PREP PREVIEWS \ This weekend's games

POLAND (1-3) vs. HOWLAND (3-1)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Howland High School.
Last meeting: Howland won 7-0 last year.
Notebook: After an 0-3 start, Coach Mark Brungard earned his first varsity victory as the Bulldogs defeated Akron North, 42-20. Poland's losses were to Louisville, Hubbard and Ursuline. Sophomore Brandon Beachum rushed for 221 yards on 28 carries to trigger the offense. He scored four touchdowns. Howland has rebounded from an opening loss to Ashtabula Lakeside (20-14 in overtime) with wins over Erie Central, Coventry and Parma Padua. In the 21-14 victory over Padua, Lance Smith rushed for 146 yards on 39 carries and scored a 65-yard touchdown. He also threw a 75-yard scoring toss to Aaron Womack.
Radio: WNIO-AM 1390.
LIBERTY (4-0, 1-0 TAC) vs. HUBBARD (3-1, 1-0 TAC)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Hubbard Stadium.
Last meeting: Hubbard won 21-0 last year.
Notebook: After three easy victories over Struthers, Cleveland East and Campbell, Coach Jeff Whittaker's Leopards struggled to defeat Champion, 16-10. Dania Gillam's 10-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining produced the winning points. Donovan Fletcher was a key player in the final minutes, first by intercepting a Chad Kinkead pass at midfield, then making a 30-yard reception to set up the winning points. After opening the season with a 35-13 loss to Maple Heights, Hubbard defeated Poland, Struthers and Newton Falls. In the 35-14 victory over the Tigers, John Madeline returned the second-half kickoff 80 yards for a score and added a 10-yard scoring run. Marc Kanestky threw two touchdown passes -- 13 yards to Mike Maietta and 30 yards to John Bayuk.
Radio/TV: WBBG-FM 106.1; FOX 17/62 (taped delay at 10:30 p.m.).
MCDONALD (4-0, 1-0 ICL) vs. SOUTH RANGE (4-0, 1-0 ICL)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at South Range High School.
Last meeting: South Range won 31-7 last year.
Notebook: The Blue Devils and Raiders are the only remaining unbeaten Inter-County League teams. McDonald outscored its opponents (Southington, Windham, Mathews and Western Reserve) by 135-28. In last week's 20-7 win over Western Reserve, senior tight end Corey Grombacher caught three passes for 112 yards, two for touchdowns (72 and 14 yards). Quarterback Matt Krumpak completed eight of 13 passes for 194 yards. Dan Yeagley's Raiders also have been winning by large margins (155-38) but survived a close call against Crestview in Week 2 (17-14). Against Sebring last week, Jeremy Oddo and Matt Schlatter each rushed for 96 yards.
Radio: None.
SALEM (3-1) vs. STRUTHERS (1-3)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Struthers High School.
Last meeting: Salem won 26-15 last year.
Notebook: After three big wins, the Quakers lost to state-ranked Parma Holy Name, 21-16. An interception deep in Holy Name territory sealed the defeat in the final minute of the game. Salem rallied from a 21-10 deficit when quarterback Tom Jesko threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jarin Heath with 4:05 remaining. J.J. Johnson rushed for 118 yards on 18 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown. Placekicker Bryan Wright broke his own record with a 48-yard field goal. Salem's wins were against East Liverpool, United and West Branch. The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over archrival Campbell. Struthers quarterback Aaron Young completed 4 of 9 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns (Justin Penson for 28 and 65 yards). Larry Wylie returned a kickoff 80 yards for the Wildcats' other score.
Radio: None.
LAKEVIEW (3-1, 1-0 TAC) vs. LABRAE (2-2, 0-1 TAC)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at LaBrae High School.
Last meeting: LaBrae won 41-20 last year.
Notebook: The Bulldogs opened with 14-0 victories over Painesville Harvey and Conneaut, then were blanked by Niles (21-0). Last week, the Bulldogs opened Trumbull Athletic Conference play with a 21-14 victory over Girard. Lakeview trailed 14-0 before scoring three unanswered touchdowns. Matt Hohuth scored from the 1 and Matt Dunn caught a 4-yard scoring pass from Kevin Albert to tie the game. With 1:18 to play, Brett Davenport scored the winning touchdown on an 11-yard run. Setting up the score was Albert's 60-yard pass to Scott Senter. The Vikings rebounded from a 37-7 opening loss to Crestview with big wins (47-0 win over Mathews and 41-7 over Garrettsville). In last week's 17-9 loss to Brookfield, Dan Hartman caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mike Ryan and Mark Yartz kicked a 27-yard field goal. Ryan rushed for 239 yards on seven carries.
Radio: None.
BROOKFIELD (2-2, 1-0 TAC) vs. GIRARD (1-3, 0-1 TAC)
Game time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Girard Stadium.
Last meeting: Last year, Girard won, 38-33.
Notebook: The Warriors opened the season with a 76-3 thumping of Conneaut, then lost to Springfield (25-7) and Lowellville (14-7 in overtime). In last week's 17-9 win over LaBrae, Pete Hunkus (29 yards) and A.K. Livingston (40 yards) caught touchdown passes from Mike Stanish. The Indians opened with losses to Niles (34-24) and Campbell (34-28 overtime) before defeating Warren JFK, 33-29. In the 21-14 loss to Lakeview, Brett Dutton scored on a 1-yard run and Scooter Hargate scrambled for a 39-yard score. Dutton had 100 yards rushing on 24 carries.
Radio: None.
Vindicator staff report