CLC 100-pound team posts shutout

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Canfield's Paul Breinz (19) drives into the end zone in overtime to give the Cards a win over the Falcons.

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Paul Breinz (19) clears a path to the end zone for Vinny Fiorenza’s (34) game-tying score during the 140-pound game last weekend.

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Canfield's Christopher Altiere Jr. darts past two Austintown Little Falcons defenders during the 100-pound contest last weekend.

CLC 100-pound team posts shutout

The 100-pound Canfield Little Cardinals finished the regular season with a 28-0 shutout victory over the Austintown Little Falcons.

On the initial drive, quarterback David Altiere Jr. scored the first touchdown for the Cards on the two-yard wedge play when he plowed into the end zone. Broc Lowry added six more points for the Cards when he scampered 37 yards on a reverse play down the left side of the field.

On the Cardinals’ first offensive possession of the second half, they were able to move the ball down to the 1-yard line. A handoff to Ian Hull resulted in the third Cards touchdown. He also had a successful reception for the two-point conversion.

The fourth and final touchdown came in the last quarter when David Altiere Jr. connected with Christopher Altiere Jr., who caught the aerial and darted 51 yards to pay dirt. Nathan Shaw added two more points when he rumbled for the pylon, sneaking into the corner of the end zone. Shaw’s successful conversion brought the final score to 28-0.

The Cardinals’ defense has improved all season long. For the second time this season, the unit denied their opponent a single first down and held them to negative yardage.

Coach Hull noted that Broc Lowry and Xavior Rowbottom each had an “excellent game.” Both forced fumbles, one of which was recovered by Canfield’s Caden Kohout. Evan Perry and Christopher Altiere Jr. also had several tackles for losses. Christopher DeDonato, Landon Biedelschies and Dominic DeDonato were key to the Cardinals’ strong defense.

The race to the Super Bowl starts Oct. 21 with a Canfield vs. Labrae rematch.

120s end regular season undefeated, unscored upon

The undefeated Canfield Little Cardinals 120-pound squad built a 40-0 halftime lead and finished the regular season strong, beating the Little Falcons 46-0.

The win makes Canfield 8-0 and ensured the team’s second consecutive undefeated regular season. The defense totally shutdown the Falcons, allowing only one first down and has yet to allow a point this season.

Andre Crump led the way with touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.

Gavin Tarashawty set the tone for the defense, sacking the Falcons quarterback for a 10-yard loss to give Canfield the ball at the Falcons’ 25. Crump broke several tackles on his way to pay dirt on the next play and then added the conversion for an 8-0 Canfield lead.

After another tough defensive stand, Santino Marucci rumbled 25 yards to the Falcons’ 2 where Ethan Fletcher bolted in for a TD. Jake Kowal added the conversion and the Cards led 16-0 after one quarter.

Crump picked off a wayward Austintown aerial on the next series and darted 43 for the score, Fletcher added the extra points to make it 24-0. Facing a fourth-and-long on their next possession, Austintown chose to punt to Crump, who took the punt and raced down the sideline for another score, Marucci plowed up the middle for the conversion and 32-0 advantage.

Fletcher put the finishing touches on the first half when he dashed 29 yards for the touchdown, Logan Torok went over right tackle for the conversion to make it 40-0.

Torok added a third-quarter touchdown to round out the scoring.

Defensive standouts for the Cards were Michael Gonda, Peyton Kostelic, Seth Hull, Mario Mavar and David Noday. Head coach Tom Donadee cited the offensive line play of Pat Guerrieri, Angelo Cestone, Anthony Orr, Alex Smyczinski and Greg Karas.

Canfield will begin its run for a third consecutive league championship when it travels to LaBrae to take on Howland in the second round of the YAC playoffs.

Cards 140-pounders win in overtime

The 140-pound Little Cards had to battle the cold, rain, and the Austintown Little Falcons defense to pull out a 12-6 overtime victory and remain the only undefeated 140-pound team in the league. Both teams came into the contest with perfect 7-0 records.

The Cards took the opening possession to the Falcons’ 39 before turning the ball over on downs. Two plays later, the Falcons’ Deondre McKeever threw deep to a wide-open Nathaniel Fowler for the 52-yard score and a 6-0 advantage. For the next two quarters, the defenses battered the opposing teams. Early in the fourth quarter, the Cards drove to the Falcons’ 13 where Vinny Fiorenza swept left and with some nice blocking was able to reach the end zone.

The Cards defense forced a four-and-out and Canfield took over on the Falcons 33. Aided by a personal foul penalty, the Cards drove down to the Falcon one-yard line. It was fourth and goal on the one, with 3.7 seconds on the clock, Fiorenza again tried to sweep past the Falcons. Falcons safety Deondre McKeever read the play and stopped Fiorenza in the backfield. With the game knotted at 6-6, the squads headed to overtime.

The Falcons had the first possession, but miscues and penalties nullified a touchdown and gave the ball to the Cards. From the 10-yard line, Glen Griswold drove to the 6. On the next play, Paul Breinz went off-tackle right, cut left and carried two Falcons defenders into the end zone for the score and a 12-6 victory.