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Top 10 Football Stories
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Top 10 Teams To Watch
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Top 10 Surprises
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10 Players To Watch
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10 Prospects To Watch
Levies, losing streaks, injuries and more captured headlines in the first five weeks of the football season Issue 2
Managing Editor Eric Frantz Assistant Editor Matt Natali Recruiting Editors Mark Porter, Bill Kurelic Staff Writers Kirk Larrabee, Steve Helwagen, Jeff Rapp, Dave Biddle Contributors
Marty Gitlin, Jeff Williams, David Gatwood, Brad Morris, Shayne Combs, Jeff Rice
Photography
Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Joe Maiorana, Jim Rinaldi, Scott Grau, Jim Metzendorf, Os Figuero
Printing Miami Valley Sports Magazine (MVP) miamivalleysports.com
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Ohio High Magazine is published online nine times a year and also produces an online and hard copy issue in July (Football Preview/Year in Review). Ohio High is an independent source of news and features relating to Ohio high school sports. Ohio High strives to report information based on fact, but assumes no responsability for any inaccuracies that may appear. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. c Copyright 2009, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTOS: Jim Metzendorf, Impact Action Sports Photography
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These teams deserve recognition...who are they? Ohio’s weakest playoff region? State powers back on top...others have fallen flat. Who and what is on the list? Keep an eye on these guys down the stretch...they are special Who has helped themselves the most in the eyes of college recruiters? These 10 players have stock that’s soaring.
Team To Watch? Surprise? Toledo Whitmer is 5-0 and on the radar. Who else is? Turn the page...
Photo by Scott W. Grau / www.nwoprepsports.com
Volume 7
Photo by Gary Housteau
Cleveland Glenville head coach Ted Ginn, Sr. congratulates Wayne’s junior QB Braxton Miller after the Tarblooders convincing Week 3 win.
HS Football Midseason Report
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI Big School Sweet Spots: D-I, Region 4 & D-II, Region 7
Losing streaks, injuries, failed levies and more impacted the first five weeks of football
Teams snapping losing streaks
Suddenly the losers are winners. After five weeks of the high school football season, several programs have already notched season-saving victories. In Week 2 Whitehall-Yearling snapped a 36-game losing skid that dated back to 2005 with a 13-8 win over Columbus Linden McKinley. Channin Porter rushed for 133 yards and scored two TDs for the Rams, who rallied from an 8-0 deficit and turned momentum with a huge defensive stop in the third quarter when they denied Linden any points after the Panthers had first-and-goal from the Whitehall 2. Also in Week 2, New Paris National Trail snapped a 32-game losing streak of its own. The Blazers downed Bradford 20-18 thanks in part to three short TD runs by John Day. Ironically, National Trail’s last win was a two-point decision (14-12) over Bradford on Oct. 21, 2005. In Week 1, Akron Springfield ended a 34-game losing streak with a 23-13 win over Akron Ellet. The win was second-year head coach Kevin Vaughn’s first varsity victory. Also in Week 1, Rittman snapped a 27-game losing streak by beating Conotton Valley 27-0; Chillicothe Unioto snapped a 22-game losing streak with a 21-12 win over Vinton County; Elida snapped a 20-game losing streak with a 49-35 win over Liberty-Benton and Lyndhurst Brush snapped a 19-game losing streak with a 45-34 win over Eastlake North. In Week 4 Holgate snapped a 20-game losing streak with a 21-12 win over Ayersville. — EF
The GCL South is 18-1 against non-conference teams
Last year was an oddity for Ohio’s toughest big school football conference. Usually dominant, the Greater Catholic League South Division only got two teams into the D-I playoffs, one of which was Moeller who nabbed the No. 8 spot with a 6-4 record. The real stunner was Cincinnati St. Xavier – a year removed from winning the D-I title – missing the playoffs all together with a 4-6 record. This season things are back to normal. Through the first five weeks, the GCL South in 18-1 against non-conference foes. Moeller and Elder are 5-0 and St. Xavier and LaSalle are 4-1. LaSalle lost 23-13 to Elder, while St. Xavier lost 12-7 to Highlands (Ky.), the No. 23 team in the country according to USA Today. Elder is No. 3 and St. Xavier is No. 25. Not coincidently, Elder, St. X and Moeller are Nos. 1-3 in Region 4 playoff points. LaSalle is No. 8. — EF
Steubenville’s regular season win streak still intact – for now
