Photo/PAUL KRAJNYAK SHADYSIDE’S Connor Banco has been a key cog for the Tigers offensively. He’s been an adept ball carrier and blocker.

SHADYSIDE — The Shadyside Tigers have a lengthy and glorious football playoff tradition.

The Orange & Black are now in their 12th straight OHSAA postseason, spanning the tenures of Ty Fleming and current head man Mark Holenka. In fact, the Tigers have secured playoff berths in 16 of the last 17 seasons.

During that time, they have had many daunting challenges — Delphos St. John’s and Marion Local in the state finals being two of the biggest. But the Tigers have never had to deal with the nation’s leading rusher.

That will all change Saturday night when Holenka’s battle-tested and well-drilled charges welcome Harvest Preparatory School.

The Canal Winchester-based Warriors boast Dan Bangura. He is special indeed, so much so that the speedy junior has rushed for 3,138 yards this season, tops in the prep ranks nationwide.

As a sophomore, Bangura gained 1,800 yard despite missing three games, a season in which Harvest Prep won its first-ever playoff game. He is averaging nearly 13 yards a carry this fall.

“He is a miniature Barry Sanders,” Holenka said of Bangura. “He is very elusive, makes people miss and when he finds a hole he downshifts. He has it all.

“Their other skilled people aren’t Clydesdales. They run a one-back set with him but the other players are threats on reverses. They throw enough to keep you honest. But Bangura makes them all better,” he added. “Their tight end is supposed to be a D-1 recruit. So they probably have a few others as well.”

Holenka is a remarkable 73-23 in his eight years at the post of his alma mater, making the playoffs all eight seasons. This year’s edition registered a sparkling 8-2 record against a demanding schedule. The Tigers had two mid-season hiccups, losing in back-to back weeks to River (39-7) and Wheeling Central (27-12).

The Orange closed the regular season with a rush, posting three impressive wins — downing Division VI playoff-bound Bellaire (28-7), Bridgeport (50-6) and Bishop Donahue (48-6).

In week five, Holenka’s troops rallied for a 31-30 win over 8-2 Toronto, also a playoff entrant. Shadyside’s other four wins came against Magnolia (41-14), Monroe Central(62-24), Caldwell (41-19) and Meadowbrook (48-41).

“Making the playoffs for a 12th straight season is a reflection that the program is running pretty good on all cylinders. It shows that the young men buy into what we are coaching,” Holenka said. “Sustaining the playoff success for such an impressive time may be more impressive than advancing to the state finals. Making it to the playoffs 16 out of 17 is pretty amazing for a small school.”

Harvest Prep, meanwhile, started 0-3 this season before running off seven straight victories. The high-octane Warriors are averaging 51.3 points game.

Harvest Prep lost to 10-0 Bexley (20-41), 9-1 Franklin Heights (36-48) and Bishop Rosecrans (47-54), a game which the Warriors were missing some key pieces.

The Franklin Countians defeated 6-4 Worthington Christian (40-30), 2-8 Madison Plains (55-18), 1-9 Millersport (84-0), 4-6 Berne Union (57-10), 1-9 Grove City Christian (55-0), 1-9 Lancaster Fisher Catholic (50-0) and 7-3 Fairfield Christian (69-10).

The Warriors won their first playoff game last fall.

Harvest Prep’s athletic teams were be banned by the OHSAA from postseason play from 2011 through 2013. The ban was a result of the school using ineligible players and coaches, changing grades and recruiting athletes, according to OHSAA officials. The school was also placed on three years’ probation through 2015-16.

“We understand we are not on Shadyside’s level yet. We know we are the underdog in this game. It will be a shock to everyone if we win this game but we do not enter this game scared,” Harvest Prep School head coach Milan Smith said. “I don’t have enough adjectives to describe the amount of respect we have for Shadyside football.

“I don’t understand how they have done it in the public school environment. It speaks volumes for their tradition and a tribute to their community,” he added. “We know we have our hands full. I look at them on film and don’t know how we can win.”

Shadyside, as always, tackled a formidable schedule. As many as five Tiger foes may be playing in the postseason.

“Going into the season we knew the five games in the middle of our schedule were tossup games. We won three of them. This team has shown resiliency in games that some of our other teams may not have been able to overcome, such as the Meadowbrook and Toronto games,” Holenka said. “Our offense has been a pleasant surprise, especially early on. Our line has really developed to let our running game to exist while also giving Billy (Johnson) time. He is very capable. He didn’t have that time last year.

“Defensively we have done a lot this year. We didn’t break as much this year. We have been getting better,” he added. “The kids are understanding the whole defensive scheme of things much better.”

Former Shadyside quarterbacking great Michael Kernik is Shadyside’s offensive coordinator. He is guiding a unit that is that is putting up some 37 points an outing.

Johnson is the triggerman of the Tiger attack. The gutty senior has enjoyed a splendid season despite being saddled with a severely sprained ankle.

“Billy has developed into a very reliable quarterback. He is a winner with intensity and resiliency. With his injuries, if he was a horse we would have shot him,” Holenka said.

Johnson has passed for 1,518 yards and 15 TDs, completing 98-of-170 attempts. He has been picked just seven times. He is a dual threat, rushing for 477 yards and nine more scores despite his bad wheel.

Shadyside boasts a dynamic one-two running back package in Alex Krupa and Connor Banco.

