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Four valley football teams head into playoffs
(by Tony Lange - November 03, 2010)
Four valley football teams head into playoffs
By TONY LANGE
The Ohio High School Athletic Association has 715 football-playing schools this year. There are six divisions determined by student enrollment. Each division has approximately 120 schools in it and 32 schools from each advance to the state playoffs.
There are four regions in each division. Eight teams from each region advance to playoffs.
DIVISION I, REGION 1
Saturday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Brecksville-Broadview Hts. (7-3)
at No. 1 Solon (10-0)
After back-to-back perfect regular seasons, the Comets are regional favorites this year and look to make another playoff run.
Until their most recent win over Strongsville, the Comets were No. 2 in the computer rankings behind Cleveland Glenville, which beat Solon in a regional final last season. Those two teams are favored to meet in a regional final again this year.
The No. 1 seed is nice but it doesn't mean all that much, Solon head coach Jim McQuaide said.
"We're proud to be 10-0 and earn the No. 1 seed, but that's all out the window now because we got to go to practice to beat a very good Brecksville team," McQuaide said.
"We always say we want to win our league and earn that No. 1 seed and go undefeated. So we've done that. Now everything's brand new. Everyone's in the same boat with a great region. I don't think anybody in the region would say, let's play that other team. Every team is very good."
McQuaide wasn't sure when the last time Solon matched up with Brecksville, but he thinks it was in the 1980s, he said.
"They're a 5-2 defense. Their linebackers are always moving around," he said. "They're in the playoffs, so they're a very good team and we have a lot of work to get ready to play them."
The Bees won their last two games to secure the eighth seed.
The teams have one common opponent this season -- Medina. Brecksville lost 42-14, while Solon beat Medina, 36-6.
TONY'S TAKE: The Comets will win by a touchdown.
DIVISION II, REGION 5
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Kenston (8-2)
at No. 2 Mentor Lake Catholic (9-1)
After a 34-14 loss to Kent Roosevelt to start the season, the Kenston Bombers had little room for mistake during the remainder of the season. Besides a 27-26 overtime loss to crosstown rival Chagrin Falls, the Bombers prevailed.
Kenston capped off the regular season with a 21-14 overtime win to knock off West Geauga in week nine and a 20-13 upset over Aurora last Friday to advance to the playoffs.
The only other loss Aurora experienced this season was a 14-7 defeat to Division I Twinsburg, which also made it to the playoffs this year.
The Bombers, who were 2-8 two years ago, have not advanced to the postseason since 2000.
Head coach Roger Vasey is proud of his players who stuck with the team since their sophomore year, he said.
"I think they did take their lumps as sophomores and they remained committed to the program and worked tremendously hard," Vasey said. "I think Aurora was a weight-room victory for us. We always tell our kids to stay the course and they've done that, so it's just fantastic to see them rewarded for their efforts."
The Bombers play in Mentor against favored Lake Catholic on Friday. The only loss the Cougars experienced this season was to a 10-0 Youngstown Ursuline team, which is favored to win the Division V state championship. Ursuline defeated the Cougars, 14-10.
Lake Catholic did defeat Cleveland St. Ignatius, 28-21. Other than that, the Cougars have dominated all their opponents this season.
TONY'S TAKE: The Bombers will upset the Cougars by a touchdown.
DIVISION III, REGION 9
Saturday, 7 p.m.
No. 8 University School (7-3)
at No. 1 Parma Padua (7-3)
With a 42-0 win over Jefferson last Saturday, the Preppers squeezed into the last playoff spot of the region. It is the Preppers' first playoff appearance since 2005.
"They're very excited they're in," head coach Jim Stephens said of his players.
"The pressure was on to get in and now everything loosens up," he said. "They'll work very hard and they'll be self-motivated. It's just a fantastic thing to be playing in November."
On Saturday, they will be playing in Parma against the Padua Bruins, who are the regional favorite.
The Bruins lost to Division I Strongsville, 28-14, but had a key victory over a Division II Madison team that went 7-3.
The Preppers had a 34-24 victory over Division I Shaker Heights. They also experienced a 56-7 blowout at the hands of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, which is ranked one spot ahead of them in Region 9.
Padua is even bigger than the Fighting Irish, Stephens said, but the Preppers will stick to their game plan, he said.
"Now is not the time to change," Stephens said. "Now is the time to make them feel confident. Were not going to change anything. Were just very pleased we made it. A lot of good teams don't make it."
TONY'S TAKE: Padua will win by a touchdown.
DIVISION IV, REGION 13
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Garrettsville Garfield (8-2)
at No. 2 Chagrin Falls (9-1)
After advancing to the state final last season, the Tigers know the formula for success in the postseason. As they've done all year, they will use that same formula in this year's playoffs, starting at home against Garfield, head coach Mark Iammarino said.
"I think we have a good mesh of guys with experience from last year, and some new younger guys," Iammarino said. "We talk about when you get in the playoffs, there is a sense of urgency in that you're only guaranteed one game. So, each week is a one-game season, and it's exciting because usually you get to prepare for a team that you haven't played before."
The Tigers defeated Division II opponents West Geauga, 28-0, and Kenston, 27-26 in overtime this season. The Tigers' only loss was 25-14 to Aurora in a game they were leading during the fourth quarter.
Although the Tigers are ranked No. 2 in the region, they are not necessarily a favorite over the Garfield G-Men, whose only two losses are by five points to Cardinal Middlefield and three points to Mogadore. The computer rankings do not take margin of victory into consideration, but only wins and losses.
There is always a sense of finality, Iammarino said.
"There's no saving anything for the following week. You got to play each game like its a championship game," Iammarino said. "It's going to be a great challenge for us and I'm just happy were home. Thats always fun."
TONY'S TAKE: The Tigers will defeat the G-Men by a touchdown.
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