By Spencer Waugh
Logan Daily News

CANAL WINCHESTER — Survive and advance.

That’s the attitude Canal Winchester (8-2) brings into the school’s fifth playoff appearance, which starts on Friday at Logan Chieftain Stadium.

The Indians are making their third consecutive playoff appearance, which coincides with the hiring of Phil Mauro as head coach in 2007.
Mauro has a career record of 154-77 and is 27-6 over his three seasons at Canal. The Indians advanced to the second round of the Division III playoffs in 2007 and lost to Chillicothe in the first round last fall. This is the Indians’ first year in Division II.

The Indians finished as runners-up to state power Amanda-Clearcreek (10-0) in the Mid-State League Buckeye Division, but have won four straight games since losing to the Aces 7-0.

Canal Winchester has wins over Bexley (43-0), DIV playoff qualifier Jonathan Alder (49-14), Circleville (38-13), Fairfield Union (27-10), Bloom-Carroll (30-0), Hamilton Township (43-0), DIII playoff qualifier Logan Elm (23-20), and Teays Valley (41-10). The Indians’ other loss came to Westerville Central (17-13).

Offensively, Canal Winchester operates out of a spread formation and has been amazingly balanced all season. Quarterback Justin Whitlatch (6-1, 185, senior) is the trigger man and can use his legs along with his arms. The three-year starter has completed 77 of 130 passes for 1,165 yards and 13 touchdown passes.

Tyler Thompson (5-9, 160, senior) is a versatile athlete who will line up as a receiver but also runs the ball out of the backfield. The speedy senior has four rushing touchdowns and three touchdown receptions.

Running back Michael Mainella (5-10, 180, senior) is Canal’s top offensive weapon. The senior bulldozer has 17 total touchdowns — 16 of those coming on the ground — and has run for 1,211 yards on 150 carries, an 8.07 yards per carry average.

In addition to Thompson, Cody Ferguson (6-1, 160, junior), Courtland Williams (6-0, 210, junior), and Tyler Shryock (5-11, 175, senior) are top receiving targets. Ferguson leads the Indians with four touchdown catches.

Daniel Bailey (6-2, 175, senior) and Zack Hitchens (6-2, 230, senior) will see time at tight end.

Up front, the Fairfield Countians average over 248 pounds per man from tackle to tackle, led by center Michael Young (6-1, 245, senior) and tackles Ben O’Bryant (6-3, 265, junior) and Russell Ellis (6-3, 302, senior). The guards are Ryan Toledo (5-10, 215, junior) and Brandon Hayman (5-10, 215, senior).

Canal Winchester will play a two-platoon system, meaning that no one starts on both sides of the football. Defensively, the Indians will line up in a 3-4 defensive front and are allowing only nine points per game. No one has scored more than 17 points in a single game against the Indians, who have recorded three shutouts.

Outside linebackers Hitchens, a Division I prospect, and Ryan Rose (6-0, 185, senior) lead the Indians defense. They are joined by inside linebackers Alex Krigbaum (6-1, 215, senior) and Ian Nelson (5-10, 168, senior). Bailey adds depth to the linebacking corps.

Up front, Sedarrian Booth (6-2, 256, senior) is the nose guard with Chris Wilkinson (5-11, 185, senior) at tackle and Jordan Bellomy (5-11, 180, senior) at end. Dujshon Stevens (5-9, 235, senior) adds depth on the defensive line.

In the back-end of the CW defense, Drew Black (5-10, 185, junior) and Nathaniel Adkins (5-10, 170, senior) are safeties who have the ability to stop the run at the line of scrimmage and cover receivers in the secondary. Conrad Rosch (5-6, 160, senior) and Sam Jones (6-0, 170, junior) are the cornerbacks.

Thompson is an outstanding return man on special teams. Shryock is a three-year kicker who has converted field goals of 41 and 33 yards this season, and Black will handle the punting duties.

Spencer Waugh of loganfootball.com offers his scouting report of the Chiefs’ opponent every week in The Logan Daily News.