Big Red has won 65 straight regular season games and is trying to put together its seventh straight undefeated regular season. So far so good. Steubenville, which was the D-IV state runner-up last year, is 5-0. Big Red should be 6-0 after playing Wheeling Park (W.Va.) in Week 6, but then things get interesting. In Week 7, Steubenville hosts Massillon Washington. In Week 8 Poland Seminary comes to town, and in weeks 9 and 10, Big Red hosts Inkster (Mich.) and Cardinal O‘Hara (N.Y.). Also at stake heading into the final four weeks of the season is Steubenville’s 57-game home win streak. — EF
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No D-I region in the state is as deep as Region 4. The same can be said in DII for Region 7. Both of these brackets are where the big boys play. In Region 4, 22 of the 31 teams have winning records and only one team is winless. Centerville – which has a 4-1 record – is No. 16 in computer points. That’s how deep it is. Region 4 is also home to seven of Ohio High’s Top 10 college prospects. Enough said. In Region 7, an undefeated Athens team – should it happen – could possibly be left out of the playoffs. Right now the Bulldogs are 5-0 and No. 14 in the region in points. Undefeated Vincent Warren is No. 9. In this region – with the likes of Lousiville, Logan, Big Walnut, New Philadelphia, Zanesville and Columbus St. Charles – some first round games will basically be regional finals. — EF
Don’t forget the little guys: D-V, Region 19 & D-VI, Region 21
In Region 19, over half the teams (16 of 29) have records of 4-1 or better. A regional favorite? The list of names includes: Baltimore Liberty Union, Nelsonville-York, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant and Fredericktown. It’s wide-open. Region 21 is loaded with six of the Top 10 teams in the JJHuddle D-VI Power Poll, including: Bucyrus Wynford (No. 2), Norwalk St. Paul (No. 3), Mogadore (No. 5), Berlin Center Western Reserve (No. 7), Dalton (No. 8) and McDonlad (No. 9). Coincedently, the six also lead Region 21 in points. Hopewell-Loudon, which is looking for its third straight D-VI state final appearance, was ranked in Week 5 before losing in overtime to Fremont St. Joseph. — EF
Friday Night Lights Turned Off
The Ohio Capital Conference in Central Ohio lost four teams from its lineup August 5 following a rejected levy in the South-Western City School District. The four-year, $8.3-million property tax failed for the second straight time thus eliminating all extra-curricular activities at Central Crossing, Franklin Heights, Grove City and Galloway Westland high schools and their accompanying middle schools. As a result, many football players elected to transfer out of those schools to schools fielding football teams, including Williamsport Westfall, Grove City Christian, Teays Valley, London and others. Some players reluctantly refused to transfer to play because it just didn’t feel right. “I couldn’t play anywhere else,” former Grove City linebacker Ryan Mullins told JJHuddle.com early in the season. “It just wouldn’t have been the same. I’ve grown up with Grove City football all my life and I’ve gone to all the games. This just doesn’t have the same feel.” Grove City senior Kyle Schneider chose to forgo his senior season as well. “(Football) is pretty much life and death in Grove City,” he said. “Either you play or you don’t. That’s the mentality.” The levy will be on the ballot again in November but for multiple-sport athletes like Grove City senior Adam Boggs, who plays baseball, leaving Grove City isn’t an option even if the levy is defeated again. “Even if the levy fails again (in November) I’m probably going to stay,” Boggs said. “It’s hard to leave Grove City.” — MN
On The Shelf
Ohio High’s top two players in the Class of 2010 Top 150 got their senior campaigns off to a rough start. And for one, it also ended. Cincinnati Anderson offensive lineman and Ohio State recruit Andrew Norwell, the No. 2 ranked player in the state, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 in a 28-25 win over Columbus St. Francis DeSales. On the second series of the game, Norwell limped off the field with an apparent ankle injury. “I broke my tibia just above my left ankle,” Norwell told Bucknuts.com. Norwell (6-7, 275) underwent surgery the following Monday and will also miss his senior basketball season. A U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee, it was unclear whether or not he would be able to participate in the game in January. “I’ll be ready for next (football) season (at Ohio State),” he said. While West Chester Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks didn’t have quite as rough a start as Norwell, the Under Armour All-American was on the shelf early. Hicks, who is rated as the top player in the state by Ohio High, sat out of Lakota West’s 20-6 win over Hamilton Week 4 with a bout of strep throat. “It was difficult (sitting out) but I didn’t want to risk getting (sicker),” said Hicks.
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The Top 10 Stories
Photo by Brian Swartz
Cincinnati Moeller and Centerville hooked up for a Week 3 slugfest which the Crusadres won 21-19.
