The Copley football team defeated Twinsburg, 41-25, behind four passing touchdowns by Austin Brenner.
COPLEY, Ohio -- Austin Brenner threw four touchdowns on Friday night as the Copley football team defeated Twinsburg, 41-25.
The scored was tied at 13 points at halftime, but the Indians erupted for 28 third quarter points to pull away. Running back Weston Bridges had a big game, finishing with 137 total yards of offense, while scoring three touchdowns.
The Titans put up nearly 500 yards of offense in the season-opening win.
BEREA, Ohio – Berea-Midpark quarterback Nick Gassman threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the No. 11 Titans opened the season with a resounding 41-21 win against No. 5 Bedford on Friday.
It was an impressive start for a Titans team that reached the Division I playoffs last season, their second since Berea and Midpark merged. On Friday, they looked like a team with nine returning starters on offense.
Video will be added shortly to this post.
Check cleveland.com/hssports on Saturday for another story with several videos from this game, including action highlights.
Gassman was 10-of-14 for 191 yards passing, and the running game produced two touchdowns – one each by Shawn Epps and Tyrese Holland. Epps finished with 119 yards rushing.
The Titans put up nearly 500 yards of offense.
“We’ve got two great running back – Tyrese and Shawn Epps. Great receivers. Offensive line is huge, strong. Pretty solid team,” said Gassman. “We’re going to be pretty good this year.”
The highlight of the first half was Gassman’s touchdown throw to Michigan State commit Joe Bachie. Gassman scrambled out of trouble behind the line of scrimmage before hoisting a 33-yard, cross-field lob to Bachie, who outjumped defender Kenny Wilkins for the ball, then landed in the end zone.
“I was rolling, rolling, scrambling, and me and Joe have a pretty sweet connection. If he’s one-on-one I’m throwing it up to him.”
That gave the Titans a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter. The Titans led 21-14 at halftime, then scored the next three touchdowns as the Bearcats’ offense sputtered.
Bearcats running back and Pitt commit Chawntez Moss, bothered by cramps Friday, had 99 yards on 13 carries, but 43 came on one play.
“I thought we did awesomely well against (Moss),” said Titans coach Ray Hradek.
Bedford, a Division II playoff team the last two seasons, is clearly looking for leaders to emerge.
“We return two people off our defense,” said Bedford coach Sean Williams. “London (Cloud) is gone. Marquise (Copeland) is gone. I tell them all the time. It’s your guy’s time now. The superstars are gone. They’re all in college. This was a real humbling experience for them.”
The Bearcats were without injured wide receiver and Ohio commit Cameron Odom, but Williams said he'll return for Week 2.
Next Friday, Bedford plays at No. 17 Nordonia, Berea-Midpark plays at Lakewood in their Southwestern Conference opener.
For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter (@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
The Highland defense used a solid passing attack and stout run defense to shut down Brunswick.
MEDINA, Ohio -- Highland quarterback Tyler Zelinski threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns Friday night in a big 17-7 win over visiting Brunswick in the Hornets' brand new stadium.
Zelinski was actually a triple threat for Highland, ranked No. 22 in the cleveland.com Top 25, as he ran for 63 yards on 11 carries and also punted six times for a 44-yard average. His main threat was Sam Jenkins coming out of the backfield to catch passes, as he finished with four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns, all of which coming in the first half.
Mobile Brunswick quarterback Nick Horton did everything he could to get the Blue Devils' new triple option offense moving as he finished with 114 yards on 25 carries. Brunswick ran for a total of 147 yards on the ground but it wasn't until early in the third quarter that the Blue Devils could get the ball moving as Highland's defense dominated the line of scrimmage.
Zelinksi opened the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jenkins out of the backfield to make the score 7-0. A second quarter touchdown strike from Zelinski to Jenkins from 35 yards gave the Hornets a 14-0 advantage heading into the half.
Down 14-0 with 7:52 left in the game, the Brunswick coach Luke Beal dialed up some trickery when Brunswick used a reverse halfback pass with Victor Tally passing to Jordan Sadler for a 62-yard scoring strike.
