Lakeview not playing for revenge, just week 13

By Jon Moffett

jmoffett@vindy.com

CORTLAND

It’s natural; dogs don’t like cats.

Or in the case of Lakeview High, Bulldogs don’t like Tigers.

The former, the Lakeview Bulldogs, and the latter, the Tigers of Chagrin Falls, will meet for the second time in as many years Friday. Chagrin Falls defeated Lakeview in last year’s playoffs.

So while the Bulldogs sat at home watching, the Tigers came within a game of being crowned the Division IV state champions.

Lakeview coach Tom Pavlansky said he is looking forward to paying Chagrin Falls back with an early exit of their own. But he downplayed any idea of vengeance, saying he is only interested in week 13.

“We’ll go play anywhere and we’ll play anyone,” he said. “If you use last year as a revenge factor, or think of it as a rematch, I just don’t think we need to be there. I don’t care who we’re playing.

“It’s week 12. We know we’re playing a really good team,” he added. “I don’t think last year’s team has any affect on this year, I really don’t.”

He said his players are focused on playing the best they can, not looking at the game as a rematch.

Still, he’s aware of the temptation to want to consider Friday’s game as Ali-Frazier II and not game 12.

“I’m sure there is some human nature in the kids who played last year to look at it as a rematch,” he said. “But I really believe our kids are just really ready to play anybody.”

Lakeview is 9-2 this year. They’re only two losses came at the hands of Poland (Bulldogs) and Howland (Tigers).

But regardless of mascots or nicknames, it’s only about wins for Pavlansky. And wins are something the opponent has collected recently.

Over the past three years, Chagrin Falls has lost very few games, Pavlansky said. And he knows his team can’t afford to look at them as anything other than the next opponent.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “They’re the class of the region, for the last few years anyway. And you’re going to have to play them at some point if you want to advance.”

He added that his Bulldogs are in an enviable position and have to treat the game as a reward for a successful season.

“We’re proud to be here. And we’re very excited about this opportunity,” he said. “We know there are only 16 teams in our division playing this week. And we’re happy to be one of them.”

But Pavlansky said he and the team won’t be happy to just have made it to week 12. He wants to play in week 13 and beyond.

“We better expect to play our best, because if we don’t we won’t even have the chance to play in week 13,” he said.

To prepare, Pavlansky and the Bulldogs have been practicing on turf to get more accustomed to the playing surface. The biggest difference, he said, it the security it gives for footing.

“At this time of the year, our practice field is pretty torn up,” he said. “But these past few days, I’ve noticed our practices have been a lot more crisp and efficient.”

Which is good, because Chagrin Falls will be ready to play.

“They’re a physical bunch. Up front, they have three out of the five starters from last year on the offensive line,” he said. “The skill positions, they’ve got some guys back, too.”

Pavlansky said his team doesn’t need a pep talk or motivational speech. They’re ready.

“They just want to have a better result than last year.”