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For some, playoff run starts tonight

Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer Seniors Jake Henry of Leetonia and Jason Thompson of Lisbon lead their teams into tonight’s Spaghetti Bowl at War Memorial Stadium. The teams have played every year since 1940.

For both Columbiana and Wellsville, playoff football starts with today’s game at Firestone Park.

The Clippers (5-3, 1-1 Inter Tri County League White Division) and the Tigers (4-4, 1-1) find themselves in must-win situations if they hope to make the playoffs.

Columbiana is currently clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in Division VI, Region 21. Smithville and Dalton lurk right behind the Clippers. Both teams still have a game with 6-2 Hillsdale (currently seventh in Div. VI, Region 21) left on their schedule. Drew Pasteur’s “Fantastic 50” website currently lists the Clippers as having a 24 percent chance of making the playoffs.

“There’s no getting around it, we have to go out and win these last two and see where things fall,” Columbiana coach Bob Spaite said. “The players are upbeat and embracing the challenge.”

After back-to-back blowout wins over Leetonia and United, the Tigers are still alive in Division VII, Region 25. Wellsville is currently 13th and needs to win out and get some help in order to advance.

“I’ve been telling our kids that our playoffs start right now,” Wellsville coach Derrick Spann said. “Confidence will be the biggest key to us going up there and trying to get a win this week.”

The Clippers could enter tonight’s game at less than full strength as it remains to be seen if quarterback Mitch Davidson will play after suffering a hip pointer in last week’s loss to Lisbon.

“Mitch is day-to-day,” Spaite said. “We’re going to have to see how he feels on Friday.”

Freshman quarterback Jakob Cross showed potential last week against Lisbon and has been taking the majority of the first-team reps this week according to Spaite.

“We have a lot of confidence in Jakob,” Spaite said. “Our jayvee team runs the same offense as the varsity, so he’s pretty much up to speed.”

Should Davidson be unable to go, the Clippers figure to lean heavily on running back Tanner Pearl, who has run for 726 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

“Tanner has been everything we’ve hoped for this season,” Spaite said. “He’s a smaller back, but he runs as if he’s 6-2, 250.”

“Pearl’s a terrific back and they have a very good offensive line,” Spann said. “Whether or not Davidson plays, they are still a very good football team.”

Springfield at Crestview

The Tigers (6-2, 2-0 ITCL Red Division) look to lock up a share of the conference title and remain in position for a home payoff game when they visit Crestview (3-5, 1-2).

Springfield is currently number two in the rough Division VI, Region 21, while the Rebels are all but eliminated in Division V, Region 17.

“We’ve talked about the conference title and playoff situation as a team,” Springfield coach Sean Guerriero said. “It’s a goal that the kids set for themselves. They’ve put in a tremendous amount of work to get to this point.

Springfield has won five in a row after starting 1-2, while the Rebels have lost five out of their last six and are coming off a 49-0 demolition at the hands of South Range. Crestview has given up 49 points in each of its last two games. In Guerriero’s eyes, though, the Rebels are still a dangerous team despite their struggles this season.

“We aren’t taking them lightly just because of their record,” Guerriero said. “We’re preparing for them the same way we have every year since I’ve been here. “They’re huge up front and can move the ball. They’re still a very well-coached team.”

Leetonia at Lisbon

The Blue Devils (7-1, 3-0 ITCL White) can claim the ITCL White Division all to themselves with a win against Leetona (1-7, 0-2).

“Our focus has been good this week,” Lisbon coach Jim Tsilimos said. “It’s been pretty much business as usual. The kids are excited to try and go out and win the title outright.”

While the matchup is lopsided on paper, Tsilimos said he has been impressed by progress he’s seen in Leetonia’s program this season.

“They’ve shown improvement this season, they are starting to get some leadership there,” Tsilimos said. “Last week against Southern they were down 24-6 in the third quarter and responded very quickly to make it a three-point game. That’s shows me that they have a no-quit attitude.”

South Range at Indian Creek

The Raiders (7-1) will get a test before the playoffs start in two weeks when they go up against Indian Creek (7-1) in a rare late-season non-conference game. This is the first ever meeting between the two schools according to South Range coach Dan Yeagley.

“Southern opted out of their ITCL crossover game against us, and Indian Creek had Harrison Central opt out on them,” Yeagley said. “Both of us were looking for a one-year contract, so it was the perfect opportunity. It will be nice to play up a division and test ourselves against another good team. They are 7-1 for a reason.”

Should the Raiders win, they would solidify their position atop Division V, Region 17, they are almost assured of a home playoff game no matter what happens the rest of the season. That playoff game could potentially be the last for the Raiders at the old South Range High School. Yeagley said a loan for bleachers and lights at the field across the street from their current high school recently went through.

“Construction is supposed to start this winter,” Yeagley said. “If everything goes according to plan, we should be playing there next year.”

United at East Palestine

The Bulldogs (5-3, 1-1 ITCL Red) are currently ninth in Division V, Region 17 and need to win their remaining two games against United (2-6, 0-2) and South Range to have a chance of making it to week 11 for the second straight season.

The Eagles are trying to get back on track after four straight lopsided losses.

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