Krupa is a talented 190-pound junior, who has battled his own health issues of late. He has rushed for 958 yards and 18 TDs. He is also a quality receiver, pulling in 16 passes.

Banco, meanwhile, is a 190-pound sophomore. He has carried for 594 yards and five TDs.

“They complement each other quite well,” Holenka said of his running back tandem. They block for each other and do the the dirty work.”

The Orange receiving corp is anchored by senior Chase Wade and Greg Quinn. Wade is a nice-sized target at 6-4 while Quinn brings elusiveness with his 5-9 frame. Wade has landed 29 passes for 504 yards and 10 TDs. Quinn, meanwhile, has snared 17 passes for 198 yards and a six-pointer.

A pair of promising frosh also provide depth and quality in Sam Merryman and Kelly Hendershot.

The offensive line, under the adept tutelage of Chase Grinch, has been a longtime position of the strength. Such again is the case this fall.

The tackles are quality seniors Taylor Prickett (205) and Chaz Davis (189). The guards are senior Donnie Meadows and junior Dylan Hanson. Meadows brings experience and toughness on a 6-2, 270-pound frame while Hanson is a solid 185-pounder.

Andrew Jobe anchors the O-line. He is an up-and-coming 240-pound sophomore.

Johnson also handles the placements. He has booted 27 PATs.

Defense has long been a Tiger hallmark, under the masterful touch of Holenka and John Grinch. The Shadeans have yielded a mere 20 points total in their last three starts.

Shadyside aligns in a 4-3 look.

The Tigers boast one of the OVAC’s best defensive end tandems in Wade and Krupa. They wreak havoc against the rush or pass.

Meadows is a force at one tackle slot. He is joined by either junior Richard Francis (270) or senior Cody Hawthorne (160).

The second level of defense is a strong suit with a trio of talented linebackers on patrol.

Hanson mans the middle while being flanked by Banco and sophomore Austin Price (185). Sophomore Dale Hawthorne (165) has also seen extensive time at linebacker.

The Shadyside secondary is a nice blend of experience, talent and youth, featuring Johnson, Quinn, Hendershot and junior Colton Stutzman (150). They will be charged with not only short-circuiting the Warriors’ aerial attack but also shouldering some of the burden in attempting to limit Bangura’s long-gainers.

Smith is in his third year as Harvest’s Prep head grid coach. In each of those seasons, the Warriors have won their league title while also earning a playoff berth.

He landed the post after serving as offensive coordinator the past seven years at Columbus Independence, his alma mater. His other coaching stops included Columbus Whitehall (offensive coordinator), Columbus South (offensive coordinator) and St. Charles (assistant head coach).

“We always try to schedule several playoff level teams to get us ready for teams like Shadyside. They are as good as you get in Division 7. Unfortunately, we went 0-3 against those teams this year,” Smith said. “We never anticipate losing, but we understand the level of our competition. Our players and coaches showed a lot of resiliency after the first three games.

“The Harvest Prep program had never been league champs before I got here or had made the playoffs,” the University of Findlay graduate added. “We are still learning the culture. It is a process.”

Despite his staggering stats, Bangura has received no big-school collegiate offers yet.

“Dan has had a remarkable two years. His stats are amazing. He has many offers from D-II colleges but nothing yet from D-I,” Smith said. “He is 5-10, 170 and very explosive. He works really hard and has the right mindset. He was our quarterback for the first five games last year. That really helped him understand our offense.

“Our running game is helped by a hard-working offensive line. They understand our schematic process. We are not big up front. Shadyside’s line will dwarf us,” he added. “Our tight end Isiah Mullins (6-4, 255) has nice size. He already has seven D-1 offers.”

Harvest Prep doesn’t throw often. It hasn’t needed to thanks to its vaunted ground attack. The Warriors attempt less than 10 passes a game. Their aerial attack is made much more effective as defenses must focus their efforts on shutting down Bangura.

Jamal Lypsey is Harvest Prep’s quarterback. The quick-footed senior is also drawing D-II offers.

“Jamal is a very cerebral quarterback with a better than average arm,” Smith noted. “It is not in our game plan to throw it 40 times a game. But we are very comfortable throwing it.”

Lypsey has completed 50-of-93 attempts for 798 yards and 12 TDs. He has been intercepted on five occasions. He is also a threat with his legs, rushing for 351 yards and seven touchdowns on only 64 carries.

Defensively, the Warriors are, “Vanilla. Just a 40-base and we adjust to what the offense does,” Smith said.

Shadyside has built a grid program that Smith holds in the highest regard while also hoping to replicate.

“Drawing Shadyside in the first round doesn’t make you feel good. We got some tough luck with the draw,” Smith said. “What Shadyside has done is remarkable. We envy to be like them in 10 years.”

Holenka, while also not enthralled with the first-round matchup, realizes what needs to be done if his Tigers are going to be successful.

“We need to score everytime we have the ball. If we go more than one series in each half without scoring, we are putting ourselves in trouble,” Holenka said. “We must sustain and finish drives while eating some of the clock. We must shorten the game.

“The scariest thing is that when we score we have to kick off. He (Bangura) is a game-changer,” he continued. “They will not give us big plays and it will be tough to get outside on them.”

In addition to Kernik and the two Grinches, Holenka’s varsity staff includes Stevie Kernik, B.A. Holloway and Jeff Campbell.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Fleming Field.

Shadyside owns the distinction of most OHSAA football appearances without winning a state championship.