Struthers vs Canfield

Video

The Canfield Cardinals play against the Struthers Wild Cats.

Team

Canfield

Record	Div.	Conf.
12/1	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Team

Struthers

Record	Div.	Conf.
7/4	Div. IV	All-American Conference White Tier

Cardinals dominate Wildcats on both sides of ball

By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Canfield started fast, dominated in every facet of the game and limited a pair of Struthers standouts in a convincing 45-6 victory Friday night at Canfield Cardinal Stadium.

The Cardinals scored three first-quarter touchdowns — one on defense — and held the Wildcats (2-3) to five first downs and 103 yards for the game.

Coach Mike Pavlansky could not have envisioned a better start to the contest.

SDLqOffensive we scored on our first series and then defensively we get that pick-6 by Mike Rusu, our captain, and that was a great start for our guys,” Pavlansky said.

After forcing the Wildcats to punt in four plays to open the game, the Cardinals offense went right to work as quarterback Jake Cummings and company took advantage of great field position.

Cummings connected with running back C.J. Frost on a swing pass out of the backfield on the first play of the drive and the two traded carries until Cummings broke loose for a 17-yard score with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

The five-play drive preceded another quick score as Jacob Esarco and the Canfield defensive front pressured Musolino at all times.

Rusu returned a punt 29 yards to the Struthers 18-yard line following another three-and-out forced by the Cardinals defense.

Frost and fellow running back Braxton Madison traded touches before Cummings took it himself from one yard out on third-and-goal.

On Struthers’ ensuing possession, Musolino dropped back to pass at his own 35 after running back Regal Reese picked up the Wildcats’ first first down of the game.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback was hit as he threw. Rusu waited from his safety position and snared the overthrown pass at the Canfield 45. He cut back across the field and ran past all pursuers down the right sideline for a highlight-reel touchdown.

“We couldn’t get out of our own way on those first two drives and then it just got out of hand a little bit,” said Struthers coach Curt Kuntz. “It’s one of those games. [Canfield] played extremely well.”

The Cardinals began their fourth drive of the game at midfield and again promptly took advantage of excellent field position. Runs up the middle from Cummings complemented sweeps and counter plays from Frost and Madison.

Cummings — never afraid to lower his shoulder for extra yards behind Canfield’s well-run offensive line — powered ahead for another score with 7:33 left in the first half.

Ryan Teminsky kicked a field goal as time expired to push Canfield ahead 31-0 at the half and the running clock went into effect for the rest of the game.

Kuntz credited Canfield’s offensive line for controlling the line of scrimmage and thus, the clock and tempo, and not allowing Musolino and Reese to beat them.

Pavlansky said: “They are very, very dangerous. I’m proud of the way our kids played tonight.”

Canfield is now 4-1 after uts fourth straight win. Now, neighbor-turned-All-American Conference foe Boardman awaits next week.

“Obviously when you win you gain confidence,” Pavlansky said. “You’re only as good as your last game and being 4-1 isn’t going to help us next week against Boardman.”