The Bulldogs will need their best effort to make it to the Division III final four.

By DOUG CHAPIN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

It probably should come as no surprise that Lakeview High would meet Mentor Lake Catholic at some point in the 2007 Ohio Division III football playoffs. After all, the Cougars have faced a Trumbull Athletic Conference opponent in each of the last three postseasons.

Lake Catholic (8-4) plays the Bulldogs Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Region 9 championship at Stewart Field in Solon. The winner advances to a state semifinal game on Nov. 23.

Lake Catholic defeated Hubbard 31-12 a year ago in the regional semifinals, lost 17-14 to Liberty in the same round in 2005 and defeated Hubbard 42-14 in the first round the year before that.

In 2007, the Cougars finished third in the Region 9 standings with three defeats (Mooney, Div. I Euclid and Div. I Dublin Coffman) and three victories (Div. II Madison, Div. II Parma Padua and Div. IV Elyria Catholic) over playoff teams. In the postseason, the Cougars defeated Ravenna (21-20) and previously unbeaten Rocky River (28-25).

“They are a very good football team,” Lakeview coach Tom Pavlansky said of the Bulldogs’ opponent this week. “Offensively, they are balanced, they run and pass equally well. They have a tailback by the name of Randy Greenwood who is a tremendous football player. They run mostly out of a two-back formation and have three other running backs that complement Greenwood.

“On the offensive line they have a three-year starter at center who is 6-3, 225, and their two tackles, one is 6-4, 300 pounds and the other is 6-6, 300 pounds.”

The Bulldogs finished fifth in the region with their 8-2 regular season and defeated Aurora (17-6) and top-seeded Walsh Jesuit (14-10) the first two weeks of the playoffs.

“Our kids are excited about that win [over Walsh] but they know we have a better opponent this week,” Pavlansky said. “We have to be at our best to play and to compete. Our key has been preparation by the kids, they’ve worked really hard. They really just take one day at a time.

“We hope we have a better week of practice this week.,” Pavlansky said. “We need to keep improving in all phases. We know it’s going to take our best effort and performance to make it to the final four.”

The Bulldogs are led by senior linebacker Kyle Smedi (6-0, 185) who was named this week the Northeast Inland District defensive co-player of the year in Division III. Smedi leads the Bulldogs with 90 tackles.

Fellow senior Jon Biehl (5-11, 175) was named first team all-district as a defensive back. He has four interceptions and also leads the team in receiving with 20 catches for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Junior tailback Ben Moody (6-2, 170) was first team all-district on offense with his 1,299 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Earning honorable mention honors on the all-district team were Rylan Hardman (6-2, 215, Sr., LB-TE), Adam Lindsey (6-3, 240, Sr., OL-DL) and Dave Petrosky (5-10, 190, Sr., OL-LB).

Among other notable Bulldogs are senior co-captains Steve Lane (5-10, 250, DT) and Michael Braunegg (5-11, 185, LB); defensive back Michael Graham (5-11, 165, Jr.), who is second on the team in tackles with 82; quarterback Justin Clark (5-9, 160, Jr.) who has passed for 739 yards; running backs Vinnie Elias (5-10, 175, Sr.) and Justin Wazelle (5-10, 170, Jr.), each of whom has scored seven touchdowns; and receiver Jarred Clark (5-9, 160, Jr.), Justin’s twin brother, who has 14 catches for 212 yards.

Pavlansky said Hardman, in particular, epitomizes the Bulldogs who often are overlooked by their opponents.

“All those guys who made all-district are deserving, but Rylan Hardman is a good football player. I don’t think he’s gotten the recognition he deserves,” Pavlansky said. “Walsh Jesuit had several offensive lineman on the all-district team and Rylan did very well against them. We’ve got a lot of kids who are having their best years and Rylan is one of them.”

Lakeview’s playoff history is not extensive. The Bulldogs last qualified for the postseason in 2000 when they lost a 21-17 decision to Akron Hoban in the first round. Before 2007, Lakeview’s only playoff victory came in 1995 when it defeated Marlington, 29-14, before falling 7-6 to Poland in the regional final.

Pavlansky said this year’s senior group was a .500 or so team in junior high, so it’s not like the Bulldogs’ success this season was expected.

“We knew there was some talent there,” Pavlansky said. “We have three kids who are starting their 33rd consecutive varsity game, Elias, Biehl and Smedi. When those guys were younger there were 25 kids on the team and now we’ve got about 10 seniors left. The guys have really stuck together, they believe in the program and we’re really proud of them.”

Those seniors hope to extend their high school careers by at least one more week with a win on Friday.