By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

CANFIELD

With five starters returning on defense and seven on offense, Canfield head football coach Mike Pavlansky says there are a few lineup holes to fill.

But he likes the experience coming back up front, especially on offense where the Cardinals have their most experience.

“I think any football coach will tell you that you go as your offensive line goes,” Pavlansky said. “If they can move people, you’re going to be OK no matter if you’re throwing the ball or running the ball.

“If you can’t, then it’s going to be a struggle.”

Offense

Pavlansky said some positions are still to be decided. At quarterback, senior Kato Kim and junior Jake Cummings are battling to start.

“We’re young at the wideout position, [defensive back] and running back,” Pavlansky said.

Four of the starters on the offensive line — left tackle Matt Minenok, right guard Jaret Bunch, center Jack Pallante and right guard Jacob Esarco — are seniors and two-year letterwinners.

“When you have the experience up front that we have, obviously, we’ve got to rely on those guys early to keep us in the first few ballgames and then expand from there,” Pavlansky said.

Junior Mason Giordano and senior Joe Ferraro are competing to start at right tackle.

Asked if they prefer offense over defense, Esarco and Bunch had trouble deciding.

“I guess I like defense better, but on offense, you get to communicate with the O line and I’m best friends with all the O linemen.” said Easarco, who is 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds. “So that’s a lot of fun, too.”

Defense

Esarco is a linebacker on defense while Bunch is a defensive end.

“It depends on how the game [is going] — I like them both,” said Bunch, who is 6-0, 228 pounds. “If I had to pick, I think I’d pick defense.

“You have more freedom to make mistakes and still get back after it and make a play. On offense, you have to be really precise.”

Bunch said a mistake on offense is disruptive.

“Sometimes that can stop the entire play, whereas defensively, if I make a simple mistake, someone is going to be behind me or beside me to help make up for it.”

The five returning starters on defense include lineman Bunch, Giordano and Andrew Hallof. The others are Esarco and defensive back Tory Williams.

Special teams

Sophomore Ian Kristan and junior Ryan Teminsky are vying to be the kicker.

Outlook

For Esarco and Bunch, progressing to Week 11 would be a fantastic finish. The Cards (5-5 in 2014) haven’t been to the playoffs since 2009.

“That’d be great,” Esarco said. “That’s my goal.”

Bunch said earning an extra game would be “amazing because we haven’t had that close of a run for playoffs [recently]. It would be a disappointment if we didn’t make them.”

It won’t easy. The Cards open at Louisville. Esarco is fired up for it.

“We haven’t beaten them in three years,” Esarco said.

A trip to play archrival Poland closes the season. And Boardman is back on the Canfield schedule for the first time in ages.

“That will be big, going into their brand-new stadium,” Esarco said.

Bunch agreed.

“I’m excited for it,” Bunch said. “They are a bigger team. I know a lot of people in the community are looking forward to it. We don’t know what to expect.”

Hallof also has two letters. The other letterwinners are Ferraro, Giordano, Cummings, Williams, Kim, C.J. Frost, Anthony Mariani, Matt Orr, Steven Quirk, Michael Rusu, Cody Holland, Austin Householder, Teminsky and Ron Williams.