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Top teams to chase state title this weekend. It's uncertain if hurt Twinsburg QB will play
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Thursday, Nov 06, 2008
The 2008 state football playoffs kicked off last week with 26 area teams scattered throughout six divisions.
One week later, 13 of those teams remain in the state championship hunt after winning a regional quarterfinal game.
Here are notes for the regional semifinal games Friday and Saturday:
DIVISION I
Twinsburg vs. North Canton Hoover at Fawcett Stadium in Canton
• Twinsburg (9-2) recorded its second playoff win in school history by defeating Amherst Steele 20-11. The Tigers' other playoff win came in 1994.
• Tigers coach Mark Solis said the status of senior quarterback Cory Eden is uncertain for the game. Eden suffered a right shoulder injury in the first quarter last week. He has passed for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns, and rushed for 992 yards and 11 touchdowns. Junior Andrew Collier filled in and threw two touchdown passes against Amherst.
• Tigers senior Matt DeMore and junior Matt Fechko lead an offense line that blocks for junior tailback Dion Johnson. Seniors Frank Orteca and Kevin Miller and juniors Joe Kerrigan and Brandon Bucknell lead the defense.
• Hoover (10-1) won its ninth game in a row last week by defeating Massillon 14-7. The Vikings had lost in the playoff to the Tigers in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
• Vikings junior Erick Howard rushed for more than 200 yards for the second consecutive game. He leads the team with 1,995 rushing yards on 324 carries, and has 2,626 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns.
Brunswick vs. GlenOak at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon
• Brunswick (10-1) beat Nordonia for the second time this season last week.
• Running back Brit Musal and quarterback Ricky Manco are the Blue Devils' primary weapons out of the spread offense. Musal has rushed for 992 yards on 156 carries and has scored 20 touchdowns.
• GlenOak (9-2) defeated Canton McKinley 14-7 last week, avenging a loss to the Bulldogs in Week 6. The win was Golden Eagles second-year coach Scott Garcia's first in the playoffs.
• The Golden Eagles rely on the rushing of DeWuan Spencer, Drew Ayers, Andrew Garman, Eric Osborne and Collin Daniels-Mitchell. Anchoring the defense are Garman, Aaron Williams, Joe Monnot and Spyro Spondyl.
DIVISION II
Archbishop Hoban vs. Mayfield at Stewart Field in Solon
• Hoban (7-4) beat Warren Howland 21-10 last week.
• Seniors Laymon Carter III and Dominic Williams are the Knights' top rushers and senior quarterback Josh Masters is a threat with the pass and run.
• Seniors Brian Slack, a Miami University recruit, and Rahsheed Moore lead Hoban's defense with freshman Greg McMullen.
• Mayfield (10-1) features a strong defense that has recorded six shutouts. Seniors Josh Gordon, Mike Pinto and Cody Hayes lead the Wildcats' defense. Junior running back Tim Wetzel is their top offensive threat.
Tallmadge vs. Lake County Madison at Bearcat Stadium in Bedford
• Tallmadge (8-3) beat host Parma Padua Franciscan 30-17 last week. Senior Tyler Fortner rushed for 263 yards on 40 carries and three touchdowns and now owns the school career rushing record at 2,309 yards.
• Andrew Roy and Nick Thompson are key defenders for Tallmadge.
• Madison is 8-3 after a 35-0 win last week over previously undefeated East Cleveland Shaw. Running back Jordan Sandidge and defenders Frank Wrobleski and Steven Isabella lead the Blue Streaks.
Highland vs. Powell Olentangy Liberty at Ashland Community Stadium
• Highland (10-1) rebounded from its lone loss with a 35-23 win over Avon Lake.
• Seniors Chris Snook (1,637 yards) and Tyler Houska (116 tackles) are pivotal to the Hornets on both sides of the ball. Snook, a West Virginia recruit, is the team's leading rusher and Houska is the top tackler. Tyler Phillips, Jerrod Serafin and Ben Brown are also key defenders.
