By Ryan Buck

rbuck@vindy.com

Poland

On Sept. 15, 2012, Michael Audi, along with his friend and Poland High football teammate Abraham Kassem, made a left turn onto U.S. Route 224 from Luteran Lane, just east of the center of town.

An oncoming car slammed into the turning vehicle, driven by Audi, totaling the car and perhaps both of their futures.

Audi was the starting linebacker for the Bulldogs and a standout wrestler. Kassem, already a 6-foot-2, 240-pound man, was contributing as a tight end and defensive tackle and was also a great wrestler once football season ended.

Kassem escaped without major injury.

But after first responders needed to remove him from the vehicle using the Jaws of Life before taking him to St. Elizabeth, Audi worried his own football career was finished.

“That was the first thing I asked as soon as I was laying in the bed and realized I was fine,” said Audi, who suffered a lacerated spleen and a fracture in his C7 vertebra, near the top of the spine.

Most importantly, the two eventually made full and smooth recoveries, but Audi hated the thought of sitting out the rest of his junior football season.

“I didn’t come back until Week 12,” Audi said. “That was our last game against Dover (a 35-17 loss in the regional semifinals).

“With my spleen, it wasn’t anything that you could really rehab. I just couldn’t do anything that could raise my blood pressure. I think it ended up being eight or nine weeks where I just couldn’t do anything at all. I could just lay in my bed.”

Fast forward to this week’s key All-American Conference, American Division clash with rival Struthers where Audi will be one of four senior captains for the undefeated Bulldogs.

“It’s awesome,” said Audi, one of two two-way players for Poland. “Even though I wasn’t there a lot of the time last year, the guys still believed in me. They know I’m a leader and they know what I can do for the team out there.”

With only about 40 players dressing each Friday, Poland coach Mark Brungard needs them on the field, as well as their leadership in the locker room.

“They made an unbelievable recovery,” Brungard said. “Mike went on to wrestle in the state tournament in Columbus in March. Abraham had a good offseason. He just, unfortunately, rolled an ankle really bad in our first scrimmage and he’s been trying to get healthy from that. They’ve both done a great job. We’re thankful. It was a lesson learned, but they were spared.”

Audi’s performance during wrestling season has carried over through the summer and into the fall.

“It was just after the disappointment with football season,” said Audi, who moved from running back to the offensive line to better help the team at a position of need. “That was my first year as a starter as a junior and for it to end like that so soon, it was nice to just have some success in the next season. It gave me a little more confidence after what happened.”

After last week’s convincing home win over arch rival Canfield, Brungard has the Bulldogs at 5-0 and 3-0 in the conference.

“I’m happy with where we’re at record-wise,” said Brungard, now in his eighth year as head coach. “We have a lot of areas we can improve on. We hope our best football is yet to come.”

Numbers-wise, the Bulldogs return a smaller number of players, but it has not become an issue through the first half of the football season. Having 25 returning lettermen helps.

“One thing that’s different about this team is that our numbers are the smallest team I’ve coached. We still have a number of guys with experience. We have a lot of lettermen returning, but it’s had us changing our practice plan a little bit, just to not beat ourselves up too much.”

Much of their offensive production from 2012 returned and they have met expectations.

Senior quarterback Jacob Wolfe, senior running back Ross Gould and classmate Jake Aiello have all met expectations, as has reliable wide receiver Tyler Evan. Tight end John Markota can also play defensive end.

“We have a spread out group of play makers that has been pretty unique,” Brungard said. “We’ve always had a couple, but we have several backs and wide outs.”

Audi and Markota lead a defense that has allowed just 13 points per game.

“On the other side of the ball, we’re creating turnovers and that’s something we haven’t always done,” Brungard said. “But this year, we’re doing a nice job of getting turnovers.”

Through five games, they have picked off nine passes and have forced eight fumbles.

“I think it’s a lot of the coaching,” Audi said. “Honestly, I think we have one of the best coaching staffs in the state. We have guys out there that are willing to work hard and they can coach ‘em up for it.”

Much was expected of the Bulldogs heading into this season, but their offense added another dimension with an unexpected gift.

Senior George Chammas, better known as a forward on Poland’s basketball team that earned a share of the All-American Conference, American Division basketball title this past winter, decided to suit up.

Against Canfield, Chammas hauled in two touchdown passes using his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.

He had not played football since middle school, but the layoff has not been evident. One last shot at high school football was too much to ignore.

“I like football,” Chammas said. “I always liked coming to watch the games and watching my friends out on the field. I just wanted to join them for my senior year. Coming into the summer I was a little rusty, but I knew I could get there. I am impressed with the start I’ve had so far this season.”

Chammas adds another weapon for Wolfe when defenses key on Evan and Markota.

It’s a first for Brungard.

“It is very unique that a kid that can come one year can have so much success,” he said. “Being the athlete that he is, with playing basketball, he showed ability to move and get position and go up and get the ball. He’s catching rebounds out there for us, high-pointing balls. Jake’s doing a nice job of putting it up there for him. He creates match up issues for corners and his work habits and his practice habits are excellent. He’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do. His attitude’s tremendous. It’s been just a very pleasant surprise.”

Chammas’ size, leaping ability and fundamentals, thanks to basketball, were too much for Canfield’s smaller defensive backs. Wolfe knows that a well-thrown fade or lob usually leads to a catch.

Both of his scores against the Cardinals were high throws into the end zone.

“Really it’s just like getting rebounds and box outs,” Chammas said. “Some of the little stuff you do in basketball, you do in football. Little techniques. It wasn’t a big difference so I was fine with the transition.”

The playbook, however, was a different story when practice began in the summer.

“The hardest part was learning the plays,” Chammas said. “There was so much to learn in so little time. Luckily with the help of the other wide outs, I got to learn it quickly.”

Struthers (4-1, 0-1) will be the Bulldogs’ next test in pursuit of the league crown.

Poland rallied to beat Niles in Week 4, then handled the Cardinals at home last Friday. They are back at Dave Pavlansky Field tonight.

“It’s a great grind,” Brungard said of the conference schedule. “I love our conference right now. Every week is a great challenge. Last week was a great rivalry game for us in Canfield. This week it’s another rivalry game in Struthers, but the competition is there every week. They’re all well-coached. You can’t take any breaks mentally and your community gets excited about these league games.”