Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Canfield celebrates after beating Poland in the Battle of 224 on Friday at Bob Dove Field in Canfield.

CANFIELD — The Battle of 224 is just one of those contests that always finds itself circled on everyone’s calendar year in and year out. The 77th iteration of the duel between the Bulldogs and Cardinals looked more akin to games of yesteryear — just a slow moving, gritty, low scoring affair.

Every play just meant more, with Canfield playing enough plays to overcome their rival, earning a 17-10 victory over Poland, denying them a chance to win their first contest at Bob Dove Field since 2014.

“You have two tremendous football programs that have a historical rivalry, it’s always going to be a physical football game, it was no different last year when we gave one up,” Canfield coach Joe Ignazio said. “I have the utmost respect for Coach Pav and his staff, they do a tremendous job there. They’re big and physical up front, and the quarterbacks present a really big problem with their speed.”

“We controlled the ball, the majority of the night couldn’t be happier for our kids”

Canfield (2-2) lit up the scoreboard first, junior quarterback Enzo Cocca breaking multiple tackles on a keeper to help guide his team to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter following the PAT.

For Cocca, the euphoric rush that came with breaking a big score in a massive game was real.

“We talk about it, we play for the people before us, I had two brothers that came before me, last year my one brother was on the team, Santino, we fell short. Just seeing his emotions after that loss, it just really means a lot to us and the community,” Cocca said. “I couldn’t have made that run without the players on the field, the O-Line, wide receivers on the field getting the blocks for me to be able to run it in.”

“This is going to give us momentum, we played great teams in the first three games, and we’re going to play good teams in the next six that we play. It’s a tough schedule and that’s what we want as a high school football team. We want those close games, no one wants a blow out game, that isn’t fun, but this game against Poland, winning by seven in the final seconds, nothing better.”

A few possessions later, Poland (3-1) faced a first and goal at the three, failing to punch it in multiple times on the ground followed by an incomplete pass. They’d settle for a 25-yard field goal off the leg of senior Jace Stefancin.

The Bulldogs would get back to work soon thereafter with an interception on defense from senior Yianni Hazimihalis. That drive wouldn’t result in any points, in fact Canfield would be the one tacking on points late in the second quarter, following a 25-yard boot by senior Ethan Rittenour.

Canfield would earn turnovers on defense during the first two Poland drives, including a nice pick and return by sophomore Joey Pannunzio. The Cardinal’s defense was able to fend off a Bulldogs offensive attack that was averaging nearly 30 points a game.

During the fourth quarter, Cocca would score again, this time on a four yard rush with his line pushing him into the endzone. Not one to fade away, Poland did make things interesting late, starting with a third-yard touchdown from running back Chase Jones. They’d recover the ensuing onside kick but went four and out, then later had an opportunity to tie with less than two minutes left, but their attempt at the first down to keep their final offensive drive going fell short.

If anything, Ignazio is proud of Cocca, and his team’s growth.

“We talk to our kids each week about being 1-0, I know it’s cliche, but we don’t overlook any of our opponents. All of our opponents on the schedule have a chance to be anybody, we have to continue to grow and mature, which our kids are always willing to do that,” Ignazio said. “We’re going to get on the road this week and hopefully come back with another W, but we’re going to enjoy this one for now.”