CLEVELAND, Ohio – Check out a preview capsule and prediction for the Week 5 football matchup between  Lincoln West and Rhodes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Check out a preview capsule and prediction for the Week 5 football matchup between  Lincoln West and Rhodes.

What: Senate Athletic Conference game.

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Rhodes High, 5100 Biddulph Ave, Cleveland. Call 216-459-4200. 

Records: Rhodes (0-4, 0-1), Lincoln West (1-3, 0-1).

What to watch: Entering its Week 4 matchup, Lincoln West's only win came in Week 3 against Open Door Christian Academy, 32-7, a school in the midst of its first year playing a varsity schedule. Aside from that game, the Wolverines have only scored one touchdown in each of their three losses on the season and has given up an even 100 points on the season so far. They lost to East Tech in the first conference game the season in Week 5. 

After holding its own in a 28-20 Week 1 loss to Brooklyn, Rhodes has struggled in the three weeks since. During that stretch, opponents have outscored Rhodes 117-12 in losses to Trinity (39-6), John Hay (44-6) and Glenville (34-0). 

cleveland.com pick: Lincoln West.

AKRON, Ohio – As one of the best running backs in the region and a future Buckeye, asking a girl to the homecoming dance seems like a simple move. Yet this week – St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Archbishop Hoban week no less – deciding on a homecoming invitation for his girlfriend was one of Parris Campbell Jr.’s biggest worries....

AKRON, Ohio – As one of the best running backs in the region and a future Buckeye, asking a girl to the homecoming dance seems like a simple move.

Yet this week – St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Archbishop Hoban week no less – deciding on a homecoming invitation for his girlfriend was one of Parris Campbell Jr.’s biggest worries.

The Irish senior sat at his kitchen table in Akron next to his mom, Shelly Woodruff, discussing the possibilities.

“We could make shirts that say ‘Will you go to homecoming with me?” said Woodruff.

“No, it needs some (swag),” Campbell said. 

“How about you write it on your car window and go pick her up,” Woodruff said of the white Chevy Impala she surprised her only son with earlier that night.

“No! That’s definitely on the list,” he said.

The list was from Campbell’s girlfriend, a SVSM soccer player, on the ways not to ask her to homecoming. Don’t write it on a car window. Don’t come to her soccer game and write it on a soccer ball.

“Get a dozen roses and walk up to her and ask, ‘Will you go to homecoming with me,” Campbell’s grandmother, Cassie McGowan, suggested from the living room.

He rolled his eyes, folded his arms across his Indians T-shirt and slouched in his chair.

This is the life of the 16-year-old, Ohio State commit. The four-star prospect, who is known for his incredible field vision and speed, has another side. It centers on the women in his family. It’s been that way all his life.

Chat live with Campbell today on cleveland.com from 11-11:30 a.m. here. Start asking your questions now here.

His first word was 'Momma.' The family soon came to learn the baby’s first word would define him.

At age 2, Campbell’s parents divorced.  Woodruff, along with help from her parents and sister, raised ‘Little P.’ His dad, Parris Campbell Sr., had occasional contact until father and son developed a better relationship a few years ago.

He attended Akron’s St. Mary elementary school. Within the first few weeks of kindergarten, Woodruff was asked about pushing her son to first grade after a show-and-tell. Kids showed off their photos and mementos. When it was Campbell’s turn, he started reading the book he brought. The book had chapters, with no pictures.

“Kids around him always played with toys,” McGowan said, “and he would be reading.”

Woodruff moved her son to first grade and watched him grow. Campbell, whose grade-point average is around 3.5, developed an obsession for shoes. His collection includes Vans, Sperrys and basketball shoes designed by greats Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and, of course, the Irish’s most famous alum, LeBron James.

“I love shoes and so does his granny,” said Woodruff, who works for the Summit County Prosecutor’s office. “We stand in line for shoes. His granny got smashed like SpongeBob at the mall before Christmas, just so we could get him a pair of shoes.”

His mom learned to add sugar to his food. Campbell loves it. So when Woodruff makes his favorite spaghetti with ground beef and sausage, she adds the secret Parris “spice.” Her husband, Reuben Woodruff, uses hot sauce to cover up the sweet flavor.

Back at the Akron family home after a football practice this week, Campbell’s 4-year-old sister, Jeriah, was standing in the kitchen looking for something to eat. He picked her up and held her as she pressed her cheek next to his and clung to his neck.

Campbell will rest his head on his mom’s shoulder while they sit on the couch watching TV. They talk about everything – from grades to girls.

And when he gives his mom a kiss, he tends to do it on the lips instead of the cheek, something his football buddies find disgusting.

“They’re always say, ‘Gross, you kiss your mom!’” Campbell said. “I don’t care. She’s my mom. She’s my everything.”

From age 3 to his junior year, Woodruff never missed an event – a school production, a football or basketball game or a track meet.

That changed this spring when she was diagnosed with lupus, an immune system disease.

“It just wasn’t the same,” Campbell said of those track meets. “I didn’t get the same vibe. It didn’t come as easy. Usually she’s the loudest one there.

“But it’s a good thing, to deal with adversity. I got her through and she got me through.”

It’s been that way between mother and son for years.

Campbell’s relationship with his father, who played running back for Akron North, has steadily improved over the years. These days, they talk after games and play video games together.

“He’s a bright kid,” said Parris Sr., an Akron resident who works in construction. “He’s got his head on right. He’s not, ‘Oh, I’m the man.’ He’s very humble and that’s one of the things I like. He’s not on the streets. He’s very kind to other people and very respectful.”

Campbell has wanted to play for Ohio State since he was a child.

His biggest breakout came in December in the Division III state championship game against Bellevue in Canton. With Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer on the sidelines, Campbell rushed for 168 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Irish win. It capped a 1,353-yard and 28-TD season.

The state title performance helped lead to a scholarship offer from Meyer, which he accepted in February.

But right now Campbell, a 6-foot, 184-pounder who runs a 4.41 40-yard dash, is not focused on Ohio State’s Saturdays. He has his own bright lights to play beneath and he wants to make the most of it.

The Irish, ranked second in the cleveland.com’s Top 25, look to move to 5-0 on Friday when they play chief rival Archbishop Hoban at InfoCision Stadium.

“If I think too much about Ohio State, then I won’t have as much fun my senior year,” Campbell said.

Like the fun of asking his girlfriend to homecoming or trying to convince his mom to let him rent a Porsche to drive to prom.

Parris Campbell Jr. shares a close bond with his mom, cousin and granny. (Courtesy of Shelly Woodruff)

“What if you put it in the newspaper,” Woodruff said, referring to his still unsolved way to invite his girlfriend to homecoming.

Campbell laughed.

Woodruff finally proposed pulling a prank.

“Oh my gosh, that’s awesome,” said Campbell, who wouldn’t share the details for obvious reasons.

The worry was over. Thanks to his mom, the Buckeye commit's homecoming invitation was planned.

Stephanie Kuzydym can be reached on Twitter (@stephkuzy)

Since the Browns came back in 1999 they have been searching for their star, a player that the team can build the franchise around. With the exception of a few glimpses here and there (WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow), the Browns have come up short in their search.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Since the Browns came back in 1999 they have been searching for their star, a player that the team can build the franchise around or someone to become the face of the organization. With the exception of a few glimpses here and there (WR Braylon Edwards and TE Kellen Winslow), the Browns haven't been very lucky in their search.

This weekend, the Browns will see what a star looks like. No, not Bengals' QB Andy Dalton, but WR A.J. Green. He has played just two years in the NFL and has made the Pro Bowl both season. But who is the star for the Cleveland Browns? Is there even a player on the roster that fits the description?

When the team used first-round picks on RB Trent Richardson and QB Brandon Weeden in 2012, it looked like both guys had potential to emerge. It hasn't worked out for either guy.

Richardson was traded to Indianapolis last week, a trade that Former President Mike Holmgren blasted. If you listen to what Holmgren has to say, the Browns' best player is currently taking handoffs from Andrew Luck. Weeden isn't guaranteed his starting job when he returns from injury. 