Highland answered with a long drive capped off by a 26-yard field goal by Charles Howe to ice the game 17-7 with 3:19 left. A fumble by Brunswick on the ensuing kickoff allowed Highland to recover and run out the clock.
It was the first game at North Gateway Tire Field at Highland Stadium. Highland also was debuting a new coach in Mike Gibbons, who replaced brother-in-law Tom Lombardo when Lombardo took the St. Edward job.
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Vince McKee is a freelancer from North Olmsted.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed one run in eight innings and Abraham Almonte delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in a three-run seventh as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 3-1, Friday night at Progressive Field. Here is a capsule look at the game: Here they come: The Indians (61-66) have won three straight and six...
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Trevor Bauer allowed one run in eight innings and Abraham Almonte delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in a three-run seventh as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 3-1, Friday night at Progressive Field.
Here is a capsule look at the game:
Here they come: The Indians (61-66) have won three straight and six of eight. They are on the fringe of the race for the second wildcard.
Slumping: The Angels (65-63) have lost six of eight.
Progressive Field hit dogs: The Indians held a 10-5 advantage in hits. They notched 10+ hits for the 10th consecutive home game -- the franchise's longest such streak since 1936 (13 games).
Homefield advantage, finally: The Tribe has won eight of 10 at Progressive Field.
Friday's victory marked their first at home when trailing after six innings (1-27).
Bauer power: Indians Game 127 belonged to Bauer, who pitched brilliantly on short notice. Original starter Danny Salazar was scratched because of illness.
Bauer (10-10, 4.31 ERA) gave up four singles and one double. He walked three and struck out seven. He threw 62 of 101 pitches for strikes.
The Angels scored their run in the fifth. C.J. Cron led off with a single and advanced to second when Erick Aybar sent a bloop into the triangle of left fielder/center fielder/shortstop. Carlos Perez grounded into a double play, Cron moving to third. Lefty Kaleb Cowart grounded a 3-2 fastball into center for an RBI single.
Bauer relied on a fastball with late life and an assortment of breaking pitches. The fastball was the key to his success. He and catcher Yan Gomes did a splendid job of moving the fastball around the zone, and off the plate with a purpose. He and Gomes were unpredictable in location and sequence.
Whiff kings: Bauer pushed his season's strikeout total to 152, becoming the fourth Tribe pitcher with 150+ (Corey Kluber 213, Carlos Carrasco 173, Danny Salazar 162).
According to the Indians research staff, 2015 is the first season in club history in which four pitchers struck out 150+.
Fast fact: Bauer was one of 20 former first-round picks who started at pitcher in the majors Friday night.
Making them count: The Tribe's offense, fueled by two five-star plate appearances from pinch-hitters, came alive in the seventh.
Lonnie Chisenhall, pinch-hitting for Jerry Sands, drew a nine-pitch walk against righty reliever Trevor Gott. The value of this plate appearance can't be overstated. Chisenhall had three straight fouls in a 3-2 count.
Jose Ramirez, pinch-hitting for Giovanny Urshela, bunted into a forceout.
Almonte, pinch-hitting for Mike Aviles, socked a first-pitch fastball (95 mph) to left-center for an RBI double to tie the score, 1-1. Credit Almonte for staying on the fastball and Ramirez for hustling from first.
Almonte secured his first career RBI as a pinch-hitter. With the Indians, Almonte is 18-for-66 (.273) with 10 extra-base hits (five doubles, three triples, two homers).
Jason Kipnis shot an 0-1 breaking pitch up the middle for an RBI single to give the Tribe a 2-1 lead.
Kipnis (1-for-4) leads the American League with a .324 average. He leads the majors with a .381 home average (80-for-210).
Later in the inning, Carlos Santana hit a two-out RBI single off lefty Jose Alvarez.
Don't forget about me: Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor went 1-for-4 with a double. He has hit safely in seven straight (14-for-27).
