Team

LaBrae

Record	Div.	Conf.
3/5	Div. V	All-American Conference Blue Tier

Team

Crestview

Record	Div.	Conf.
6/4	Div. V	Independents

Surging LaBrae, injury-plagued Crestview in Division V showdown

By Steve wilaj

swilaj@vindy.com

Boardman

LaBrae is right where it wants to be. More importantly, though, it’s also right how it wants to be heading into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. Division V, Region 15 regional semifinal against Crestview at Boardman’s Spartan Stadium.

“I think we’re peaking at the right time,” Vikings coach John Armeni said. “We’re healthy for the most part and it seems like the kids have gotten better each week here down the stretch.”

Meanwhile, the Rebels (9-2) are also right where they want to be.

“It’s great to be at Week 12,” head coach Paul Cusick said.

However — unlike the Vikings (9-2) — Crestview isn’t exactly hitting on all cylinders entering tonight’s local playoff matchup.

“I think we’re doing all right,” Cusick said. “It’s been tough the second half of the season — we’ve had a bunch of kids out with injuries and stuff — so we’re just trying to get back in sync.”

To understand where each team is right now, consider this.

After starting 6-0, Crestview is 3-2 over its past five games. While the Rebels defeated Burton Berkshire, 56-36, in their opening playoff game last week, they had to overcome a 28-14 deficit. They also lost to Lisbon the week before and had to fight their way to one and three-point wins in the previous two weeks.

As for LaBrae, it dominated Grand Valley, 42-14, last week. After starting the season 1-1, the Vikings have won eight of nine games — with one close loss to Brookfield and mostly convincing victories along the way.

“Crestview has a talented running back and a big strong offensive line, so they like to score a lot of points,” Armeni said. “So they present some matchup problems for us. But we’re gonna do what we do and what we believe we’re good at — that’s run the football and play strong defense.”

Said Cusick: “LaBrae has some really good athletes with big-play capability. So we’re gonna have to be assignment-sound on defense and, offensively, we’re gonna have to take advantage of any opportunities. Hopefully we can get to the second half and see what happens.”

While Crestview may not be at its healthiest, you can’t tell from it’s offense. In putting up 56 points last week, senior running back Zach Hicks rushed for 203 yards and tied a school-record with six touchdowns. Quarterback Spencer DeSalvo also tossed two TDs as the Rebels scored 50-plus points for the second straight week.

However, they also surrendered 55 points to Lisbon two weeks ago, before allowing 36 to Burton Berkshire.

“Our defense needs to put together a full four quarters,” Cusick said. “I think that’s been the problem. We’ve had some breakdowns — whether it’s quarter-by-quarter or a half — so somehow we have to figure out how to get four quarters togethers. If we don’t do that this week, we’ll be in trouble.”

That’s because LaBrae has plenty of playmakers, led by Keevon Harris, who had 365 yards of total offense and four TDs last week. In the Vikings’ past three games, they’ve scored 40-plus points twice.

“I think we are obviously gonna have to score some points and do what we do well — which is run the football with Keevon and put the ball in the hands of our athletes,” Armeni said. “Then, defensively, we have to limit big plays. We can’t let Hicks — he’s really good and gonna get his yards — but we can’t let them get big play after big play.”