Playoff Preview
(7-3)
VS
Hopewell-Loudon Chieftains
(10-0)
@Hopewell-Loudon
Chieftain Stadium
(8-2)
VS
Mogadore Wildcats
(9-1)
@ Mogadore Stadium
"Obviously they're a very good program, they're in the playoffs every year, state champions, they have a lot of tradition up there," Altomare would remark about the Wildcats. He would go on, "They are a good solid team, they got a good offensive line, a good defensive line, they tackle well, they have all the fundamentals." Altomare would talk about this Wildcat team in a little more in depth, "Nobody is a super star, they have like four backs, they give them all the ball."
"The ball is out of his hands 70% of the time in less than two seconds. It's very hard to get pressure on him. He's so accurate because you can't get any pressure on him, he's seven yards deep. And all the routes are timing routes," Spaite continued.
Clipper fans will see the Chieftains in the shotgun 90% of the time with Brown under center primarily when they run the ball. However, don't be totally focused on Brown because Aaron Kapelka (5'8, 175) (#34) has over 1,000 yards on the season with 14 touchdowns. "He hits the hole real hard, four or five base runs, but they run them extremely efficiently," explained Spaite. "They get you so much because you got to have so many guys in coverage. You know it just opens things up," he added.
Some other players Clipper fans should watch out for are receiver/defensive back Andrew Brickner (5'10, 175) (#11), receiver/defensive back Jay Yost (5'11, 170) (#8), and offensive/defensive lineman Ian Kuhn (5'10, 210). Brickner has 50 receptions on the season for 727 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Yost has 38 receptions for 730 yards and 8 touchdowns. Yost also handles the punting duties for the team.
In fact, the Chieftains will use three Brickners as Matt Brickner (#45) is the second leading rusher with 403 yards on the season while also returning kickoffs. The third Brickner is Heath (#81), who is a receiver on the offense.
Miles Chapman (#10) is another receiver in the Chieftains attack. He has 36 receptions for 294 yards and 2 touchdowns. While Justin Hohman (#83)also adds another 18 receptions on the season.
“We have very high standards and through hard work we hope to continue our success of the past,” Chieftains head coach Brian Colatruglio recently said.
Defensively the Chieftains will line-up in a 4-4 scheme, as they won the Midland Conference championship.
The key to the Clippers winning is keeping Brown and company off the field. "Keep him on the sidelines, if possessions are equal, then we're in trouble," Spaite confirmed.
The Wildcats are coached by Matt Adorni as they won a share of the Portage Trail (County) League Championship with a 6-1 league record. This season marks the third league title in a row for the program.
Of course all ITCL fans are familiar with the athletic abilities of the Bears senior QB Josh Selway. He has amassed 1,382 yards on the season rushing with 18 touchdowns, along with passing for 609 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Bears will also rely on the services of running back/receiver Andrew Trummer who has now rushed for 316 yards as a replacement for starting fullback A.J. Bailey. Trummer also has 14 receptions on the season for 253 yards.
The Bears will also count on running back Kyle Gray, 117 yards rushing, and receiver Justin Colella with 8 receptions for 229 yards and 5 touchdowns. But ultimately, it will come down to Selway being able to find some running room for the Bears to be successful.
"Defensively we have got to stop the run. They're a running team, and they come right at you. So you got to stop the run, and make them earn they're scores. We can't give up any big plays," Altomare revealed. "Offensively we need to sustain drives, and we would like to find out what they give us, what's open," he added.
Results:
Elmwood (6-4) W 42-7
Lakota (5-5) W 34-14
Gibsonburg (5-5) W 28-14
Mohawk (4-6) W 42-14
St Joseph Central Catholic (5-5) W 55-9
Seneca East (5-5) W 28-7
Carey (9-1) W 28-0
Calvert (5-5) W 24-13
North Baltimore (2-8) W 69-14
St Wendelin (4-6) W 42-12
Offense: 39.2 pts. per game
Defense: 10.4 pts. per game
Results:
Catholic Central (3-7) W 27-13
Leetonia (8-2) L 6-19
Struthers (2-8) W 14-7
Crestview (9-1) W 42-36 2 ot
United (6-4) W 14-3
Springfield (5-5) L 24-27
Mineral Ridge (3-7) W 14-0
Lisbon (0-10) W 57-6
South Range (8-2) L 30-34
East Palestine (4-6) W 39-13
Offense: 26.7 pts. per game
Defense: 15.8 pts. per game
Results:
Lisbon (0-10) W 34-14
Columbiana (7-3) W 19-6
Mathews (6-4) W 28-17
Sebring (0-10) W 41-21
Southern (7-3) W 32-26
Wellsville (7-3) L 6-21
Lowellville (2-8) W 20-6
Western Reserve (8-2) W 40-34
McDonald (10-0) L 13-21
Jackson-Milton (3-7) W 20-14
Offense: 25.3 pts. per game
Defense: 20.1 pts. per game
Results:
Mineral Ridge (3-7) W 27-7
Holy Trinity Catholic (ON) (4-3) W 52-31
Norton (2-8) W 35-28
Rootstown (1-9) W 35-7
Garfield (7-3) W 34-6
Woodridge (5-5) W 40-21
Streetsboro (7-3) W 38-35
Windham (1-8) W 35-6
Waterloo (1-9) W 35-6
East Canton (7-3) L 14-20
Offense: 34.5 pts. per game
Defense: 16.7 pts. per game