“My immune system has already down so they just decided it would be better if I sat the game out and let the team take over.” Hicks, rated the No. 2 player in the country by ESPN Scouts, Inc., is entertaining offers to Ohio State, Texas, Florida, USC and Alabama. — MN
Speaking Of DeSales…
Oh, how the mighty have…stumbled. Ranked No. 1 in Division III in the Ohio High preseason Power Poll, Columbus DeSales has hit a wall. After opening the season with a 38-0 win over Gahanna Lincoln, it looked as though DeSales was well on its way to its third straight undefeated regular season. But the Stallions fell to Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 21-14 the following week then barely squeaked by New Albany 13-6 before losing to Cincinnati Anderson in Week 4 to start the season 2-2. The Stallions bounced back in Week 5 against Findlay with a 56-23 win but the task doesn’t get any easier with, Columbus St. Charles, rival Columbus Watterson, Division I/No.1-ranked Cincinnati Elder, Division I Cincinnati LaSalle and Cleveland Benedictine left on the schedule. “With our schedule, we have to regroup and bring our ‘A-Game’ every week if we want to win any games on our schedule,” DeSales head coach Ryan Wiggins. “We’ve got to look at ourselves and get our mistakes corrected and look at our next opponent. We’re going to do that each and every week.” With a program used to winning coming off back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, DeSales is in unfamiliar territory. “I think you get a spoiled sometimes when you go 10-0,” Wiggins said. “The bottom line is we’ve got some goals and all the goals we’ve set are well within reach. We need to keep improving and take it one (game) at a time. “We’ve been down this road before and that’s what happens when you play a difficult schedule.” — MN
And Speaking Of Difficult Schedules…
To be the best, you have to play the best. That was the mantra of several Greater Western Ohio Conference teams when it came time to putting together their 2009 schedules. Having struggled in recent years against the Cincinnati powers in Region 4 come playoff time, Centerville, Huber Heights Wayne and Clayton Northmont beefed up their nonconference schedules. “I think you see (the Cincinnati schools) playing such a competitive schedule
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down there because they have to,” Wayne head coach Jay Minton said. “I think we all that if we don’t up our level of play in the regular season, we’re not going to be ready at the end of the season. I think we’re all trying that and I think we’re all responding well.” But the GWOC powers went 0-3 in Week 3 against a few of the state’s top teams. Centerville lost to Moeller 21-19 in a Region 4 clash to drop to 2-1. Wayne, with wins over Canton McKinley and Princeton, lost to Cleveland Glenville 57-28 for its first loss, while Northmont dropped a 17-7 road decision at Westerville South. Northmont, now a deceiving 3-2, owns a win over Lakota West and a loss at Cleveland St. Ignatius. Northmont led that game 20-0 before falling 2720. “I don’t think anyone can accuse the GWOC of scheduling patsies,” Centerville head coach Ron Ullery told JJHuddle.com before the season. And after being tested by fire early in the season, the GWOC powers are hoping that experience will carry over into the postseason to get over the Region 4 hump. “You divide your season into sections,” Minton said. “The first three games is the part where you establish yourself.” — MN
Wildcat Repeat?
Cleveland St. Ignatius won an unprecedented tenth state title last season finishing 14-1 and the Wildcats haven’t skipped a beat in the first half of this season boasting an undefeated record and a 19-game winning streak dating back to Week 2 of last season. Ignatius tallied big wins over Cleveland Glenville, Clayton Northmont and Mentor scoring 33.6 points per game. But the second half of the season will show whether or not Ignatius is a contender or pretender with Massillon Washington, Warren G. Harding, Inkster (Mich.) Cincinnati St. Xavier and Lakewood St. Edward on the schedule “As for our regular season schedule, it’s always tough and we look forward to that challenge with St. Ed’s and Glenville and the other teams we play,” head coach Chuck Kyle said before the season. “We look at it like it gets us ready for the playoffs so we want to learn from those 10 games.” Ignatius is powered by senior quarterback Mark Myers and Louisville running back recruit Kevin Johnson on offense. Ohio State linebacker recruit Scott McVey, who is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the state by Ohio High, is the leader on defense despite suffering an early season knee injury. — MN
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HS Football Midseason Report
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI for the Division IV state championship. This season, the Knights are on a crusade to repeat and could be considered the favorites in Division IV to do so again following the divisional realignment last summer sending Steubenville (5-0), Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (5-0), Coldwater (5-0) and other powers into other divisions. Alter is undefeated and is hitting stride at the season’s midpoint but head coach Ed Domsitz isn’t quite comfortable yet. “I don’t think we are as good as we can be right now,” he told the Dayton Daily News following the 32-6 win over Cincinnati McNicholas in Week 5. “What I see right now is some inconsistency. Sometimes that doesn’t show up in the final score.” What has been consistent is the running game in the Wishbone offense paced by senior captain Cody Taulbee. — MN
Defending state champs, tradtitional powers and some upstarts need to be recognized St. Henry (5-0)
