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Print | E-mail to a friend HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS


Wayne hosting Ravenswood

November 21, 2009 @ 12:00 AM

WAYNE -- Wayne and Ravenswood are a pair of teams that have seen much success this decade in Class AA football.

Ironically enough, they have never met on the field in the postseason.

That is, until Saturday. Top-ranked Wayne hosts No. 8 Ravenswood in the Class AA quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. at Pioneer Field.

"I guess the way they've won games in the past and made the playoffs, I guess it was inevitable that we'd meet at some point," Wayne coach Tom Harmon said.

When the teams collide, there will be a definite contrast of styles.

Wayne's ground-oriented attack will be matched up with a Red Devils' squad that likes to spread a defense out and use its speed to make plays in open space.

"Our focus has to be on playing good defense in space because they like to spread you out and run it," Harmon said. "They are the type of team in which mistakes or missed assignments end up being touchdowns."

For Wayne, the key will be nothing new in the playbook. It will simply be what has gotten Wayne to the playoffs in each of the last 11 seasons -- running the football and controlling the line of scrimmage.

"We know that first downs produce touchdowns and it has a secondary effect of breaking a team's will," Harmon said. "Sometimes even if you don't score, when they get the ball back, they don't have as much energy."

Wayne's seniors will be playing in the 52nd game of their careers. As freshmen, they won the 2006 state championship and followed it up with appearances in the state semifinals in both 2007 and 2008.

Their record to date is 46-5, and they've been in several big ball games throughout their careers. To be frank, they've seen the big game and have performed well in the big game.

"Our seniors have been fortunate to play a lot of football the last four years," Harmon said. "The added games on the end of regular seasons make our seniors into fifth-year guys. You expect them to perform like it."

While the players are seasoned, Harmon said that those around the community and even media have expectations that his team will be in the thick of the championship hunt each season.

Harmon said it is great to have expectations, but he is quick to caution that making the playoffs each year is special and should be celebrated by everyone in the community and not taken lightly.

"Each day can be your last, so you want to make the most of your opportunities," Harmon said. "Football games late in the year are when you get noticed.

"One thing about being alive this time of year, it's nice to provide our followers not only with a chance to have something to get behind and the opportunity to see a football game, but also the chance to read about them.

"We hope everyone takes advantage of the opportunity."

WEST VIRGINIA PLAYOFFS

CLASS AAA

Saturday

Ripley at Brooke, 1:30 p.m.

George Washington at Bridgeport, 1:30 p.m.

CLASS AA

Saturday

Ravenswood at Wayne, 1:30 p.m.

Keyser at Magnolia, 1:30 p.m.

CLASS A

Saturday

Wirt County at Richwood, 7:30 p.m.

OHIO PLAYOFFS

DIVISION IV

Saturday

At Nelsonville-York Boston Field

Coshocton vs. Ironton, 7 p.m.

Action during Wayne's victorious game Saturday in the first round of the West Virginia Class AA football playoffs against Oak Glen at Wayne High School.

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