Six area teams will play in regional semifinals

By John Kovach

Mooney, Ursuline, Poland, Hubbard, McDonald and Crestview advanced.

Experience has been a good teacher for the Hubbard High football team.

Last year, in coach Brian Hoffman’s first season, the Eagles went 7-3 in the regular season to make the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs, only to be eliminated in the first round by Rocky River, 37-23.

This year, strengthened by that playoff experience and having nine of the 11 starters back, Hubbard has made it to the postseason again and this time won its opener, 40-12, over Ravenna last Saturday in a Division III quarterfinal to advance to a semifinal.

The Eagles (9-2) will challenge Aurora (9-2) at Warren Mollenkopf Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m. Aurora sidelined Chardon NDCL, 30-14, in the first round.

Also advancing were Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline, Poland, McDonald and Crestview.

Mooney and McDonald will vie in Friday games, while Ursuline, Hubbard and Crestview are billed Saturday.

Mooney (9-2) will meet Steubenville (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. in Division IV at Canton Fawcett Stadium in Div. IV.

McDonald (11-0) will play Norwalk St. Paul (11-0) in Div. VI at Medina Ken Dukes Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

In Div. V games Saturday at 7 p.m., Ursuline (11-0) will go against Gates Mills Gilmour at Stow Bulldog Stadium while Crestview (10-1) will meet Kirtland (11-0) at Niles Bo Rein Stadium.

“We have quite a few returners, especially on the defensive side of the football,” Hoffman said. “We returned seven of our 11 starters and actually nine of 11 if you factor in Sam Bellino and Dashawn Liranzo. They both were supposed to be starters last year but suffered torn ACLs in preseason and didn’t play.”

Hoffman said that Hubbard now is beginning to peak.

“We relied on our defense early in the season, and now our offense has come a long way. The offense is doing well and blockers are opening the holes and the backs are finding the seams,” said Hoffman, whose Eagles got two big plays from Bellino and Andre Givens to surge away from Ravenna.

Bellino scored on a 100-yard pass interception just before intermission while Givens scored on a 66-yard run on the first play of the second half.

“It was a huge momentum-changer. It gave us a lot of confidence coming out in the second half. It energized the fans,” said Hoffman of Bellino’s big play.

In other area outcomes:

Mooney advanced with a 14-6 win over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy last Friday, while Steubenville ousted Coshocton, 61-29.

McDonald defeated Western Reserve, 21-7, while Norwalk St. Paul eliminated East Canton, 56-7.

Ursuline beat Cuyahoga Heights, 27-7, last Saturday while Crestview defeated Apple Creek Waynedale, 41-12.

Seven other area teams — Howland, LaBrae, Columbiana, Western Reserve, Leetonia, Liberty and South Range — were eliminated in quarterfinals.

In Western Pennsylvania this week, three area teams — Sharon, Farrell and Sharpsville — will begin first-round play in the PIAA District 10 playoffs.

In Class AA Region 4, Sharon (9-1) will meet Fairview (7-2) at Wilmington High stadium Saturday at noon.

In Class A Region 2 on Friday in 7 p.m. games, Farrell (9-2) will oppose Union City (73) at Allegheny College, while Sharpsville (6-4) will collide with Saegertown (10-0) at General McLane High.

kovach@vindy.com