Spotlight on....Indians LF Michael Brantley. He entered batting .320 with 11 homers and 72 RBI. Here are his plate appearances:
First inning vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (none on, two outs) -- 92 fastball called strike; 93 fastball outside (barely); 92 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 94 fastball down and away; 80 breaking pitch foul; 91 fastball foul; 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball low; 92 fastball foul; 92 fastball, liner to left.
Skinny: Quality AB ended with rope to former Indian David Murphy. Yet another Brantley hard-hit ball that resulted in an out.
Fourth inning vs. Andrew Heaney (none on, none out) -- fastball, double to right.
Skinny: Brantley was not going to spot Heaney a get-me-over fastball -- at least not one on the inner half at the thighs. Smooth ripped it into the right-field corner.
Sixth inning vs. Andrew Heaney (runner on second, none out) -- 91 fastball inside, 89 fastball inside; foul (ripped to right side); 77 breaking pitch, pop to left.
Skinny: Credit Heaney for throwing the breaking pitch in a hitter's count against the supremely talented Brantley. For the second time in the game, an Indians batter failed to advance a runner from second with none out (Carlos Santana's pop to short in fourth forced Brantley to stay.)
Seventh inning vs. RHP Trevor Gott (runner on first, two outs) -- 95 fastball outside; 96 fastball outside; 95 fastball outside; 94 fastball outside, walk.
Skinny: Brantley finished with a game-high 20 pitches seen.
Spotlight on....Angels CF Mike Trout. The reigning AL MVP entered with 33 homers and 73 RBI, but he had been struggling in August. Here are his plate appearances:
First inning vs. Trevor Bauer (none on, one out) -- 93 fastball high; 91 fastball called strike; 92 fastball high; 85 slider outside; 92 fastball up and in, walk.
Skinny: Key pitch was the slider, which did not miss by much.
Fourth inning vs. Trevor Bauer (none on, one out) -- 93 fastball called strike (outer third); 93 fastball, grounder to pitcher.
Skinny: Bauer tied up Trout with a pitch than ran to the hands.
Sixth inning vs. Trevor Bauer (none on, one out) -- 83 breaking pitch high; 92 fastball foul; 75 curve called strike; 95 fastball up and in; 78 curve in dirt; 93 fastball up and in, walk.
Skinny: Bauer overcooked two of the heaters and the third curve.
Ninth inning vs. Cody Allen (none on, one out) -- 95 fastball called strike; 87 curve called strike; 95 fastball outside (barely); 87 curve in dirt (Trout barely checked); 95 fastball, swinging strikeout.
Skinny: Allen set up Trout with a good curve, then challenged him over the plate at the belt.
Spotlight on....Angels 1B Albert Pujols. The future Hall of Famer entered with 34 homers and 75 RBI; he had 554 career homers. Here are his plate appearances:
First inning vs.Trevor Bauer (runner on first, one out) -- 91 fastball called strike; 84 slider outside; 92 fastball foul (Trout on move); 92 fastball, called strikeout (outside corner at knees).
Skinny: Pujols thought the pitch was outside, and he voiced his displeasure with plate umpire Adam Hamari. Pujols appeared to have a point. (During the AB of the next batter, David Murphy, Trout was caught stealing.)
Fourth inning vs. Trevor Bauer (none on, two outs) -- 85 breaking pitch called strike; 85 breaking pitch, double to center.
Skinny: Pujols drilled a hanger. (Bauer stranded Pujols by striking out Murphy.)
Sixth inning vs. Trevor Bauer (runner on first, one out) -- 93 fastball foul; 93 fastball called strike (inner third); 95 fastball high; 78 curve foul; 93 fastball, GIDP 6-4-3.
Skinny: Bauer did a terrific job on three fronts: 1. He kept Trout honest at first base with several pickoff throws and by altering his delivery times. 2. He prevented Pujols from having a rhythm to his AB. 3. He surprised Pujols with a crisp fastball, resulting in Pujols not being able to barrel it.
Ninth inning vs. Cody Allen (none on, two outs) -- 86 curve outside; 95 fastball, fly to center.
Skinny: Allen beat Pujols with a good pitch for the final out of the game.
