CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are high school bowling, hockey, swimming and wrestling box scores and highlights for Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. Boys bowling

 CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are high school bowling, hockey, swimming and wrestling box scores and highlights for Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013.

Boys bowling

Mentor 2,632, Mayfield 2,447

High series: Wiese (Men) 245-228; Mace (May) 214-257.

Baker: Men, 204-212-198; May, 195-183-243.

Cuyahoga Heights 2,420, Eastlake North 2,221

High series: Cubbison (CH) 265-410.

Baker: CH, 157-207-156; EN, 201-165-203.

Solon 2,166, Valley Forge 2,070

High series: S, Innocinzi 152-213; VF, Chiara 162-213.

Baker: S, 199-171-166; VF, 167-130-148.

Late:

Nordonia: 2,052 Copley 1,792

High Series: N, Postocka  232-216; CO, Ryan 214-198.

Baker: N, 184-236-183; C, 161-193-171.

Girls bowling

Mentor 2,469, Mayfield 1,827

High series: Fortuna (Men) 212-207; Jackson (May) 193-205.

Baker: Men, 192-214-212; May, 140-133-145.

Late:

Nordonia 1,522 Copley 1,264

High Series: Mazzuio (N) 142-222; Walton (CO) 167-148.

Baker: N, 160-184-179; CO, 137-147-143.

Hockey

Kent Roosevelt 8, Benedictine 0

KR  (8-2-0, 3-1-0): S. Rainey 2, Berger 2, Smith G. Fisher, Harrod, Strahan B (2-5-1, 1-1-0): None.

Goalies: K, Bennett (10 shots, 10 saves); B, Houser (58-50).

Mentor 3, Shaker Heights 2

M: Madison, Donnelly 2. SH: Ritts, Slovikovski.

Goalies: M, Hagan (35 saves, 37); SH, Attias (16-19).

Notable: Drew Donnelly scored twice in the second period for the Cardinals.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights 5, Strongsville 4 OT

B: Marincic 2, Kivett, Stucky, Melena. S: Kurek 2, Krosky, Stopak.

Goalies: B, Bolun (30 saves 34 shots); S, Starr (21-26).

Notable: Brecksville-Broadview Heights went scoreless through the first two periods, but rallied to tie the game with four goals in the third. Joe Melena's goal in overtime won the game for the Bees. 

Late

Western Reserve Academy 9, Elyria Catholic 1

WRA: Markwell 4, LaFontaine 2, Rhodes 1, Johnson 1, Holland 1. EC: Kukucka 1.

Goalies: WRA, Ciraco (14 shots, 13 saves); EC, Farmer (50, 41).

Swimming

Boys

Cleveland Heights 132, Bedford 28

200MR: (C) (Berr, Johnson, Kellon, Fleischer) 2:02.43. 200 free: Berr (C) 2:14.14. 200IM: Kellon (C) 2:25.01. 50 free:Johnson (C) 24.71. Diving: Stringfield (C) 116.175. 100 fly: Berr (C) 1:05.31. 100 free: Gilbert (C) 1:04.00. 500 free:Fleischer (C) 6:47.52. 200FR: (C) (Stringfield, Schellenberg, Spencer, Gilbert) 1:58.96. 100 back: E. Radivoyevitch (C) 1:12.14. 100 breast: Johnson (C) 1:12.68. 400FR: (C) (Berr, Schellenberg, Teunnisen, Johnson) 4:05.99.

Girls

Cleveland Heights 127, Bedford 31

200MR: (C) (Espenschied, Wike, Rinaldi, Iammarino) 2:12.68. 200 free: Hall (C) 2:25.28.  200IM: Wike (C) 2:53.01. 50 free: Iammarino (C) 27.93. Diving: E. Posch (C) 209.925. 100 fly: S. Hall (C) 1:15.91. 100 free: Shumaker (C) 1:07.98.500 free: Iammarino (C) 5:55.24. 200FR: (C) (Hall, Rinaldi, Wike, Shumaker) 2:07.95. 100 back: S. Lisy (C) 1:23.96. 100 breast: Spoto (B) 1:30.78. 400FR: (C) (Hall, Espenschied, Shumaker, Iammarino) 4:35.89.

Boys Bowling

WRESTLING

Amherst 60, Avon Lake 22

106: Reyes (A) pin Petterson (AL), 0:50; 113: Mayer (AL) maj. dec. Volak (A), 14-1; 120: Lough (A) Klima pin (AL), 1:22; 126: Orcutt (A) pin Chakirelis (AL), 0:48; 132: Faria (A) by forfeit; 138: Coe (AL) pin Smith (A), 3:22; 145: Mayer (AL) pin Wearsch (A), 1:55; 152: Williams (A) pin George (AL), 1:56; 160: Wearsch (A) pin Olivencia (AL), 1:32; 170: Barnicle (AL) pin Brockmeyer (A), 3:42; 182: Eibon (A) pin Akers (AL), 1:56; 195: Breeding (A) by forfeit; 220: Hastings (A) by forfeit; HVY: Blair (A) pin Wearsch (AL), 0:40.

Brecksville 63, Avon Lake 13

106: Bronstrup (B) pin Petterson (AL), 3:18; 113: Mayer (AL) dec. Nolan Wochna (B), 8-2; 120: Klima (AL) maj. dec.Bronstrup (B), 16-4; 126: DeMicco (B) tech. fall Chakirelis (AL), 17-1; 132: xx; 138: Straziuso (B) maj. dec. Coe (AL), 9-0; 145: Strnad (B) pin Mayer (AL), 1:30; 152: Davis (B) pin George (AL), 1:23; 160: Kinney (B) Olivencia pin (AL), 4:28; 170: Strnad (B) tech. fall Barnicle (AL), 18-3; 182: Suhayda (B) pin JAkers (AL), 3:30; 195: Murphy (B) by forfeit; 220: Sternad (B) by forfeit; HVY: Wearsch (AL) by forfeit.

Parma 72, Valley Forge 12

106: Bennett (Parma) p. Patel (VF) 0:40; 113: Miller (VF) by forfeit; 120: Ramos (Parma) p. Yakubics (VF) 2:25; 132: T. Workman (Parma) p. Madey (VF) 0:31; 138: Csongedi (Parma) p. Sullivan 0:58; 145: K. Workman (Parma) p. Pontious (VF) 1:05; 152: Docherty (Parma) p. Smith (VF) 0:51; 160: Mabin (Parma) p. Bort (VF) 2:17; 170: Karban (Parma) by forfeit; 182: Lewis (Parma) by forfeit; 195: Driver (Parma) by forfeit; 220: Halaska (Parma) by forfeit; 285: Crosby (VF) pin Hadden (Parma) 1:42. 

WSC Double Dual at Midview High School

MIDVIEW  def.  ELYRIA CATHOLIC  60-6

106: Double FF113: Double FF 120: Bleich (EC) pin Taylor (MID) at 1:33 126: MID won by FF 132: MID won by FF 138: Double FF 145: MID won by FF 152: Forrer (MID) pin Hruby (EC) at 1:03160: Schill (EC) pin Clark (MID) at 1:21 170: Berthold (MID) pin McLaughlin (EC) at 2:20 182:Croftcheck (MID) pin Thomas Gillespie (EC) at 5:47195: MID won by FF220: MID won by FFHVW: MID won by FF.

ROCKY RIVER  def  AVON 44-36

106: Avon by FF .113: Kelly (RR) pin Borque (A) at 5:02.120: Mahoney (RR) def Rizzo (A) tech fall at 5:07. 126: Spray (RR) pin Matsko (A) at 1:32. 132: Burgess (A) pin Omari (RR) at 2:12. 138: Kuchenrither (A) pin Giammrco (RR) at 3:04. 145: Kilbane (RR) pink Campo (A) pin at 3:54. 152: Deems (RR) pin Vacarella (A) at 0:57.160: Leapold (A) pin Smith (RR) at 1:17. 170: RR by FF. 182: Smith (RR) def. Steinmaetz (A) 8-6 in OT.195: Strum (A) pin Shelgu (RR) at 1:01. 220: Trau (Avon) pin Rira (RR) at 1:31.HVW: Shirley (RR) pin Leeper (A) at 4:51.

