From The Portsmouth Community Common, Wednesday 1 Nov 2000, pg. 6A, 8A, 10A
"STAMM REPORT: PLAYOFF PREVIEW
"NOTE: (Please buy your tickets at each of the respective teams participating. The schools get to keep 20 percent of their pre-sale tickets. The money collected at the gate, the night of the game, will go to the OHSAA.)
"The playoff season this week opens this week with Scioto County having four teams playing.
"Leetonia (7-2) at Notre Dame (10-0) Friday 7:30 p.m.
"The Leetonia Bears from Columbiana County (near Canton) will be making a long road trip to Portsmouth to face the Notre Dame Titans at Spartan Stadium in a Division VI Playoff game. At press time, there was very little information on the Bears. They were defeated by McDonald and Columbia Crestview with victories over Berlin Center, Jackson-Milton, Lisbon David Anderson, Columbiana, Hanover United, Sebring McKinley, East Palestine and Salineville Southern. The Titans, SOC I Champions[,] are making their fifth playoff appearance[] and will be banking on an experienced team (15 seniors). They will try to make[] up for lack of size with an aggressive defense and a very talented group of skilled position players. Nick Rutman, Taylor Newman, Andrew Graf, Brett Pierron and Scott Chatfield have all had big games and the line led by Josh Kielmar has played well. The kicking of Joey Webb has been a big factor in several games also.
"Wheelersburg (5-5) at Minford (7-3) Friday 7:30 p.m.
"Two SOC II teams battle in a Division IV Playoff game at Minford Friday. The Falcons and Pirates have met many times, but never with so much at stake. Earlier this season Minford defeated Wheelersburg 24-14. The Pirates find themselves in a strange position. The Pirates have (along with Ironton) established an outstanding history of excellence. The Pirates returned very few starters from last season, that with a tough schedule (six playoff teams) ended in the result of a .500 record. The Pirates are led by quarterback Andrew Burleson and the backfield of Billy Dever and Lance Davis. The Pirates do have a strong kicker in Dusty Chamberlin. They will be trying to erase the memory of a 45-0 loss to Portsmouth in their last regular season game. The Minford Falcons are Champions of SOC II and had a memorable 2000 season. The Falcons recovered from an 1-2 start with back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Wellston, then overcame a big halftime deficit to defeat Chesapeake and make a strong playoff run with the only loss to Number One Division III team Portsmouth. The Falcons will be making their second playoff appearance with their previous time being in 1985 where the Falcons won two games before falling to Cincinnati C.A.P.E. and its star Carlos Snow (later to play at Ohio State). The Falcons are led by a fine senior running back, Eli Parkes, who went over 1000 yards last week (season) in the win over Valley. But he is not the only Falcon threat. Junior Jeremy Frazie and Sophomore Matt Slone are also scoring threats. The Falcons returned 20 starters from last season with other fine seniors such as Kyle Darby, Andy Malone, Wayne Pace and Kyle Sloas making big plays. The Falcons also possess a strong place-kicker in Junior Nate Frazie and Eli Parkes is also a strong punter. The Falcons captured their first outright SOC Football Title in their history and two victories in the same season over league rival would be very sweet, but the Pirates will not rollover and play dead.
"Also on Friday evening, the Ironton Tigers will host Martins Ferry in Division IV play.
"Jackson (8-2) at Portsmouth (10-0) Saturday 7 p.m.
"The AP State Poll Champion, the Portsmouth Trojans will host playoff action Saturday evening at Spartan Stadium when they host the Jackson Ironmen. The Ironmen started the season at 8-0 but lost their last two games to Logan and Gallipolis (both of those teams qualified for playoff action). In last week's 35-21 loss to Gallipolis, two blocked punt[s] hurt the Ironmen badly. Running back David Swisher rushed for 156 yards on 21 attempts while quarterback Ryan Tipton rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw a scoring pass to Bryn Williams. Jackson will be making their fourth playoff appearance. The Portsmouth Trojans posted their first undefeated regular season (10-0) since 1953. The Trojans now go into the "second season" with a lot of momentum. The win also gave the Trojans a State AP Poll Championship. The Trojans have one of the most potent teams in the area in years. The offensive talents of the backfield led by senior running back Jeremy Hamrick with other talented backfield members being Joseph Parker, Josiah Young, Jeremy Bolden and Zach Harris, seems to be endless. They have talented receivers in D. Jay Carter and Bradley Parker and a very experienced, talented offensive line led by Matt Howbert. The defense has also been incredible this season with five shutouts and talent everywhere. The line led by Zach Harris and Dustin Pendleton, the linebackers led by Jeff Swords and J.B. Williams and the secondary led by Tyler Hammond and one of the state's best defensive backs in Antonio Malone have been extremely stingy. Jason Fleming has been a big factor, particularly on kickoffs. The Trojan defense will face a team that relies on a strong running game and will try to keep the Trojan offense off the field. There is no doubt about the Trojans['] ability. But almost every team taht makes the playoffs have talent. The team that is able to limit mistakes and stay focused each week are the teams taht are successful during playoff season."
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