Avon quarterback Jake Sopko throws for four touchdowns and runs for another as the Eagles down Strongsville, 41-24.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – Senior quarterback Jake Sopko had 306 yards passing and threw for four touchdowns while running for another as the Avon Eagles football team defeated Strongsville, 41-24, Friday night.
Avon started off quickly, scoring three touchdowns in the game’s first 10:11. The Eagles rode their strong defense in the first quarter to continue getting good field position and made it pay off.
On the first offensive drive, Sopko found senior running back Gerett Choat for a 9-yard score. Then Choat took the ball on the second drive and ran it in from a yard out. On the next possession, Sopko threw his second touchdown pass of the night – this one a 7-yard strike to Michael Nose to put Avon up 21-0.
Check cleveland.com/hssports on Saturday for another story with several videos from this game, including action highlights.
Zach Kahn got Strongsville going in the second quarter with a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown, and then the Mustangs added a field goal to make the halftime deficit just 21-10.
“We stopped ourselves a few times and Strongsville’s kids never quit,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “It was disappointing because I felt like we could have 42 on the board in the first half. At halftime, we talked and I told our kids to relax and execute. I thought the first drive (of the second half) was our best one of the game, and it kind of set the tone for the second half.”
Avon took the opening drive of the second half and marched down the field, with Sopko finishing off the drive with a 4-yard run where he lowered his head and bulldozed into the end zone.
“It was definitely huge, it was something we needed,” Sopko said of the drive. “They were starting to get momentum and we talked in the locker room that some things needed to change but to just stick with it and that’s what we did.”
The Eagles jumped out to their largest lead of the game in the first minute of the fourth quarter when Sopko hit Will Heilman for the first of his two touchdown catches on the night. The touchdown ended a 14-play, 89-yard drive that took 5:39 off the clock and gave Avon a 34-10 lead.
Josh Collins hauled in an 89-yard touchdown reception for Strongville just 20 seconds later, but a failed onside kick and then a 2-yard pass from Sopko to Heilman put the game out of reach.
Ryan Isley is a freelancer from Akron. For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Mayfield avenged last season's playoff loss to Nordonia with a 35-14 win.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio -- Junior Michael Canganelli's 235 rushing yards and three touchdowns on Friday helped Mayfield turn the tables on visiting Nordonia, avenging last season's lopsided playoff loss to the Knights with a 35-14 victory in a nonleague opener for both teams at Wildcats Stadium.
Canganelli scored on an 86-yard burst up the middle with a little more than two minutes gone by in the third quarter to break a 7-7 tie. He later capped the scoring with a 53-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter.
"We just picked it up in the second half," Canganelli said. "Our coaches motivated us. We got the momentum and we got the win."
The win gives Mayfield (1-0) a degree of satisfaction after falling to Nordonia (now 0-1) 52-14 in last season's Division II state semifinals.
Touchdown runs by Canganelli (60 yards) and Knights RB Anthony Perrine (1 yard) highlighted a first half that saw the teams head to their locker rooms tied at 7-7.
Mayfield coach Larry Pinto said he challenged his team at halftime to come out and compete on every down.
"At any given time, any kid can make a play," Pinto said. "We tell the kid no down is insurmountable."
Wildcats linebacker Jared Dostal pounced on a Nordonia muffed punt early in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Mario Monastero converted the turnover into points with a 24-yard scoring pass to Gage Bican on the very next play.
Monastero, who finished with 129 yards passing, also scored on a 52-yard keeper in the third quarter.
"We've been preparing for nine months," Monastero said. "We talked about this game every day, just preparing for it and pushing each other to get better."
Nordonia coach Jeff Fox said the Knights had opportunities in the third quarter to take control of the game, but little mistakes added up. Fox praised the tough running of Perrine (24 carries for 91 yards) and the savvy play of first-time starting quarterback Justin Post (125 passing yards, 1 interception).
"(Justin" didn't have a chance to get going tonight because of their secondary," Fox said. "They did a great job of taking away the vertical game. They game planned that, and it was an adjustment from last year."
