Neighbors | Submitted.Canfield's Michael Crawford (25) is pictured sprinting through the Struthers defense at the game on Sept. 21. Canfield claimed victory with a score of 34-20.
Neighbors | Submitted.Andrew Seaman (64) led Oliver Kovass (6) around the left end for a touchdown against Struthers on Sept. 21.
The Canfield Village Middle School seventh-grade football team defeated Struthers 34-20 on Sept. 21 in Canfield.
Struthers struck quickly with a 65-yard touchdown run on the games first play for 6-0 lead. Canfield answered on their second possession when Oliver Kovass raced 47 yards on a jet sweep for the score. Quarterback Paolo Papalia hit Toby Smith for the 2 -point conversion to make it 8-6.
Canfield regained possession at the visitors 28 when AJ Wise recovered a Struthers fumble. Michael Crawford made it 14-6 when he burst three yards over left tackle. Struthers answered on their next possession converting a fourth and 5 into a 35-yard touchdown to tie the score at 14. Canfield responded once again when Kovass darted 20 yards to paydirt for a 20-14 Canfield lead at the half.
Canfield took possession to open the second half and drove 65 yards in nine plays behind the hard running of Crawford and Smith. Crawford dashed 21 yards for a Cardinal touchdown to stretch the lead to 26-14. Another Struthers miscue gave the Cardinals possession at midfield. Papalia scored on a quarterback sneak after Smith had rumbled 26 yards to the Wildcats 1. Papalia then found Kovass in the right flat for the conversion and a 34-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Struthers tacked on a late score for the final margin. Kovass led all rushers with 83 yards on six carries, while Crawford finished with 80 yards rushing as the Cardinals piled up more than 200 yards on the ground.
Coach Donadee cited the stellar play of offensive lineman Jake Grdic, Andrew Seaman, Ryan Hively, Ryan Bennet, Wise and Chris DeDonato.