Ohio playoffs march on
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STEUBENVILLE -- Many hands do indeed make for light work. In the case of preparing Leo Buffone Field for its first career varsity football game, however, many hands were needed for some heavy work.
"So many people were involved in helping us get the field ready," Catholic Central Athletic Director Vince Oliver said. "Our booster club just presented itself and asked how it could help, how it could serve the school and our athletes.
"People like Dave Ialenti, our booster president, Joey Lamantia, Chris Maragos, his father Theodore and guys from days gone by stepped forward. Dave and Joey spent a ton of hours helping, doing whatever needed to be done. People just came together to do what they could for our kids."
All that hard work culminated on Saturday when the Crusaders hosted Bridgeport for an afternoon football game. Fans gathered in the bleachers, on the hillside or inside of tents to watch the action and enjoy a 31-8 Central victory.
"I thought Saturday went very well," Oliver said. "It felt like home. From our perspective, we have a facility that is absolutely perfect as a venue for football or soccer. We decided to take a stab at getting it ready for a varsity football game.
"We played a Jamboree game there last year, and it went well. But, that was a glorified scrimmage, so we wanted to try the real thing. It was a major undertaking. Many hands made for -- I will not say light work -- a great couple of days with some absolutely great Crusader supporters. The outcome of all the hard work surely did show on Saturday."
In the course of those couple of days Oliver mentioned, a new roof was placed on the concession stand, a scoreboard was put in place and tents were erected for the visiting team, coaches and the media.
"Dave (Ialenti) and Scott Bloomer of Scott's Contracting and Concrete tore off the roof and put a new one on in a day," said Oliver, who spent the summer along with his son maintaining the grass on Buffone Field. "The new scoreboard came compliments of Indian Creek, which had discarded it. They provided the scoreboard and the controller. James White Construction from Weirton was generous enough to haul the scoreboard from Indian Creek to our complete. Greg Antione did the electrical work we needed.
"We put the board in place on Thursday, did the wiring and had it working. Ed Rice of Signs Limited showed his generosity by providing lettering for the board. I put the letters on late Thursday."
Central will return to action at Buffone Field, located inside the Michael Carapellotti Crusader Sports Complex, Saturday against Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans. The opening kick is set for 4 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled 1 p.m.
"There still is a lot of work to do before now and next season if our intent is to continue playing on Buffone Field," Oliver said. "I am certainly not saying this is our permanent home, but I would like for us to play some more games there in the future. We'll see what next year holds for us.
"We need additional bleachers, we need locker rooms, we need to upgrade concession and restroom facilities. Those are things connected with high dollars. That is an area where we would need the generosity of our alumni, friends of the program, friends of the high school and friends in the community.
"The support we have received from people all around our community and other communities has been amazing. These are people who just want to help kids and see them excel. We absolutely deeply appreciate all the support we have received. Right now, things are working out well."
BIG NUMBERS
Big offensive numbers by teams and individuals were commonplace in the week that was in high school football.
≤ Madonna put 63 on the board in its homecoming rout of Hundred (the final was 63-0), the third straight victory for the Blue Dons (4-2). Nine different players found the end zone for coach Dan Rovira's club. Santino Arlia completed 7 of his 9 passing attempts for 95 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas Sessi carried the ball just two times, gaining 62 yards and scoring on a 51-yard run.
≤ Oak Glen scored early and often in rolling to a 61-21 victory over Brooke. The win was the first for the Golden Bears against the Bruins since 1970 and was the first meeting between the rivals in 30 years. Senior quarterback Nick Chaney continued his efficient ways, connecting on 11 of his 17 attempts for 216 yards and three 6-pointers. Hunter Patterson caught five balls for 140 yards and a couple of scores. Oak Glen, West Virginia's fourth-ranked Class AA club, now is 4-1. Through five games, Chaney has completed 72 percent of his passing attempts.
≤ Big Red advanced to the second round of the Division III, Region 9 playoffs with a 43-6 thumping of Youngstown East. Steubenville's offense has posted 41 points in back-to-back weeks (the defense delivered a safety against East to account for the other points). Cade Kernahan threw for 166 yards and two scores, as Big Red improved to 4-2. Brenton Jones hauled in four Kernahan aerials for 114 yards and the touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Gavin Bozica made the most of his playing time, running for 96 and a touchdown, which came on a 68-yard scamper. Big Red's rushing attack compiled 325 yards. Interestingly enough, both teams ran 52 plays -- Big Red finishing with 504 yards, while East got just 139.
≤ Catholic Central cracked the victory column for the first time with its 31-8 triumph against Bridgeport. The 31 points were the most posted by the Crusaders this season. Ryan Gorman ran for one score and hit Vince Carapellotti for another. Gorman finished with 77 rushing yards and 99 passing yards. Carapellotti had five catches for 46 and traveled 80 yards with a pass interception.
≤ Toronto moved forward in the Division VII, Region 27 playoffs by eliminating Tuscarawas Central Catholic, 26-12. Senior running back Garrett Dozier had a huge game for the Red Knights. He toted the pigskin 20 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Dozier went 69 yards for the game's first score. He continues to be the rushing leader in the Herald Star/Daily Times coverage area and also leads in the touchdown category with 14.
ON TO ROUND 2
≤ Harrison Central will enter the Division V, Region 17 playoffs Saturday when the Huskies go on the road to test 6-0 Canfield South Range. Coach Anthony Hayes' club advanced to the second round for the first time in school history.
The Huskies did so after Rootstown was unable to play the scheduled playoff opener because of a COVID-19 case within the football program.
South Range is seeded third in the region and was ranked third in the final Ohio AP regular season Division V poll. Harrison Central is the 15th seed.
≤ Big Red will welcome Dover to Harding Stadium Friday for the second time this season in the Region 9 "Sweet 16." Steubenville pinned a 28-7 loss on the Tornadoes in Week 2 action. Dover advanced by dominating Tallmadge, 63-21.
In that win, T.C. Molk, Dover's junior backup quarterback, tied a school record with seven touchdown passes, and senior Nathan Ravine caught five of them to also tie a school mark. For Dover (3-4), the playoff win was its first since 2012.
Molk was playing in place of junior starter Ayden Hall. He and junior wide receiver Matthew Dummermuth were quarantined after being in a class with a fellow student, who was diagnosed with COVID-19. Both are eligible to return the day of the Round 2 contest.
≤ Toronto will hit the road Friday for a date with Howard East Knox, the second seed in Region 27. The Bulldogs are 5-1 and were ranked 13th in the AP Division VII poll.
Fans of the three teams need to remember all playoff tickets are sold online through www.OHSAA.org/tickets. Tickets will be available starting today.
≤ Indian Creek, Edison and Buckeye Local were eliminated from postseason action with losses on Saturday.
TOP STATS
Running wild
183, Garrett Dozier, Toronto, 3 touchdowns
96, Gavin Bozica, Big Red, touchdown
Gunslingers
216, Nick Chaney, Oak Glen, 11 of 17, 3 scores
166, Cade Kernahan, Big Red, 9 of 14, 2 scores
128, Anthony DiMatteis, Weir High, 8 of 23, score
119, Josh Shorts, Brooke, 6 of 15, score
100, Caleb Leasure, Toronto, 7 of 15
Hands team
6, Brian Palmer Jr., Buckeye Local, 67
5, Hunter Patterson, Oak Glen, 140, 2 touchdowns
5, Vince Carapellotti, Catholic Central, 46, touchdown
4, Brenton Jones, Big Red, 114, 2 touchdowns
4, Carson Yobaggy, Weir High, 101
4, Braelyn Sperringer, Brooke, 39