 ROCKY RIVER  def. MIDVIEW 48-19

106: Double FF; 113: RR won by FF; 120: Dan Mahoney (RR) pin Alex Taylor (MID) at 1:57; 126: Sprout (RR) p. Taylor (MID) at 3:07; 132: Gabor (MID) def. Omori (EC) maj dec. 11-2; 138: RR won by FF; 145:Kilbane (RR) pin Butler (MID) at 0:37; 152: Forrer (MID) def. Deems (RR) maj dec 13-1; 160: Smith (RR) pin Clark (MID) at 0:59; 170: Berthold (MID) def. Adams (RR) 15-0 tec fall at 4:32; 182: Smith (RR) def. Croftcheck (MID) 7-5 in OT; 195: Shelgu (RR) def. Keyse (MID) 10-8; 220: Shirley (RR) pin Jatzek (MID) at 3:11; HVW:Hasman (MID) pin Rira (RR) at 4:24.

AVON  def ELYRIA CATHOLIC 69-10

106: Avon by FF;113: Avon by FF;120: Bleich (EC) def. Rizzo (A) maj dec. 10-2; 126: Avon by FF; 132: Avon by FF; 138: Avon by FF; 145: Avon by FF; 152: Vacarrella (A) def. Hruby (EC) dec. 5-1; 160: Leapold (A) p. Schill (EC) at 4:32; 170: EC by FF; 182: Steinmetz (A) p Gillespie (EC) at 1:22; 195: Avon by FF; 220: Avon by FF; HVW: Avon by FF.

PAC-12 Double Dual at Lutheran West

Lutheran West  41 Clearview  28

106: Morell (C)by ff; 113: Hylton (C) md Ressler 14-4; 120: Diaz (LW) pin Gohagan 2:30; 126: Cruz (C) pin Brian 3:23; 132: Naim (LW) dec Corcino 6-1; 138: Vasiloff (LW) tech fall Kincer 20-5; 145: McNamee (LW) pin Parker 4:57; 152: Moore (LW) pin Folley 1:56; 160: DeLorge (LW) dec. Foster 6-3; 170: Haught (C)by ff; 182: Cooper (C)by ff; 195: double ff; 220: Montes (LW) by ff; 285: Bremer (LW) pin Layport 2:36.

Brookside 45  Keystone 27

106: B. Huhn (B) pin Fanin :30; 113: Burns (B) pin Todd :45; 120: Wonder (B) pin Cropp 3:23; 126: Dula-Banks (B) dec. Owca 12-7; 132: Horvath (B) dec. Wade 12-6; 138: Bellman (B) pin Washington 1:23; 145: Walters (K) pin Nail 2:32; 152: Standen (B) pin Gale :52; 160: Wolford (B) dec. Ocheltree 6-4; 170: Fisher (K) dec. Mize 7-3; 182: King (K) pin Douglas 2:16; 195: Worthington (K) pin Fries :35; 220: Mendoza (B) pin Chizmadia 1:45; 285: Bustance (K) pin C. Huhn :34.

Brookside 57 Lutheran West 14          

106: B.Huhn (B)by ff; 113: Burns (B) dec. Ressler 4-2; 120: Brian (LW) pin Wonder 4:21; 126: Dula-Banks (B) dec. Diaz 11-7 OT; 132: Naim (LW) md Horvath 12-4; 138: Bellman (B) med. Def. Vasiloff; 145: Mills (B) pin Moore 5:07;. 152: Standen (B) pin McNamee 1:08; 160: DeLorge (LW) md Wolford 14-1; 170: Mize (B) by ff; 182: Childers (B) by ff; 195: Fries (B) by ff; 220: Mendoza (B) by ff; 285: C. Huhn (B) dec Bremer 9-2.

Keystone 45  Clearview  30

106: Morell (C) pin Fanin :35; 113: Hylton (C) pin Todd :45; 120: Cropp (K) pin Hasalage 5:10; 126: Cruz (C) pin Owca 3:31; 132: Horvath (K) pin Corcino :41; 138: Washington (K) pin Kincer :1:05; 145: Parker (C) pin Walters 1:21; 152: Gale (K) dec Folley 9-7; 160: Foster (C) pin Ocheltree 4:39; 170: Fisher (K) pin Haught :28; 182: King (K) pin Cooper 1:46; 195: Chizmadia (K) by ff; 220: double ff; 285: Bustance (K) pin Layport :38 .

MENTOR, Ohio -- Mentor's boys basketball team played its first game of the 2013-14 season, after postponing games because of Mentor's football playoff, and cleveland.com was there to capture the scenes. Shaker Heights defeated the Cardinals, 82-77, on Thursday at Mentor High School.

MENTOR, Ohio -- Mentor's boys basketball team played its first game of the 2013-14 season, after postponing games because of Mentor's football playoff, and cleveland.com was there to capture the scenes.

Shaker Heights defeated the Cardinals, 82-77, on Thursday at Mentor High School.

Check out videos from pregame, halftime and postgame locker room access.  See the game highlights and interviews with North Carolina football signee Brandon Fritts and his brother, Mr. Basketball 2012 Justin Fritts, too.

Also, make sure to read Tim Bielik's game story.

Four-star defensive end Solomon Thomas of Coppell, Texas, released a top five of Ohio State, Texas, UCLA, Stanford and Arkansas. He's expected to make his decision in mid- to-late January.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – After Urban Meyer secured two big commitments earlier in the week in five-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan and four-star wide receiver Johnnie Dixon, Ohio State’s coach said recruiting success “makes the food taste better.”

But Meyer is still hungry. 

Ohio State got big news in the recruitment of four-star defensive end Solomon Thomas of Coppell, Texas. According to Coppell coach Joe McBride’s Twitter account, Thomas has released his top-five and Ohio State made the cut alongside Arkansas, Stanford, Texas and UCLA.

McBride also posted on his Twitter account that Thomas will likely make his decision in mid- to-late January. But for Ohio State, the later the better because he is scheduled to take an official visit to Columbus on Jan. 31.

If Thomas makes that visit that could be a huge event for Ohio State given National Signing Day is less than a week after that.

Meyer, of course, has earned a reputation as one of the best closers in recruiting in college football. Last season he earned four oral commitments in the final week leading up to signing day, all of which were at least four-star prospects. 

Rated by Rivals.com the No. 3 defensive end in the 2014 class, Thomas earned scholarship offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon and more than 15 others. 

The 6-foot-3, 263-pound Thomas took official visits to Stanford in early October and UCLA last week. 

Pinkston's eight-month-old daughter, Martha Jane, helped the guard through a trying time.

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns invested months of physical rehabilitation in guard Jason Pinkston, applying the latest technology to speed his recovery from career-threatening blood clots and also a high ankle sprain.

No treatment, however, proved more therapeutic than a good tug on the beard from a Mickey Mouse-loving little girl in a high chair.

Eight-month-old Martha Jane Pinkston doesn’t know a thing about exercise science, but her giggle and piercing blue eyes strengthened the resolve of a lineman who went more than 14 months between regular-season snaps.

Many within the family and the organization aided in his return to action on Dec. 8 against the New England Patriots. Turns out, the hands holding the most healing power are the tiniest of all.

“If it weren’t for her I’m not sure how we would have gotten through this,” said Pinkston’s girlfriend, Kathy, who gave birth to Martha Jane on April 12. “I give it all to her . . . He walks into the house and smiles the moment he sees her sitting in that high chair.”