WR Josh Gordon had 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown last weekend. OT Joe Thomas has been to the Pro Bowl every year he's been in the NFL. Opposing QBs have started throwing away from CB Joe Haden because of the talent he's flashed. DE Desmond Bryant has consistently been in the opponents' backfield. And TE Jordan Cameron has turned heads with four touchdowns in three games.

So who is the Browns' best player and why? Share your comments in the section below. 

Cleveland.com's stats-driven Believe-O-Meter shows shoots up, reflecting the team's hot streak heading into the final weekend of the season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Indians head into the final weekend of the season on a six-game winning streak and positioned to win a wild-card playoff spot. And, reflecting this trend, cleveland.com's stats-driven Believe-O-Meter is on the rise.

55	39	72
Overall	Heart	Head

The meter, an index taking into account on-field performance and fan interest, reads a 55 this week on a scale of 1-to-100.

That's up from a 51 on Sept. 16 and a season-low 45 a week earlier on Sept. 9.

The primary reason the meter isn't higher is because of the fan factors - or the heart part of the Believe-O-Meter. Despite a large crowd for the final home game, attendance averaged just 17,854 over the last 10 home games. And the Browns are grabbing a big share of the interest from sports fans.

The stats-driven Believe-O-Meter shown here is an alternate way to judge the Indians' hopes this season to the subjective fan-driven Believe-O-Meter. You can be part of that separate rating by voicing your opinion at this link.

Here's how we come up with the stats-driven Believe-O-Meter rating, an average of our head and heart indexes.

• For the head (currently a 72, up from 69): We've created an index that takes into account the Indians' record over the last 10 games, the overall record for the year, games behind first place, and the team's American League ranking for runs scored and runs allowed.

• For the heart (currently a 39, up from a 33): The index factors in attendance over the last 10 home games and readership over the last week on cleveland.com for Indians stories vs. stories about the Browns, the Cavs and Ohio State. The start of football season was not kind to the Indians.
  

Today's fan-driven
average so far

Place your vote

In the meantime, don't miss out on the chance to voice your own opinion.  Visit the fan-driven Believe-O-Meter to register how you're feeling about the Tribe today.

Indians Believe-O-Meter rates a six.Bill Neff, The Plain Dealer

Our Ohio State coverage crew selects key players to watch for the Buckeyes' nationally televised night game against Big Ten foe Wisconsin on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Each week, our esteemed panel of Ohio State reporters will select a few players to watch. On Saturday, the Buckeyes will host Wisconsin at 8 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium.

Zack Meisel chooses LB Curtis Grant:

I'm not the only one to single out Grant as a key player for Saturday. So, too, did head coach Urban Meyer, in so many words. Meyer referred to the Big Ten opener as a potential "defining moment" in Grant's career. Nothing like a little public motivation from your coach.

For a middle linebacker, Grant has spent an awful lot of time on the sideline this season. The Buckeyes have faced a few pass-happy opponents, and thus, they have employed more nickel, dime and penny packages, schemes that involve five, six and seven defensive backs. In those situations, Ryan Shazier often remains the only linebacker on the field.

That won't be the case on Saturday, as Wisconsin tries to execute its patented power rushing attack. Ohio State's front seven could be essential in determining how the game unfolds. Grant might be the fulcrum on which the outcome hinges. In his first legitimate test of the season, can he make tackles and slow down Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher, and James White, who ranks 10th in the country in yards gained on the ground?

Ari Wasserman chooses DL Adolphus Washington:

At the beginning of the season I said that Ohio State’s national championship hopes will hinge on two things – quarterback Braxton Miller and the performance of the defensive line. I said the latter because the Buckeyes had to replace all four starters from last season along the defensive front, including two dominant forces in Johnathan Hankins and John Simon. But I thought this year’s team was in good shape, largely in part to Adolphus Washington’s presence.

But Washington has missed the last two games – and the majority of the San Diego State game three weeks ago – with a groin injury. A nagging injury, no doubt, but Urban Meyer said that Washington is expected back on the field when the No. 4-ranked Buckeyes host Wisconsin on Saturday.

Washington’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Buckeyes. The Badgers will bring their typical power-run offensive philosophy, and the biggest test will be on Ohio State’s defense and whether it can stop Wisconsin from taking what they want on the ground. A player that should help Ohio State’s cause is Washington, and I chose him as my key player because I want to see how he comes out in a tough game like this after missing time with an injury. Washington’s play, either way, should go a long way in determining how Ohio State’s defense plays as a whole.

Doug Lesmerises chooses RB/WR Dontre Wilson: Wilson didn't carry the ball at all last week against Florida A&M and caught just three passes for 12 yards. For the season he has 23 touches - 13 carries for 126 yards and 10 catches for 84 yards. That's an average of less than six touches per game. He should get at least double that against the Badgers.

With Braxton Miller back at quarterback, Carlos Hyde more in the mix after carrying just five times last week in his return from a three-game suspension, plus Wilson, Jordan Hall and those receivers, the Ohio State offense should take it to a new level this week. The key will be stretching the Wisconsin defense side-to-side to then allow Hall and Hyde to hit the Badgers up the middle and Devin Smith to attack them down the field.

That means Wilson. The Buckeyes have a speed edge, so four or five jet sweep handoffs and another four or five quick screens or swing passes to Wilson should be the minimum for him. We saw him get to the edge against Cal and take off, given space by great blocking from Evan Spencer and Jeff Heuerman, and there should be more of that Saturday night.

Wilson is averaging 9.1 yards per touch and he does have his first touchdown. But I don't think we've really seen him yet. Urban Meyer and Tom Herman might unveil brand new ways for the freshman to get loose.

"I'm way faster than a lot of people and I've got to prove that," Wilson said after the San Diego State win.

Saturday is a good time to do that.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer updated the status of quarterback Braxton Miller for the No. 4-ranked Buckeyes Big Ten opener against Wisconsin on Saturday. That, and other updates from Meyer's radio show on 97.1 The Fan, inside.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Quick hits from Urban Meyer's radio show on 97.1 The Fan on Thursday afternoon: 

Joe Thomas has not missed a snap since he was drafted in 2007.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Joe Thomas plays in his 100th consecutive game Sunday when the Browns host the Bengals in FirstEnergy Stadium, writes Jeff Schudel in The News-Herald.

That means Thomas has not missed a snap since he was drafted third overall in 2007.

Thomas, Schudel writes, has been a Pro Bowl left tackle each year he has been in the league. He participated in 6,054 consecutive offensive snaps.

“For me, it’s a point of pride because it’s really hard to stay healthy in this league for 16 games, much less doing it from season to season,” Thomas said Wednesday in the locker room. “It’s also a point of pride that I haven’t missed a snap yet because a big part of playing on the offensive line is being able to stay healthy.”

Thomas will play his 13th game against the Bengals on Sunday. Thomas is 4-8 against the Bengals.

More Browns and NFL news

Brian Hoyer eager to play on same field as idol (Cleveland.com).

Jim Brown rips Mike Holmgren during TV interview (Cleveland.com).

Barkevious Mingo should get plenty of action on Sunday (Cleveland.com).

Bengals coach makes interesting observation about the Browns (CantonRep.com).

Akron native Antoine Winfield will consider NFL return (NFL.com).

Terrelle Pryor still not practicing since concussion (Oakland Tribune).

Former San Diego Chargers DB Paul Oliver commits suicide (UTSanDiego.com).

Bengals beat writer recaps last week's thriller (Cincinnati.com).

Rookie RB may start for the Steelers on Sunday (Post-Gazette).

Jacoby Jones makes first public comments since incident (Baltimore Sun).

Tight end Keavon Milton joins his cousin with the Cleveland Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Getting waived is never easy to swallow for a young NFL player, but those emotions quickly change once a player is claimed.

Undrafted rookie tight end Keavon Milton found himself in that situation once he was released by the New Orleans Saints late this summer. Not only was Milton relieved when he got picked up by the Cleveland Browns, but joining the Browns provided an added bonus.

Milton and Browns defensive back Josh Aubrey are cousins.

"I'm thankful to have another chance," said Milton, during a "Talking Shop" interview at Dylan's Barber Salon on West 9th Street. "Being on the same team as a relative is special. Of course, all of our relatives are happy for us."

