3 SET FOR ROUND 3

November 17, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Western Reserve, Hubbard, Ursuline vie for regional titles

By the time the high school football postseason reaches its third week, coaches often find themselves scurrying for information on an unfamiliar opponent from an unknown town.

Such won’t be the case for three Mahoning Valley coaches this week because their teams will face opponents known statewide for their rich football history.

Hubbard, Ursuline and Western Reserve have advanced to the third round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The Eagles, Irish and Blue Devils will play this weekend in the title games of their respective regions. Winners will advance to the state semifinals.

The three area schools will be playing opponents this week which have combined for an 86-35 postseason record and nine state titles.

Hubbard (12-0) advanced to the Division III Region 7 title game thanks to Friday’s 23-19 win over Aurora. The Eagles had a 16-point lead over the Greenmen before giving up a pair of touchdowns in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.

Before that game, Hubbard’s closest game was a 23-point win over Struthers.

“People shouldn’t be a bit surprised at the score, because every team still playing at this point of the season is the real deal,” Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said Sunday. “We knew we were in for a dogfight.

“And, it only gets tougher from here.”

Hubbard will try to exercise some demons when it faces Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday at Gilchrist Field in Ravenna. The Irish (10-2) have handed the Eagles playoff losses in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

“We’ve been down this road before,” Hoffman said. “We set this goal way back in the summer. We didn’t care if it was St. Vincent-St. Mary or whomever, we just wanted to be here.

“We have that opportunity now, and we have to do our best to make the most of it.”

St. Vincent-St. Mary, which was ranked second in Region 7 behind Hubbard, owns a 36-12 all-time playoff record. The Irish have won six state titles, including back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

Ursuline (8-4) advanced in Division V Region 15 with a 23-7 win over Liberty. The Irish, who finished second in Eegion 15, will face top-seeded Canton Central Catholic (12-0) Saturday at Uniontown Lake High School.

The Crusaders (18-9 playoff record, two state titles) also finished atop the Division V statewide poll by the Associated Press. During the regular season, they compiled more computer points (30.30) than all but six Division I schools.

“Their top billing is well-deserved and accurate,” Ursuline coach Larry Kempe said. “We’ve seen them on film, and the big thing that stands out is their speed.

“We will be tested.”

Though excited to be playing in the regional final, Kempe said his players feel they still have a lot of work ahead of them.

“We feel like we are a 15-week program,” Kempe said. “I’m very proud of the kids and the coaches for what they have accomplished to this point, but at the same time, we still have work to do.”

Western Reserve (11-1) will face a familiar opponent on Saturday when it plays Norwalk St. Paul (11-1) at Copley High School in the Division VII Region 23 final.

The Blue Devils and Flyers squared off last year in the regional final, with Western Reserve prevailing 22-2.

Western Reserve is looking to advance to the state semifinals for the third time in four years. St. Paul, which owns a 32-14 all-time playoff record, won a state title in 2009.

“It’s an honor to be playing this late,” Western Reserve coach Andy Hake said. “We beat this team last year, but we know they’re better than they were a year ago, and they’re coming after us.

“St. Paul is very well-coached and they have a great tradition,” Hake said. “This particular team has a ton of speed, and that’s going to present a big challenge.”