The past year, filled with so much drama and uncertainty, has been the most stressful in Pinkston’s life. Doctors told him he could have died on the football field last October due to a blood clot in his lung. He came back only to suffer the high ankle in August, an injury that sidelined him for three-plus months.

In a league with no guaranteed contracts, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman worked diligently to provide again for his family. Through the most anxious times, Pinkston said he never lost sight of what was most important.

“I thought if something did happen, I didn’t want it to affect me from being a great dad,” he told cleveland.com. “Having a new baby girl, she had nothing to do with my career. My focus is on her being No. 1.

“When you get the news that you’re going to be a dad and you’re going to be responsible for someone else’s life beyond yours, it really puts things into perspective.”

Even before Martha Jane was born, Pinkston vowed to be a better father than the man who he said was rarely around during his formative years.

Family matters

Pinkston and his two brothers grew up in Pittsburgh. The family moved often and was riven by the departure of their father, James, who left them in the summer between Pinkston’s eighth- and ninth-grade years, he said.

His mother, Martha Jane, worked as nurse’s aide, and life was challenging for a woman trying to raise three boys. The father kept in touch with the kids, Pinkston said, but was not a regular presence in their lives.

View full sizeJason Pinkston's girlfriend, Kathy, said their daughter, Martha Jane, has the Browns guard "wrapped around her finger."Pinkston family photo

The offensive lineman blossomed into a two-time, first-team All-Big East selection at the University of Pittsburgh. When it became obvious he possessed NFL potential, Pinkston said his dad reconnected with the family.

“Obviously, my dad is in my life, but I felt like he wasn’t there always,” said Pinkston, selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. “I always wanted to pride myself on being a really good dad when that time came.”

Pinkston and Kathy, also from Pittsburgh, met more than three years ago. They wanted to start a family, and if they were lucky enough to have a daughter, the girl would be named after a grandmother she would never meet. Pinkston’s mother died of breast cancer in 2008.

Late in summer of 2012, the couple learned Kathy was pregnant. Pinkston was heading into his second season as a starting left guard. Life had filled them with blessings.

Browns offensive line coach Mike Sullivan, who worked with the Chargers a season ago, recalls watching Pinkston’s play on film and seeing a thick-bodied lineman starting to fulfill his potential. He liked the quickness, lower-body strength and aggressiveness that was exhibited.

“Jason was on the upswing,” Sullivan said. “In the world of Twitter, which he loves, he was trending up.”

So imagine Kathy’s reaction when she received a call from her boyfriend on Oct. 18, 2012, informing her: “Don’t freak out, but I’m going to the emergency room.”

‘Surreal experience’

Pinkston had been feeling sick in the days leading up to the Oct. 14 home game against Cincinnati. The couple thought he might be battling bronchitis, but he elected to play.

Overcome by illness, Pinkston didn’t make it through the first half. His condition worsened throughout the next week before finally being admitted to the Cleveland Clinic, where doctors discovered the clot.

“It was a surreal experience,” Kathy said. “I spent night and day at the hospital with him.”

Pinkston, 26, felt lucky to be alive. But as time passed, the reality of the situation hit home. His season was over and his career appeared in jeopardy.

Pinkston spent the next six months on a blood thinner. He couldn't run. He couldn't eat vegetables because of potential interactions with his medication. His diet consisted mostly of meats and carbohydrates as he gained weight and lost endurance.

Sullivan is among the coaches who worry about players who are removed from a team and locker room for long stretches. Some grow depressed and develop vices that can compromise their futures.

“I can’t imagine it,” Sullivan said of Pinkston’s past year. “Unless you lived it, you can’t appreciate the dark days he went through.”

Unable to work out, Pinkston focused completely on his family. He shopped for cribs and clothes. He accompanied Kathy on her doctor’s appointments.

One of her best memories is seeing the expression on her boyfriend’s face the first time he heard Martha Jane’s heartbeat.

“His face lit up,” she said. “Thinking back to that time, I know he was scared. I could see it in his body language. But he was so strong for us.”

Martha Jane was born April 12. On that same weekend, the couple would receive more good news: Pinkston’s CT scan came back clean. A doctor called to tell him he was cleared to resume football activity.

“Once, I was cleared, it was just a matter of me saying, ‘I’ve got another chance,’ and focus on getting ready to play and focus on being a dad at the same time,” Pinkston said.

The comeback was short-lived, however. In the second preseason game, he suffered a high ankle against the Detroit Lions.

Child’s play

Work days for injured players are long and arduous. Pinkston arrived each morning at the Berea facility around 6 a.m., to receive treatment and rehab the ankle.

Like a wounded animal separated from the herd, an injured player toggles between two worlds. He’s on the roster but not in the lineup, around his teammates but not one of the guys. As they prepare for games, the afflicted player operates in the margins, anxious to be part of the story again.

View full sizeJason Pinkston brought Martha Jane, named for his late mother, to training camp in August.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

Pinkston said there were days he’d arrive at home in no mood to talk.

“I might walk in the door and she would just sit there in her high chair smiling at me,” Pinkston said. “It’s hard not to smile back and just forget about everything else.”

They watch cartoons together. Martha Jane loves Mickey Mouse and SpongeBob SquarePants. One of her favorite activities is to pull dad’s beard.

Kathy said Pinkston wants to be involved in everything. She had planned to take Martha Jane to see Santa last week, but opted to wait for Monday when Pinkston and the family’s two English bulldogs could make the trip together.

“He’s like a big teddy bear for her,” Kathy said. “He said he’s going to be a strict dad, but she’s already got him wrapped around her finger.”

When the Browns experienced a nervy flight home from Cincinnati on Nov. 17, Pinkston rushed to the house and held Martha Jane for at least 30 minutes.

“That’s his baby girl,” said Browns outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard, who also played with Pinkston at Pitt. “And she is his world.”

Sheard and others are happy to see Pinkston back in the lineup. He will make his second straight start Sunday against the New York Jets in place of the injured John Greco.

Pinkston grew emotional running out of the tunnel at FirstEnergy Stadium last week for his first home game in more than a year. Sullivan said the guard will need more reps and a full offseason to regain the form he showed early in the 2012 season.

“He’s an exciting prospect,” Sullivan said. “He’s as good as he wants to be.”

Pinkston hopes to make it through the final two games healthy. In between those games, he will celebrate his first Christmas with a daughter who’s provided him with so much inspiration.

The Browns lineman admits he’s still searching for the perfect gift. Kathy already has supplied Pinkston with his – she waits for him every day in a high chair as he walks through the door.

My pride & joy pic.twitter.com/eoBjSM5HNq

— Jason Pinkston (@JasonPinkstonOL) November 6, 2013

Since their 2010 state final, Braxton Miller and Kevin Burke have been among the most successful college quarterbacks in the nation, and they have built exceptional and similar resumes.

SALEM, Va. -- Everyone wanted to see the next big thing in college football.

On Dec. 4, 2010, Braxton Miller was the reason much of Ohio tuned into the 2010 state championship football game on statewide TV. He was Ohio State's quarterback of the future, playing in his final high school game for Huber Heights Wayne against St. Edward in the Division I final.

Mount Union coach Larry Kehres and his then-assistant, Vince Kehres, had a different reason to watch. The father and son were looking at the player nearly every other college coach in the country had overlooked, St. Edward quarterback Kevin Burke.

Mount Union junior quarterback Kevin Burke, of Westlake, poses with the Gagliardi Trophy he was awarded Wednesday night in Salem, Va., as the outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. He is the first junior to win the trophy.JT Higgins, University of Mount Union

Turns out Burke was the next big thing, too, even if on a smaller stage.

Larry and Vince Kehres saw what they then determined should be their quarterback of the future. What they might not have envisioned was how quickly and flawlessly the future would arrive.

