Poland lights up Louisville

November 8, 2014 at 12:10a.m.

LOUISVILLE

Poland football coach Mark Brungard was obviously having a good night. That can be the only explanation for why the lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan would seek out a Cleveland Browns fan to show his admiration for his team’s sudden resurgence.

Brungard — who congratulated a Browns follower on the team’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals — had good reason to be happy late Friday night.

Behind the two-headed running attack of Austin Wilson and Marlon Ramirez, a dominant offensive line and an opportunistic defense, Brungard’s Bulldogs ran away from host Louisville in a convincing 41-21 Division III regional quarterfinal victory.

“There was a contrast in styles,” Brungard said, “and I knew coming in. [Louisville is] a spread [offense] team. They run it and they defend it in [the Northeastern Buckeye Conference]. There were like five plays out of 200 plays (on film) where they had a tight end on the field. We knew that they would have to make some real adjustments to their defense.

“We thought it would be to our advantage and sure enough, we wore ’em down with it.”

The fifth-seeded Bulldogs took a 17-0 lead into halftime after quarterback Dom Petrony exploited a breakdown in the fourth-seeded Leopards’ defense on a 39-yard touchdown pass to Tate Duarte as the second quarter expired.

Ramirez rushed for 112 yards while the Poland defense limited Louisville (9-2), who came into the game averaging 43 points per game en route to a league title, to one first-half first down and 35 total yards.

When the Leopards and dual-threat quarterback Connor Zwick cut their deficit to three points early in the third quarter thanks to two Poland turnovers, the Bulldogs quickly responded.

Dylan Garver promptly returned the ensuing kickoff back to the Louisville 35-yard line. Two plays later, Wilson broke a 34-yard touchdown run to put Poland ahead 24-14.

“That really got the momentum back in our favor,” Brungard said. “That was huge and our defense kept making plays and getting us the ball back.”

Marty Malenic intercepted Zwick on fourth-and-7 at the Poland 2. Two plays later, Wilson again found room up the middle and raced 93 yards for a touchdown and a 31-14 lead as the third quarter closed.

“We had a great rhythm [on offense],” Wilson said. “Of course I give thanks to my line. Everyone blocked really well. The holes were wide open and I did my job, they did theirs.”

Nick Buccieri intercepted Zwick once more to end Louisville’s next possession, leading to Bob DeVito’s second field goal of the game.

Finally, Tyler Smith snared Zwick’s fifth interception of the game — fourth of the second half — to set up a 2-yard Ramirez touchdown run with 6:46 left in the game.

“Our defense played so well tonight,” Brungard said. “We have some athletes back there and for the most part we contained Zwick and [Walter] Schrock.”

The Bulldogs will take on defending Division III state champion Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a regional semifinal next Friday. The Irish eliminated Poland from the state playoffs last season.

“We have a dual-headed running threat back there with Wilson and Ramirez and an offensive line really gelling now. We’re a tough defend for anyone we’re going to play and our defense is just doing a solid job right now.”