Can you believe three weeks have been played in fantasy football? If your team is off to a slow start, don't panic. There is still plenty of time to turn things around. However, it may be time to start analyzing where your roster is coming up short. Work a trade, run to the waiver wire, start playing matchups are three good ways to change your fortune. Last week unheralded stars emerged to help out owners.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Can you believe three weeks have been played in fantasy football? If your team is off to a slow start, don't panic. There is still plenty of time to turn things around. However, it may be time to start analyzing where your roster is coming up short. Work a trade, run to the waiver wire, start playing matchups are three good ways to change your fortune. Last week unheralded stars emerged to help out owners. Steelers WR Antonio Brown turned in an epic Sunday night performance (9 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns). Carolina QB Cam Newton finally busted out only in time to head on a bye. Who will it be this week? Who should you start? Who should you sit? What to watch for this weekend? And what sleepers will be awoken? It's another edition of Fedor's Fantasy Five. Look for it every week.

Starts

QB - Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben is quietly coming off his best game of the season (404 yards and two touchdowns). This weekend he heads across the pond to take on the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, the Vikings' pass defense (316 yards per game) is still terrible in Europe, too. 

RB - Darren McFadden – He looked headed for a dreadful performance on Monday Night Football (12 carries for 9 yards). But he saved his owners with a passing touchdown and a short plunge. This weekend he gets to play the Washington Redskins. Through the air or on the ground, the 'Skins can't stop anyone (488 yards per game).

RB - Bilal Powell – The new starting running back for the Jets was a popular pick up this week. He is coming off a career game (27 carries for 149 yards). Chris Ivory is dealing with a hamstring injury so there is no one else to take carries away from Powell. Even in a tough matchup against the surprising Titans, Powell should have a fine Sunday afternoon.

WR - A.J. Green – "No duh Chris! We would never consider sitting Green!" Maybe not, but I have gotten a few questions about him this week because he is going up against Browns CB Joe Haden. The matchup isn't easy. Haden has proven to be a problem for lots of receivers. Not Green though. A.J. has eaten up the Browns (18 catches, 344 yards and four touchdowns in four games). Haden missed one of the games due to suspension, but Green's best game (7 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns) came with Haden on the field. 

WR - Torrey Smith – Smith hasn't been great this season, but he's been very consistent. The new No. 1 WR in Baltimore has at least 85 yards in every game. Now, if only he could get into the end zone. Perhaps it's this weekend against the banged up Bills secondary that allowed both Santonio Holmes and Stephen Hill to top 100 yards receiving.

Sits

QB - Matt Schaub – This is in case you didn't learn after last week's clunker. He threw for under 200 yards and no touchdowns against the Baltimore defense. Now just imagine Schaub against the best pass defense in the NFL (Seattle) this weekend. Yikes. 

The time has come to bench San Diego RB Ryan Mathews.Associated Press

RB - Ryan Mathews – Things looked so promising for Mathews at the beginning of the year. He got into the end zone in San Diego's first game and he got up after every carry. It's been downhill since. He has seen at 15 touches in each of the first three weeks, but he hasn't done anything with them. Danny Woodhead will take carries away and now it appears Ronnie Brown will as well.

RB - Rashard Mendenhall – He is banged up – again – and he plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. Tampa is allowing under four yards per carry and is one of three teams yet to allow a rushing touchdown this year. It all adds up to you looking for a better option this weekend.

WR - Mike Williams – If Williams finds the end zone, he has a good fantasy day. He just doesn't do enough otherwise to warrant being a starter. Rookie QB Mike Glennon is getting the start this weekend. That's not a good thing for anyone in Tampa Bay.

WR - Roddy White – I have a new rule. I just came up with it today. I'm not starting White until he has a four-catch game. What do you know? He hasn't had one yet this season. He played 11 more snaps than he did in Week Two so he's making progress. He's just not there yet. Sit him.

Sleepers

Chiefs QB Alex Smith could fill the bye-week void.Associated Press

QB - Alex Smith – If you're an owner of Panthers' QB Cam Newton or Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers then you should give the Kansas City QB a long look this weekend. He is coming off a 270-yard passing day. Don't expect that to be the case every week, but he does play against the worst scoring defense in the NFL this weekend (New York Giants) so that could lead to a productive day.

RB - Jason Snelling – Did you see what he did last week against the Miami Dolphins? Over 100 total yards and a touchdown is not too shabby. Many people will play the other running back in Atlanta, Jacquizz Rodgers, but Snelling has performed every time he has had an extended opportunity. I expect it to continue this weekend.

RB - Ronnie Hillman – I expect him to win the paper, scissors, rock game in Denver this weekend. He has looked fast and explosive. His carries will still be limited, but Philadelphia is giving up over 115 yards per game on the ground (T-23^rd). It also helps that Montee Ball has caught a case of fumblitis.

WR - Denarius Moore – Moore has always been talented. His problem has been injuries. Staying healthy has allowed him to emerge as QB Terrelle Pryor's favorite target. In Week One, Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson had 104 yards and a touchdown against Washington's porous secondary. Green Bay's James Jones had over 170 yards receiving against them. And last week, it was Detroit's Nate Burleson that got in on the act (116 yards). It's Moore's turn this week.

WR - Emmanuel Sanders – Who is the most targeted Steelers' wide receiver? It's not Antonio Brown. It's Emmanuel Sanders. The production hasn't been great, but he's quietly averaging nearly 60 yards per game. The Minnesota secondary has given up the most touchdowns (9) this season. Sanders could find the end zone for the first time.

What I'm watching

Will the real Colin Kaepernick please stand up – Kaepernick shredded the Green Bay defense in Week One. He threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. It looked like his breakout season was coming. Then he went to Seattle and looked befuddled. Many, including myself, chalked that up to playing the tough Seahawks' defense on the road. However, his Week Two struggles continued this past weekend against Indianapolis. Can he bounce back tonight?

The debut of Lions WR Ryan Broyles – He was one of the most productive college receivers of all-time while at Oklahoma. He also dealt with knee injuries. Broyles is healthy again. And this week he is slated to start opposite Calvin Johnson. With Megatron seeing most of the attention, Broyles could have a big role in the Lions' offense.

Trent Richardson in Indianapolis – Most fantasy owners used a first-round pick on T-Rich. He hasn't come close to living up to that. Indianapolis limited him last week against the 49ers, but he still found the end zone. Ahmad Bradshaw will have a role in the offense, but I expect T-Rich's role to increase in a great matchup against the Jaguars.

Will Gio Bernard continue to cut into BenJarvus Green-Ellis' touches? It is starting to happen in Cincinnati. The Bengals are starting to realize that Bernard is the best running back on the roster. Gio had the same amount of carries as Green-Ellis in Week Three. If it continues this weekend, Bernard can be a fantasy force.

The long-awaited NFL debut of Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell is finally here.Associated Press

The debut of Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell – Fantasy owners that stashed the injured Bell have been waiting for this. So have the Steelers. The running game has been a disaster. Bell won't be a savior, but he could get 20+ touches per game which would make him a weekly flex option at the worst.

Bold Predictions

Steelers TE Heath Miller becomes fantasy relevant and it starts this weekend – He made his season debut (knee) Sunday night and had three catches. This weekend he plays the Vikings, who have allowed every tight end to score a touchdown against them. Last year Miller was a Top 5 fantasy TE. He might not get back that high, but Big Ben will look for him.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris plays like the 2012 version this weekend – Last year Morris went from undrafted to fantasy star. It started early too. This year, he hasn't been spectacular, but is quietly averaging over 5.5 yards per carry. If Washington gets a lead, which is a big if, he could be in line for a big fantasy weekend.

Darren Sproles finds the end zone for the first time this season – It has been a disappointing year for Sproles. He has just 65 yards rushing. With RB Mark Ingram less than 100 percent, this could be the weekend for Sproles to get more involved in the running game. They will need him involved as much as possible in the passing game as well after seeing what Atlanta was able to do with Jason Snelling last weekend against Miami.