• Liberty (8-3) beat the region's top-seed, Toledo Central Catholic, 34-7 last week. Allen Eggleston, Cameron Whitner, Clay Lust and Zach Michael lead the Patriots.
Louisville vs. Logan at John D. Sulsberger Memorial Stadium in Zanesville
• Louisville (11-0) remained the only undefeated team in the Akron Beacon Journal's five-county coverage area with a 60-24 win over Columbus Independence.
• The Leopards, Division II state runners-up a season ago, feature an explosive offense. Senior quarterback Neal Seaman (2,083 passing yards, 18 touchdowns), senior tailback Dane Mathie (993 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns) and senior Brandon Mathie (737 receiving yards, seven touchdowns) are key players.
• Corey Whaley, Bryan Kuhn, Jon Minster and Bob Swigert are Louisville's defensive leaders.
• Logan (11-0) has a capable defense that might be able to contain Louisville. Chieftains junior quarterback Patrick Angle (2,302 yards, 25 touchdowns), senior Clay Morgan and junior Mason Keys are playmakers to watch.
DIVISION III
Walsh Jesuit vs. Chagrin Falls at Stewart Field in Solon
• Walsh (8-2) edged a feisty Field team 24-21 last week with a Matt Bennett field goal providing the winning points.
• The Warriors feature a consistent rushing attack with seniors Kyle Snyder and Armand Dehaney (Ball State recruit) and junior Cameron Ontko behind senior offensive linemen Pat McShane (Indiana) and Brian Smith (Northwestern).
• Chagrin Falls is 8-3. Sean Kuenzig, Chris Gorman and Chris Tirnetti are the Tigers' primary playmakers.
Aurora vs. Hubbard at Mollenkopf Stadium in Warren
• Aurora (9-2) defeated Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 30-14 last week. Seniors Brendan Gallagher, Dee Brizzolara and Steven Yung lead the Greenmen offense, and seniors Charley Haney, Brendan Connolly and Danny Meyers pace the defense.
• Andre Givens, Matt Shelton and Tommy Jackson lead Hubbard (9-2).
Canton South vs. Dover at Canton Central Catholic
• The Tornadoes have won 10 games in a row since South beat host Dover 26-17 in the season opener.
• South (8-3) relies heavily on senior quarterback-kicker Matt Trissel. Justin Keith, Jordan Ryba, Ryan Jialanella, Montel Bush and Jerald Robinson are other Wildcats to watch.
• Corey Lisowski, Marcus Mamarella and Cory Matlick lead Dover.
DIVISION IV
Tuslaw vs. Lake County Perry at Tiger Stadium in Twinsburg
• Tuslaw (10-1) defeated Leavittsburg LaBrae 28-0 last week. Senior quarterback Shelby Combs is a threat as a passer and runner. Senior Graydon Feichter is a receiving target.
• Seniors Grant Conzen, Dan Marthey, Kim Parr and Jake Kobilarcsik lead the Mustangs' defense.
• Perry (10-1) is led by running back Mike Hanhauser, who had four touchdowns in a 41-7 win over Triway last week.
DIVISION VI
Mogadore vs. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon at Madison Ram Field in Mansfield
• Mogadore (10-1) beat Leetonia 30-14 last week. Sophomore running backs Kodey Chance, Mike Leymon and Jake McAvinew have been consistent all season for the Wildcats. Chance has gained 1,196 yards on 151 carries and scored 13 touchdowns. Leymon and McAvinew have accounted for 10 touchdowns each.
• Wildcats senior Chad White and junior Landon Trainer have been a steady pass-and-catch combination. Chance, McAvinew and junior Zach Glagola lead the defense.
• Hopewell-Loudon (11-0) was the Division VI state runner-up last season and scores a lot of points. Senior quarterback Tyler Brown passed for 2,214 yards and 28 touchdowns in the regular season. Andrew Brickner and Jay Yost are his top receivers. Aaron Kapelka is their top tailback. The Chieftains have been in the playoffs seven years in a row.
The 2008 state football playoffs kicked off last week with 26 area teams scattered throughout six divisions.
Get the full article here.
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