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Strong running gives Royals chance to win, clinch playoff spot
By Nate Ulrich Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
The state playoffs don't start until next week, but the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy football team already has been forced into survival mode.
CVCA is one of several area teams that must win in Week 10 to guarantee a spot in the postseason. The Royals are ranked eighth in computer points in Division IV, Region 13. Seven other teams in the same region have clinched playoff spots, and the top eight teams in each region advance to the postseason.
CVCA (8-1, 4-1) will visit rival Manchester (5-4, 2-3) in a PAC-7 game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. CVCA defeated Manchester 20-0 last season, but the Panthers are 5-1 in the all-time series.
''We're just going to focus on Week 10 just like we would any other year,'' CVCA coach Ray Carroscia said. ''It's the Manchester game. They've been the dominant team in the league for so many years.''
Manchester is mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but Carroscia said the Panthers will have plenty of motivation to spoil the Royals' bid for a third consecutive playoff appearance.
''Last year, we were both sitting at eight and nine in our region, and we ended up winning,'' Carroscia said. ''We made the playoffs, and they didn't.''
CVCA will rely on its strong running game to carry it into the postseason. Junior tailback John Pettigrew has carried 185 times for 1,665 yards and 16 touchdowns. Senior fullback Jared Kusar has carried 157 times for 781 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Kusar is also the team's leading tackler as an inside linebacker in the Royals' 3-5 defense. Other key members of CVCA's defense are senior defensive lineman Adam Potelicki, junior linebackers Zac Butler and Stephen Hudson, and freshman linebacker Alex Utley.
Wayne County war
A playoff berth and a share of the Wayne County Athletic League title will be on the line when Hillsdale visits Northwestern at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Hillsdale, eighth in Division V, Region 18, is seeking its first trip to the postseason. Northwestern, which sits ninth in Division V, Region 17, must win to ensure its third consecutive playoff appearance.
Hillsdale (8-1, 5-1) and Northwestern (8-1, 5-1) also enter Week 10 in a three-way tie for first place in the WCAL standings with Waynedale. If Waynedale (7-2, 5-1) defeats Chippewa (1-8, 1-5), it will share the WCAL title with either Hillsdale or Northwestern.
''It already has been a great season for us,'' Hillsdale coach Tom Williams said. ''The school had never won more than seven games in a season, so we've already done that. We even exceeded our own expectations.''
Williams said his team is considered a surprise because the Falcons have only four senior starters.
The Falcons are led by running back/free safety Clay Nelson, junior two-way lineman Josh Stoner, senior middle linebacker Trent Kimball, who leads the team with 113 tackles, and junior outside linebackers Nate Rogers and Drew Kamenik.
Williams said junior running back Zeb Hawley, Hillsdale's leading rusher with 793 yards and 13 touchdowns, is questionable for Week 10 with an ankle injury.
The defending WCAL champion Huskies are hoping their experience will give them an advantage over the Falcons.
''I definitely think it's going to be a playoff-like atmosphere, and the experience we have can't hurt,'' Northwestern coach Mike Thut said. ''Our kids are really excited for the opportunity to win back-to-back league titles. It's never happened at Northwestern before, and they'd like to be the first in our school's history to do it.''
Senior linebacker Matt Redick leads the Huskies with 113 tackles, and senior cornerback Shawn Sheridan has a team-high 10 interceptions. Northwestern's defense has allowed only 6.7 points a game.
Senior running back Travis Morris has rushed for 943 yards and 12 touchdowns to fuel Northwestern's offense.
Other bubble teams
Dalton, another WCAL team, is fighting to make the playoffs.
The Bulldogs (5-4, 4-2) are eighth in Division VI, Region 21, and visit Norwayne (6-3, 3-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Dalton made the playoffs five consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2005 but did not qualify last year.
''This is a big game for us,'' Dalton coach Bob Ramsay said. ''We want to maintain second place in the league and have a chance to make the playoffs after missing out last year. Making the playoffs is a big deal for our school and our community.''
Stow, which is eighth in Division I, Region 2, is looking to make its first playoff appearance since 1995. The Bulldogs (7-2, 2-2) will host the Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers (1-8, 1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a Northeast Ohio Conference River Division game.
''All of the scenarios begin with winning Friday night,'' Stow coach Marty Tinkler said. ''If we don't accomplish that, nothing else matters. We are aware of those scenarios, and I hope it motivates us even more.
''Twelve years is a long time, and I hope we can fix that.''
Lake, ninth in Division II, Region 7, must win to have a shot at making the playoffs for the second consecutive year and the fifth time in six seasons.
The Blue Streaks (6-3) visit Dresden Tri-Valley (9-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
''We think the odds are pretty good if we can win that we will get in,'' Lake coach Jeff Durbin said. ''I do believe it has all the markings of a playoff game already. It's 90 miles away, it's a team we've never played and it's a good football team.''
Tri-Valley quarterback Cameron West has accounted for nearly 3,000 yards of total offense for a team that has outscored opponents 428-40.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nateulrich2007@yahoo.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/.
The state playoffs don't start until next week, but the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy football team already has been forced into survival mode.
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