DIVISION III
POLAND (7-3)
at CANAL FULTON NORTHWEST (10-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Notebook: Poland, which won the Div. III state title in 1999, is making its seventh playoff appearance and first since 2002. The Bulldogs are 9-5 all-time in the postseason. Northwest, which won the Northeastern Buckeye Conference title and the Div. III AP poll crown, is making its seventh playoff appearance. The Indians are 6-6 all-time in the playoffs. Poland, a run-first team, relies on running backs Tyler and Trent Vallinger and Greg Sabol. Junior QB Gannon Hulea, a first-year starter, has improved throughout the season and has a big-time arm. Hulea’s father, Paul, coached the Bulldogs to the state title in 1999. Poland’s three losses came against playoff teams: Howland, Canfield and Parma Normandy. Northwest is led by QB Jim Shiplett and RBs Danny Beers and Ricky Palmer.

HUBBARD (7-3)
at ROCKY RIVER (10-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Notebook: Hubbard is making its seventh playoff appearance. The Eagles are 5-6 all-time. Rocky River is making its second playoff appearance after losing in the first round last year. Hubbard is led by senior quarterback Marc Kanetsky, a three-year starter who holds most of the school’s passing records. This is the first season for coach Brian Hoffman, who led West Middlesex to the Pennsylvania Class A state championship game last year. Hubbard’s three losses came to playoff teams: Poland, Howland and Lakeview. Like Hubbard, Rocky River has a potent passing attack. QB Andy Breidigam has thrown for close to 1,500 yards and 20 TDs this year. RB Jon Gipson has more than 1,200 yards rushing and 12 TDs.

DIVISION V
BEDFORD CHANEL (6-4)
at URSULINE (8-2)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Notebook: Ursuline is making its 13th playoff appearance and is 15-11 all-time with a state title in 2000. This is the first playoff appearance for the Irish since 2004. Chanel, making its sixth appearance, is 14-4 all-time with one state crown. Ursuline lost to Mooney and Division I power Massillon. The Irish are led by senior QB Lamar McQueen and RB Darrell Mason, who are both potent running threats. Ursuline’s offensive line, led by Division I prospects Justin Brown and Harold Coates, can be dominant at times. Chanel is led by senior quarterback Jordan Adams and senior running back Aaron Roberson.

DIVISION VI
MCDONALD (8-2)
at WARREN JFK (8-2)

Game time: 7 p.m. Saturday
Notebook: McDonald is 9-9 in nine previous playoff appearances. JFK, in for the 17th time, is 25-15, having won a state title in 1991 and finishing runner-up three times, including last year in Div. V. JFK is led by talented running back Jared Province, who has close to 1,400 yards rushing this year. QB Dominic LaPolla has thrown for 850 yards. JFK’s two losses came against playoff teams: Hubbard and Elyria Catholic. McDonald, which shared the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two title with Leetonia, is led by quarterback Matt Krumpak. Krumpak played freshman football at JFK for his father, Joe, who is an administrator at Kennedy. The three-year starter at McDonald holds just about every passing record at the school. Running back Alex Sampson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the Blue Devils, who tied Leetonia for the league crown. It was McDonald’s first title since 1998.

COLUMBIANA (7-3)
at MOGADORE (9-1)

Game time: 7 p.m. Saturday
Notebook: The game is a rematch of last year’s regional final, which Mogadore won 21-14. The Clippers are making their sixth playoff appearance and fourth in five years. They are 5-5 all-time. Mogadore is making its 21st appearance and is 40-17 all-time with three state titles. Columbiana is led by RB Josh Hertel and QB Ryan Williams, who have both rushed for more than 1,300 yards. Mogadore’s lone loss came in week 1 against South Range. The Wildcats are led by RB Cody Destro, a 6-3, 225-pounder who is the second-leading rusher in school history. He’s rushed for 1,551 yards and 26 TDs this year. RB Ryan Brodie has also rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year.

LEETONIA (7-3)
at BASCOM HOPEWELL-LOUDON (10-0)

Game time: 7 p.m. Saturday
Notebook: Leetonia is making its fourth state tournament appearance and is 1-3 all-time. Hopewell-Loudon is 6-6 in six previous appearances. The Chieftains rely on RB Adam Brickner, who has 1,549 yards and 20 TDs to lead an offense averaging 41 points per game. Leetonia relies on RBs Jake Kruegel and Jamie Milsom and QB Josh Selway. The Bears, who shared the league title with McDonald, lost to three playoff teams: Columbiana, Mathews and McDonald. It was Leetonia’s first league title since 2000.

Vindicator staff report