The Redskins are No. 1 in the D-V JJHuddle Power Poll and have been since Day One. Whether or not they stay there though remains to be seen. Several teams have a tough stretch to close out the season, but none may have a more treacherous ending than St. Henry. The Redskins face Anna (Week 6) and Coldwater (Week 7) in back-to-back road games and host Delphos St. John’s in Week 9. — EF
Delphos St. John’s (5-0)
The Blue Jays surprised people last year when they went from 2-8 to 13-2 and won their fifth D-VI state title. With basically everyone back and a deep junior class, the Jays are the favorite to defend their trophy. So far they have done nothing to dissapoint. After a narrow 21-14 win over Lima Central Catholic in Week 1, DSJ has beaten their next four foes by the combined score of 194-26. Facing Coldwater and St. Henry in Week 8 and 9, respectively, will test the Jays mettle. — EF
East Palestine (5-0)
The Bulldogs are halfway to an undefeated season, which would be a complete turnaround for this senior class, which experienced an 0-10 season as freshman. The five wins is also a milestone for a program, which hasn’t won more than four games in a season since a 10-2 run and playoff berth in 2002. — EF
Toledo Whitmer (5-0)
The Panthers have established themselves as serious contenders in D-I, Region 2. Whitmer has handed Fremont Ross and Toledo Rogers their only losses to date. The Panthers also have respectable wins over Tiffin Columbian, Fostoria and Toledo St. John’s. The next three weeks – games against Toledo St. Francis (5-0), Clay (4-1) and Toledo Central Catholic (4-1) – will tell us exactly where Whitmer is. — EF
Athens (5-0)
Since finishing 7-3 in 2003, the Bulldogs have gone 10-40 with three 1-9 seasons. This year they have a chance to match that win tally. The good news is Athens is undefeated. The bad news is the teams they’ve beaten are a combined 3-22, which explains their current position of No. 14 in the D-II, Region 7 computer points. The final five teams on Athens schedule – including unbeaten Nelsonville-York and Alexander – are 16-9. There are more points out there but will there be enough to make the playoffs even with an undefeated record? Stay tuned. — EF
Kettering Alter (5-0)
Alter was on a mission to win to state championship last season after losing a heart-breaker in the Division III title game in 2006 to Steubenville and in the Division IV state semifinals in 2007 to eventual state champ Coldwater. Mission accomplished. Alter got its revenge on the Big Red last season defeating Steubenville 20-6
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Genoa Area (5-0)
You can’t mention Kettering Alter around Genoa Area fans without the Comets faithful cringing just a bit. That’s because Alter ended Genoa Area’s title hopes last season in the state semifinals to the tune of 42-34 ending the Comets’ then-perfect season. But memories are short in sports and Genoa Area’s is no exception. The Comets have been absolutely destroying teams putting up an average of 55.2 points per game and scoring no less than 48 points through the first five weeks. On defense, the Comets have pitched three shutouts and have allowed only 13 points on the season. Genoa Area has won 24 straight regular season games since losing 14-7 to Oak Harbor in the 2007 season opener. Senior running back Greg Hillanbrand has rushed for close to 600 yards with eight touchdowns while all-everything Connor Wendt has scored a whopping 16 touchdowns on the ground, through the air an on special teams. Senior Matt Bassitt is the field general under center for the Comets. Linebackers Alex Eckel and Chris Cuevas with junior defensive lineman Justin Upham and sophomore defensive back Brandon Roberts are the leaders on defense. With Alter topping the JJ’s Ohio High Power Poll and Genoa Area coming in at No. 4, don’t be surprised to see these two teams meet up again in the postseason. — MN
Dayton Chaminade-Julienne (4-1)
Don’t look now, but Alter rival Chaminade-Julienne is 4-1. Thanks to a forfeit win in Week 2 to Dayton Thurgood Marshall, CJ is a 1point overtime loss to Cincinnati McNicholas away from being 5-0 right now. The Eagles opened the season with a win over Troy, which just beat Huber Heights Wayne, and is coming off a 10-0 win over Hamilton Badin, which was previously ranked No. 4 in the Division IV Associated State Poll. So, is this the year the Eagles get back to the post season for the first time since 2005? Not so fast my friends… CJ still has to face the meat of its schedule with Middletown Fenwick (5-0), Dayton Carroll (3-2), Purcell Marian (1-4), Cincinnati Roger Bacon (1-4) and Kettering Alter (5-0) on the docket. But if the Eagles can win three of the remaining five games, they should be set up well to be a low-seed playoff team in Division III, Region 12 with its second level points. Keep an eye on sophomore quarterback Michael Simpson, who is third in the Greater Catholic League in passing with 783 yards on 61-of-94 attempts with five touchdowns and two interceptions. CJ won the Division II state championship in 2002. — MN
Cincinnati Moeller (5-0)
Cincinnati Moeller is one of the most renowned and celebrated football programs in Ohio having won seven state championships in school history but hasn’t hoisted the trophy in over two decades. The Crusaders have struggled in recent years with Cincinnati St. Xavier and Cincinnati Elder stealing all the headlines out of the GCL South and Region 4. This season, it is back to a three horse race. The Crusaders are perfect through the midway point of the season under second-year head coach John Rodenberg. Elder (5-0), which finished Division I state runner-up last season, and 2005 and 2007 state champ St. Xavier (4-1) top the Region 4 computer rankings halfway through the season with Moeller close behind in third.
