Morning Journal • Football Preview 2012 • Thursday, August 23, 2012 • 25B
2012 STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FIRST ROUND Friday, November 2 7 p.m. Division II, IV, VI Saturday, November 3 7:30 p.m. Division I, III, V ——— REGIONAL SEMIFINALS Friday, November 9 7 p.m. Division II, IV, VI Saturday, November 10 7:30 p.m. Division I, III, V ——— REGIONAL FINALS Friday, November 16 7 p.m. Division II, IV, VI Saturday, November 17 7:30 p.m. Division I, III, V ———
STATE SEMIFINALS Friday, November 23 7 p.m. Division II, IV, VI Saturday, November 24 7:30 p.m. Division I, III, V ——— STATE FINALS Friday, November 30 Division VI 11 a.m. at Massillon Division IV 3 p.m. at Canton Division II 7 p.m. at Massillon ——— STATE FINALS Saturday, December 1 Division III 11 a.m. at Canton Division V 3 p.m. at Massillon Division I 7 p.m. at Canton
MINERVA, Continued from Page 16B
an area-high 182 points; Jake Riley 90 points; Kyle Crum (graduated) 46 points. Tackles — Scott Boyce (graduated) 102; Zach Wade (graduated) 95; Mitch Soles 93; Jake Riley 85; Anthony Cobedesh 72. Interceptions — Zach Wade (graduated) 7; Tyler Klimko (graduated) 4.
2012 Outlook
The confidence is building as Minerva is coming off the winningest season in school history. The Lions won 11 games, including their first playoff victory, and wore the Northeastern Buckeye Conference crown. “We are very excited about our football team,” Soles said. “Our kids have been working very hard and they are very coachable. Staying healthy will be the key for us this year.”
The numbers are up at Minerva, but not the experience. The Lions feature 13 seniors, 11 juniors and 17 sophomores, but return only two starters from the high-powered offense. “Depth is probably our biggest weakness on either side of the ball this year,” Soles said. “We have some very good kids and they are working extremely hards for us and getting after it, but we need to stay healthy. Inexperience is also a weakness that we need to overcome early in the season.” The Lions have won 11 games in a row at home and 16 of their last 21 games in the NBC. “The NBC is a great football league, and it will continue to produce great football teams,” Soles said. “Every team in our league plays very good solid football, and they are capable of beating any of the other teams in our league.”