DIVISION I
BOARDMAN (8-3)
vs. CLEVELAND GLENVILLE (9-2)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Tiger Stadium, Twinsburg
Last week: Boardman beat Euclid 14-7; Glenville beat Cle. St. Ignatius 26-23
Notebook: Boardman is 6-5 in six postseason appearances, finishing second in 1987. Glenville is 8-7 in eight appearances. Boardman won its first playoff game since 1999 last week. The Spartans are led by RB Damien Jarrett, who moved past 1,000 yards on the season last week. Eric Polen has rushed for more than 500 for the Spartans, while QB Nick Tuminello has thrown for more than 650 yards, is also a big running threat, as evidenced by his 90-yard performance last week. But the biggest key to the Spartans’ success has been defense, which held the potent Euclid offense (which was averaging 32 points per game) to just seven last week. Boardman has held six of its opponents to seven points or fewer this year. The Tarblooders are led by WR/CB Coradle Scott (6-3, 200) who has drawn interest from several big-time colleges. Glenville RB Shannon Frieson rushed for 116 yards last week.

DIVISION II
CANFIELD (10-1)
vs. COLUMBUS DESALES (11-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Fawcett Stadium, Canton
Last week: Canfield beat Columbus Marion-Franklin 43-19; DeSales beat Zanesville 50-7
Notebook: Canfield, ranked fifth in the final AP poll, is 8-6 in seven playoff appearances, finishing second in 2005. DeSales, which won the poll crown, is 39-14 in 18 appearances, winning state titles in 1985, 1997 and 1998. Canfield relies on a tough defense, a terrific kicking game led by PK Pat Sankovic and P Jake Kucek, and a heavy dose of the run game. QB Mark Carrocce is a good running threat and a so-so passer, while RB Pat Fening and FB Dan Banna give the Cardinals plenty of options on the ground. The Stallions’ option offense is led by QBs Thomas Gentile and Nick Crawford and RBs Ryan Clark and Sal Carfagna. Senior DL Joe Whitehead earned district defensive player of the year honors, while Ryan Wiggins was the coach of the year. Although Canfield has one of the area’s fastest teams, the Cardinals aren’t as quick as the Stallions. “They’re very good,” said Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky. “If we don’t tackle the right guy, it could be a long night.”

HOWLAND (11-0) vs. MAYFIELD (8-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Stewart Field, Solon
Last week: Howland beat Madison 49-7; Mayfield beat Parma Padua 12-10
Notebook: Howland, ranked fourth, is 4-4 in five playoff appearances. Mayfield is 5-4 in 11 appearances. The Tigers have been successful relying on the 1-2 punch of all Dick Angle teams: defense and rushing. Howland picked off four Madison passes, returning two for touchdowns, and held an opponent to seven points or fewer for the sixth time this year. Senior Nate Cope had three of those interceptions. Cope has rushed for more than 600 yards this season while Dante Marsh has run for close to 1,000. QB Matt Preston has thrown for 650 yards. Mayfield leans on senior Ashante Williams, an Illinois recruit who ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns last week.

DIVISION III
WEST BRANCH (9-2) vs.
NEWARK LICKING VALLEY (10-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Follis Field, Wooster
Last week: W.B. beat John Glenn 49-22; Licking Valley beat Granville 42-21
Notebook: West Branch, ranked 10th, is 7-7 in nine playoff appearances, winning a state title in 1994. Licking Valley, ranked sixth, is 19-10 in 11 appearances, finishing as runner-up in 2001. QB Steve McNeely (2,156 yards in regular season, 22 TDs) keys an explosive Warrior offense averaging 28 points per game. Three wideouts have 500 yards or more receiving. The Panthers are led by junior LB Storm Klein (6-3, 220), an Ohio State recruit and first team all-district selection on defense, who has also rushed for more than 3,000 yards in his career. Licking Valley’s lone loss came against Federal League champion North Canton Hoover. Tight end Michael Kuhlwein and lineman Tim German (6-7, 285) also earned first team all-district status.

LAKEVIEW (9-2)
vs. CUYAHOGA FALLS WALSH JESUIT (9-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Ravenna Stadium/Gilcrest Field
Last week: Lakeview beat Aurora 17-6; Walsh beat Field 35-0
Notebook: Lakeview is 2-3 in four playoff appearances. Walsh, ranked fourth, is 20-12 in 14 appearances, winning a state title in 1999. RB Ben Moody (1,193 yards in regular season) has helped carry a Bulldog team that won its first playoff game with Tom Pavlansky as head coach. QB Justin Clark has thrown for more than 550 yards, eyeing targets Jon Biehl and Jarred Clark. LB Kyle Smedi and DB Michael Graham lead a defense that has given up seven points or less in three of its last four games. Lakeview will get a big test from a Walsh offense that’s been held to fewer than 21 points in just one game this year. Led by RB Cameron Ontko, WR/CB Alex Ferrara and center Andrew Illig, the Warriors have the talent to compete for a state title. Ontko, a sophomore who struggled with mono much of the year, has regained form and rushed for 167 yards last week against Field.

