Chagrin Falls vs. Kettering Archbishop Alter preview

Courtesy of OHSAA, December 03, 2009 4:07 p.m.

Chagrin Falls

Head Coach: Mark Iammarino
Nickname: Tigers
2009 Record: 14-0
2009 Seed: 1
Wins in 2009 Tournament:
Semifinal: 5 Ottawa-Glandorf (20-14)
Regional: 6 Peninsula Woodridge (58-25), 5 Cortland Lakeview (36-14), 8 Campbell Memorial (41-13)
State Championships: None
State Final Appearance: 1st
All Time Tournament Record: 8-6

Kettering Archbishop Alter

Head Coach: Ed Domsitz
Nickname: Knights
2009 Record: 14-0
2009 Seed: 2
Wins in 2009 Tournament:
Semifinal: 5 Coshocton (31-6)
Regional: 1 Clarksville Clinton-Massie (32-7), 6 Carlisle (41-0), 7 Plain City Jonathan Alder (42-0)
State Championships: 2008
State Final Appearance: 3rd
All Time Tournament Record: 26-13

Kettering Archbishop Alter will try to defend its state championship and complete an undefeated season in the Div. IV title game against another 14-0 team in Chagrin Falls. Archbishop Alter bested Steubenville 21-6 last year for its first state championship and has cruised to the state final game in 2009, winning its 14 games by an average of 28 points.

Making its first state title game appearance, Chagrin Falls enters the game after a thrilling 20-14 victory over Ottawa-Glandorf in the state semifinals. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown with under four minutes remaining, the Tigers’ defense held Ottawa-Glandorf out of the endzone after the Titans drove to the Chagrin Falls 19-yard line.

Chagrin Falls brings an experienced team to Canton with 18 of its 22 starters being seniors. The Tigers rely on a balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback Chris Trinetti, senior running back Chris Gorman and junior receiver Marc Geraci. The southpaw Trinetti has thrown for 22 touchdowns, 11 of them to Geraci, and ran for another 13, while Gorman has gained over 1,700 yards on the ground.

Archbishop Alter uses its big offensive line to primarily move the ball on the ground with junior quarterback Zane Pitzer, and running backs Cody Taulbee, Justin Winters and Nolan Wilson. The Knights make it tough on opposing offenses as well as they only allow 6.7 points a game and have recorded five shutouts during the season.