For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Joe Noga on Twitter (@JoeNogaCLE), by email (jnoga@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
Dustin Crum throws for three touchdowns and runs for another in Midview's 28-0 football win over Lorain
LORAIN, Ohio — The Midview Middies shook off a shaky start on offense and used a stifling defense to keep Lorain out of the end zone and post a 28-0 win Friday in a clash of Lorain County football rivals.
Junior quarterback Dustin Crum, an All-Ohio quarterback a year ago, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Middies, ranked No. 4 in the Cleveland.com Top 25 and coming off a 12-1 season a year ago.
Crum finished the night 17-for-32 for 161 yards. He also ran for 78 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, which gave the Middies an early 7-0 lead.
In 2014, Crum threw for 3,523 yards, rushed for another 1,175 and accounted for 57 total touchdowns. Friday night he was just 5-of-14 for 68 yards in the first half, but found his rhythm in the second half.
“The O-line did a great job tonight giving me a pocket. There were only a few times when they got to me, and our receivers did a great job getting DBs to bite on things and just gave me a good window to throw the ball,” Crum said.
Said Midview coach D.J. Shaw of Crum: “That’s what we expect out of him. We had some drops and he had some bad balls. He didn’t play his best game, but he’s a leader for us."
Lorain, which finished 7-4 a year ago and made the playoffs for the first time in school history, just could get nothing going on offense. The Titans, ranked No. 18 in the cleveland.com poll, generated just 154 yards of total offense. Their best chance to score came in the first quarter when they drove the ball down to the Midview 18 only to turn the ball over on downs.
Lorain coach Dave McFarland said not punching the ball in on that drive was key.
“It was huge. I thought it was a big drive for us. We thought we could hit a pass there, and I guess we just miscommunicated,” McFarland said.
That was just one example of how Midview’s defense stepped up all night.
“I’ve got to give credit to our defense,” said Shaw. “They really put their foot in ground and held a very good Lorain rushing attack to zero points. In the first half they were the ones that kept us in the game,” said Shaw.
Midview, which had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Lorain a year ago, extended its lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter when Crum connected with Dimitri Redwood for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Redwood had to break several tackles before finding the end zone.
Logan Bolin, an All-Ohio receiver a year ago, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and a 5-yard scoring pass from Crum in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring for Midview. The Middies host North Olmsted on Sept. 4.
Lorain will host Elyria on Sept. 4.
Here is a look at the Ohio high school football statewide scores for Friday, August 28, 2015.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here are the Ohio high school statewide football scores for Friday, Aug. 28, 2015.
Ada 69, McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 21
Akr. Buchtel 41, Cle. Hts. 6
Akr. Ellet 48, Akr. Springfield 21
Akr. SVSM 34, Lansing Everett, Mich. 20
Albany Alexander 45, Stewart Federal Hocking 14
