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Fitch gets Poland-Mooney
Poland Vs. Hoban
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Ursuline Vs. Liberty Benton
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Ursuline will travel to Aurora to play Cuyahoga Heights.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
The Cardinal Mooney and Poland high football teams will be playing close to home when they meet for a state semifinal berth.
Ursuline’s team, which has been on the road for much of the 2009 season, has another road trip west.
The Mahoning Valley’s three remaining football teams will play in regional finals on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
At Austintown Fitch Falcon Stadium, undefeated Mooney (12-0), the region’s top seed, will take on All-American Conference Red Tier co-champion Poland (10-2) in the Division III Region 9 final. Poland is seeded second in the region.
At Aurora High Stadium in Geauga County, Ursuline (8-3) will play Cuyahoga Heights (12-0) in the Div. V Region 17 final.
The winners will advance to Nov. 27 state semifinal games.
“We’re excited,” said Poland coach Mark Brungard, who added that his squad assumed that the game would be played at Fitch.
“For two local teams, it’s a great venue,” Brungard said Sunday in a break from a coaching strategy session. “We had success there in the past in playoff games.”
Commenting on the support given the Bulldogs by their fans, Brungard agreed that anyone wanting a seat should arrive long before kickoff.
Poland won the Division III state title in 1999.
The Cardinals are trying to win their third state crown in six seasons. In Div. IV, they won in 2004 and 2006, and finished state runners-up in 2005 and 2007.
Mooney’s regular-season schedule included three area teams: Boardman (23-17), Warren Harding (31-6) and Ursuline (27-22).
“Their record speaks for itself,” Brungard said of the Cardinals. “To have the schedule they have and to win every game, obviously, they are tremendous. You don’t see many weaknesses up and down the lineup.
“They have great depth,” Brungard said. “Defensively, they are active and don’t stay blocked.”
Poland’s losses were to Steubenville (24-13) in Week 7 and Canfield (16-0) in Week 10.
“To be in a regional final certainly is one of our goals,” Brungard said. “We competed with Steubenville but the Canfield loss was disappointing.
“But to be playing in Week 13, we’re very pleased,” Brungard said. “Our kids have played hard and done what we’ve asked.”
Poland and Mooney each have wins over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. The Cardinals won 34-9 in Week 8 while the Bulldogs opened the playoffs with a 38-14 win over LeBron James’ alma mater.
The Bulldogs and Cardinals also played Hubbard. Poland won the season opener, 24-13, while Mooney ended Hubbard’s season last Friday with a 55-0 blowout.
Cuyahoga Heights, which shut out six of its 10 regular-season opponents, has the Region 17 top seed. The Irish were seeded third.
Ursuline’s other losses were to Pittsburgh Central Catholic (49-22) in Week 2 at Wheeling, W.Va., and Mentor Lake Catholic (35-21) in Week 3. Friday, Lake Catholic defeated Canfield 31-24 to advance to the Div. II Region 5 final.
Ursuline is competing for its third crown in 10 seasons.
The Irish won the Div. IV title in 2000 and the Div. V championship in 2008. The Irish were Div. V state runners-up in 2007.