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1 0 Te a m s T o W a t c h
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Despite heavy graduation losses, Alter is still rolling thanks to new junior QB Zane Pitzer and senior RB Nolan Wilson.
Could this be the year Moeller represents Region 4 in the state tournament? Just ask Notre Dame quarterback recruit Andrew Hendrix, Michigan State linebacker recruit Marcus Rush, Ball State tight end recruit Dan Schneider or Wake Forest offensive line recruit Jeff Tanner. Moeller certainly has the talent to make a run at it. Moeller plays Elder in Week 7 and St. X in the season finale. “Our schedule is tough, but I don’t think it’s as tough as it has been in the past,” Rodenberg said before the season. “We’re not playing several nationally ranked teams, as we have the last few years. But this schedule is tough enough.” — MN
Columbus Watterson (4-1)
This time last season, Columbus Bishop Watterson was in the same position it is now but this season the Eagles are hoping not to have the same second half to the regular season they did last year.
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Like last season, Watterson stands at 4-1 at the midway point but the Eagles are determined not to finish the regular season 1-4 like last season. They made the postseason last year at 5-5 with the tough regular season schedule but fell to rival Columbus DeSales in the first playoff game. Watterson is a 19-13 overtime loss to Cincinnati Winton Woods from being undefeated but are atop the Division III, Region 10 computer points, regardless, with huge wins over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-1) and Westerville South (3-2) and wins over Reynoldsburg (1-4) and Cleveland Benedictine (1-4). The toughest part of the schedule lays ahead, though, with Division I Cincinnati LaSalle (4-1), Columbus DeSales (3-2) on the road, Warren (Mich.) De LaSalle (3-2) on the road, Columbus St. Charles (4-1) and traditional power Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (5-0). Despite the tough road ahead, Watterson has the momentum and talent to make a run to the postseason and potentially further than the regional quarterfinals. — MN
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HS Football Midseason Report
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI finish last season earning Division V player of the year recognition for the 14-1 Eagles. “I believe I had a great career,” he said. “I got to play in the state championship and so many kids in high school don’t get to experience that – we came out on the wrong end of it – but I still got to experience it in Massillon. So, overall I think I had a pretty good career.” Without Craft, L-B lost its first game of the season to Elida 49-35 and its first regular season loss since August 2006. But the Eagles are riding a four game winning streak with senior linebacker-turned-quarterback Brett Pasche under center. “He has played quarterback since sixth grade,” Craft said. “He has a good arm and he is a pretty good athlete, too, so they’re still pretty set at the quarterback position.” — MN
Some state powers are back on top, while a few others have fallen flat; State’s weakest region? We got it.
Looking for the state’s weakest playoff region? Division II, Region 8 is it.