Amanda-Clearcreek 48, Hebron Lakewood 28
Andover Pymatuning Valley 34, Newbury 15
Ansonia 44, Cols. Africentric 42
Apple Creek Waynedale 41, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 12
Archbold 27, Hicksville 20
Arlington 17, Anna 14
Ashland 28, Wadsworth 20
Ashland Crestview 27, Galion Northmor 19
Ashtabula Lakeside 21, Ashtabula Edgewood 7
Ashville Teays Valley 38, Williamsport Westfall 0
Attica Seneca E. 55, Greenwich S. Cent. 28
Aurora 24, Solon 14
Avon 41, Strongsville 24
Barberton 34, Alliance 6
Barnesville 33, Newcomerstown 8
Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 24, Tiffin Calvert 19
Bay Village Bay 55, Sheffield Brookside 13
Beavercreek 45, Xenia 7
Bellaire St. John 26, Notre Dame, W.Va. 14
Bellbrook 26, Waynesville 21
Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 60, Milford Center Fairbanks 27
Berea-Midpark 41, Bedford 21
Beverly Ft. Frye 26, Belpre 6
Bishop Brossart, Ky. 26, Cin. Aiken 22
Bloom-Carroll 46, New Concord John Glenn 7
Bluffton 54, Cory-Rawson 0
Bowling Green 28, Rossford 25
Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 27, Parma Padua 0
Brookville 35, Lewisburg Tri-County N. 14
Byesville Meadowbrook 49, Vincent Warren 0
Cadiz Harrison Cent. 39, Uhrichsville Claymont 6
Caldwell 47, Baltimore Liberty Union 3
Caledonia River Valley 32, Upper Sandusky 7
Camden Preble Shawnee 55, New Paris National Trail 6
Cameron, W.Va. 28, Lore City Buckeye Trail 26
Can. Cent. Cath. 23, New Philadelphia 22
Can. South 27, Akr. Coventry 25
Canal Fulton Northwest 55, Lodi Cloverleaf 8
Carey 48, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 14
Castalia Margaretta 44, Willard 12
Centerburg 35, Utica 20
Chagrin Falls Kenston 6, Amherst Steele 3
Chardon 24, Chesterland W. Geauga 6
Chardon NDCL 41, Willoughby S. 35
Chesapeake 56, Oak Hill 6
Chillicothe Unioto 21, McArthur Vinton County 6
Chillicothe Zane Trace 34, Circleville Logan Elm 28
Cin. College Prep. 52, Cin. Christian 0
Cin. Country Day 38, Bethel-Tate 14
Cin. Elder 56, Cin. Oak Hills 14
Cin. Glen Este 63, Batavia Amelia 20
Cin. Hughes 40, Day. Jefferson 0
Cin. Indian Hill 42, New Richmond 14
Cin. Mariemont 27, Day. Oakwood 14
Cin. Mt. Healthy 36, Cin. Sycamore 35
Cin. NW 49, Cin. Western Hills 14
Cin. St. Xavier 57, Cov. Catholic, Ky. 7
Cin. Walnut Hills 23, Cin. Woodward 0
Cin. Winton Woods 26, Cin. Princeton 15
Cin. Wyoming 41, Cin. N. College Hill 7
Circleville 41, Washington C.H. Miami Trace 21
Clarksville Clinton-Massie 51, Blanchester 7
Cle. Hay 20, Conneaut 16
Cle. Rhodes 28, Brooklyn 14
Cle. VASJ 33, Genoa Area 7
Clyde 15, Tiffin Columbian 8
Coldwater 42, Kenton 0
Cols. Bexley 31, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 14
Cols. Eastmoor 20, Cols. Franklin Hts. 13
Cols. Grandview Hts. 38, Cols. Centennial 14
Cols. Hamilton Twp. 41, Day. Belmont 8
Cols. Independence 38, Cols. Northland 6
Cols. Marion-Franklin 28, Westerville N. 13
Cols. Ready 37, Whitehall-Yearling 19
Cols. St. Charles 38, Cols. South 0
Cols. Upper Arlington 20, Dublin Jerome 3
Cols. Walnut Ridge 14, Cols. Watterson 6
Cols. West 37, Cols. Mifflin 30
Columbia Station Columbia 48, Independence 7
Columbiana Crestview 45, Lisbon Beaver 14
Columbus Grove 36, Pandora-Gilboa 6
Convoy Crestview 12, Rockford Parkway 0
Copley 41, Twinsburg 25
Cortland Lakeview 21, Campbell Memorial 0
Cuyahoga Hts. 42, LaGrange Keystone 6
Day. Carroll 45, Day. Meadowdale 30
