Canfield Little Cards win four league titles

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The Canfield Little Cards 120-pound squad beat Poland 20-6 to win the Super Bowl last weekend at Stambaugh Stadium.

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Neighbors | Submitted.The Canfield Little Cards 140-pound team won the YAC championship last weekend after beating Howland 6-0 in the Super Bowl at Stambaugh Stadium.

The Canfield Little Cardinals 120-pound squad completed an undefeated season with a 20-6 victory over rival Poland Little Bulldogs at Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium to capture the YAC championship. Stellar defense and an offense that piled up more than 300 yards were the difference for Canfield (8-0).

Poland struck first when Luke Fulton raced 69 yards on Poland’s second possession. The touchdown was the first surrendered by the Canfield defense this season and marked the first time the Cards trailed all year. The lead didn’t last long, as Andre Crump took the ensuing play 65 yards to pay dirt. The conversion failed and the score stood 6-6.

Canfield’s defense forced a Bulldogs fumble, scooped up by Santino Marucci and returned to the Poland 21. Two plays later, Glenn Griswold burst 18 yards up the middle to give Canfield a 12-6 lead. Canfield’s defense held, giving the Cardinals possession at their own 39. The Cards covered 61 yards in nine plays with Crump going around left end the final 12 yards for a 18-6 Canfield lead. Jake Whittenberger’s diving reception of a Griswold aerial provided the conversion and made it 20-6.

Canfield’s defense led by Tyler Stein, Andy Murphy, and Ethan Fletcher kept Poland in check the second half. Offensively, Crump rushed for 197 yards on 15 carries and completed 1-of-2 passes for 24 yards. Whittenberger added 42 yards on six carries. Coach Donadee cited the offensive line play of Cole Morell, Bailey Flanagan, Colin Leonard, Zach Smith, Jake Donadee, and Caden White. Defensively, Richie Hofus, Nick Crawford and McCoy Watkins were cited for stellar play.

This was Canfield’s second straight 120-pound championship, as the team has compiled a 17-1 record over the last two seasons. The Cards outscored its opponents 226-14 and yielded only one touchdown on defense this season. The Cardinals are led by head coach Tom Donadee and defensive coordinator Jason Marucci and assistants Derick Fletcher, Andre Crump, Doug Stein, Jeff Kowal, Rick Zaremski, Gino Morell, Craig Tareshawty and Dave Watkins.

The Canfield 120-pound JV squad won its second straight league championship and completed an undefeated season with a 26-0 victory over the Poland Little Bulldogs in the YAC JV Super Bowl in Struthers on a rain soaked Nebo Field.

Canfield struck first, taking the opening drive 65 yards in eight plays with Ethan Fletcher sprinting around right end for the touchdown and a 6-0 Canfield lead. On Canfield’s second possession, the Cards drove to the Bulldog 1 behind the running of Chance Merlin, Dominic Yozwiak and Jake Kowal. Nathan Ritenour blasted over the right side to pay dirt and Cards led 12-0 at the half.

Poland drove to the Canfield 35 on the opening possession of the second half, but a big hit by Bryce Beal on a fourth-and-5 gave Canfield the ball back. Fletcher then burst over the right side and raced 65 yards for a TD and a 18-0 lead. Canfield rounded out the scoring when Conor Crogan dashed 50 yards for the score. Jake Hostetter added the two-point conversion run for the final margin.

The Cards defense was led by Matt Zaremski, Alex Smyczynski, David Reinhart, Greg Karas, Gio Saadey, Seth Hull, Paris Bumgardner, Donnie Syrianoudis, Alex George, and Chris Smith. Offensively, coach Donadee noted Kevin Walls, Mario Mavar, James Warren, Joseph Warren, Gavin Tareshawty, Joseph Bruno, Angelo Cestone, BJ Parker, David Noday, and Dominic Joseph for their performances.

The 140-pound Canfield Little Cardinals completed a perfect 9-0 season and captured their second consecutive Super Bowl title with a 6-0 victory over Howland at Stambaugh Stadium.

Both defenses controlled the tempo in the first quarter. Dom Velasquez stopped a Howland drive with a fumble recovery on the Tigers 35.

Midway through the second, Canfield’s Paul Brienz picked off a Howland pass and ran it back to the Howland 12. With 5 seconds remaining in the half, Brienz got into the end zone for what would turn out to be the only score of the game. The Tigers opened the third quarter by driving into Canfield territory, but the Cards defense stopped them at the 25. The Canfield defense bent at times but never relented, led by linebackers Angelo Petracci and David Crawford and end Austin Householder.

Late in the fourth quarter, Howland made a strong surge into Canfield territory, reaching the Canfield 7 yard-line with 30 seconds to play. On third-and-goal, the Tigers dropped the sweep pitch. The Tigers hustled to the line and spiked the ball with 1 second remaining, but the spike was fourth down.

The Canfield Little Cards 140-pound JV team won the Super Bowl last weekend, beating Poland 12-8 in the rain and mud of Struthers NEBO Field.

Canfield beat Boardman and Poland beat Austintown Colts to earn a spot in the title game.

Paul French and Vinny Fiorenza scored for Canfield, but both point after attempts failed.

Dom Velasquez had a key third-and-long pass to Fiorenza to keep Canfield’s last scoring drive alive.

In the final minutes of the game, Poland drove down to the Cards 20 yard-line. With one second to go, the officials weren’t sure if it was fourth down. Canfield’s coach told the officials to allow one last play and Poland ran off-tackle left and the running back was stopped by a host of Cardinals to seal the win.