Margaretta hosts first playoff game since 2002 By JOSHUA MORGRET joshuamorgret@sanduskyregister.com Margaretta hasn't played a home playoff football game at the Duck Pond since 2002. That night, the Polar Bears beat Columbia en route to a regional final appearance. Top-seeded Margaretta (9-1) hopes to get that path started Friday when it hosts ninth-seeded Carey (7-4) at 7 p.m. in a Division VI regional quarterfinal. The winner faces either No. 4 Paulding (10-0) or No. 5 Sherwood Fairview (10-1). "We will need to move the chains on offense and not give up the big plays on defense," Margaretta coach Gary Quisno said. "We have to win the field position battle with our special teams. And of course, eliminate turnovers." After that 2002 season, Margaretta didn't make the playoffs until 2020, when COVID-19 struck and all teams in Ohio were invited to the playoffs. The Polar Bears are making their fourth straight appearance under Quisno. Margaretta clinched the outright Sandusky Bay Conference River Division title in Week 10, defeating Gibsonburg 9-6. The Polar Bears trailed 6-0 in the fourth quarter after mistakes nearly cost the Polar Bears. "We are glad we are playing at home as we should again have great support from the community," Quisno said. "We have to eliminate the turnovers and negative plays we suffered in Week 10 against Gibsonburg." Carey lost All-Ohio running back Eli Steen to a knee injury in a 30-7 Week 1 loss to Hopewell-Loudon. The Blue Devils started the season 0-3, losing to teams that enter Week 12 with a combined record of 27-3. After the rough start, Carey won its next five games before a 29-28 overtime home loss to Mohawk. The Blue Devils bounced back to defeat Bucyrus before eliminating Patrick Henry (16-7) on the road in the first round of the playoffs. "We really came out ready to hustle, hit and never quit," said Carey coach Jonathan Mershman of the win over PH. "Margaretta's team speed on defense and up front stands out." The Polar Bears are led by their ground game. Judah Keller, who was named River Division Most Outstanding Performer earlier this week, leads the way with 116 rushes for 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jake Bouy adds 64 carries for 430 yards and 11 touchdowns while Tyson Bailey has 46 attempts for 328 yards. Carter Luzader has scored five touchdowns on the ground. Mershman said playing a team coming off a bye won't have an effect on his team. "We have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball," Mershman said. "I really just preach that we worry about us, because I have no control over what they did." As a team, Carey has racked up 476 carries for 2,787 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground. Mace Puckett tops the Blue Devils with 196 rushes for 1,153 yards and eight touchdowns while Dash Puckett has 95 carries for 822 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tripp Phoenix has completed 37 of 74 passes for 617 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Carey won the Division VI state championship under Mershman in 2021. "Carey is a playoff-experienced program," Quisno said. "They are a physical team running the ball and very stingy on defense."