Photo

Photo by: VINDICATOR FILE PHOTO, OCT. 31, 2014

Poland’s Austin Wilson (24) of Poland is congratulated by teammate Joe Bonarigo (77) after scoring a touchdown during their Week 10 game against Canfield in Canfield. Wilson, a senior, has emerged as a potent complement to Marlon Ramirez with a level of speed that not many opponents can catch, says coach Mark Brungard. On Friday, the Bulldogs are getting another shot defending state champ St. Vincent-St. Mary in a Division III regional semifinal.

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

POLAND

Yes, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is the two-time defending Division III state champs and, yes, the Irish drubbed Poland 35-7 in last year’s regional semifinals, but Bulldogs coach Mark Brungard wants to make one thing clear about this year’s rematch.

“This is not David and Goliath,” said Brungard, whose team meets the Irish on Friday night at Uniontown Lake Alumni Stadium. “That’s last year’s speech and it didn’t work anyway.

“This is a game pitting two very good teams against each other. We’re gonna stand toe-to-toe with them and if we don’t turn it over, I think we’ll be right there with them in the fourth quarter.”

Poland (10-1), whose lone loss came against top-ranked Hubbard in Week Five, is coming off an impressive 41-21 win over Northeastern Buckeye Conference champion Louisville.

The Bulldogs are 1-1 against the Irish in the playoffs under Brungard, routing SVSM 38-14 in the 2009 first round. Poland recovered two onside kicks in that win, including one on the opening kickoff. The Bulldogs also scored on a trick play (a direct snap to running back Luke Wollet near the goal line when quarterback Colin Reardon walked away from center) and recovered a pooched kickoff that SVSM fumbled away.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything crazy, but you’ve got to have something ready,” said Brungard, when asked about his reputation for trying unconventional plays in the playoffs. “You can’t be afraid of losing. You’ve got to go for it. Sometimes you’ll look like an idiot and sometimes you’ll look like a genius, but you can’t be afraid.”

That’s the same approach taken by Brungard’s college coach, Jim Tressel, whose conservative reputation belied his willingness to take some risks. And while Brungard is a quarterback by trade — he led Youngstown State to its 1993 and 1994 national titles — he’s a run-first coach like Tressel, dialing up 43 rushes against Louisville for 345 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Austin Wilson, who has emerged as a potent complement to Marlon Ramirez, carried 10 times against the Leopards for 265 yards and four TDs, including a 93-yarder.

“He’s got a level [of speed] that not a lot of kids can catch,” Brungard said of Wilson. “We haven’t had a home run hitter for a while, but he definitely is one.”

Added his running backs coach, Paul Hulea, “Is he fast? I don’t know. He seems to be fast enough. No one ever catches him.”

(When Hulea asked Wilson why he’s been so successful, he didn’t miss a beat: “Oh, my running backs coach. That’s the sole reason.”)

While Wilson is a linebacker at heart — “I like defense more,” he said — he’s a sprinter on the track team averaging more than 10 yards per carry, which means teams can’t relax when Ramirez is out of the game.

It also further sets up Poland’s play-action passes to receivers Tate Duarte and Anthony Calcagni.

SVSM’s biggest home run threat of the last few years, Parris Campbell, is now at Ohio State, as is last year’s Mr. Football, Dante Booker, Jr. The Irish also lost Akron recruits Newman Williams and Travonte Junius to graduation.

“They’re still a very good team but they’re not what they were last year, by no means, in my eyes and all our eyes,” Wilson said.

That doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare. The Irish have won seven straight against some of Northeast Ohio’s best teams, including a 38-6 win over Ursuline in Week 10 and a 34-13 win over Chardon last week.

Junior quarterback Dom Davis is “a slippery cat,” Brungard said, capable of beating a team with his arms and his legs, especially when he extends plays by escaping the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield.

As for running back Vince Lockett?

“He’s legit,” Brungard said. “We are playing the state champion and until someone takes the trophy, they are the state champion.

“But we have one [championship] of our own. Our kids are just preparing like it’s the next game. We respect them for sure and they’ve got some talent, but this group is not afraid of anybody.”