By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

CANFIELD

As his 16th season as head coach at Canfield approaches, Mike Pavlansky is well aware that what’s up front matters.

“We’ve got to be able to run the ball to have any success,” said Pavlansky, whose Cardinals have just one starter — Mason Giordano — returning on the offensive line from last year’s 8-2 team that snapped a five-season playoff drought. “It’s a major cause of concern that we have a lack of experience up front with only Mason coming back.

“We’re working hard at that right now and we’ve got a way to go,” Pavlansky said. “Our guys are working and we’re seeing improvement. We’re seeing food competition in practice.”

At the skill positions, Canfield has experience led by senior quarterback Jake Cummings.

“We have a lot of skill position [players] back,” Cummings said. “We [lost] some guys up front who we need to replace, but we have some guys stepping up for that.

Giordano, who also plays defensive tackle, said, “Our defense will be very strong,” citing the return of linebacker Angelo Petracci, lineman Ron Williams, defensive back Paul Breinz and linebacker Jared Clark.

“We’re a very physical team, still working on some technique but we’ll be ready to go in Week 1,” Giordano said.

OFFENSE

Cummings would like to see the Cardinals’ season pick up where the last one left off. In Week 10, Canfield traveled to Poland needing a win against the undefeated Bulldogs to snap its playoff skid. The Cardinal defense, led by linebacker Jacob Escarco, stifled the Bulldogs’ offense for a 7-6 victory.

“It was a great feeling — making the playoffs and beating our rival for the first time in a long time,” Cummings said. “It came down to Week 10 — make or break. If we won that [game] we were in. A loss and we were out. And we won [a share of] the league title.”

Pavlansky said Clark and Breinz will share time at running back and Petracci returns at fullback.

DEFENSE

Because more experience returns on defense, the heat is on that unit.

“Defensively, we’ve got to be solid from the get-go with the schedule that we play,” Pavlansky said. “They’ve got to hold us in the ballgame, that’s all there is to it.

“We’ve got a good core coming back — up front, linebackers and secondary guys coming back providing good leadership.”

Giordano and Williams will anchor the line while Petracci and Clark man outside linebacker. Breinz returns at safety and Paul French at cornerback.

“We’re really balanced there as far as experience,” Pavlansky said.

OUTLOOK

Pavlansky credits last year’s seniors for sparking the team.

“[For a few years,] we got into a mode of ‘hoping not to lose’ rather than go make a play to win,” Pavlansky said. “Last year, those seniors taught us how to go make a play to win.

“It was very evident in the Poland game.”

The Cardinals’ challenge begins early with a rematch with Louisville. Last year, the Leopards won, 40-14.

“Louisville is definitely a very personal game for [us],” Giordano said. “I’ve never beaten Louisville.”

Cummings agreed.

“They took it to us last year and we didn’t forget,” Cummings said. “That’s all we’ve been talking about all summer, we want to get them back.”

As for the All-American Conference Red Tier, Pavlansky said there is no clear favorite.

“Poland is going to be really good, Howland has as much skill as anybody around in our area,” he said.