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Tigers advance for rematch with Woodridge
(by Steve Novak - November 18, 2009)
Tigers advance for rematch with Woodridge
By STEVE NOVAK
In addition to remaining undefeated this season, Chagrin Falls has advanced farther up the playoff ladder than last year's team.
With a 36-14 win over Cortland Lakeview last Saturday, the Tigers advance to the Division IV regional finals. Last year, Chagrin Falls bowed out of playoff action in the second round.
The Tigers' (12-0) opponent in the regional final this Saturday night will be a familiar one. Chagrin Falls will play Penninsula Woodridge, a team the Tigers defeated in week three of the regular season. The game is scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. at Twinsburg's Tiger Stadium.
On Sept. 11, Chagrin Falls defeated Woodridge in a nonconference game, 32-26. Since then, Woodridge lost only one game, 34-32 to Rootstown in week eight.
Woodridge averaged 43 points per game during the last seven games. The Bulldogs present a multiple-threat offense in the air and on the ground. During postseason play, Woodridge defeated Martins Ferry (7-2) and handed second-seeded Girard (11-1) its first loss.
"They (Woodridge) are very similar to us, in having a triumvirate of offensive threats," Chagrin Falls head coach Mark Iammarino said. "They have a quarterback who is very good. They have a good wide receiver. They have a very capable running back."
Iammarino said he and his coaching staff want to design a game plan against Woodridge which will put all of the Tigers' offensive skills into play.
"There's going to have to be a balanced offensive attack, and we hope to keep their offense off the field," he said. "We are playing a very good football team. At this time of the season, there's going to be no quit in any of the teams."
In the Lakeview game last weekend, Chagrin Falls concentrated on its passing attack and it paid off huge dividends. Quarterback Chris Trinetti threw for a season high 333 yards. He connected on 21-of-33 passes and had five touchdown passes.
"We knew that they (Woodridge) had a good defense against the run," Iammarino said. "So, our goal was to use our speed on the perimeters, using the pass. We found stuff that was working for us, and used it to our advantage."
Trinetti, a senior, threw three touchdown passes to Marc Geraci and two to Pat Nadeau. The longest of these was a 36-yard strike to Nadeau in the first quarter. Trinetti also rushed for 87 yards in 12 carries.
The Tigers had a 22-7 lead at halftime. Chris Gorman converted on three point-after-touchdown kicks. Cam Turner converted one extra-point kick and Trinetti was successful on a two-point conversion after the first touchdown.
Iammarino said the recent history of Chagrin Falls being in a regional final game dates back to 1987. That year, the Tigers lost a regional game to eventual Division IV state runner-up Hawken and O.J. McDuffie, who went on to play in the National Football League.
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