Terrelle Pryor will be a Top 10 QB this weekend – His status is still up in the air after leaving Monday's game early. Pryor has been a pleasant surprise this season and if there is a game he would like to play, it's this weekend. Washington has allowed over 1450 yards. In a game where defense will be optional, he could make big things happen with his legs and his arm.

Titans RB Chris Johnson is the disappointing back this week – I don't know exactly when this happened, but the Jets have become a Top 10 run defense. Bucs RB Doug Martin (24 carries for 65 yards) couldn't find room to run. Patriots RB Stevan Ridley (16 carries for 40 yards) was stifled. And C.J. Spiller had more carries (10) than yards (9) against the defense. Johnson will be the focus of Rex's defense this weekend, which is bad news for him.

A career that seemed destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame would take a sudden turn a year later.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sixty years later, Al Rosen remembers the at-bat like it was yesterday. Rarely has a ground ball in a season's final game meant more to a Cleveland Indian.

Even though he jokes, “I'm too old to think about those things,'' he can and he will, and he's flattered you even asked. Rosen was never one to put on airs. He's not about to start now, at age 89. Rosen's old hot stove league buddies would not allow it.

Because we inquired, he was more than willing to oblige in a phone conversation from his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., this week.

It was 60 years ago Friday – Sept. 27, 1953 – and Rosen walked to the plate at Municipal Stadium leading the American League in home runs. He led the league in RBI. And as he stepped in to face Detroit lefty Al Aber with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rosen needed one more hit to lead the league in batting average.

The right-handed slugger known as “Flip” to his longtime friends and “The Hebrew Hammer'' to baseball fans was on the verge of something truly historic – baseball's Triple Crown. The champion of all three offensive categories didn't really receive a crown or even a real trophy for what was – and still is – considered among the most difficult achievements in all of sports. Only five others had won the American League's Triple Crown before 1953, and all of them are in the Baseball Hall of Fame today – Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams, who did it twice.

So, baseball history and possibly more was riding on this at-bat in an otherwise meaningless, season-ending game between the second-place Indians and sixth-place Detroit.

View full sizeAl Rosen in 2006 during a visit to Cleveland. Rosen, 89, is retired and lives in Rancho Mirage, Calif.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Rosen, however, didn't see it that way then, and it's clear by the force in his voice he still doesn't.

“I'm not sure to this day I had the triple crown on my mind,'' he said. “I'm flattered by the attention it gets, but it was just another ballgame to me, and I approached every game with the same kind of fire and intensity that I needed to win.

“I know this sounds funny, but you try to do your best and that's all you can do. Anybody that saw me play knows that every at-bat was a battle with me.''

Rosen entered the game trailing his former teammate, Washington Senators first baseman Mickey Vernon, in batting average, .336-.333. In his first four at-bats, Rosen had two singles, a double and a groundout, which raised his average to .336.

Aber started the game for Detroit and was trying to finish it against Rosen, leading 7-3. Rosen knew Aber well, because Cleveland had traded him to Detroit in June. The infield was playing deep, almost inviting Rosen to bunt. Rosen was a fairly good runner, but didn't want to win the batting title on a bunt.

“He didn't get the ball over the plate, and I kept fouling off pitches,'' Rosen said. “There was as much pressure on him as there was on me. He was trying to do his job, and I was trying to do mine, but there was never anything good to hit. It was a tough at-bat.''

Aber threw inside and apparently hit Rosen.

“I yelled, 'Foul ball!' and the umpire (Johnny Stevens) yelled, 'Foul ball!'” Rosen said. “It was really a battle. I couldn't tell you what the last pitch was that I hit, but I can say he was just trying to get the ball over the plate and I didn't get good contact.''

Rosen struck a grounder to yet another former teammate, third baseman Ray Boone, who also had been part of the June trade. Boone charged and threw across the diamond to first baseman Walt Dropo.

Rosen charged down the line and his foot appeared to land before the ball reached Dropo. Umpire Hank Soar called Rosen out, and several Indians sprang from the dugout to protest. Rosen immediately told his teammates to back off.

After the game, Soar told reporters, "He missed the bag."

Cleveland journalist Bill Levy, who covered the game, said this week Rosen's final stride was more of a leap, and his foot came down in front of the base.

“He jumped toward it and came about six inches short,'' Levy said.

Rosen remembers it the same way. “It was a close call, but Hank Soar made the right call,'' he said.

Rosen's final batting average was .335559, which rounded up to .336. He had 201 hits in 599 at-bats.

The close call was appropriate, given how the batting title race ended. Vernon was 2-for-4 the same day against the Philadelphia A's, and he finished the season hitting .337171.

The extra digits are noteworthy because, had Rosen been safe, he would have finished hitting .337228. He would have won the batting title and the triple crown by .000057.

Rosen hit 43 home runs and had 145 RBI.

The totality of Rosen's 1953 season cannot be measured in homers, RBI and batting average. Relative to the rest of the league that year, he had one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history. In addition to leading the American League in RBI by 30, his 115 runs scored was eight more than runner-up Eddie Yost.

Rosen's on-base percentage (.422) led the league by 12 points among those with enough qualifying at-bats. He had 75 extra-base hits, which also was first in the AL.

In addition, he led the league in slugging percentage (.613) by 64 points, on-base plus slugging percentage (1.034) by 113 points, and total bases (367) by 52 bases. Those margins are among the largest in each category since World War II. His total bases were 70 more than he had in 1952, when he also led the AL.

(That's a lot of numbers. Baseball fans love numbers. For baseball stat fanatics, here's a couple more: Rosen's wins-above-replacement was 10.1, and next highest was pitcher Virgil Trucks at 6.5. Rosen's 151 runs created led the AL by 27 runs.)

It was no wonder Rosen was voted American League's Most Valuable Player by baseball writers. The only other Indian to win the award since it began in 1931 is Lou Boudreau, who did so as player-manager of the 1948 World Series champions.

Rosen won the MVP in a unanimous vote. Levy was with Rosen when he heard the news at the old Ambassador Hotel in Cleveland, and Levy said Rosen was stunned.

View full sizeCleveland Indians third-baseman Al Rosen at training camp in 1953, before the start of a season that is considered among the greatest ever by a player who is not in baseball's Hall of Fame.Associated Press

This week, Rosen sounded as though it still was sinking in.

“To have been selected unanimously was a shocking event in my life, and one that I've never forgotten and am deeply appreciative of,'' he said.

How could he be surprised? He dominated the league.

“There were other players in the league who had good years, too,'' he said. “At that time there were only 24 votes, and to get each vote was ... when I say shocking, I was really shocked. It was hard not to cast a vote for (Yogi) Berra, (Mickey) Mantle, Vernon or (Minnie) Minoso. If you were a hometown writer, you might have wanted to vote for one of them.''

Rosen's perspective comes as little surprise to those who know him.

“He's such a humble guy,'' Levy said.

The unanimous vote had deeper meaning for Rosen. The only other American League MVP to receive every vote at that time had been Hank Greenberg, the original “Hebrew Hammer.'' Greenberg was a childhood hero to Rosen, who battled anti-Semitism throughout his youth and his playing career.

Rosen wrote each voter a letter, thanking him.

No Indians player has won the award since.

Baseball historians consider Rosen's 1953 season among the best by any player not in the Hall of Fame. Rosen appeared headed to Cooperstown if he continued to play near that level. In 1950, he was Rookie of the Year after hitting .302 and leading the AL in homers with 37. He was among the league leaders in several categories in 1951 and '52.

Traditionally a slow starter, Rosen began 1954 so hot, some began to wonder if he would challenge Lou Gerhig's league record of 184 RBI, which still stands. Through 41 games, Rosen was hitting .361 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI. He was on a pace for 184 RBI.

Ironically, Gehrig would play an unseen role in shortening Rosen's rising career.

Rosen had shifted from third base to first base in 1954 because Indians management thought rookie third baseman Rudy Regalado would give the lineup some added pop. On May 31 against the White Sox, Rosen suffered a badly broken right index finger fielding a sharp grounder hit by Ferris Fain.

“I stuck my finger right into it,'' Rosen said.

Rosen stayed in the game. Barely able to grip the bat, he played the next game (1-for-5), and the next (1-for-4), and the next (0-for-3), and he kept on playing. He didn't have the finger examined by an orthopedic surgeon until the team was in Philadelphia three weeks later. The doctor told him it was one of the worst breaks he'd seen.

