Margaretta, searching for a postseason win, hosts Carey

Margaretta earned a first-round playoff bye with the top seed in Region 22 this year and enters Friday's game seeking something that has eluded it for more than two decades — a postseason win. The last one of those came Nov. 9, 2002, in a 21-14 victory against Delphos Jefferson in the second round of the Division V playoffs.Since then, the Polar Bears missed the playoffs from 2003-19, lost in the first round of the 2020 COVID season, missed the postseason in 2021, and fell in the first round in each of the past three years.Standing in the way of a postseason win this year is Carey, a team which stormed back from an 0-3 start and knocked off Patrick Henry in a defensive battle in last week's playoff opener."It builds a little bit of confidence. Patrick Henry's a really good team. We were just fortunate … to find a couple cracks here and there and get those scores," Carey coach Jonathon Mershman said. "It was a well-fought game on both sides and we were just fortunate to come out on a winning end."While the opponent is different this week, Mershman said the formula for success remains constant."It's the same old story for us. We have to focus on our front seven on offense and defense — stopping the run, and being able to run the ball," he said. "They have different advantages, with a little bit different (look) than Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry had some size, they have a little bit more speed up front."It's just going to be a little bit different attack and a little bit different approach, but we're still looking to do some of the same stuff, in the aspect of we've got to be able to run the ball and we've got to be able to stop the run, and then build from there," Mershman said.Judah Keller sparks the ground game with 1,027 yards and 15 TDs, while quarterback Jake Bouy has thrown for 973 yards and nine touchdowns while running for 430 yards and 11 more scores.Tyson Bailey (328 yards, 1 TD), Zack Bouy (214 yards, 1 TD) and Carter Luzader (168 yards, 5 TDs) flesh out the ground attack.Kale Bailey tops the receivers with 20 catches, 408 yards and four TDs. Zack Bouy (11-208, 2 TDs), Tyson Bailey (8-114, 1 TD) and Luzader (6-146, 1 TD) also figure in the passing game.Like Carey, Margaretta's defense is also stingy. The Polar Bears allow only 112.8 yards rushing and 103.4 yards passing per game.Keller has amassed 119 tackles and four interceptions, with Brett Miller adding 101 tackles and 3 ½ sacks.Mason Kromer (87 tackles), Cohen Gahler (75 tackles, 4 sacks), Luzader (74 tackles) and Jace Berg (68 tackles) also help shut down opposing offenses. Kale Bailey and Luzader have each intercepted three passes.