Team

Canfield

Record	Div.	Conf.
11/2	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Team

Poland

Record	Div.	Conf.
6/4	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Canfield defense contains Poland

By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

POLAND

Road tests don’t come much more challenging than playing your arch-rival who happens to be the Mahoning Valley’s lone remaining undefeated team.

With their playoff hopes needing a jolt, Canfield’s defenders delivered on Friday, stunning Poland, 7-6.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Cardinals senior linebacker Jacob Esarco said after limiting the Bulldogs (9-1) to one touchdown. “We had that one little fluke in the red zone when they scored. Other than that, we played lights out.

“This feels great,” said Esarco who made a big stop on Poland’s final possession, holding Anthony Calcagni to a 3-yard reception with an open-field tackle. “We set goals at the beginning of the year and we met every single one.”

The goals included winning the All-American Conference Red Tier, beating Poland and making the playoffs. The victory means Canfield (8-2) should qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

“It’s a great feeling, I’m so happy for our seniors,” Canfield head coach Mike Pavlansky said. “The work they’ve put in, they’ve stayed with the program through some real difficult times.

“To be able to play in Week 11 with those guys is going to be special.”

In this week’s computer playoff ratings for Division III Region 7, Poland was second and Canfield ninth.

“We’re in, not sure we’ll be hosting,” said Poland head coach Mark Brungard whose Bulldogs were striving for the school’s first undefeated regular season since 1999. “That was our goal so we’re disappointed if we can’t do that.”

Poland went 10-0 was in 1999 when it became Ohio’s first 15-0 team in winning the Division III state title.

The Bulldogs started strong, driving to the Canfield 31 where Colt McFadden’s 48-yard field goal try went to the left.

The Cardinals responded with a drive that covered 79 yards and maybe 9 inches. Paul Breinz’s 26-yard run to the Poland 9 set up first-and-goal. On third-and-2, Breinz was stopped inches from the goal line. On the next play, the Bulldogs stuffed quarterback Jake Cummings.

The Cardinals’ defense took charge, forcing a punt four plays later. On the next play, Cummings hit wide receiver Michael Rusu running down the left sideline for a 41-yard touchdown.

“I had a step behind [the defender].” Rusu said. “He bit on my fake and then I was just busting my butt into the end zone. Perfect pass by Jake.”

Ryan Teminsky kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Poland responded with a 76-yard scoring march capped by Dylan Garver’s 19-yard touchdown run. But McFadden’s extra-point kick missed, preserving Canfield’s lead.

“They are a playoff team,” Brungard said. “Both teams are.”

In the third quarter, two long runs by Garver, including a 71-yard score, were negated by holding calls.

“We got behind the chains on too many drives, and had a big one called back,” Brungard said. “For most of the season, we’ve played pretty clean. Tonight we didn’t.”

Poland persisted to the end. With 2:58 remaining, the Bulldogs took over on their 9 and drove into Canfield territory. On third down, Rusu knocked down Cole Kosco’s pass and the quarterback was injured. Nick Buccieri threw the final incomplete pass.

Kosco passed for 131 yards and Garver ran for 101.

Cummings led the Cards with 80 yards rushing.