike Duponty ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more in Struthers' loss to Howland.
Radio: None.
HOWLAND (4-4, 1-3)
vs. SALEM (5-3, 2-2)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Salem.
Last meeting: Salem won 29-13 last year.
Common opponents: Howland has lost to Poland, Canfield and Niles and has beaten Struthers. Salem beat Struthers and Niles and lost to Canfield and Poland.
Notebook: Howland beat Struthers, 58-37, last Friday, to bounce back from three straight losses, while Salem lost to Poland, 17-13, for its second straight defeat. Howland running back Lance Smith, a Wisconsin recruit, ran for 405 yards and seven touchdowns against the Wildcats and should get plenty of carries against the Quakers. Salem running back J.J. Johnson has been held in check the past two weeks and will look for a breakout game against the struggling Tiger defense, which gave up 344 yards against Struthers. Johnson needs 169 yards to set the school's single-season rushing record.
Radio: WSOM-AM 600.
Vindicator staff reports