Correspondent photo / David Dermer Canfield’s Enzo Cocca, right, runs for a short gain during the first half of a Division III regional semifinal against Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Friday night, at Canfield High School

CANFIELD — The Canfield football team’s dream of a Division III, Region 9, title appearance was shattered rather quickly Friday at Bob Dove Field.

Fourth-seeded Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph exploded for 25 first-half points in a 32-0 victory over the top-seeded Cardinals in the regional semifinal.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but that’s just how life works out sometimes,” Canfield senior lineman Daniel Seaman said.

“It’s unfortunate, but they’re in good hands for the future,” Seaman said of his younger teammates.

The Cardinals (10-2) rebounded from last year’s 4-5 record, winning their first nine games before an overtime loss to Boardman in Week 10.

“It’s been really special,” Seaman said of the season. “One thing our coach [Joe Ignazio] always talks about is the standard here.

“Last year, we feel we really underachieved and we didn’t live up to [that standard].

“We just wanted to make something special this year,” he said. “This is a season we will have memories of for the rest of our lives.”

Igniting the avalanche of points was Vikings quarterback Joe Efford who completed his first three passes.

The third one was a bomb to wide receiver Savion Lewis, a 73-yard reception for a 7-0 lead with 8:16 remaining in the first quarter.

The Cardinals drove into Vikings territory on the next possession but quarterback Enzo Cocca’s pass on fourth-and-2 fell incomplete.

The Vikings’ next possession also ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Canfield’s next drive started promisingly with Cocca gaining 9 yards on a run followed by Joseph Pannunzio’s run for a first down. But on the next play, the Vikings’ Ronnie Taylor intercepted Cocca at the Vikings’ 47.

Seven plays later, the Vikings scored their second touchdown on Raymier Kirby’s 16-yard run. A high snap on the conversion kick had Efford picking up the ball and finding kicker Jack Sable unguarded for a short pass and 15-0 lead early in the second quarter.

“They are a talented team,” Seaman said of the Vikings. “They are quick off the ball, they have speed — we just didn’t have answers in all three phases of the game for what they were doing tonight.

“Hats off to them — they played a great game.”

The lead grew to 22-0 as tight end DeAngelo White hit Jamir Marteus for an 18-yard scoring toss.

The Cardinals’ best shot at scoring came late in the half as Cocca hooked up with Donnie Ferko for a 48-yard gain to the VASJ 8-yard line.

But the Cardinals advanced no further and the Vikings ended the half with Sable and his kicking unit running onto the field for a 35-yard field goal as time expired.

“The field goal was awesome but I think the two-point was my favorite play of the year,” Sable said.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Vikings running back DeVontai Moore turned on the running clock with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Efford completed 11 of 14 passes for 185 yards. Moore gained 84 yards on 20 carries and caught two passes for 22 yards.

For Canfield, Cocca completed 4 of 8 passes for 44 yards. He ran five times for 16 yards.