DIVISION IV
MOONEY (11-0)
vs. AKRON ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY (10-2)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Clinton Heacock Stadium, Beloit
Last week: Mooney beat Coshocton 30-6; SVSM beat Perry 42-0
Notebook: A rematch of one of the best games in Ohio this year. Mooney rallied from a 17-0 fourth quarter deficit to beat the Irish in Week Eight. The Cardinals, which won the poll crown, are 40-14 in 21 playoff appearances, winning state titles in 1973, 1980, 1982, 1987, 2004 and 2006. SVSM, ranked seventh, is 21-8 in 13 appearances, winning state titles in 1972, 1981, 1982 and 1988. The Cardinals’ run-first offense relies on QB Dan McCarthy (1,113 yards rushing in regular season), FB Michael Zordich (796) and RB Brandon Beachum (676). All three are also defensive standouts, while DEs Taylor Hill and John Simon bolster the front seven. Watch out for speedy WR Tim Marlowe, who is a big-play threat in all three phases of the game. SVSM’s front seven may be just as good as Mooney’s, but the Cardinals found success in the second half on edge plays and pass plays. The Irish are led by senior QB Roger Wilson, who threw for more than 1,000 yards during the regular season, and a ground game paced by FB Harvey Tuck and RB Carnell Evans.

DIVISION V
URSULINE (9-2)
vs. APPLE CREEK WAYNEDALE (9-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Klinefelter Field, Canton
Last week: Ursuline beat Bedford Chanel 43-0; Waynedale beat West Salem Northwestern 19-7
Notebook: Ninth-ranked Ursuline is 16-11 in 13 playoff appearances, winning a state title in 2000. Waynedale, ranked 14th, is 9-6 in seven appearances. The Irish are led by QB Lamar McQueen, who led the team in rushing (722 yards, 6 TDs) and passing (1,001 yards, 9 TDs) during the regular season. RB Darrell Mason added 675 yards rushing and 12 TDs. WR Dale Peterman had 24 catches for 326 yards and three TDs. LB Jamel Turner led the SVC with 13 1/2 sacks. The Golden Bears are led by RB Thad Nofsinger (5-11, 200), who has rushed for 1,925 yards and 24 TDs on 250 carries. QB Travis Suppes has completed 64 of 142 for 1,159 yards, 12 TDs and 12 interceptions. The Bears average 212 pounds up front, while the Irish average 260.

SOUTH RANGE (11-0)
vs. GATES MILLS GILMOUR ACADEMY (9-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren
Last w eek: South Range beat Kirtland 45-30; Gilmour beat Mathews 38-13
Notebook: South Range, ranked second, is 12-10 in 11 playoff appearances. Gilmour is 2-5 in six appearances. Gilmour runs behind lineman Matt Mihalik (6-7, 275), a Virginia recruit. South Range is led by a balanced running game and a stout defense. Running back Steve Bensinger has 641 yards and nine TDs, QB Jack Dawson has 598 yards and seven TDs and RB Nick Golec has 335 yards and seven TDs. Dawson has thrown for 706 yards, seven TDs and four interceptions. His main target is Charlie Lengyel (196 yards on nine catches). Isaac Melnick leads the Raider defense with five interceptions.

DIVISION VI
WARREN JFK (9-2)
vs. NORWALK ST. PAUL (10-1)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dukes Stadium, Medina
Last week: JFK beat McDonald 46-8; St. Paul beat Monroeville 49-21
Notebook: JFK, ranked 12th, is 26-15 in 17 playoff appearances, winning a title in 1991. St. Paul, ranked fifth, is 20-10 in 11 appearances, finishing second in 1997, 1999 and 2004. The Eagles are led by RB Jared Province, who has 1,603 yards on 185 carries and 35 touchdowns. QB Dominic LaPolla, who has filled in nicely for J.J. Townsend this year, has thrown for 940 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 471 yards. His main target is James Howard (37 catches, 367 yards, six TDs) and Nick Brown (15 catches, 291 yards, five TDs). St. Paul relies on sophomore QB Eric Schwieterman, who had 184 yards passing last week and several key runs. St. Paul’s lone loss came against a Div. IV playoff team in Elyria Catholic.

Vindicator staff report