Since that state final, Miller and Burke have been among the most successful college quarterbacks in the nation, and they have built exceptional and similar resumes.

Miller is 22-1 as Ohio State's starter the last two seasons and 26-7 overall. He'll lead seventh-ranked Ohio State into the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Jan. 3. Miller, a junior, was ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and there's widespread speculation he will declare early for the NFL draft.

Burke is a fan.

“He's a highly competitive quarterback,'' Burke said. “The first thing I noticed about him when we played them he is so competitive and has a great football IQ.''

Burke might as well have been describing himself.

Burke is 29-0 in his second season as Mount Union's starter. He will play for his second Division III national championship 7 p.m. Friday against Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (ESPNU).

The junior from Westlake on Wednesday won the Gagliardi Trophy, Division III's version of the Heisman Trophy, with the added factors of academics community service. 

Mount Union junior quarterback Kevin Burke, of Westlake, has rushed for 1,033 yards and 10 TDs while completing 63 percent of his passes this season.University of Mount Union

Burke, the first junior and sixth Purple Raider to win the Gagliardi, is being mentioned in the same breath as some of Mount Union's greatest players. Because of his size, generously listed at 5-10 and 190 pounds, his NFL prospects would appear slim. But Burke will leave college with at least one one, and possibly two or three national championship rings. He also could be the first two-time Gagliardi winner.

“I don't like to focus to much on that (a pro career),'' Burke said. “Kids have dreams. That would be an honor and dream come true if I got the chance. But we got one more game this year and a whole new season next year. I'll focus on that (playing after college) when I get there.''

Miller and Burke were undefeated in 2012 and 2013 until Ohio State's loss to Michigan State in this month's Big Ten championship.

This season, Miller has 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing; Burke has 1,035 yards and 13 TDs. Both have completed 63 percent of their passes.

Miller was a central figure in Ohio State's 12-0 season last year as a sophomore starter. This season and last, he won the Silver Football, given to the Big Ten's top player in a vote by coaches.

View full sizeOhio State junior quarterback Braxton Miller has rushed for 1,035 yards and 13 TDs while completing 63 percent of his passes this season. Jay LaPrete, Associated Press

Burke was a sophomore starting with 10 seniors on last year's 15-0 national championship team. This season, he is a captain and the lone returning offensive starter on a team that is 14-0 and ranked No. 1 all season. He is the first Mount Union junior to be nominated for the Gagliardi Trophy.

Miller and Burke also share a trait that does not translate to a stat sheet: the 'it' factor. Their supreme confidence and an uncanny knack for creating great plays out of broken ones, while making those around them better, is the lynchpin of their success.

“The quarterback has to have 'it,' whatever 'it' is,'' said Vince Kehres, now Mount Union's head coach. “Kevin has 'it.'”

“What that means to me,'' added Larry Kehres, “is that he is a tremendous leader in that he inspires other players to get better. As the only starter back, he had to raise other players to the level that the could play. They are playing at the level not just because of the coaches, but because of Kevin.''

Larry Kehres said he saw 'it' when he watched Burke's somewhat surprising rise to state champion in 2010.

Burke had been 4-5 as a junior starter in 2009 at St. Edward. The following summer, he split time between football and baseball, which earned him a demotion to second-string quarterback during training camp. That lit a competitive fire in Burke that has singed opponents ever since. He won back the starting job that summer and has won 44 consecutive games as a starting quarterback.

St. Edward ran the table with Burke and an offensive line regarded as one of the best Greater Cleveland has ever seen. But beating Miller and Huber Heights Wayne for St. Edward's first state title was no easy task.

Braxton Miller runs with the football during his senior year at Huber Heights Wayne in 2010, when he led Wayne to the Division I state final against St. Edward.Tony Tribble, Associated Press

To no one's surprise, Miller accounted for all four of his team's touchdowns in the state final.

Dressed in short sleeves on a snowy night in Canton, the unheralded Burke did more than measure up to Miller, a four-star recruit. Burke led St. Edward back from 21-7, third-quarter deficit to win, 35-28. Burke guided a 54-yard drive that produced the winning touchdown with 97 seconds remaining.

View full sizeKevin Burke (left), Mike Dinunzio (center) and Avery Bailey (right) check out St. Edward's 2010 Division I state championship trophy during a rally at the school on Dec. 6, 2010.Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer

That performance was a major reason the Larry Kehres personally gave Burke and his family a tour of the campus a few months later while larger schools took a pass. Georgetown and Ohio University spoke to Burke about being a walk-on wide receiver, but Burke wanted to play quarterback.

Mount Union was coming off its second straight Stagg Bowl loss to this week's foe, Wisconsin-Whitewater. Larry and Vince Kehres, the recruiting coordinator at the time, decided Mount Union needed a mobile quarterback who could make big plays.

Heading into the 2012 season, after yet another championship loss to Whitewater in 2011, Larry Kehres had three candidates for the starting job. He didn't need his offensive assistants to tell him who won the training camp battle. His defensive starters did.

“He was the one they wanted,'' Larry Kehres said. “Kevin was like them. He was tough, and they knew it. They thought he was the quarterback who could take him all the way, and they were right.''

Burke has proven them right time and again.

“My favorite memory was last year in the (national) semifinal when we got the ball with 2:10 left on our own 29, and I thought, 'Kevin did this in the state championship game.' He drove down in the fourth quarter and St. Ed won the game,'' Larry Kehres said. “I found it reassuring he had done this before in the state championship game.''

In that national semifinal, Burke was 3-for-3 passing on a six-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that beat Mary Hardin-Baylor, 48-35.

Fast forward one year to last weekend in another national semifinal. Mount Union trailed North Central (Ill.), 40-35, and had to go 65 yards with 98 seconds remaining. It was snowing. Burke, who had taken several hard hits while rushing for 138 yards, looked unfazed dressed in short sleeves, just as he was in the 2010 state finals.

Three passes and 31 seconds later, Burke had Mount Union in the end zone. He threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Mike Collichio to win the game, 41-40, and put Mount Union in tonight's Stagg Bowl.

“Nothing surprises me that that kid does any more,'' Vince Kehres said.

Nor should it surprise anyone else who has been watching Burke since he bested Braxton Miller three years ago.

Breaking down Braxton Miller and Kevin Burke

Braxton Miller, Ohio State (Division I)
Year: Junior
Ht: 6-2, Wt: 215
Career record: 26-7
2013 stats
Games: 11
Rushing: 153 attempts, 1,033 yards, 6.8 ave., 13 TD
Passing: 146-231, 63.2 pct., 1,860 yards, 22 TD, 5 INT
Total yards: 2,893
Career stats
Rushing: 539 attempts, 3,019 yards, 5.6 ave., 30 TD
Passing: 379-642, 59 pct., 5,058 yards, 50 TD, 15 INT
Total yards: 8,077

Kevin Burke, Mount Union (Division III)
Year: Junior
Ht: 5-10, Wt: 190
Career record: 29-0
2013 stats
Games: 14
Rushing: 188 attempts, 1,035 yards, 5.7 ave., 13 TD
Passing: 212-337, 62.9 pct., 3,514 yards, 44 TD, 7 INT
Total yards: 4,549
Career stats
Rushing: 337 attempts, 2,221 yards, 6.6 ave., 23 TD
Passing: 468-707, 66.2 pct. 37,359 yards, 82 TD, 14 INT
Total yards: 9,256

Watch Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot's and Tom Reed's preview of Sunday's game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in New York.

BEREA, Ohio --    Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed preview the Browns (4-10) game Sunday against the New York Jets (6-8) at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Browns will be trying to get back on the winning track after losing their last five and eight of the last nine.

Cornerback Joe Haden has not practiced all week because of a hip pointer suffered last week against the Bears.  Defensive coordinator Ray Horton said Thursday that his status will be a game time decision. 