View full sizeYankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Horse," wipes away a tear during his farewell at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. Former Indians slugger Al Rosen said the story of Gehrig's career played an ironic role in shortening his own career.Murray Becker, Associated Press

With Gehrig in the back of his mind, Rosen continued to play. Gehrig was famous for having replaced a Yankees first baseman named Wally Pipp, who complained of a headache on June 2, 1925. Gehrig would go on to play the next 2,130 consecutive games for the Yankees.

“I was on fire until I got hurt,'' Rosen said. “The club should have got me out of the lineup. The trainer should have got me out of the lineup. I should have got me out of the lineup.

“But I believe in the Wally Pipp story. Players in those days played because there was always somebody who could take your place and you might never get back in the lineup. We lived by the Wally Pipp story. You played until you fell, and the medical attention wasn't like it is today.''

Somehow, Rosen managed to produce a career highlight that summer in the All-Star game at Municipal Stadium. He hit two home runs and a single, scored three runs and drove in five runs in an 11-9 American League win.

The finger never healed properly, and yet he hit .300 and drove in more than 100 runs for the fifth consecutive season. He helped the Indians win a record 111 games in 1954, but they were swept in the World Series by the New York Giants. Rosen was 3-for-12 in the series without an RBI or run scored.

Following the season, Greenberg, who was the Indians' general manager, cut Rosen's salary $5,000 to $37,500. Rosen was furious, according to a fascinating new documentary, “Beating the Odds: The Al Rosen Story,'' which was produced by Levy with the support of the Indians. It is available at Indians team shops and at Amazon.com.

The finger, and a back injury suffered in an auto accident, led to Greenberg arranging to trade Rosen to the Red Sox following the 1956 season, in which Rosen hit .267 and missed 33 games. Instead, Rosen retired at age 32.

“I could never grip the bat,'' Rosen said.

He played just seven full seasons, five of which are among the best in Indians history. He hit .285 with 192 home runs, 717 RBI and 603 runs scored.

The '53 and '54 seasons are slices of a broad, rich life that is well told in Levy's documentary. The film chronicles Rosen's battle with severe asthma as a poor child growing up without a father in Depression-era Miami, and the many doubters and haters he encountered as a Jew. Rosen put off his baseball career to fight in World War II, and later earned his college degree. He was on the Indians roster for the 1948 World Series.

The film reveals the sometimes volatile Rosen, a former boxer, occasionally butted heads with Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League. Rosen tells of two fights he had concerning Doby. Once, he punched out a cabbie who refused to drive Doby. Later, in Yankee Stadium, Doby insulted Rosen, and they brawled in the clubhouse, leaving Doby “disfigured.''

View full sizeIndians Hall of Famer Larry Doby (above) and third baseman Al Rosen fought each other in Yankee Stadium, according to Rosen and a new documentary about Rosen's life.Associated Press

“That happened between two highly motivated players,'' Rosen said this week. “You had two roosters on the same branch and one thing led to another. It's no badge of honor. We had a tussle, and we got over that, and became very good friends.''

Rosen went on to a successful career as president of the Yankees, Astros and Giants. He was close to Rocky River native George Steinbrenner when he attempted to buy the Indians, and later was caught in the middle of Steinbrenner's many feuds with Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson.

Levy points out that of the more than 17,500 men who have played Major League baseball, Rosen is the only one to win a MVP award and Executive of the Year award, which he did with the Giants in 1987. “I think he's a Hall of Famer,'' Levy said.

Rosen has never received serious consideration for the Hall of Fame because both his playing and executive careers were relatively short, and voters tend to induct for accomplishments in one area or the other, not both combined.

Rosen is especially proud of the dual awards.

“Until Bill Levy pointed it out, I didn't know I was the only one (who has won both),'' Rosen said. “That's a badge of honor that I wear.''

Rosen retired 11 years ago. He remains active and is in good shape. “He's so sharp, he looks like he could get out there and play some ball,'' Levy said.

Except for that finger.

“Today, it's stiff, and I can't grip a golf club,'' Rosen said.

Rosen follows the Indians closely and feels a strong bond to Cleveland, where he worked as an investment banker for many years after his playing career. His four children were born here. That anyone from Cleveland would bother to wonder about what he did 60 years ago while the Indians are in a playoff chase befuddles him just a little.

“It doesn't seem to be that important,'' he said.

He pauses and adds, “Baseball has great heritage, and it's really gratifying to have been part of it.''

RAVENNA, Ohio – The final score may technically have been a blowout, but St. Vincent-St. Mary’s 35-7 win in Friday’s Division III regional semifinal was a lot harder than it looked. The Irish (12-0) used two touchdowns off turnovers in the third quarter to pull away from Poland Seminary and reach their third straight regional title game. They advance...

RAVENNA, Ohio – The final score may technically have been a blowout, but St. Vincent-St. Mary’s 35-7 win in Friday’s Division III regional semifinal was a lot harder than it looked.

The Irish (12-0) used two touchdowns off turnovers in the third quarter to pull away from Poland Seminary and reach their third straight regional title game. They advance to face Hubbard, a 49-19 winner over Aurora Friday.

While the offense never really found a rhythm, the Irish defense held the Bulldogs to 129 yards of offense and let them cross midfield just twice.

“Just a little bit of a struggle tonight,” said Irish coach Dan Boarman.

The Irish led 14-0 at halftime and surely felt as if they left points on the field. They began drives at the Bulldogs 24- and 30-yard lines in the second quarter but came up empty both times. First, an Evan Cunningham 40-yard field goal attempt was wide left, then a 47-yard attempt was blocked as time expired in the half. The Irish also started a second-quarter drive at their own 49 and managed just two yards.

Then, the Bulldogs’ Austin Wilson returned the second half kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Irish lead to 14-7.

It may have been Boarman’s halftime speech that allowed the Irish to get back on track after the Bulldogs’ landed their punch.

“Coach Boarman made us reflect back to 2009 when Poland did come back and beat us,” said junior Vince Lockett. “We just knew that we couldn’t let up. We couldn’t make any big mistakes. We just had to keep strong and that’s what we did. We came out with the W.”

It was the Bulldogs who made the mistakes in the second half.

A Tony Adkins interception of a deflected pass led to an Aaron Adkins 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Later, Lockett’s fumble recovery set the stage for his 26-yard touchdown run and a 28-7 Irish lead as the fourth quarter began.

Senior running back Parris Campell Jr. finished off the Bulldogs with a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Campbell finished with 17 carries for 117 yards.

“(Poland) did a nice job trying to take away Parris,” said Boarman. “They had a kid spying Parris. They also had 10 in the box. They said ‘Throw the ball,” which we did.”

Senior quarterback Aaron Bushner finished 6-of-14 for 58 yards and a touchdown. He just missed on a couple deep passes, and a couple others were dropped.

The Irish scored on the fourth play of the game when Jarel Woolridge took a double reverse 49 yards around the right side. In the second quarter, the Irish put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by an Aaron Bushner 25-yard touchdown pass to Tyrece Speaight. Lockett’s 2-point conversion run atoned for an earlier failed PAT.

The Bulldogs’ best starting field position of the first half was their own 45. A pass interference penalty took them to the Irish 26, but they had to settle for a 34-yard field goal attempt, which bounced off the crossbar. That was the only first-half drive they started beyond their 20.

“I think defensively we stepped it up once again,” said Boarman. “I thought offensively with 10 in the box we still ran the ball considerably well. It wasn’t a perfect game, but I thought we ran OK.”

Senior linebacker Newman Williams led the Irish with eight tackles. Lockett and junior defensive lineman Dre’k Brumley both had fumble recoveries. Brumley’s led to a 47-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.

“We were just focusing on doing what we’ve done all season, and that’s playing our defense,” said Lockett. “Nobody could really move the ball too well on us. We just needed to focus on what we did so far this season to get us to this point.”

Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@ScottPatsko). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — Aurora had only allowed one opponent to score more than 30 points this season. On Friday night, Hubbard accomplished the feat in a little more than one half of football. Hubbard's offense had too much speed for Aurora, rushing for more than 400 yards, as it routed the Greenmen at Fitch Falcon Stadium, 49-19, in a...

