6 to watch

URSULINE VS. GILMOUR

Ursuline and Gilmour are meeting for the first time. Ursuline has gained 2,470 yards rushing and 810 passing. Dale Peterman is the all-purpose leader with 902 yards. LB Alex Menton has 18 tackles and 57 assists for 57 total, followed by Dawalyn Harper’s 31 tackles and 40 assists. Kevin Patrick has made is 38 of 45 PATs, while kickoff man Mike Herns is averaging 51 yards per kick. Herns dons jersey No. 53, a number worn by several notable former Irish players, including John Bassetti (1967). The Lancers are coached by Bob Spicer. Gilmour’s first two games were against teams which finished with a combined record of 17-3.

CRESTVIEW VS. KIRTLAND

This will be a No. 2 seed (Crestview) against No. 3 (Kirtland) in Region 17, and it will be their first meeting. The Rebels are led by senior-sophomore brother combination of Corey and Carter Hill. Corey, the running back, has amassed more than 2,000 yards rushing this season and scored 28 touchdowns. Carter is the quarterback who has passed for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns and run for another 10 scores. Both teams bring 10-1 records into the contest. The Rebels might have a slight edge since they’ve played at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles in a playoff game two years ago. Kirtland rolled over South Range last week in a playoff opener at home.

MOONEY VS. STEUBENVILLE

Cardinal Mooney (9-2) is expected to have its hands full against Steubenville (11-0) in the Division IV regional semifinal. Steubenville has won 53 of its last 54 games, including Div. III state championships in 2005-06. The Big Red’s lone loss during that span was a 35-20 setback to coach P.J. Fecko’s Cardinals last year in a Div. IV regional final, after the Cardinals had built a 35-0 lead. That means that coach Reno Saccoccia’s Big Red will have extra incentive to make up for that one blot on their four-year record.

HUBBARD VS. AURORA

The runners-up in the All-American Conference White Tier, Hubbard has advanced to the second round of the playoffs for just the second time, Eight years ago under Coach Jeff Bayuk, the Eagles played in Week 12, losing to Copley. This year’s team has rebounded from a 32-26 loss to archrival Liberty in Week Eight with big wins over Struthers, Niles and Ravenna. Of the six Mahoning Valley teams playing this weekend, the Eagles have the shortest trip to make. Their game is at Warren’s Mollenkopf Stadium.

POLAND VS. LICKING VALLEY

And the honor of making the longest road trip this weekend goes to Poland, which is playing on Saturday in New Philadelphia. Mark Brungard’s Bulldogs will have to play at their best against the defending Division III state runners-up. Licking Valley is 23-11 in the postseason. One of the losses came in 2000 against Ursuline in the Div. IV state semifinals at Canton Central Catholic. The Bulldogs are led by running backs Luke Wollet (1,168 yards, 10 TDs) and Greg Sabol (692 yards, 9 TDs.