Jordan Cameron will likely miss the game because he is still going through the NFL's concussion protocol.

The Jets will be led by rookie quarterback Geno Smith who has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.  He has a 62.9 rating on the season.

Smith has been good in the clutch when games are on the line.  In his first seven games, he had four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Offensively, they rank near the bottom in many categories:  Total yards per game (30).  Passing yards per game (31).  Sacks allowed (31).  Points per game (31).

The Jets have one of the better defenses against the run.

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

The East Side Tournament will be Saturday, Aug. 2 at Victory Sports Park; and the West Side Tournament will be Aug. 9 at VSP. The winners of those two tournaments will tangle for the tournament title on the 16th at Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains. Laria Softball won the inaugural title in 2013.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mark your calendars: The dates have been set for the second annual Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com Softball Championship tournament, so start assembling your team and prove you're the best in Greater Cleveland. 

The championship game will be held on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 16, at the 2013 site, Classic Park in Eastlake. The title game is tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m. 

The game will take place after some of the area's top sluggers compete in the Greater Cleveland Slow-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame Home Run Derby at 6.

The teams playing that night will be the winner of the East Side Tournament, which will be Saturday, Aug. 2 at Victory Sports Park in North Ridgeville; and the winner of the West Side Tournament, which will be held Aug. 9 at VSP.

In the inaugural title game in 2013, West Side champ Laria Softball rallied in the ninth inning to top the East Side champion Ohio Lawmen. 

Laria was sponsored by Dave Nager Attorney, SPC Sports and Monarch Interiors. The Lawmen were sponsored by Ganley Auto Group, Elk & Elk, Anchor Manufacturing and Steve's Sports.

Buddy Wolf was the 2013 Home Run Derby champion.

Scouts and talent evaluators like the NFL potential of Ohio State's Jack Mewhort. What about his cohorts along the offensive line?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The praise has rained down on Ohio State's offensive line all season.

Carlos Hyde, who has amassed 1,408 rushing yards in only 10 games, referred to the quintet as the best offensive line in the nation. Urban Meyer has echoed similar sentiments at various junctures of the season.

Media and coaches voted three of the five to the all-Big Ten teams.

Right tackle Taylor Decker is only a sophomore, so he is out of the equation.

How many of the other four behemoths -- left tackle Jack Mewhort, left guard Andrew Norwell, center Corey Linsley and right guard Marcus Hall -- have a chance at NFL glory?

Opinions differ on the four, though scouts and draft experts appear to agree that Mewhort stands out among the four.

But will Mewhort even play left tackle at the next level?

"There are certainly questions to come about what position in the NFL Mewhort is going to play," one NFL scout said. "He has the versatility to play multiple positions. He may not be the ideal left tackle, but he can certainly help at right tackle and guard."

Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft expert for CBS Sports, lauded Mewhort's ability to position his 6-foot-6-inch frame in a way that seals off running lanes for Hyde and Braxton Miller.

"He has a chance to shine at the Senior Bowl," Brugler said, "and projects as a second or third round draft pick as a physical right tackle in the NFL."

The NFL scout pegged Linsley as the second-most capable.

"He's just a solid player," the scout said. "He'll have a solid NFL career. He has the strength and athleticism that you look for at the position. He has pretty good size. As long as he stays healthy, he'll be able to help an NFL roster."

Brugler isn't as confident.

"Linsley is a solid player, but he struggles to stand out," Brugler said. "He shows good hustle and is always looking to finish and eliminate his target, but he also needs to do a better job exploding out of his stance to better be in position to take on rushers."

Will an NFL team draft Marcus Hall in the spring?Associated Press

Brugler considers Linsley, Hall and Norwell possibilities to be drafted in the later rounds or to be swiftly signed as free agents following the draft.

He worries about Norwell's concentration and propensity to jump early.

"Norwell looks the part, but he has too many false start penalties on his resume and needs to stay focused for all four quarters," Brugler said. "He has questionable awareness and needs to do a better job recognizing pressure and staying patient and balanced in space."

Brugler cautioned that Hall's middle-finger salute to the Michigan Stadium crowd last month won't help the Glenville alumnus' cause. Hall was ejected from the game for his involvement in a skirmish and he did not play in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan State a week later. As for his on-field exploits, Brugler said Hall must exhibit a more aggressive nature on a consistent basis.

The Buckeyes will be tasked with replacing four-fifths of their line next season. Will all four departing seniors be playing in the pros?

The NFL scout surmised that Mewhort could be the second Ohio State player off the draft board in the spring, after cornerback Bradley Roby.

"His value will be in the eye of the beholder," the scout said. "He's going to be a very good NFL player, it's just going to depend on where a team puts him."

Cleveland.com's Ohio State coverage team of Doug Lesmerises, Zack Meisel and Ari Wasserman were joined by former OSU lineman Andrew Moses at Harry Buffalo in Parma Heights. This is the first in a series of videos previewing the Orange Bowl and the 2014 Buckeyes.

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio - Ohio State plays Clemson on Jan. 3 in the Orange Bowl, and cleveland.com's OSU coverage team of Doug Lesmerises, Zack Meisel and Ari Wasserman visited Harry Buffalo in Parma Heights to preview the game and everything Buckeye heading into the new year.

Their guest for this opening segment of the preview is cleveland.com contributor and former Buckeye offensive lineman Andrew Moses.

In the first of this four-part preview, they discuss Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller and whether he is ready for the NFL.  For the second straight year, Miller has been named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year. Despite missing nearly three full games with a sprained knee ligament, he has amassed 1,860 yards in the air and 1,033 on the ground. 

Is he ready for the NFL? The team discusses that and other QB issues.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Garfield boys basketball team took care of business on Friday night, defeating Collinwood 91-53. The Bulldogs were able to build an 11-point lead after the first quarter.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Garfield boys basketball team took care of business on Friday night, defeating Collinwood 91-53.

The Bulldogs were able to build an 11-point lead after the first quarter.

The backcourt of Marreon Jackson (28 points) and Chelvonte Montgomery (27) led the way for the Bulldogs, while Jon Grant scored 12 points for Collinwood.

The Tigers are now 5-1 on the season, and will be back in action on Thursday against Cornerstone Christian.

Second-half collapse leads to the Purple Raiders' worst loss in 39 years and ends a 29-game winning streak. Whitewater wins its fifth national title -- all against Mount Union.

SALEM, Va. – Mount Union quarterback Kevin Burke had nowhere to run.

The Purple Raiders' defense had nowhere to hide.

That left Wisconsin-Whitewater to revel in yet another NCAA Division III football championship triumph against Mount Union on Friday in Stagg Bowl XLI. Whitewater defeated the Purple Raiders, 52-14, in front of 5,371 in Salem Stadium.

Fifth-ranked Whitewater (15-0) beat Mount Union for the fourth time in the last five Stagg Bowls, and the Warhawks won their fifth title -- all against Mount Union.

"We don't own Mount Union,'' Whitewater defensive lineman Louissaint Minett said. "They're a good football team that is battle tested but they had to come out and play today, and the scoreboard shows we came to play, too.''

No. 1 Mount Union (14-1) saw a 29-game winning streak that included last year's championship come to a crashing halt. The Purple Raiders suffered their worst defeat since 1974, two years before first-year coach Vince Kehres was born, and before his father, Larry, began his reign has head coach.

Vince Kehres said he felt his team overachieved this year considering it returned just one starter on offense from the 2012 championship team.

"I'm proud of them and we won a lot of games we could have lost,'' he said.

"You have to go out and earn it,'' Whitewater coach Lance Leipold said.

The Mount Union defense's lone significant contribution was safety Alex Kocheff's first-quarter fumble recovery at the Whitewater 5-yard line, which Burke followed with a TD run and a 7-7 tie.

Playing against the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in Division III, Mount Union's offense had little margin for error, and made plenty. Two scoreless red-zone drives and four second-half turnovers proved too much to overcome.