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — Aurora had only allowed one opponent to score more than 30 points this season. On Friday night, Hubbard accomplished the feat in a little more than one half of football.

Hubbard's offense had too much speed for Aurora, rushing for more than 400 yards, as it routed the Greenmen at Fitch Falcon Stadium, 49-19, in a Division III, Region 7 semifinal.

After Aurora (10-2) forced an early turnover, Hubbard (12-0) scored 35 unanswered points and the Greenmen never recovered.

Three Hubbard players rushed for more than 100 yards, including George Hill, who had 167 and three touchdowns on eight carries. Larry Scott had 142 yards and three touchdowns, and Darnell Tate added 124.

"I thought we had a pretty good game plan, believe it or not, to try and take away what they did offensively," Aurora coach Bob Mihalik said. "But their kids just made plays and got a lot of cutback runs. They have three running backs with great speed. But our kids kept battling. I'm proud of the effort."

Scott scored the Eagles' first three touchdowns before Hill took a jet sweep 30 yards down the Aurora sideline with less than 30 seconds left in the first half to give Hubbard a 28-0 lead.

On the second play of the second half, Tate rushed 68 yards for a touchdown and Hubbard took a 35-0 lead on Aurora, which equaled the most points it had given up all season.

"It was a team effort," Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said. "Those guys really did a nice job up front for us tonight.

"I thought our defense played very well, especially in the first half to hold them with no points. They are a good football team. Their quarterback (George Bollas) is an excellent player. And we were very concerned about, coming into this game, his capabilities of getting out and making plays with his legs. Our defense did a great job, and gave us a chance going into the second half."

Bollas was 8-for-23 passing for 113 yards. The Kent State recruit did some damage on the ground, carrying the ball 27 times for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Romel Pollard and Kirk Janoch each scored touchdowns for Aurora.

"Things kind of snowballed there in the first half," Mihalik said. "I told the kids at halftime they needed to go out and fight for 24 minutes. And that's what they did. They got back in the game a little bit. So I'm proud of the effort."

Mihalik said Aurora's seniors will be missed after winning back-to-back regional championships.

"It's a special group of seniors," he added. "They've been through a lot of adversity, including the death of one of their teammates when he was a sophomore, Paulie McGhee, on Thanksgiving Day. So it's a very special group and it's hard to say goodbye to them."

TWINSBURG, Ohio - It is hard to say enough about junior Jerome Baker following his performance in Benedictine's 52-35 Division IV regional semifinal win against Chagrin Falls at Twinsburg on Friday night.

TWINSBURG, Ohio - It is hard to say enough about junior Jerome Baker following his performance in Benedictine's 52-35 Division IV regional semifinal win against Chagrin Falls at Twinsburg on Friday night.

He racked up five of Benedictine's seven touchdowns and picked up 252 yards on only 19 carries. 

The Bengals will play No. 3 Cardinal Mooney in the Region 11 final on Nov. 22 at a location to be announced Sunday. 

While the two teams were close on the scoreboard at halftime, their offenses could not have differed more in how they got that way. 

Baker tallied three of his five touchdowns in the first half on runs of 32, 80 and 31 yards. Two of those scores came on the first play of drives. 

Chagrin Falls, on the other hand, put together several long scoring drives that ate up time and involved several of their weapons on offense, including RB Sean Mackin, WR Matt Iammarino and Ed Shelley, who has done a little bit of everything for the Tigers this year, in addition to hitting some field goals that some college kickers struggle to make consistently.

The Tigers' first drive ended with a 32-yard field goal by Shelley, who knocked a 45-yarder through the uprights later in the first quarter. The second one came following a sack of Chagrin Falls quarterback Michael Brigeman. 

Benedictine didn't have as much success spreading the ball around on offense. After the opening-drive touchdown by Baker, the Bengals failed to convert a first down on their next two possessions. After failing to convert on third down for the second consecutive time, the Bengals got daring and attempted a fake punt/pass that fell incomplete, leaving Chagrin Falls with excellent field position at the Bengals' 22. The Tigers got their first touchdown two plays later on a 16-yard strike to Sontich from Brigeman. 

The Bengals answered when Baker broke free for an 80-yard touchdown on Benedictine's next possession. On the next drive for the Tigers, Chagrin Falls started with great field position and, following a 19-yard completion to Iammarino and a 23-yarder to Mackin, had the ball at Benedictine's 9. Runs by Brigeman and Mackin brought up fourth-and-goal at the 1. Shelley got the call for Chagrin Falls, sprinting to the right side as he found his way into the end zone untouched. 

Benedictine's next drive ended with a 29-yard field goal by Nick Judy. It wasn't long before the Bengals got the ball back after an interception by Iman Glanton, on the second play of the Tigers' drive, and Benedictine started with the ball at the Chagrin Falls 31. One play later Baker had his third rushing touchdown of the night. 

On the second play of the Tigers' opening third quarter drive, Dontez Rash got an interception and took it back to the Chagrin Falls 24. Another short drive for the Bengals ended with Baker legging out a score on the ground. 

Baker showed his defensive ability on the next Chagrin Falls possession with an interception. 

Later in the game Rash sprinted his way to a 46-yard touchdown with Baker leading the way with some excellent blocking. The Bengals extended their lead to 38-21 on the score and PAT that followed. 

Baker and Rash each added one more touchdown before the end of the game. Benedictine coach Joe Schaefer decided to sit Baker for the better part of the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. 

Trailing 52-21 in the fourth, Chagrin Falls marched and got into the end zone via a 14-yard run by Shelley. The Tigers marched down the field one last time on a drive that ended with Shelley legging out his third touchdown of the night. 

PARMA, Ohio -- For three quarters, No. 1 Glenville and No. 5 Bedford were equals. Then the Tarblooders broke free of the Bearcats' defense.

PARMA, Ohio -- For three quarters, No. 1 Glenville and No. 5 Bedford were equals. Then the Tarblooders broke free of the Bearcats' defense.

A 16-yard touchdown pass from Quan Robinson Jr. to Marshon Lattimore in the fourth quarter broke a 6-6 tie. On Glenville's next possession, Robinson Jr. hit Terrell Doss for a 79-yard touchdown and a 20-6 lead.

The Tarblooders secured a 26-12 victory and grabbed a spot in the Division II, Region 3 final.

This story will be updated shortly with game reaction.

Next up for Glenville is a meeting with No. 6 Madison, which pulled off its second straight upset with a 22-21 win over Brecksville-Broadview Heights.

Bedford pounded the rock on its first drive of the night, and it paid off. The Bearcats went 43 yards on the ground in six plays and took a 6-0 lead on an 8-yard touchdown run by junior London Cloud.

The Bearcats defense made that lead hold up early. Bedford's defense was dominant in the first quarter, holding Glenville to minus-19 yards of offense. Making things worse were five personal fouls in the first half for Glenville.

But outside of the opening score, the Tarblooders defense was just as good. After the first drive, Glenville allowed just 17 yards for the rest of the half.

It took just one play for Glenville to get back into the game. With less than a minute to go in the half, Robinson Jr. connected with Lattimore on a 64-yard pass that brought the ball to the 1 yard line.

Two plays later, senior Divine Redding punched the ball in from two yards out for a touchdown and a 6-6 tie.

Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

MENTOR, Ohio – The chants began with 5:15 left in the game from the Madison fans. Then again with 3:19 left. “Play for Eight. Play for Eight.”

MENTOR, Ohio – The chants began with 5:15 left in the game from the Madison fans. Then again with 3:19 left.

“Play for Eight. Play for Eight.”

If Madison won, they’d advance to the regional final, the round of eight.But that wasn’t the reason for the Blue Streaks chants.

It was for No. 8, Ben Bruenig, who broke a vertebra, ironically, during Madison’s game in Week 8 and who now stands wearing a halo on the sideline.

Earlier this week Madison coach Tim Willis told cleveland.com all it took to win another game for Bruenig was one point.

On Friday, against Brecksville-Broadview Heights and the highly touted Bees quarterback Tim Tupa, Madison celebrated its one-point victory, 22-21.

