Poland vs Canfield

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Blitz Tailgate Party: Poland at Canfield

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By Tom Williams

The Bulldogs held down Canfield, 14-7

CANFIELD — With the biggest victory in his four-year coaching career within his grasp, Poland’s Mark Brungard put the ball into the hands of junior running back Luke Wollet.

Tied 7-7 in the fourth quarter Friday at Canfield High, Brungard sensed that his offensive line was taking charge of tired Cardinals defenders.

Brungard’s faith in the running game paid off as the Bulldogs (8-2, 3-1 All-American Conference Red Tier) marched 65 yards on the next 13 plays. Wollet carried the ball 11 times for 57 of those yards, setting up Gannon Hulea’s 1-yard quarterback sneak that gave Poland a 14-7 victory.

Brungard sensed that Wollet had a hot hand when the drive began.

“He was getting up off the ground and instilling such an attitude in the offensive line,” said Brungard after his first win over Canfield. “He was getting up screaming at our guys, getting our fans jacked up, getting our sidelines jacked up.

“So we couldn’t take him out,” Brungard said. “It was like he got the [defibrillator] paddles and put them on and boom, revived us.”

Wollet’s first run of the drive gained 11 yards. Another picked up 13. Several gained 7 and 5.

“I had nothing to do with that drive,” said Wollet, who rushed 29 times for 145 yards. “It was all the receivers, all the linemen, how hard they worked. It was their condition.”

Anchoring the Poland line were left tackle David McLaughlin, left guard John Hughes, center Jordan Boyd, right guard Robert Bams, right tackle Ryan Terek and tight ends Drew Petro and Andy Bartos.

“They were making plays all over the place, it was our defense stepping up,” said Wollet, who admitted that hanging onto the rain-soaked ball was a challenge.

“It was tough all night,” Wollet said. “The were tugging on that ball hard. Holding on was my first priority.”

Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky credited the Bulldogs for the late surge.

“The key to the game was that we couldn’t keep our offense on the field, where they did,” Pavlansky said. “They finally wore us down defensively with that final great drive.”

The Bulldogs’ win ties them with the Cardinals and Howland for the first ACC Red title. It also ensures them of a home game next weekend in the Division III Region 11 playoffs.

”It feels awesome,” Hulea said. “Wollet just couldn’t be stopped. That’s the way he gets ... in a zone. He just can’t be tackled.”

Canfield (7-3, 3-1) was ninth in this week’s Div.II Region 7 ratings and was eliminated from the playoff race. The loss was Canfield’s first at home in 30 games.

“We haven’t tasted victory against them in four years,” Wollet said. “How much sweeter can it get to win a league title and get the [Poland-Canfield] trophy back to Poland and a home game in the playoffs? There was so much on this game — it was just incredible.”

The Bulldogs limited the Cards to 127 yards rushing and 28 passing.

About two minutes into the game, the Cards jumped out to a 7-0 lead after Kyle Vaclav rumbled 66 yards to the Poland 1. Quarterback Adam Muth scored from the 6.

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs tied the game when Greg Sabol scored from the 2.

Late in the half, Poland threatened until Luke Franken stripped Hulea of the ball at the Canfield 20.

Calling the win the biggest of his coaching career, Brungard said, “I’ve finally got the monkey off my back.

“It’s a great rivalry. It was two good teams battling right to the end. The way we drove the ball in the fourth quarter was a gratifying thing.”

williams@vindy.com