Burke won the Gagliardi Trophy as Division III's outstanding player on Wednesday, but was outplayed by fellow junior Matt Behrendt. The Whitewater quarterback completed 20 of 28 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. Behrendt finished the season with 40 TD passes and just one interception.

The shocker was his ability to run six times for 56 yards. He entered the game with minus-69 yards rushing on 14 carries this season.

"They tried to double-cover our receivers and that opened up holes for me all day,'' Behrendt said.

Running behind a big offensive line that featured two freshmen and two sophomores, tailback Jordan Ratliffe (147 yards, two TDs) was the first opposing back to gain 100 yards against Mount Union. Whitewater finished with 201 yards rushing and 450 yards offense.

"They tried to run the ball down our throat, and when they did, that really hurt us,'' Kocheff said.

Burke, who is Mount Union's first quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 yards, was held to minus-10 yards and one TD on 12 carries, and was stopped several times on key, short-yardage situations.

Burke, of Westlake, passed for 316 yards with no touchdowns, and he threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

"(Whitewater) had a phenomenal defensive line and that's where it started,'' Burke said. "They did a great job of taking away what we wanted to do.''

Mount Union had just 32 yards rushing in 27 attempts.

Key breakdowns included a fourth-and-one penalty that led to a failed 30-yard field goal attempt in the first half, and a fourth-down sack that killed a third-quarter drive.

Mount Union's attempt to overcome a 21-14 halftime deficit was thwarted by a pair of lost fumbles in the third quarter, each of which led to a Whitewater touchdown as the Warhawks built a 38-14 lead early in the fouth quarter. Two interceptions followed.

In the first quarter, the Mount Union defense was at the center of the Whitewater rapid in the first quarter, giving up two long touchdown drives, but setting up the Purple Raiders first touchdown with a turnover.

Whitewater opened with a a 75-yard drive and Behrendt threw a 17-yard TD pass to Jake Kumerow, a 6-5 junior transfer from Illinois whose father, Eric, played at Ohio State and was a first-round NFL draft pick.

Kocheff stopped the Warhawks' next two drives. He forced a punt with a third-down tackle at the line, and later recovered a wild shotgun snap at the 5. Burke tied it on the next play, running past wide receiver Sherman Wilkinson's block on the right side.

The tie was short-lived. Whitewater drove 68 yards in nine plays, converting a fourth down at the 25, and Behrendt threw to wideout Tyler Huber for a 23-yard TD and a 14-7 score.

Mount Union didn't convert a first down in the first quarter, but got three on one bizarre drive to begin the second quarter, and was ruined by breakdowns on the sideline and the sideline. Facing second-and-one at the Whitewater 8, running back Logan Nemeth was stopped twice on runs up the middle. Kicker Edward Ruhnke jogged out to attempt a 25-yard field goal, which he kicked through the uprights moments after Kehres called a timeout to stop the play.

Kehres, a repeated gambler from much worse field position throughout the season, sent his offense back out for the fourth-down play, but an illegal substitution resulted in a 5-yard penalty and Ruhnke replaced the offense for fourth-and-6 and a 30-yard field goal try.

Ruhnke pulled the kick from the left hash wide left.

Whitewater carried the sudden momentum swing 80 yards on an eight-play drive that put Mount Union in a 21-7 hole. Behrendt had runs of 22 and 9 yards and completed four of five passes for 51 yards, finding Huber in the end zone on a 7-yarder. The 21-7 margin was Mount Union's largest deficit of the season to that point.

Burke found some rhythm, completing four of four passes for 56 yards, including a 15-yarder on fourth down that found wideout Brian Gainer between two defenders at the 11. Tailback B.J. Mitchell spun off a tackler at the 3 on an 11-yard touchdown run, cutting the margin to 21-14, with 29 seconds before halftime.

Mount Union's rhythm and momentum evaporated in the third quarter with a turnover and and fourth-down sack. Whitewater won a scrum for a Mitchell fumble on the first drive of the second half, putting the Warhawks at the Mount Union 46. Tailback Jordan Ratliffe's 18-yard TD run put Whitewater back up by two touchdowns, 28-14.

The Purple Raiders' next drive died at the Whitewater 13. Defensive tackle Mykael Bratchett tackled Burke on a third-down run up the middle and sacked him on fourth down.

Whitewater followed with a field goal and the Purple Raiders were unable to hold on, let alone attempt a comeback.

GATES MILLS, Ohio -- Twinsburg senior Andrew Leonard led his hockey team to a 4-0 shutout of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Friday night at Gilmour Academy.  Leonard scored the first two goals of the game for the Tigers, one in the first period and another in the second. Leomard also had an assist on a third period goal by...

GATES MILLS, Ohio -- Twinsburg senior Andrew Leonard led his hockey team to a 4-0 shutout of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Friday night at Gilmour Academy. 

Leonard scored the first two goals of the game for the Tigers, one in the first period and another in the second. Leomard also had an assist on a third period goal by junior Kyle DiRosa. Leonard scored his first goal unassisted while the second one came off of a feed from sophomore Travis Zochowski. 

Twinsburg extended its lead to four when senior Brennan Byers netted one with 2:31 left in the game. Senior Dylan Aoki picked up an assist on the score. 

NDCL junior goalie Harry Giegerich saved 24 of 28 shot attempts in the game while senior Braden Susnik deflected each of the eight shots he faced on the night. 

Twinsburg 4, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 0

T: Leonard (2), DiRosa, Byers. NDCL: None. 

Goalies: T, Susnik (8 shots-8 saves); NDCL, Giegerich (24-28). 

Note: This story will be updated with quotes from players and coaches later tonight. 

AKRON, Ohio — Archbishop Hoban's Christian Waite scored 12 fourth quarter points to help his Knights upset Lake Catholic, 74-68, on Friday in North Coast League boys basketball play. Waite scored just six points until the fourth quarter when he stepped up and hit big shots to give his team as much as a nine-point lead.

AKRON, Ohio — Archbishop Hoban's Christian Waite scored 12 fourth quarter points to help his Knights upset Lake Catholic, 74-68, on Friday in North Coast League boys basketball play.

Waite scored just six points until the fourth quarter when he stepped up and hit big shots to give his team as much as a nine-point lead.

Fritz Schwendler scored 15 points for Hoban and Anthony Christian added 12 off the bench.

Zavier Powers scored 26 points for Lake Catholic, ranked 17th in the cleveland.com Top 25 poll, 11 of which came in the first quarter. Justin Robinson added 18 for the Cougars.

Hoban had an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to turn a 56-54 deficit into a 65-56 lead.

This story will be updated with further detail and reaction.

TWINSBURG, Ohio – All it really took was one quarter. One quarter for North Royalton coach Steffani Cicerchi to keep repeating to her team to spread the floor and play together.

TWINSBURG, Ohio – All it really took was one quarter.

One quarter for North Royalton coach Steffani Cicerchi to keep repeating to her team to spread the floor and play together.

One quarter for Beachwood coach Michael Coreno to watch some of his players walk down the court after a missed jumper.

That one quarter, the first quarter in which the Bears led 20-3, was the quarter that the coaches believed made a difference in No. 7 North Royalton’s 65-42 victory against No. 16 Beachwood in the third annual Fight or Flight Invitational on Friday at Twinsburg. Beachwood’s Aneisha Hardin led all scorers with 19 points. She also had five rebounds.

The Bison were down three girls, including two starters, went 12 deep.

Beachwood (6-2) started the game running the court so quickly, Cicerchi looked at her assistant coaches with wide eyes.

“Stay disciplined,” she commanded from the sideline. “Spread the floor.”

North Royalton (8-0) counterattacked by playing their pace and their game, which is one of many passes and few dribbles.