“When you’re this far in the playoffs, you’re going to have to win the close ones like this,” Willis said. “We’re just on a roll right now. “We’re playing good football and our kids are believing in themselves and we’re excited to go play who we get to go play but we’re excited to go play someone. “

Madison will face Glenville in the regional finals, the first time a Blue Streaks team has ever made it to the regional finals, next Friday.

Check back shortly for a video of Madison's 22-21 victory.

While Brandon Davis rushed for 137 yard, including eight times from the wildcat, as Ricky Simcic turned out huge tackles, Madison was able to rush for 205 yards, pass for 75 and hold Brecksville to just Tupa, who rushed for 127 yards.

Near the end, it looked like that would be all Brecksville would need: Tim Tupa, despite the the fourth-quarter beginning with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Davis Albert that gave the Blue Streaks their first lead since early in the third.

“At that point in time I think we had to go for it,” Willis said. “That was the best option at that point in time. In a clutch situation like that, a sophomore kicker, he put it through.”

With a three-man front, Madison halted Tim Tupa when Simcic sacked him with 4:06 remaining.

“No one really put pressure on him all year,” Willis said of Tupa. “I told Coach Gilligan, our defensive coordinator, ‘Let’s just go for it. We have nothing to lose. Let’s just go after this guy.’

“He limped off the field tonight. We must of hit him 15 to 20 times.”

With the help of Davis and fellow running back Connor Nikses, the Blue Streaks were able to eat up some of the fourth quarter clock and fans began to cheer that all Madison would need to do was run out the clock.

Instead, a false start and an incomplete pass from quarterback Aaron Burkholder that was flagged as intentional grounding left a Madison ball boy walking the sideline, crossing himself and praying aloud that Madison would “get a stop. Please just get this last stop.”

Madison delivered three sacks, but Tupa kept willing his team with big yardage passes. Brecksville-Broadview Heights coach Jason Black emotionally talked about Tupa and the game as his players cried on each others shoulder pads surrounding him.

“The season was on the line in one drive and we were just trying to convert things,” Black said. “I’ll tell you that 4^th-and-22 we converted was an amazing play. We just didn’t have enough in us tonight to convert.

“Tim meant a lot to our program. He means a lot to me personal because of where he’s come from and how close I am to that family. We’re going to miss him a lot.”

With about 44 seconds remaining, the cheers to “Play for Eight” began again. Tupa threw an incomplete pass, then converted a 17-yard completion.

26 seconds remained. Both teams and fans were on edge. The Madison players could hardly be contained behind their sideline as they all strained their necks to see the play.

Then came the biggest play for Simcic of the night. He sacked Tupa and time expired.

“I believe in that power,” Black said. That’s just part of who I am. Sometimes you just need one thing to galvanize your team. Sometimes you just need one thing to have it all come together. God willing, maybe that was their one thing to come together. They’ve been playing pretty good football since then”

Madison players and coaches jumped and screamed. Bruenig couldn’t run or be lifted up for a post-game Rudy-like celebration, but his bright shining smile made his teammates come up to him and congratulate him.

“This one was for you Ben,” a Blue Streak said.

And now they’re on to the round of eight to play for more than themselves. They’ll play for No. 8.

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

AKRON, Ohio — Highland coach Tom Lombardo admitted he didn’t have a message for his team. The Hornets went from having a 10-point lead and all the momentum to having to come up with two big stops to hold on for a win. Luckily for Lombardo, his defense didn’t need much of a pep talk. Coltin Kinsey delivered a...

AKRON, Ohio — Highland coach Tom Lombardo admitted he didn’t have a message for his team. The Hornets went from having a 10-point lead and all the momentum to having to come up with two big stops to hold on for a win.

Luckily for Lombardo, his defense didn’t need much of a pep talk. Coltin Kinsey delivered a key interception to thwart Massillon’s first attempt at a game-tying drive, then the defense came up with one last fourth down stand on the Tigers’ final possession to hold on for a 17-14 regional semifinal win at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.

Top-seeded Highland (12-0), which has won 16 straight dating back to last season, will play No. 2 Avon next Friday night in the Division II, Region 4 final.

“Our kids are resilient,” Highland coach Tom Lombardo said. “We went in at halftime knowing we’ve been in games like this against good teams, so we weren’t flustered.”

One letdown by the Highland defense allowed No. 4 Massillon (9-3) back in the game late. Tigers quarterback Danny Clark completed a fourth down pass to Marcus Whitfield, who ran 86-yards for a touchdown that cut the Hornets lead to three.

Other than that, it was a strong performance for the Highland defense, which held Massillon to just 223 total yards and 10 first downs. The Tigers punted eight times and turned the ball over twice.

“They got this win tonight,” Highland running back Alex Harris said of the defense. “All year long whenever we’ve struggled on offense, they’ve been right there picking us up every time. They always have our backs.”

It was Harris who scored what ended up being the game-winning touchdown for the Hornets earlier in the fourth quarter. He took a handoff from quarterback Bruce Kinsey and ran 44 yards untouched for a 17-7 lead with 2:55 to go.

Bruce Kinsey scored Highland’s first touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. Kicker Luke Allen connected on a 37-yard field goal before the half.

Harris finished with 112 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Bruce Kinsey had 75 rushing yards and 110 passing yards.

It was the defense, though, that shined for the Hornets. Massillon’s first touchdown came after the Tigers were set up on the Highland 19-yard line when Reggie Rogers picked off Bruce Kinsey in the first quarter.

The 2-yard touchdown run by JD Crabtree that followed, and the breakdown on the late score were the only blemishes for the Highland defense.

“We’ve been tough all year long,” Lombardo said. “We’ve been kind of under the radar, but nobody has really run the ball on us.”

Massillon finished with 83 yards on 29 carries, and was forced to throw the ball 31 times. Clark, a freshman, completed just 12 passes for 150 yards.

“The coaches preached all week that (Massillon) was fast, but we had heart,” Coltin Kinsey said. “We all played hard, and we all played great.”

Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

HURON, Ohio – It wasn’t pretty, but in the playoffs, a win is a win is a win.

HURON, Ohio – It wasn’t pretty, but in the playoffs, a win is a win is a win.

No. 2 Avon (12-0) threw five interceptions by two different quarterbacks and found itself trailing in the fourth quarter for the first time all season.

But senior quarterback Tommy Glenn, who threw four of those picks, drove his team 64 yards in six plays for the game-winning score with 5:11 remaining. The Eagles held on for a 24-21 win against No. 6 Perrysburg in a Division II, Region 4 semifinal Friday night at Huron High School’s Kalahari Stadium.

Glenn found seldom-used junior receiver Zack Torbert for a 32-yard touchdown pass after the Eagles gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns to the Yellow Jackets (9-3). Torbert had not caught a pass prior to that drive, and was on the field because senior Rhys Ratino suffered an injury late in the first half.

“Our goal is to win a state championship, and I can promise you if we’re going to do that, there’s going to be a lot more games like this one,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “You’re going to be in those moments and you’ve got to embrace it. Thankfully, we did. Tommy made a great throw, and Zack Torbert made a great catch.

“Zack Torbert is a pretty special player and we haven’t used him tons on offense because of Rhys. But when Rhys went out, we have a lot of receivers that can do well in the slot, but Zack gives us an advantage on the outside.”

Perrysburg cut a 17-7 fourth quarter deficit to three when senior defensive back Nick Fleming stepped in front of a Jake Sopko pass and returned it 47-yards for a touchdown with 11:48 left. Sopko, a sophomore, had been 6-for-6 for 86 yards and a touchdown in relief of Glenn prior to his pick-6.

Perrysburg took over at their own 9 with 10:48 remaining. Sophomore quarterback Trevor Hafner – getting his first start of the season for injured junior Gus Dimmerling – played with the poise of a veteran starter, driving his team 92 yards in 11 plays. His 17-yard run on third-and-10 from the Avon 24 set up his 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nathan Patterson with 7:53 remaining, giving Perrysburg a surprising 21-17 lead.