Only 11 of the 29 teams in D-II, Region 8 have a winning record and Trotwood-Madison, despite being 2-3, is No. 7 in computer points right now. The No. 8 team – Wilmington – has 4.7000 points and wouldn’t have enough points to be No. 8 in any D-III, IV or V region. In fact, Wilmington wouldn’t be a playoff team right now in two of four D-VI regions either. — EF
Marion Pleasant is 1-4
Only once in the last 14 years – a stretch that includes three state finals and two championships – has Marion Pleasant missed the playoffs. It’s about to be two. At 1-4, there aren’t enough points left on Pleasant’s schedule to get them into the postseason. There’s also too many talented teams in front of them that aren’t going to go away. — EF
West Carrollton is 4-1
The Pirates are without a league and much of a football tradition. This year they could establish a rare chapter in the latter. Only once – in 2005 – has West Carrollton mad the playoffs. The Pirates should earn their second berth this season in D-II, Region 8. West Carrollton’s next four games are against D-II teams that are a combined 3-16. It closes with D-III Goshen, which is currently 3-2. The remarkable part is that since it 7-56 season in 2005, West Carrollton had gone 5-24 the last three years, including 0-10 in 2006, this senior classes freshman season. — EF
Amanda-Clearcreek is 5-0
Much was made of the Miami (Fla.) early season schedule and how the Canes would be lucky to go 2-2 in their first four games. On the high school level, A-C resoundingly announced its return by tackling a similar gauntlet unscathed. Having missed the playoffs two straight years and finishing just 3-7 last season, A-C is undefeated and is rolling with key wins over Newark Catholic, Liberty Union and Logan Elm. The Aces are currently No. 1 in D-IV, Region 15 computer points. — EF
Coldwater is 5-0
Maybe not a huge surprise, but a surprise none the less considering the amount of talent lost from last year’s team – including Ohio State fullback Adam Homan and Miami (Ohio) pitcher Cory Klenke. Capable veteran and seasoned player Keith Wenning has stepped in for Klenke at QB and has the Cavs humming. Coldwater also owns one of the state’s more impressive resumes with wins over Kenton, Anna and Marion Local. Now that the Cavs are back down in D-V as well – watch-out. They’ll be around come late-November – again. — EF
Without Craft, Liberty-Benton is 4-1
One of the most prolific quarterbacks in the state decided to hang up his cleats a year early this season when Aaron Craft announced last summer he would not play football his senior year to focus on his future basketball career. The Ohio State hoops recruit led Findlay Liberty-Benton to a state runner-up
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Massillon Washington (5-0)
In only his second season at the helm of the famed Massillon Washington football program, head coach Jason Hall has his Tigers undefeated midway through the regular season. “Our kids had a great off-season,” Hall said before the season. “Our junior and senior classes are a very tight-knit group. We are having fun coaching them and they are responding by bringing it every day.” Massillon, which finished Division I state runner-up in 2005, is on the prowl for its first OHSAA state championship in school history behind senior quarterback Robert Partridge. He is 52-of-94 passing for 830 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Receiver Devin Smith has 18 catches for 355 yards and ten touchdowns. Alex Winters leads the ground game with 614 yards on 89 carries and nine touchdowns. The road ahead is rocky, though, as Massillon is set to face Ignatius (50), Steubenville (5-0), Warren Harding (3-1-1), Mentor (2-3) and bitter rival Canton McKinley (3-2) in the second half of the season. — MN
Upper Arlington is 2-3
The home of world-class golfer Jack Nicklaus is looking for a mulligan. Upper Arlington has made the playoffs four straight seasons but that streak is in serious jeopardy as the Golden Bears are off to a 2-3 start. Where to begin… UA lost to the No. 1-ranked team in the country Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 52-7 in the season-opener in the Herbstreit Varsity Series – no surprise there. The Bears bounced back in Week 2 against Beechcroft for a 28-20 win but fell to Findlay (1-4) the next week with nine players suspended for allegedly making a sexually explicit gesture in a team photograph that was published in the team program and local publications. The following week, UA lost to Thomas Worthington 17-9 for the first time since 1990 and squeaked by Worthington Kilbourne 22-21 last week but lost quarterback Kyle Cassidy to a collarbone injury. The Bears last started 2-3 in 2005 but made the playoffs that season only to fall in the first round. The season before when UA last missed the playoffs, the Bears also started 2-3. — MN
Strongsville is 1-4
Since 2000, Strongsville has made the playoffs six times missing the postseason from 2005-07 finishing 6-4 each of those three seasons. Last season was Strongsville’s most successful of the decade finishing 11-2 in the regional finals falling to eventual Division I state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius. If last season was day, this season is night. The Mustangs have been tamed this season with a dismal 1-4 record falling to Euclid (3-2), Mentor (2-3), Parma Padua Franciscan (4-1) and an overtime loss to Hudson (4-1). Strongsville finally got in the win column in Week 5 with a 31-3 win over perennial loser Lakewood. “We're awfully young and we've played two really good teams,” Jacques told the Cleveland Plain Dealer following the Mentor game. “Are we discouraged we lost both games? Absolutely. Are we discouraged in the way we played? Not really.” The road ahead doesn’t get any easier with Medina (3-2), Mayfield (5-0), Brunswick (4-1), Macedonia Nordonia (2-3) and Solon (5-0) looming on the horizon. — MN
Toledo St. Francis is 5-0
Toledo St. Francis DeSales experienced its only three losing seasons under
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Top 10 Surprises
Photo by Scott W. Grau / www.nwoprepsports.com
Toledo St. Francis is undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the Ohio High D-III Power Poll.