“Really our focus this year is to be unselfish,” Cicerchi said. “So the kids are always looking for that one extra pass to get a better shot.”

With the limited dribbles and the Bison’s late first step, the Bears were able to put up basket after basket. Beachwood’s first point came on a free throw shot early in the first quarter, but their first two-point basket didn’t come until 3:26 from senior forward Aneisha Hardin.

Those were the only three points of the quarter from the Bears.

“We couldn’t put the ball in the basket. We weren’t getting back on defense,” Coreno said. “Our lack of defense killed us in the first quarter. It isn’t about shooting. They were shooting mostly layups because we weren’t getting back.”

Both teams settled in for the second quarter, missing an equal amount of baskets. It’s also when Cicerchi began noticing the offensive rebounds battle that her team was losing.

North Royalton went into the half up 37-12.

“I told them we either play defense or we’re going to lose by 50,” Coreno said. “I think the second half we played them pretty close to even, once we got our heads right.”

The third quarter began with back-to-back layups from North Royalton’s Alison Smolinski, who led the Bears with 17 points.

That’s what North Royalton’s halftime speech centered around. Set the tone early.

Hardin, though, had listened to her coach’s halftime speech too and she grabbed steals, blocked shots and contributed seven points in the third quarter, while Smolinski contributed 11.

“Her biggest transition has been teams are actually coming out to shut her down so other kids have been stepping up,” Cicerchi said. “We’ve had a couple teams go box-and-one, full-out denial of her. She’s working a lot on scoring off screens. Stuff that she really didn’t see last year.”

She also leads the team in steals and assists and the guards in rebounding.

The Bears finished off the fourth quarter, scoring just seven points but were able to enjoy the lead of that first-quarter cushion.

“We have a lot of very good individual kids but each game so far we’ve had a lot of people step up,” Cicerchi said. “We’re tough to defend because it’s not just that one person you have to shut down.”

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.

CHARDON, Ohio - Four quarters was not enough on Friday night as the Benedictine boys basketball team defeated Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 80-73 in overtime. The Bengals found themselves down eight points at halftime, but scored 23 points in the third quarter to take a two-point lead into the fourth. However, the Lions were able to force it to overtime,...

CHARDON, Ohio - Four quarters was not enough on Friday night as the Benedictine boys basketball team defeated Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 80-73 in overtime.

The Bengals found themselves down eight points at halftime, but scored 23 points in the third quarter to take a two-point lead into the fourth. However, the Lions were able to force it to overtime, where the Bengals were able to make enough plays.

Jordan Philpotts had a big game for the Bengals, scoring 31 points. John Cirillo was the high scorer on the night, putting in 35 points in a losing effort.

  CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are the high school box scores and highlights from bowling and hockey, for Friday, Dec. 20, 2013.

GATES MILLS, Ohio -- Western Reserve Academy fell behind early but came back strong to beat West Geauga, 7-4, at Gilmour Academy on Friday night.  Freshman Skyler Rossbach gave the Wolverines a quick 2-0 advantage with a pair of scores in the first period. Both scores came off of assists from senior Tate Georgevitch. 

GATES MILLS, Ohio -- Western Reserve Academy fell behind early but came back strong to beat West Geauga, 7-4, at Gilmour Academy on Friday night. 

Freshman Skyler Rossbach gave the Wolverines a quick 2-0 advantage with a pair of scores in the first period. Both scores came off of assists from senior Tate Georgevitch. 

Western Reserve responded by going on a four-point run. Junior Austin Rand put the Pioneers on the board with 5:56 left in the first frame. Sophomore Sam LaFontaine picked up the assist on the play. 

Less than a minute later, senior Robert Markwell scored the first of his four goals in the contest. LaFontaine fed him assists on two of the scores. Sophomore Otto Bahan picked assisted on another of Markwell's goals while LaFontaine netted another one unassisted. 

West Geauga senior James Kern scored a pair of goals for the Wolverines, one in the second and another with only 2:17 left in the third. Senior Tom Karlsson and Georgevitch assisted on each goal, respectively. 

The game was the third and final matchup of the opening night of the First Annual Mayfield Wildcats Winter Classic. 

Note: This story will be updated with quotes from players and coaches as well as a video. 

Shazier made three first teams and three second teams, while Mewhort made one first team, four second teams and one third team.

COLUMBUS – All five official All-American teams as recognized by the NCAA, as well as many others, are in, with the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) naming their teams on Friday.

While linebacker Ryan Shazier and offensive tackle Jack Mewhort each made at least one first-team All-American team among the eight major lists, neither reached consensus All-American status. The NCAA recognizes consensus All-Americans as those who make first team for at least three of the five teams used by the NCAA for that determination: Associated Press, FWAA, AFCA, Walter Camp and Sporting News.

Three other major All-American teams released already are from Sports Illustrated, ESPN and CBSSports.com.

Here is how Ohio State fared on those eight All-American teams. Some teams are just first team, while others list a second team and the AP and CBS even go to a third team.

Five teams used by NCAA

AP: Shazier (first), Mewhort (second), RB Carlos Hyde (third)

FWAA: Shazier (second), Mewhort (second)

AFCA: no Buckeyes, had first team only

Walter Camp: Shazier (second), Mewhort (second)

Sporting News: no Buckeyes, had first team only

View full sizeOhio State linebacker Ryan Shazier (2) made first-team on three All-American teams and second-team on three others.Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Other All-American teams

Sports Illustrated: Shazier (first), Mewhort (second)

ESPN: Shazier (first), Mewhort (first)

CBSSports: Shazier (second), Hyde (second), Mewhort (third), safety C.J. Barnett (third)

Totaled up, that's three first teams and three second teams for Shazier. Mewhort made one first team, four second teams and one third team. Hyde made a second team and a third team. And Barnett made a third team.

In the world of players Ohio State would like to see turn into All-Americans, Ari had some must-read recruiting stories on Friday.

Florida QB prospect Torrance Gibson, who has heard comparisons to Terrelle Pryor, will get a closer look at the Buckeyes thanks to the Orange Bowl.

Linebacker pledge Sam Hubbard was a lacrosse star before he was a football star, but now he's giving up his other sport for the spring to focus on football.

Ohio State safeties coach Everett Withers accepted the head job at James Madison and quickly changed his Twitter handle.

Grateful for the opportunities The Ohio State University has provided me. Excited to lead James Madison in a successful future. Go Dukes!

— Everett Withers (@JMUCoachWithers) December 21, 2013

Zack has been detailing the pro prospects of the Buckeyes all week and Friday looked at the offensive line. He'll address Christian Bryant today, while I talked to Bryant's father, Ronnie, for another story that will pop in today.

Our Ohio State countdown will hit the single digits today after Zack wrote about defensive end Noah Spence at No. 10 Friday.

At the top of this post is one of our four segments from our Ohio State show at Harry Buffalo in Parma Heights on Wednesday. Check out that talk of the future of the Buckeyes in 2014, or hear our discussion of Braxton Miller's future.

We'll have two more videos out at the start of next week.

Both Ohio State and Notre Dame boast four starters that average in the double figures in scoring. The Buckeyes, however, come into Saturday night's game between the two programs hotter, having shot better than 50 percent in five of their last six games.