“What the people don’t see that we do is that sophomore played in some meaningful games and they’d move Dimmerling out to wide receiver,” Elder said. “My heart goes out to Dimmerling because he is a great player, and I’m sure there will be a lot of ‘what if’s’ on their side if he played in this game. But boy, Hafner’s) going to be a great player for them as well. The future’s definitely bright in Perrysburg.”

The Eagles struck first with 7:10 left in the first quarter. After a 19-yard punt return by Braeden Friss put the ball at the Avon 46, Glenn faked a handoff to Gerrett Choat, spun away from defenders and sprinted up the middle untouched for a 54-yard touchdown.

“At this stage, you’ve got to win and keep playing, no matter what it takes,” said Glenn, who was 18-for-30 passing for 187 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions.

“I didn’t play a very good game, but luckily, my teammates picked me up and made some great plays and won us this game. All that matters is we won and we get to play in Week 13.”

Junior kicker Eric Sumislawski capped a 13-play, 52-yard drive with a 33-yard field goal to increase Avon’s lead to 10-0 with 9:48 left in the first half.

Perrysburg answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive. Hafner found Seth Durham for a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 10-7.

But, after a diving catch at midfield just three plays earlier for a 29-yard completion, Friss ran under a 37-yard bomb from Sopko in the end zone to give Avon a 17-7 lead with 1:35 left in the half.

“That (diving catch) was awesome, especially getting up and seeing the crowd’s reaction,” said Friss, who caught six passes for 118 yards. “Jake put it in the perfect spot. I had to shake off the safety, who grabbed my jersey a little bit, but it was a perfectly placed ball and I was able to make a play on it.

“We did what we had to do. A lot of credit goes to Tommy and Sopko. Sopko stepped in and got the job done. It was a team effort. Both quarterbacks had a lot of time from our offensive line. It was a great effort all around.”

Avon will play top-seeded Medina Highland (12-0) next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at a site to be determined.

Dan Gilles is a freelance sportswriter in Elyria.

HUDSON, Ohio – With a one-two punch that features an offense rolling over every defense it faces and a smothering defense shutting down opposing offenses and forcing turnovers at an astounding pace, the Kirtland Hornets look poised for another deep run in the football playoffs. For proof of that, look no further than Friday night's Division VI, Region 19...

HUDSON, Ohio – With a one-two punch that features an offense rolling over every defense it faces and a smothering defense shutting down opposing offenses and forcing turnovers at an astounding pace, the Kirtland Hornets look poised for another deep run in the football playoffs.

For proof of that, look no further than Friday night's Division VI, Region 19 semifinal against St. Thomas Aquinas. Kirtland exploded for 42 first-half points en route to a 49-21 victory.

Led by the two-headed rushing attack of Sam Kukura and Adam Hess, the Hornet offense moved the ball seemingly at will. Kukura scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Hess added a third for Kirtland (12-0).

Kirtland advances to the regional finals and will take on third-seeded Mogadore, which advanced with a win over Canfield South Range.

The Hornet backs were the beneficiaries of dominating offensive line play.

“They're incredible,” Kukura said. “They go hard every single day. They make it easy on the running backs. The holes they open for us make it so easy for us.”

After the teams traded punts on the opening possessions and then traded scores on their next possessions, the top-seeded Hornets blew the game open late in the first quarter and early in the second, erupting for 28 points in 4:18.

Quarterback Sam Skiljan started the scoring run with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:46 left in the opening quarter, and Kukura followed with a 70-yard interception return for a score just 1:34 later.

After a St. Thomas Aquinas punt to start the second quarter Kirtland scored again, this time on a 29-yard Kukura touchdown run.

The Kirtland defense closed out the scoring run with a 39-yard Matthew Finkler interception return for a score. Finkler was in the right place at the right time, pulling in the interception off a deflection and outracing the Knights tacklers to the end zone.

The Hornets' scoring flurry opened a 35-7 lead for Kirtland, and the Hornets never looked back.

“It was all about the momentum swing, Kukura said. “We got that one interception that we took back to the house, and that was a huge momentum swing for us.

“When you get to Week 12, if you get a couple turnovers and can return them for touchdowns, that's obviously pretty big,” Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde said.

The four-touchdown scoring run deflated the Knights, according to Kukura.

“Putting [the four touchdowns] up took the life out of them, and that's what we wanted to do early.”

Defensively the Hornets were able to shut down the Knights' running game, and coupled with the increasing deficit the Knights were forced into a one-dimensional passing offense. The Hornet defense responded by harassing quarterback Anthony Moeglin throughout the game, resulting in three Hornet interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

The three interceptions give the Hornets 25 takeaways in 12 games this season.

“Our guys up front have been great against the run all year,” LaVerde said. “We knew their quarterback was good, their wideouts run good routes, and that's a good team.

“Our guys up front did a nice job against the run early, and forced them into throwing the ball every play.”

Said Kukura, “We want to shut down the run best we can, and we want to shut down the pass after that, too.”

MINERVA, Ohio -- Mogadore had to pull out all the stops Friday night, but in the end, the Wildcats put a stop to Canfield South Range’s undefeated football season. Senior quarterback Anthony Ricci threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and Brandon Berry rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown as the No. 3 Wildcats...

MINERVA, Ohio -- Mogadore had to pull out all the stops Friday night, but in the end, the Wildcats put a stop to Canfield South Range’s undefeated football season.

Senior quarterback Anthony Ricci threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and Brandon Berry rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown as the No. 3 Wildcats (11-1) knocked off No. 2 South Range (11-1) 35-28 in a Division VI, Region 19 semifinal at Hines Stadium.

Mogadore coach Matt Adorni said his team was able to mix up the passing game effectively.

"We threw the ball a little better than we have been, and I thought we made enough crucial stops in spots defensively.” Adorni said.

Mogadore advances to play Kirtland, which knocked of Louisville St. Thomas Aquanis in the other Region 19 semifinal.

The Wildcats gave South Range a taste of trickery early on. Trailing 7-0 in the first quarter and facing a fourth and 3 from the Raiders 45 yard line, sophomore punter Zeddie Pollock took a snap and ran for 7 yards. Mogadore converted another fourth down on the same drive that ended when Ricci delivered a 3-yard touchdown run.

“That was huge,” South Range coach Dan Yeagley said of the fake punt.

“It was a pass and he took the run option and ran,” Adorni said of Pollock’s run on the fake punt.

In the second quarter, South Range drove all the way down to the Mogadore 1-yard line and was poised to go in for a go-ahead score. But the Wildcats were able to force a fumble and snuff out the drive.

“Everyone stepped up,” Ricci said.

South Range running back Joe Alessi rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown and was able to keep the Raiders offense moving.

Alessi got off to quick start on the first drive, bolting 22 yards to give South Range a 7-0 lead. He also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass that gave South Range a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Mogadore seized control late in the second quarter when, with the game tied at 14, Alec Tartar picked off a pass by South Range quarterback Ryan Miller and returned it to the Raiders 17 yard line.

That set up a 9-yard scoring pass from Ricci to Dominik Pizzino to gave Mogadore a 21-14 lead. Pizzino also added an 11-yard touchdown run. 

“Our offensive line stepped up big” Pizzino said when asked what the key to the win was. “Our defense did, too. We looked a little shaky the first couple of possessions, but we started making some big stops. We stopped them goal line and forced a fumble and got a couple of picks.”

Mogadore played a clean game avoiding any turnovers, while forcing four South Range turnovers.

Mogadore’s Brendon Schrock picked off a pass with South Range trailing 35-28 late in the game to put the win on ice.

Mogadore increased the score to 28-14 early in the fourth quarter when Ricci hit Jonathon Miller on a 17-yard scoring pass.

Monsters defeat Hamilton for third straight win.

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HAMILTON, Ontario -- The Lake Erie Monsters scored four goals in the second period enroute to a 5-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday, the Monsters third straight win.

Mitchell Heard and Stefan Elliott each had a goal and two assists as the Monsters improved to 8-6-0-0.

Sami Aittokallio earned the win in net for the Monsters, who conclude three games in three nights at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday night against Hamilton. Aittokallio stopped 31 of 34 shots and is now 3-2-0.

The Monsters three-game win streak is their longest of the season, and they have also won their last three road games.