25-year head coach Dick Cromwell from 2006-08 going a combined 13-17. That was then…this is now. The Knights (5-0) are ranked No. 3 in the Ohio High Division III Power Poll and are off to thier first undefeated start since the early 1990s. Toledo St. Francis’ season has included a season-opening win over defending Division II state champion Sylvania Southview and a 7-6 win over rival Toledo St. John’s Jesuit in Week 5 as well as Cromwell’s 200th career win over Dayton Carroll in Week 3. Now, the Knights are on the quest for their first Toledo City League title since
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2004. The guts of the TCL schedule await. “It's been a rough three years not being in contention,” Cromwell told the Toledo Blade recently. “It's nice to think we might be in contention this year. “It's been hard on the whole program. We've had so many coaches stay with the program for so long, and it was tough on all of us to not be as competitive as we had been the previous 15 years.” The Knights won the TCL title from 2001-04 including the 2001 Division II state championship. — MN
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HS Football Midseason Report
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI Ignatius. He finished with 2,387 yards on 404 carries (5.9 average) with 31 touchdowns and had 81 tackles at linebacker with six tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. This season, Howard already has 108 carries under his belt for 699 yards and 15 touchdowns for Hoover. — MN
Braylon Heard, Youngstown Mooney
Big school signal callers, small school linebackers and several others in between
Reed Florence, South Charleston Southeastern
A four-year starter at QB for the Trojans, Florence has seen both the good and the bad. During his freshman year both he and the team took hits en route to an 0-10 season. After back-to-back 3-7 campaigns, Southeastern is rolling again at 4-1 (its most wins since going 8-3 and making the playoffs in 2002). Florence is a big reason why. The QB has thrown for 1,281 yards and 16 TDs in addition to rushing for four more scores. — EF
Patrick Angle, Logan
The Chieftains QB is one of the main ringleaders in Logan’s potent attack. A three-year starter, Angle has helped the Cheiftains run their Southeast Ohio Athletic League win streak to 30 games. The most recent victim? Ironton. Against the Tigers, Angle threw the game-winnign TD pass with 4:24 left and then secured the win with an interception on Ironton’s ensuing drive. He’s a playmaker – on both sides of the ball. To date this season Angle has twice completed a school-record 15 consecutive passes. In a Week 3 win over Hamilton Township he was 15-for-15 for 252 yards and four TDs and only played six offensive series in a 49-7 rout. — EF
Tyler Arigoni, Belmont Union Local
Senior LB (5-9, 165) is on pace to better last season’s heroic effort when he logged more than 180 tackles and recovered nine fumbles. Through five games, Arigoni is leading the state with 104 tackles (20.8 per game). He also has four sacks. — EF
Dan Pennington, Licking Heights
Among the state’s leaders in rushing and scoring, Pennington has run for over 200 yards in every game this season and has scored 22 TDs, including 20 on the ground. He’s a major factor in Lickings Heights 5-0 record right now. — EF
Heath Jackson, Ada
Depending on how serious the leg injury to Micthell Faine is, Jackson could be the permanent replacement for the All-Ohio signal caller who was hurt in the first half of Week 5’s win over Bluffton. The good news is that Jackson is a standout athlete who is headed to Bowling Green. He’s also the state’s leading receiver after five weeks (46 receptions, 743 yards, seven TDs). Now instead of catching the ball, he’ll get it snapped straight to him. — EF
Erick Howard, North Canton Hoover
Like the Heisman Trophy, only one player has ever won the prestigious Mr. Football award twice. Euclid running back Robert Smith was named the Buckeye State’s best player in 1988 and 1989 before starring at Ohio State and then in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. And like the Heisman Trophy, the 2009 season could mark the only second time a player has been name Mr. Ohio twice. North Canton Hoover (4-1) running back Erick Howard brought home the coveted award last season leading the Vikings to a 12-2 mark and their first trip to the state semifinals in more than 20 years before losing to Cleveland St.
