Poland wins War of 224, playoff bound

By JON MOFFETT

jmoffett@vindy.com

Canfield

With a playoff berth and winning season already locked up, it appeared as if Poland didn’t have a lot to play for Friday night.

But just as Halloween will prove Sunday night, appearances can be deceiving.

There were plenty of bragging rights on the line as Poland traveled to Canfield for its annual rivalry game, dubbed the “War of 224.”

Poland won the game 42-28. Head coach Mark Brungard said his Bulldogs (7-3) still had plenty to play for in the game. He said he knew the Cardinals (5-5) wouldn’t go down without a fight. And anyone who said otherwise was sadly mistaken.

“Those people don’t know about the Poland-Canfield game,” he said. “Really, that’s about the most passionate I’ve seen our team, our staff and our community all year.”

It looked like Canfield had caught a Poland team peeking at their playoff schedule early. The Cardinals led 14-6 at halftime. Scoring runs by Dante DeLorenzo and Jordan Italiano created the gap. Two field goals by Connor McFadden put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard.

But the Bulldogs were playing for pride and bragging rights. They scored 28 points in the fourth quarter — the same amount Canfield had for the game.

Two costly turnovers by the Cardinals helped Poland turn the tides and seal the game. Both plays were made by senior wide receiver Darius Patton.

After DeLorenzo’s second touchdown run, a 61-yarder, tied the game at 21, Reardon fumbled the ball on the next series. But the Cardinals’ drive would be short-lived.

Canfield quarterback Italiano fumbled a snap on the ensuing series. Patton, who plays cornerback on defense, scooped up the ball and ran 69 yards for a score.

But even then the Cardinals weren’t done.

Italiano guided the offense 13 yards and the Cardinals had found a rhythm. But Patton floated back into zone coverage on a fourth-down play. Italiano never saw Patton, who jumped the route and stole the ball.

“Personally, it makes me feel good. But on the other half, I feel good because I did it for my team,” Patton said. “[The fumble recovery] was a crazy play. It was luck, I would call it.”

John Medina scored on a 19-yard run moments later to make it 35-21.

But the Cardinals still weren’t done.

Italiano and the Cardinals drove down the Poland red zone. Italiano found wide receiver Mike Werner all alone in the end zone for the score. The Cardinals trailed 35-28 with 48 seconds left to play.

But luck, as Patton said, was again on the side of the Bulldogs. The onside kick attempt bounced into Poland’s Anthony Marchionda, who picked it up and ran it 47 yards for a touchdown.

Nail, meet coffin.

“The ball hit my knee, and I kind of freaked out for a second,” Marchionda said. “I just picked it up, and when I was running, I was just so shocked. I honestly don’t even know what to say about that right now.”

Canfield’s Mike Pavlansky said he was proud of his team for playing tough even with no hope for week 11.

“We lost to a good football team tonight,” he said.