Poland overwhelms East Liverpool
Trending
POLAND -- Poland is hitting its stride at the ideal time of year.
Coming into the playoffs, the Bulldogs had won four straight games and nine of 10 total games this season. They were also 3-0 in one-score games.
On Friday, Poland showed why it's had success this season as it defeated East Liverpool 42-14 in the first round of the Division IV, Region 13 playoffs.
"Our guys work hard. They work hard to survive and get better," Poland coach Tom Pavlansky said. "It's really rewarding to see our kids work really hard every single day. Football matters to them. They care about each other. And I can't say enough about our seniors. Our underclassmen have followed them and here we are in Week 12."
The Bulldogs' offense was a well-lubricated, efficient machine as it averaged 7.8 yards per play against the Potters, jumping out a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Poland racked up 336 total yards, despite having pulled most of their offensive starters early in the third quarter.
All night long, Poland moved the ball at will, picking up chunk play after chunk play. Quarterback Dom Pagano was 9-for-10 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half with the first one coming as he connected with Vito Komara on a post route downfield for a 57-yard strike. He added a touchdown on the ground, as well.
However, Cole Fulton and Danny Nittoli did most of the damage on the ground for the Bulldogs. Each of them had a rushing touchdown and Fulton led the way with 94 yards on seven carries.
"Up front, we're young and it showed tonight," East Liverpool coach Paul Cusick said. "We got to Week 11, now we have to understand what it takes to get there and get over that hump."
For three quarters, Poland's defensive starters pitched a shutout. After they came out of the game with the result well in hand, the Potters were able to start moving the ball.
East Liverpool scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, as Gavin Wright connected with Blake Adkins and Dorian Burchett, the latter of which came on a 51-yard touchdown pass as time expired in regulation.
In the end, Poland's defense limited the Potters to just 167 total yards, including just 34 rushing yards. Komara forced a fumble, which the Bulldogs recovered, and intercepted Wright.
Wright was 9-of-18 passing and Jaymin Haney ran for 23 yards on 10 carries.
"Defensively, our guys have played hard all year," Pavlansky said. "(East Liverpool) runs the football well. We've been assignment-sound for the most part, and when you put those things together, you're going to be able to make some plays and hold guys down. In the first half and through the first series of the second half, our defense played lights out. It's no surprise since they've had a great week of practice and our defensive coaches have done a heck of a job."
East Liverpool ends its season at 6-5 in Cusick's first season leading the program. He joined the Potters in January after winning 178 games in 24 years at Crestview.
"I think we took a lot of steps forward," Cusick said. "We had some rough patches, but the kids kept playing hard for us and we made a lot of growth. We just gotta keep moving forward. We gotta have a great offseason."
Poland will host Struthers next Friday for the second time in three weeks. Struthers, which defeated Girard 21-16 on Friday, lost the regular-season finale at Poland, 28-27, in overtime.
"We're excited about Week 12 -- any team would be excited to be playing in Week 12," Pavlansky said. "That's a privilege. We know when you play in Week 12, the other team across the field is going to be a really good, really well-coached team. We gotta have a great week (of practice) to have a chance."