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Following the divisional realignment last summer, losses to graduation and a buzz saw of a schedule ahead of it, it was unclear how Youngstown Cardinal Mooney’s season would go. Questions answered. Mooney (5-0) has silenced all doubters knocking off Division I Youngstown Boardman, Columbus DeSales, Elyria Catholic, Division I Warren Harding and Mentor Lake Catholic. The Cardinals can thank much of its success to senior running back Braylon Heard. Rated as the No. 17 prospect in the Class of 2010 by Ohio High, the West Virginia recruit has rushed for 585 yards on 65 carries (9.0 average) and seven touchdown tallying about 130 yards per game. — MN
Cole Stoudt, Dublin Coffman
The surname Stoudt is synonymous with quarterbacking and the latest in the line is living up to the family name. Dublin Coffman junior quarterback Cole Stoudt is following in the footsteps of his father and older brother throwing close to 1,000 yards through five games on 75-of-117 passing with 12 touchdowns and an interception in the Shamrocks spread offense. Stoudt led Coffman (5-0) in a Week 5 match up against undefeated Groveport-Madison to a 51-7 victory. “We knew this was a really big game so we just came out like it was a championship game and played all-out. It was great,” he said. He already has a scholarship offer to Louisville where his older brother Zach, a Coffman graduate, is a quarterback. He also has an offer to Cincinnati. Their father, Cliff, was a longtime quarterback in the NFL. Stoudt is rated as one of the top 20 players in the in the state for the Class of 2011 by Ohio High magazine. — MN
The Backfield, Colerain
They say things come in threes and that has been the case for Colerain in the first half of the season. After losing its first two games to Cincinnati powers St. Xavier and Elder, the Cardinals have reeled off three straight wins behind the three-headed monster of the patented triple option offense. Senior quarterback Greg Tabar has been the catalyst on offense rushing for 565 yards on 79 carries and five touchdowns. He has also thrown for a rare score through the air. Coming off a sophomore campaign where he ranked No. 2 in rushing in the Greater Miami Conference, Tyler Williams has tallied 479 yards on 50 rushes and five touchdowns. He has also reeled in eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Fellow junior Trayion Durham has added 209 yards on 37 carries at the fullback position in three games. Head coach Tom Bolden credits the offensive line for their success. “We feel like our offensive line will be built more like a triple option line,” he said before the season. “They are very athletic. Our guys have worked hard in the weight room.” — MN
Mark Miller, Cincinnati Elder
Cincinnati Elder senior quarterback Mark Miller spearheaded the Panthers run to the Division I state runner-up finish last season with 3,331 yards on 228-of342 attempts with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In 2009, it’s ‘Miller Time’ again – which could mean it’s Elder’s time. Miller has paced Elder to wins over East St. Louis (Ill.), Colerain, Louisville (Ky.) Trinity, Cincinnati LaSalle and Lakewood St. Edward. He has thrown for 1,029 yards in 93-of-133 attempts (69.9 percent) with 11 touchdowns and two picks. Miller has also run for another touchdown. “Mark understands the game,” Elder head coach Doug Ramsey said. “He is a very accurate quarterback and gets the ball to the open receiver as fast as any quarterback I’ve ever had. He has an uncanny ability to find the open guy and his release is very quick.” Elder (5-0) is currently ranked No. 3 in the country by USA Today and will take on No. 25-ranked Cincinnati St. Xavier this week.” — MN
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10 Players To Watch
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Photo by Gary Housteau
North Canton Hoover senior Erick Howard, the reigning Mr. Football, has 699 yards and 15 TDs through five games.
J J H U D D L E . C O M 13
Ohio Recruiting
STORY BY MARK PORTER
Stock up? These 10 players have helped themselves immensely in five weeks when it comes to college recruiting
Through the first five weeks of the high school football season, several players have turned in substantial individual efforts that have helped their stock in regards to college recruiting.
The following are the Top 10 players who have raised their recruiting stock the most, thus far:
Steve Mehrer, SS, Dublin Jerome Moving to SS shows of his speed and ability to deliver a big hit on the ball carrier. Chase Hammond, WR, Boardman Hammond, who missed all of 2008, has played very well in 2009. He’s a huge target at 6-4 and runs very well. Keith Wenning, QB, Coldwater QB impressed coaches this summer and backed it up with his performance so far in 2009. Wenning earned his first offer from Ball State after Week 4.
Allen Jones, RB, Youngstown Ursuline Jones, a junior, led his team to the state title last year and he got bigger and faster in the offseason. Jones should earn his first D-I offer this season.
Andy Jomantas, OL, Chaminade Julienne Jomantas added some weight in the offseason which will move him up the board for D-I coaches. Jewone Snow, LB, Canton McKinley Physical player dominated at times in 2008. Increased quickness and speed from a solid offseason has made him a terror in 2009.
Aaron Morris, DB, Glenville All you need to do is watch tape of Morris versus Week 1 opponent St Ignatius. He blew up the ball carrier more than a few times.
Jake Ryan, LB, St Ignatius Ryan saw limited playing time in 2008 but he made a mark for himself during summer camps. He’s already got some MAC offers, but the Big 10 may come calling when his 2009 game film gets out.
Mark Myers, QB, St Ignatius Myers started as a sophomore then backed up Andrew Holland in 2008. He has stolen the show in 2009 and caught the eye of D-I coaches with his performances so far this season. Tuesday he committed to Pitt.
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Cleveland St. Ignatius senior QB Mark Myers has made recruiters take note during the first five weeks of the season. Myers committed to Pitt on Tuesday.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Marvin Logan, LB/DE, Warren Harding Not too many DE/LB combos can play WR. Logan does and has speed to burn. He should transition to LB in college and is just to fast to ignore.
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