D2 State Finals: Anderson vs Louisville

[wadc45]

The Enquirer - Upstart vs. Tradition

On one sideline tonight at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium will be a team that has been waiting a lifetime for this moment. On the other will be a team that hardly could have dreamed of being in this position when the season started.

Anderson, one of the surprise stories of the 2007 football season, will try to take the final step in winning a state title when it meets tradition-rich Louisville at 7 p.m. in the Ohio Division II state championship game.

Continued...

cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland

Louisville vs. Cincinnati Anderson

What, when, where: Division II state final, 7 p.m., Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, One Paul Brown Drive, Massillon. Call 330-830-3901.

Records: Both teams are 12-2.

What to watch: Both teams are in their first title game. Louisville is led by quarterback Neal Seaman. He has completed 186 of 304 passes for 2,348 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 scores.

Tailback Clay Swigert has 7.3 yards per carry, and wide receivers Brandon Mathie and 6-4 Tyler Jones have a combined 93 receptions for 1,292 yards. Center Jon Vanicek and guard Tyler Kwasnicka, both 6-1, 250, lead the blocking. End Matt Schooley (6-3, 225) is Ohio?s Division II co-Defensive Player of the Year. Linebackers Swigert, Marcus Poyser and J.D. Whaley, nose guard Dan Westlake (5-10, 230) and cornerback/kick returners Jon Minster and Bob Swigert excel. Anderson?s ?pistol? offense, partially designed to disguise the direction of running plays, features tailback Elijah Storey (2,069 yards rushing, 23 touchdowns). Quarterback Daniel Rod, also a running threat, can pass (136-of-226, 1,986 yards, 15 touchdowns) to wide receivers John Runk and 6-7 Nick Truesdell (combined 77 receptions, 1,189 yards). Center Nick Schirmann (6-2, 235) and tackle Andrew Norwell (6-6, 255) are top blockers. Nose guard Bob Kuhlenberg (6-1, 205), linebacker Kevin Chapman, cornerback Kyle Nelson and safety Nick Aylward lead the defense.

PD pick: Louisville gives Stark County a title.

The Enquirer - State championship games at a glance

DIVISION II - ANDERSON (12-2) VS. LOUISVILLE (12-2)

WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

WHAT TO WATCH: Anderson makes its first state final in program history after it defeated Ashland 35-20 in Dublin last week.

Senior running back Elijah Storey rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Daniel Rod rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Louisville, located within short driving distance of Massillon in Stark County, is also making its first state final appearance. The Leopards defeated Mayfield 41-13 in a state semifinal last week.

Junior quarterback Neal Seaman has passed for more than 2,400 yards and rushed for more than 1,100 yards, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Senior defensive end Matt Schooley was the Associated Press Division II all-state co-defensive player of the year. Schooley had 12 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss in the regular season. He's had five sacks and seven tackles in the past two playoff games.

BOTTOM LINE: With the way Anderson has played, it would be difficult not to pick the Redskins tonight.

[stowfan]

Nick Truesdell played an unbeliveable game this evening. I'm shocked we don't have a thread anywhere on this young man. He had to have over 150
in total offense in the first half and 2 TD's. I don't know what he did the rest of the year but what a performance this evening.

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by stowfan

Nick Truesdell played an unbeliveable game this evening. I'm shocked we don't have a thread anywhere on this young man. He had to have over 150
in total offense in the first half and 2 TD's. I don't know what he did the rest of the year but what a performance this evening.

I was asking about him in this thread a few weeks ago:

Cincinnati Area HS Football

All I know was I saw some game pictures of him and he looked like a heck of an athlete.

[BuckandRoll]

I was at the game...that kid was unbelievable. Louisville had no answer for him. Louisville double teamed him on 3rd and 10 and they just threw it up for him to go get it.

Congrats to Anderson on a great game.

Louisville's QB (Seaman) should be tough next year. Most of their skill guys will be back. Their reciever Brandon Mathie had a great game too...3 TDs and 11 catches (both finals records).