Photo

Photo by: William D. Lewis

Hubbard assistant coach Jason McElhaney works with Hubbard’s offense.

By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

From a fan perspective, tonight’s All-American Conference showdown between Hubbard and Poland is about as big as a midseason game between a pair of rivals can get.

High school football message boards have been lit up with threads discussing the game since early July. Months ago, it seemed as though it was a foregone conclusion that the two schools would be unbeaten and highly ranked at this point.

Hubbard has held up its end of the deal in dominant fashion. The Eagles (4-0) have thrashed four opponents by a combined score of 191-36. The margin could be much wider if not for the fact that the Eagles have played with a running clock throughout the second half in each of their four games.

Poland (4-0) cruised past its first two opponents, but then was tested in a come-from-behind overtime win against Boardman. Last week, the Bulldogs fell behind Columbus Bishop Watterson 16-0, then stormed back to log a 27-16 victory.

Hubbard is the top-ranked Division III team in the state in the latest Associated Press poll, while Poland is seventh. In the Region 7 computer ratings, the Eagles and Bulldogs are second and fourth, respectively.

Hubbard fans hope to see their Eagles extend a regular-season winning streak which is at 16 games. Hubbard last lost a regular-season game on Oct. 12, 2012 — at Poland.

Ironically, Poland has won 16 of its last 17 regular-season games. Its only loss during that stretch? A Week 8 overtime setback last year at Hubbard which prevented a perfect regular-season record.

Tonight’s game, which will be played in front of a capacity crowd at Dave Pavlansky Field, will go a long way in determining this year’s AAC championship. It will also provide the winner with enough computer points to put them in prime position to earn a home playoff game.

In fact, tonight’s game has been so hyped, it’s been a challenge for both Poland coach Mark Brungard and Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman to keep the contest in its proper perspective.

“There is no denying this is a big game, and it’s one that our kids and community have been looking forward to for a long time,” Brungard said. “This game will have a lot of implications down the road. Yet at the same time we have to remember that it is just one game.

“Regardless of the outcome, both teams will still have five very important opponents left on the schedule. While this is a stand-out game for the fans, you can’t label it do-or-die.”

Hoffman noted that both coaches will be tested next week, regardless of the outcome.

“You can’t allow your team to get too emotionally high if you win or too low if you lose,” he said. “We both have the meat of our schedules ahead of us, so how well we put this one behind us and focus on Week 6 will be a key factor to the rest of our season.”

Still, Hoffman acknowledges that tonight’s matchup “is what high school football is all about.” He knows that there is no denying the buzz created by two of the Valley’s top programs.

“This is great for both communities, and for the area in general because it puts a spotlight on our football,” Hoffman said. “But mostly it’s great for the young men who get to be part of a unique atmosphere.”

Poland has won four straight thanks in large part to a balanced attack which features the likes of quarterback Dom Petrony (37-of-58, 598 yards, 6 touchdowns) and the rushing of Marlon Ramirez (382 yards, 5 TDs).

In last week’s win over Watterson, Petrony completed 13 of 18 passes (3 TDs) for 197 yards while Ramirez rushed for a game-high 132 yards.

“Offensively, Poland’s bread and butter is its running game and it’s ability to beat you in the trenches,” Hoffman said. “But they are capable of striking with the big play at any moment. That threat makes them especially dangerous and tough to defend.

“Poland does all the little things right. They are as sound as any team we’ll face this year. And defensively, they are very opportunistic. If you make a mistake, they will capitalize.”

Hubbard, of course, is paced by the one-two punch of running backs Larry Scott (76 carries, 729 yards, 11 TDs) and George Hill (34 carries, 444 yards, 5 TD)s. The two lead a ground attack which is among the best in the state.

Fourteen players have carried the ball this year for the Eagles, and as a team they are averaging 8.4 yards per rush.

“High school football revolves around the running game, and of course Hubbard runs the ball as well as perhaps any team in the state,” Brungard said. “They have great backs and a big offensive line that plays good, sound football. We simply have to limit the big plays. We have to stop the run, and that is a huge challenge.”

Ramirez believes that it will take a balanced, mistake-free game to defeat the Eagles.

“We play as a team, that’s the key to our success,” Ramirez said. “We don’t have that standout play-maker so we all have to work together. We work as a unit and as long as we’re all on the same page, good things happen.

SDLqWe just have to play our game and not make mistakes. If we turn the ball over or things like that, Hubbard will jump on the chance to make us pay for those mistakes.”

While Brungard and Hoffman have spent the week trying to keep their teams on an even keel, players on both sides admit that emotions are running high. Poland senior linebacker and tight end Adam Wollet says he has “painful memories” of the Bulldogs’ lone loss last year — a 30-24 overtime setback at Hubbard. In that game, the Bulldogs scored the final 10 points of regulation, tying the game with a minute left when Petrony (who played the whole second half after starter Jake Wolfe went down with a right thumb injury) lofted a 29-yard TD pass to George Chammas.

But a disastrous overtime possession saw the Bulldogs lose 13 yards on a first-down holding penalty, followed by a loss of 10 yards on a sack. Moments later, Scott went over from two yards out to give Hubbard the win.

“I wouldn’t say this is a revenge game, because that was last year, but at the same time that game is still in the back of our heads,” Wollet said. “We felt like we let one get away and we probably do feel as though we have something to prove.

“Regardless of the situation, this has always been a big rivalry for both schools, so we’re all looking forward to the game.”

Hubbard senior offensive guard and nose guard Matt Jones said he vividly recalls the Eagles’ last regular-season loss two years ago because of the way Poland manhandled his team, 28-6. The Bulldogs’ victory was their sixth straight over the Eagles.

“That left a bad taste in our mouths, because we had just come off a huge win at Niles and the way Poland beat us was pretty deflating,” Jones said. “When we came back and beat them last year, it was a big win for our program. Now we want to start a streak of our own.”

Like his coach, Jones is quick to point out that “one game won’t make or break either team’s season,” but he also acknowledges it’s nearly impossible not to notice the excitement leading up to tonight’s showdown.

“Everywhere you go, people bring it up,” Jones said. “We’re on a roll, and Poland is always one of the top programs in the area, so people want to see what happens. It’s going to be an exciting night.”

Of course, come November there is the chance that this “Game of the Year” could turn into “Game of the Year II.” Regardless of tonight’s outcome, there is the strong possibility that the two teams could face each other as early as the first round of the playoffs.

“That’s the beauty of high school football, there is always another ‘biggest game of the year’ down the road,’” Brungard said.