Posted by CatTales
on 10/22/2009, 5:35 pm, in reply to "This Week in ECOL Football"
76.181.223.1
By Roger Metzger
The Times-Reporter
The Game of the Year in the East Central Ohio League to date is just two days away. State-ranked Dover travels to state-ranked Coshocton in a high school football contest with a lot on the line.
The Tornadoes (4-0, 7-1) and Redskins (3-1, 7-1) will hook up at Stewart Field with ECOL title and playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Dover could win the ECOL outright with wins over Coshocton and New Philadelphia next week. The Tornadoes are currently ranked No. 7 in Division III of the latest high school football poll and are in the No. 4 playoff position in Region 11.
Coshocton could earn a share of the ECOL crown with a win over Dover and having the Tornadoes knock off the Quakers next week.
The Redskins are ranked No. 11 in the Division IV poll and are lodged into the No. 3 playoff spot in Region 15.
Both Dover coach Dan Ifft and Coshocton coach Marty Arganbright are expecting a high-intensity contest.
“We’re preparing to face a good Coshocton offense,” said Ifft. “Our defense is going to face a stiff challenge by a good team that runs the Wing-T as good as anybody around.”
“They’re a playoff team and its going to be at their house so there are a lot of things to overcome,” said Ifft. “It just gets tougher.”
“It’s a big game for them and a big game for us,” added Ifft.
Arganbright agreed.
“There are league implications and home playoff implications on the line,” said Arganbright. “It’s a huge game for both teams.”
“We have to play sound defense against the run and the pass,” added Arganbright. “They can run and pass equally as well and it makes it difficult for us to prepare for.”
Dover is coming off a 63-6 win over Meadowbrook last week as Marcus Mamarella only played the first half, but still threw four touchdown passes and ran for another. Mamarella finished 8-of-14 for 270 yards passing. He also had eight carries for 55 yards.
“Mamarella’s big and strong and runs and passes extremely well,” noted Arganbright. “He’s a major threat not only by running, but passing the ball. We have to have guys step up and make plays on both sides of the football.”
Derek Swinderman came in the second half and went 8-of-12 for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
Colton Zahner had seven catches for 175 yards and two scores for the Tornadoes. Ricky Maz had three catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns and Ian Drapcho had three catches for 65 yards and a score.
Meanwhile, Coshocton recorded a lopsided 54-0 win at Claymont to tune-up for the Tornadoes. Marcus Johnston rushed for 230 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the way.
Johnston’s running mate, Dom McCluskey, also had a scoring run and quarterback Logan Huebner threw a scoring pass.
“They have two of the four best runners in the conference,” said Ifft. “The wing-T offense is deceptive so you have to be ready to play.”
Recent history is in the side of the Tornadoes, who have won six straight and 12 of 14 during Ifft’s tenure at Dover.
Dover posted a 53-14 win over Coshocton at Crater Stadium in 2008.
What we allow, we encourage.
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