No. 3 Ohio State (11-0) vs. Notre Dame (8-3)

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Madison Square Garden (18,200)

TV: ESPN2

Announcers: Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Dan Dakich (expert analysis)

Tickets: OhioStateBuckeyes.com

BlackRock Gotham Classic: Now in its second year, the Gotham Classic features five different programs from across the country – Bryant, North Dakota State, Delaware, Ohio State and Notre Dame – who play four games a piece. Ohio State’s game against Notre Dame is part of the event’s Showcase Round in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Breaking down the Buckeyes: Ohio State shot 40.7 percent in its 76-64 win over Delaware on Wednesday night, snapping a streak of five consecutive games the Buckeyes shot at least 52 percent … Through 11 games this season – all wins – Ohio State ranks No. 2 in the country in three-point field goal percentage defense (.247), No. 3 in scoring defense (55.5 points per game) and fewest fouls per game (15.0) and No. 5 in scoring margin (20.7) … This will be meeting No. 12 between Ohio State and Notre Dame, and the Buckeyes hold a 7-4 advantage. Ohio State has won four of the last five meetings, including a victory 67-62 victory in Indianapolis in December of 2008 … Thad Matta has led Ohio State to at least 10 wins during nonconference play in each of his 10 years leading the Buckeyes … Ohio State has four starters averaging at least 10 points per game. Senior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. is the Buckeyes’ leading scorer (13.5 points per game), and he’s joined by LaQuinton Ross (12.5), Amir Williams (10.1) and Aaron Craft (10.0).

Breaking down the Irish: Notre Dame suffered an upset when it lost to North Dakota State on Dec. 11, but the Irish bounced back three days later with a win at home over Indiana … Four Notre Dame starters are averaging double-digit scoring this year. Senior guard Jerian Grant leads the way with 19.1 points per game, and he’s joined by senior guard Eric Atkins (11.9), junior forward Pat Connaughton (13.9) and senior center Garrick Sherman (14.3) … Sherman has scored 10 points or more in each of his last eight games … Ohio State is Notre Dame’s third Big Ten opponent this year. The Irish claimed the win over the Hoosiers their last time out, but lost to Iowa in Iowa City, 98-93, on Dec. 3 … Grant has scored 20 or more points in three of the last four games and has scored at least 10 points … Notre Dame lead the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) and have had 20 or more assists in five games this year.

Ari's pick: Ohio State 78, Notre Dame 69 

Jets safety Ed Reed, Browns receiver Josh Gordon and cornerback Leon McFadden are some of the things to watch in Sunday's game vs. the Browns and Jets.

BEREA, Ohio -- Five things to watch in Sunday's game between the Browns (4-10) and Jets (6-8):

1. Old foe Ed Reed

Just when the Browns thought they were done with their former Ravens' nemesis, Reed signed with Jets and is starting at free safety for Rex Ryan, his old Baltimore defensive coordinator.

A 12-year veteran and nine-year Pro Bowler, Reed isn't the fearsome force he once was roaming the middle of the field, but as Ryan observed Friday, "If he's going down, he's climbing down from the very top of the mountain -- and that mountain is Everest.''

Reed, who was released by the Texans in November and found a landing spot with the Jets, where big-name castoffs such as Kellen Winslow and Josh Cribbs have also found a home, has always been a Browns killer.

"Ed Reed always comes to play,'' said Willis McGahee, his former University of Miami and Ravens teammate.

This marks Reed's 22 career game against the Browns, his most against any team. In his career vs. the Browns, he's amassed 11 interceptions -- three for touchdowns -- and 357 interception return yards. He also has two multi-pick games against them.

So it's old home week for Reed, and Jason Campbell, who threw two picks last week, better watch out.

2. K2

Speaking of old stars from the U, Kellen Winslow will play against his former Browns team for the second time since being traded to Tampa Bay in 2009 -- and and he ruffled some feathers this week by telling ESPNNewYork.com that nobody on the Browns will be able to guard him.

The remarks were not lost on the Browns, who took plenty of shots at Winslow Friday. Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who wasn't about to let Winslow disrespect his defense like that, observed that Winslow doesn't play much and therefore "he's not much of a threat to us.'' Safety T.J. Ward, who will have to cover him at times, said he's a good tight end, "but he's past his prime.'' Safety Tashaun Gipson said the remarks didn't make the bulletin board, and if they would've come from Lions receiver Calvin Johnson "it would've been different.''

Winslow's only been playing 31 percent of the snaps, but his offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg agrees it should be more. Currently, he's fourth on the team with 27 catches, fifth with 319 yards and third with two TDs.

"He's been a good player,'' said Ryan. "Obviously he’s not the player he was when he was in Cleveland. I was on the other sideline and having to go up against him. If he wasn’t the best receiving tight end in football, he was right up there with them, he was certainly in that conversation. He’s still a good football player that when he’s targeted, he catches the football. We all know how competitive he is, I think he’s brought a lot of that enthusiasm and energy to our football team.''

3. Leon McFadden's Bulls-Eye

If Joe Haden (hip pointer) can't play, rookie Leon McFadden will be pressed into service as the starter opposite Buster Skrine. And it won't be lost on Ryan that McFadden has drawn big pass-interference penalties each of the past two weeks, including a costly 30-yarder against the Bears that led to a tying TD in the fourth quarter.

“He’s definitely the hot corner, if you will, because as a rookie they’re going to come after you,'' said defensive coordinator Ray Horton. "They know who’s playing, just like we know who’s playing on their side. And he’s going to get tested until he can prove that, ‘Hey, either I’m not a rookie,’ or , ‘If you do throw on me, I’ll take it back on you.’ So I’m sure he’s aware that this week in New York he’ll probably have a little bit of a target on him because of being a rookie and having two penalties the last two weeks.”

McFadden acknowledged, "I feel like there's a target on my back. Every play I think that the ball's coming my way and I have to pay attention to what I'm doing. My technique has to be crisp on every down, so that's the biggest thing.''

McFadden's playing against a fellow rookie in quarterback Geno Smith, who's thrown 21 picks for second in the NFL. "He's an athletic player and you can't let him get started,'' said McFadden. "We have to shut him down early.''

Late would be a good thing too.

4. Flash Gordon stands alone

For the first time this season, Josh Gordon will play a game without tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) to take some of the pressure off him. Basically, all the Jets need to do is take Gordon out of the game and they should win handily. Gordon's only hope at this point is that Greg Little can build off of his 44-yard catch-and-run off a screen last week and that tight end MarQueis Gray can catch the Jets off guard with a variety of things, including some wildcat.

Gordon, who was held to two catches for 24 yards until a last-minute TD catch last week, will go against All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

"He's a challenge, just from the way they try to use him," Cromartie told nj.com. "They try to get him off the ball, where guys can't get their hands on him, or they to get him on underneath routes, where you can't really get your hands on him, either.

"I think that the best thing that he does is after the catch. He's a big-body guy that has a lot of speed. If he breaks one tackle and there's no one there, he has a chance to take it to the house."

Cromartie compared him to Brandon Marshall and Terrell Owens, and Ryan likened him to Andre Johnson.

"Yikes. that’s scary, oh, man,'' Ryan said of Gordon. "The run after catch is crazy. I’ve seen him catch a dig, and he breaks a tackle, goes for 80. Slant goes for 80. Outruns people on drives and he’ll run by you. Obviously, the run after catch is something that jumps off the tape at you. Big, physical, strong kid. The amazing thing to me is he leads the league in yardage, and obviously averages about 20 yards a catch, but he missed two games. That’s what’s unusual. This guy misses 2 games and still leads the team in yardage. The impact. Doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, this kid just makes tons of plays.''

5. Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate

Unfortunately for the Browns, it's not No. 6 overall pick Barkevious Mingo. It's Jets' defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, the 13th overall pick. In his first NFL game, he recorded a team-high 11 tackles and a half-sack of Bucs QB Josh Freeman. Against Baltimore in week 12, he notched nine tackles, including three for a loss and a sack.

Overall, he's third on the team with 92 tackles, has 3.5 sacks and is second on the team with 27 hurries and 11 tackles for loss. He also scored his first career TD last week on a 1-yard plunge.

"He's been balling out since day one,'' Cromartie told ESPNNewYork.com. "I really think he should be (defensive rookie of the year). I don't really hear too many rookie players that are playing as well as him either.''

Richardson is a part of a defense that's third against the run and that has allowed only two TDs in 14 red zone possessions (14.3%) over the last four games for first in the NFL.