Disrespect is a tremendous motivator. Just ask the Villa Angela-St. Joseph football team. Back on Sept. 13, the Vikings lost star running back Bo Jackson to a knee injury in the first quarter of their 53-35 win over Kenston. The injury ended up being a season-ender for the four-star recruit who is committed to play at Ohio State following graduation. “A lot of people wrote us off at that point,” Coach Jeff Rotsky said. “We set a goal. We lost the best player in the state of Ohio, but it didn’t change our ultimate goal.” The next step in that goal — to play for and win a Division III state title — takes place Nov. 8 when VASJ (8-2) faces Youngstown Ursuline (10-1) in a Region 9 quarterfinal. It’s a rematch of an Oct. 11 game won by the Irish, 24-17, at Gutbrod Stadium. This time it’s at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium. VASJ’s T.J. Moore reacts during a 53-35 win at Kenston on Sept. 13. (Paul DiCicco – for The News-Herald) “I think as a competitor, absolutely you want another shot,” Rotsky said. “Sometimes you hope it’s a little later down the (tournament) road, but it’s fine. It’ll be a challenge for us, but I’d think they have a pretty good challenge on their hands as well.” As it was in the first meeting, VASJ won’t have Jackson, but the Vikings will have T.J. Moore, who arguably would be a No. 1 on most other teams in the area. Moore carried 23 times for 262 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring runs of 62 and 47 yards, in the playoff opener against Hawken. Moore enters this week with more than 1,300 yards rushing, most of it coming after Jackson was injured in the Kenston game. “T.J. has a very unique running style,” Rotsky said. “He seems to find cracks and creases that aren’t easy. He spins and makes people miss, then runs strong. I always say our offensive line gets him the first five or six yards, then T.J. does what T.J. does.” The VASJ-Ursuline game is one of 10 second-round playoff games that will take place on Nov. 8. All of this week’s games will be held by higher-seeded teams, with contests being held at neutral sites next week. Also on tap this week are: • Strongsville (7-4) at Mentor (11-0) in a Division I, Region 1 quarterfinal. • Geneva (10-1) at Aurora (10-1) in a Division III, Region 9 quarterfinal. • Maple Heights (8-3) at Gilmour (10-1) in a Division III, Region 9 quarterfinal. • Chardon (8-2) at CVCA (9-2) in a Division III, Region 9 quarterfinal. • Defiance (7-4) at Benedictine (9-3) in a Division III, Region 10 quarterfinal. • Mogadore Field (9-2) at Lake Catholic (11-0) in a Division IV, Region 13 quarterfinal. • Struthers (8-2) at Perry (10-1) in a Division IV, Region 13 quarterfinal. • Berkshire (8-3) at Akron Manchester (10-1) in a Division V, Region 17 quarterfinal. • Smithville (8-3) at Kirtland (11-0) in a Division VI, Region 21 quarterfinal. There were some stellar performances in the first round of the playoff by area teams — and players. In Kirtland’s tournament opener against Rootstown, senior Danny Alfieri carried 14 times for 177 yards and six touchdowns. In doing so, he took over the area lead for touchdowns this season with 25, surpassing Mentor’s Jackson Farley’s 22. In Benedictine’s tourney opener win over Tiffin Columbian, senior Chris Maloney carried 31 times for 386 yards and five touchdowns. The 386 yards set a new program record for yards in a game previously held by Raymond Williams. Chris Maloney “What an impressive individual performance,” Benedictine coach Joe Prevesk said. “Whenever you can break a rushing record set by Raymond Williams, you know it was a special night. He is our workhorse and game-breaker that can take it the distance on any given play. Our OL deserves a lot of credit and takes pride in playing a physical brand of football. This team believes in each other and prepares to go 1-0 every week.” Alfieri, too, credited his team’s offensive line. After quarterback Jake LaVerde when down with a broken arm in the Hornets’ Week 6 win over Fairview, Alfieri has become the bell-cow back for the undefeated Hornets. “It’s nice to be the leading scorer in The News-Herald right now,” Alfieri said. “But the focus shouldn’t be on me. The focus should be on the offensive line. they open the holes and I run through them.” Other key highlights from victorious teams in Week 11, who will look to build on them in Week 12, were: • Justin Phillips carried 25 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Berkshire’s win over Chagrin Falls. • Frankie Trinetti completed 20 of 29 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in Lake Catholic’s win over Ravenna. • Drayton Allgood ran for 131 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 97 yards in the Hilltoppers’ win over Tallmadge. • Walter Moses completed 10 of 13 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns in Perry’s win over Akron Buchtel. • Luke Barbo ran for 144 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 80 yards in Geneva’s win over Madison. • Scotty Fox threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 90 yards and a score in Mentor’s win over St. Ignatius.