Staff file photo / R. Michael Semple Warren JFK's Steven Thomas tries to tackle Youngstown East's Keylin Warren (0) during a game at Rayen Stadium on Sept. 13.

The McDonald and Warren John F. Kennedy High football teams took completely different paths to the playoffs.

McDonald raced off to a 5-0 start to its season, and was atop the Division VII, Region 25, standings from start to finish. The Blue Devils (10-0) went on to log the 17th undefeated season in program history, earning a postseason first-round bye.

Meanwhile, JFK started off 0-5 and was far removed from the playoff discussion at the midway point of the season. However, the Eagles then reeled off five straight wins, finished in eighth place in Region 25 and defeated Norwalk St. Paul in a first-round game last Friday.

As a result, McDonald and JFK will now cross paths for just the second time when the Blue Devils and Eagles meet tonight at McDonald Stadium in a Region 25 quarterfinal.

The only other meeting between the two schools separated by six miles occurred in 2007. Kennedy defeated McDonald 46-8 in a first-round playoff game played at Mollenkopf Stadium.

JFK is in the playoffs for the 29th time in program history. The Eagles own a postseason record of 53-26, which includes a pair of state titles and 10 regional championships.

McDonald is making its 21st playoff appearance. The Blue Devils own three regional titles. They were state runners-up in 1989 and 1994. In 100 years of football, McDonald owns an overall record of 622-283-32.

“This is a great matchup between two storied Trumbull County programs,” McDonald coach Dan Williams said. “I think that once the playoffs roll around, everyone in the area roots for one another. Area fans back all the area schools still playing at this point.

“That’s the only downside about an early round all-local matchup. One area team is getting knocked out. But a game like this does create excitement, not just for both communities, but for all of Trumbull County.”

McDonald opens its playoff run after closing the regular season with back-to-back nailbiters against league foes Springfield and Mineral Ridge. That was followed by a week off leading into tonight’s game.

Williams said there were pros and cons to the bye week.

“I really can’t say whether it was good or bad until I see how we respond (tonight),” Williams said. “You always worry about a slow start when you get back into game action. But the team did a good job of cranking up the intensity this week, and they’ve been focused.

“The biggest challenge last week was that we didn’t have a specific opponent to prep for. But our kids practiced hard and they did all the right things. And I think our biggest benefit is that we are extremely healthy heading into Week 12. I’ve been knocking on wood all week. It’s very rare that a team is this healthy this late in the season.”

McDonald will face a JFK team that averaged 38.2 points per game over its last seven games. Senior quarterback LaMarcus Provitt has rushed for 1,072 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 9 yards per carry. Senior running back Steven Thomas has rushed for 1,052 yards with 14 touchdowns.

Since taking over the quarterback duties in Week 4, Provitt has completed 28-of-56 passes for 316 yards.

“Kennedy brings everything to the table, size, speed and a lot of talent,” Williams said. “The combination of Provitt and Thomas in the backfield is a matchup nightmare for opponents. And they are big and talented up front, and they are extremely well-coached.

“This is going to be one of those hard-fought games that probably comes down to a play here or a play there.”

McDonald enters the contest averaging 35.5 points per game, while giving up just 13.3 ppg. The Blue Devils’ Wing-T offense features fullback Drew Zajack (901 yards, 10 TDs) and running back Casey Miller (732 yards, 10 TDs). Quarterback Kyle Puckett has thrown for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. Josh Krumpack (22 receptions, 778 yards, 12 TDs), Jordan Perry (30 receptions, 501 yards, six TDs) and Miller are among Puckett’s favorite targets.

“McDonald can score 50 points in a lot of different ways,” JFK coach Damon Buente said. “They have a hallmark fullback, speed on the edges and an accurate and talented quarterback.

“With all their weapons, you have to sacrifice somewhere on defense, and they always find that spot. Zajack is exceptional at grinding out the yards on the ground. And Krumpack and Perry can get downfield in a flash.”

Buente believes McDonald ranks with the best Division VII teams in Ohio.

“Defensively, they are extremely active, and they get to the ball. When you look at the overall makeup of this team, McDonald is as well put together as any small-school football team you will find throughout the state.”

As for his own team, Buente said the Eagles “are peaking at the right time,” and that the second-half turnaround can be attributed to “a period of growing up and growing into a team.”

“It all comes down to maturity,” Buente said. “There were a lot of very sobering experiences those first five weeks. As head coaches, we think we know something, then we’re changing personnel and adjusting what we were doing on both sides of the ball. It was a sobering time for players, who were gaining an understanding of just how difficult it is to win a football game.

“Eventuallly, we got into a rhythm on both offense and defense. Our defense has gained an understanding of where to line up, what to expect, how to play their positions. They make plays. Offensively, we go as our offensive line goes, and they’ve been great. And Provitt and Thomas are running with unprecedented confidence.”

While Kennedy’s postseason officially began a week ago, in reality the Eagles are playing in their seventh straight must-win game. Following their 0-5 start, they needed five straight wins just to qualify for the playoffs.

By contrast, McDonald had a playoff spot locked up by the midway point of the season. The Blue Devils also had an extra week to prepare for its first-round playoff game.

Still, Buente doesn’t believe the different paths to Week 12 benefited or hurt either team.

“There’s always that classic argument of rest versus rust,” Buente said. “I don’t think there are any advantages or disadvantages here. People can spin that narrative any way they want to fit their argument, but at the end of the day, it’s just two really good teams, two historically very strong programs going at it.

“(Tonight) they’re going to spot the ball, and it’s going to be a great challenge for both sides.”

Tonight’s winner will play either Monroeville or Malvern next Friday in a regional semifinal game.