WEEK 11: Margaretta hosts PC in all-area matchup by JOSHUA MORGRET joshuamorgret@sanduskyregister.com There's only one all-area matchup when the OHSAA state football playoffs begin Friday. That one takes place at the Duck Pond in Castalia in Division V Region 18. No. 11 Port Clinton (8-2) makes the short trip to take on No. 6 Margaretta (7-3) with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The winner travels to No. 3 Eastwood (9-1) in Week 12. "We need to play a full four quarters of football and be disciplined about our assignments and responsibilities," Port Clinton coach Kevin Huntley said. "If we can find ways to create turnovers and have extra possessions, we can create additional scoring chances while keeping their offense off of the field." For the Redskins, Landon Leis is 69 of 112 passing for 835 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Beckett Mizener has rushed 107 times for 527 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had 21 carries for 172 yards and four touchdowns in the Redskins' comeback win over Sandusky last week. Margaretta is led by quarterback Robbie LaCourse, who has completed 96 of 159 passes for 1,338 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games. Carter Luzader leads the ground game with 192 carries for 1,024 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kale Bailey has a team-high 35 catches for 665 yards and five touchdowns. "In every game, there are critical moments that can swing a game," Margaretta coach Lucas Poggiali said. "Sometimes it happens more frequently than others and they can have bigger impacts. Ultimately, I think it will come down to which team can make more of those game-winning critical plays throughout the game." Margaretta hosting playoff game for 2nd straight year by JOSHUA MORGRET joshuamorgret@sanduskyregister.com Margaretta wanted to enter the playoffs on a positive note. The Polar Bears dropped tough league games to Woodmore (Week 8) and Gibsonburg (Week 9), but bounced back in a big way against Ottawa Hills. No. 6 Margaretta (7-3) hopes to carry that momentum into its home playoff game against No. 11 Port Clinton (8-2) in Division V Region 18 action Friday. "We knew we needed a win to get a home playoff game, but more than that, we knew we needed to put together a complete performance," said Polar Bears coach Lucas Poggiali of the 44-7 win in Week 10. "We did that in all three phases. It certainly helped to have Tyson (Bailey) and Robbie (LaCourse) back, but I loved our collective effort from the entire team. "Those were tough losses and I think that Week 10 showed our guys that we are still right where we need to be for the second season." LaCourse has been steady at quarterback for Margaretta, but missed the game at Gibsonburg. In nine games, he has completed 96 of 159 passes for 1,338 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Bailey has played in just four games, but has compiled 50 rushes for 291 yards and four touchdowns. Carter Luzader leads the ground game with 192 carries for 1,024 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kale Bailey has a team-high 35 catches for 665 yards and five touchdowns. All four are impactful seniors for Margaretta. "I'm really proud of our senior class," Poggiali said. "I knew that we could lean on these guys as football players because of all of the experience we had bringing back. They lived up to that expectation and then some. But what took us over the edge this season was their leadership. "They practice hard, they play hard and they play for each other. It's been a really fun and special season." Luzader also has 26 receptions for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Margaretta is averaging 27.9 points and 324.4 yards per game. "It's been fun utilizing the playmakers we have in the offense this year," Poggiali said. "We've really only had Tyson for 10 full quarters this season. They all bring something different to the table. Robbie has done a nice job distributing the football and taking care of it as well. "I learned early on in this profession that you have to focus on your players, then your formations and then the plays. We take that approach when we game plan each week. How can we utilize them and their skill sets and keep the defense guessing?" Port Clinton won its first six games of the season, but has gone 2-2 in the last four weeks. The Redskins are putting up 33.1 points a night while giving up 16.6 points per contest. "Port Clinton has athletic kids at the skill positions and big offensive linemen that like to push people around," Poggiali said. "I think they do a great job in the run game mixing up scheme and also putting different defenders in conflict. We will have to be assignment sound and pursue to the football at a high level. "Defensively, I think they play incredibly hard. Their linebacker unit does a great job of making plays in the run game." Date Opponent W/L Score 8/21 Mohawk W 30-20 8/28 Western Reserve L 7-26 9/4 Brookside W 58-48 9/11 Huron W 26-7 9/18 St. Thomas Aquinas W 41-6 9/25 Lakota W 7-0 10/2 Northwood W 45-14 10/9 Woodmore L 13-39 10/16 Gibsonburg L 8-12 10/23 Ottawa Hills W 44-7 No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 1 Lucas Greenawald WR/DB 5-9 150 10 2 Troy Pooch WR/DB 5-11 170 11 3 Trace Wilson RB/DB 5-8 155 12 4 Brayden Ballard WR/DB 5-6 115 10 5 Tyson Bailey WR/DB 6-2 205 12 6 Vincent Barnett WR/DB 5-6 140 10 7 Caleb Reedy RB/LB 5-10 165 10 8 Kale Bailey WR/DB 6-4 180 12 9 Kallon Kingsborough WR/DB 5-10 150 9 10 Gavin Grahl QB/LB 6-0 175 10 11 Nolan Siesel WR/DB 5-3 100 9 12 Robbie LaCourse QB/DB 5-11 165 12 13 Mason Kromer TE/LB 6-1 210 12 14 Judah Hudgel QB/LB 5-7 155 9 15 Mason Antunez WR/DB 5-10 155 11 17 Carter Luzader WR/DB 6-0 180 12 18 Brandon Belak WR/DB 5-10 140 9 19 Colton Adams WR/DB 5-10 135 9 20 Antonio Ramon-Quintero WR/DB 5-6 140 11 21 Kobe Limberios RB/LB 5-8 165 9 22 Lucas Downs RB/LB 5-6 155 10 24 Chance Tucker RB/LB 5-3 170 9 25 Jaxon Shearn RB/DB 5-8 165 12 28 Kainen Dodd RB/DB 5-8 140 10 32 Westin White WR/DB 5-7 130 9 33 Mason Reinbolt WR/DB 5-11 165 12 39 Braydyn Cook RB/LB 5-9 170 9 43 Jace Berg RB/LB 5-11 225 11 50 Kaleb Weyer OL/DL 5-10 175 10 51 Logan King OL/DL 5-7 165 9 52 Kolton Edwards OL/DL 5-11 205 12 53 Landon Weyer OL/DL 6-1 250 12 54 Shelton Stuckey OL/DL 5-8 200 9 55 Tyler Johnson OL/DL 6-0 175 12 57 Roman Weiner OL/DL 5-8 170 9 60 Brantley Meisler OL/DL 5-11 185 9 61 Tyler Wiedenheft OL/DL 5-7 175 9 63 Auden Lehrer OL/DL 6-0 170 10 65 Camden Hineline OL/DL 6-1 230 12 67 Gavin LaMarca OL/DL 5-10 250 11 70 Ashton Bramel OL/DL 5-11 180 9 71 Kolton Miller OL/DL 5-11 255 9 72 Connor Williams OL/DL 5-8 170 10 73 Max Alkire OL/DL 5-9 235 9 74 Weston Conrad OL/DL 5-8 215 10 76 Rocky Hemmer OL/DL 5-7 185 9 77 Brendyn Huber OL/DL 5-11 240 11 78 Scottie Macek OL/DL 6-3 255 11 83 Landen Bettis TE/LB 5-10 165 10 88 Lane Hula TE/LB 5-11 165 9