Defiance Ayersville 27, Northwood 7
Defiance Tinora 31, Liberty Center 3
DeGraff Riverside 20, Arcanum 7
Delphos Jefferson 49, Lima Shawnee 0
Delta 56, Tol. Christian 12
Dover 41, Cle. Cent. Cath. 8
Doylestown Chippewa 69, Wellington 26
Dresden Tri-Valley 37, Newark Licking Valley 3
Dublin Coffman 41, Springfield 7
E. Can. 23, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 20
E. Central, Ind. 24, Harrison 23
E. Liverpool 27, Richmond Edison 20
East Carter, Ky. 56, W. Union 7
Eastlake N. 48, Westlake 45
Elida 52, Lima Cent. Cath. 14
Elyria 31, Avon Lake 7
Fairborn 41, New Carlisle Tecumseh 21
Fairfield 35, Centerville 32
Fairport Harbor Harding 14, Leetonia 0
Findlay 41, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 0
Findlay Liberty-Benton 17, Bucyrus Wynford 14
Fostoria 42, Tol. Scott 14
Frankfort Adena 41, Greenfield McClain 34
Franklin 31, Carlisle 21
Fredericktown 17, Bellville Clear Fork 14
Ft. Recovery 36, Sidney Lehman 0
Gahanna Cols. Academy 33, Grove City Christian 0
Galion 55, Bucyrus 0
Garfield Hts. 41, Parma Hts. Holy Name 14
Garrettsville Garfield 47, Middlefield Cardinal 14
Gates Mills Hawken 28, Hudson WRA 20
Germantown Valley View 37, W. Liberty-Salem 31
Gibsonburg 34, Bloomdale Elmwood 13
Goshen 28, Hamilton Ross 20
Grafton Midview 28, Lorain 0
Greenville 30, Eaton 20
Groveport-Madison 14, Canal Winchester 10
Hamilton 34, Milford 14
Hamler Patrick Henry 38, Edgerton 21
Hanoverton United 30, Malvern 0
Harrod Allen E. 41, Van Buren 19
Haviland Wayne Trace 56, Paulding 7
Heath 42, Warsaw River View 0
Hilliard Bradley 58, Thomas Worthington 6
Hilliard Darby 21, Clayton Northmont 7
Hilliard Davidson 20, Grove City 0
Holland Springfield 42, Fremont Ross 21
Howard E. Knox 62, Danville 14
Hubbard 22, Creston Norwayne 19
Huber Hts. Wayne 38, Canada Prep, Ontario 0
Hudson 30, Austintown Fitch 8
Jamestown Greeneview 35, Cin. Hills Christian Academy 28
Jefferson Area 41, Orwell Grand Valley 27
Jeromesville Hillsdale 31, Akr. Manchester 7
Johnson Central, Ky. 41, Proctorville Fairland 6
Johnstown Northridge 14, Washington C.H. 7
Johnstown-Monroe 14, Chillicothe 10
Kansas Lakota 32, Arcadia 12
Kent Roosevelt 51, Cuyahoga Falls 34
Kettering Alter 42, Kettering Fairmont 21
Kings Mills Kings 59, Lebanon 45
Kirtland 24, Chagrin Falls 9
Lakeside Danbury 32, Cle. Whitney Young 8
Lancaster 13, Cols. DeSales 3
Lancaster Fairfield Union 7, New Lexington 0
Lees Creek E. Clinton 25, Batavia 19
Lewis Center Olentangy 41, Westerville S. 17
Lewistown Indian Lake 41, N. Lewisburg Triad 0
Lexington 26, Ontario 19
Liberty Twp. Lakota E. 35, Loveland 34
Lima Bath 35, Delphos St. John's 7
Logan 61, Athens 49
London 42, Urbana 30
London Madison Plains 34, Cedarville 0
Loudonville 28, Sparta Highland 7
Louisville 40, Canfield 14
Louisville Aquinas 24, Elyria Cath. 22
Lucas 70, Lowellville 0
Madison 41, Geneva 0
Magnolia, W.Va. 40, Shadyside 0
Mansfield Sr. 20, Sunbury Big Walnut 19
Mantua Crestwood 47, Beloit W. Branch 12
Maple Hts. 36, Cle. John Adams 6
Maria Stein Marion Local 24, McComb 22
Marietta 42, McConnelsville Morgan 0
Martins Ferry 60, Rayland Buckeye 7
Marysville 18, Plain City Jonathan Alder 14
Mason 24, Springboro 17
Massillon Jackson 31, Akr. East 28
Mayfield 35, Macedonia Nordonia 14
McDermott Scioto NW 32, Southeastern 10
McDonald 21, E. Palestine 0
Mechanicsburg 43, W. Jefferson 8
Medina 56, Lakewood 13
Medina Buckeye 35, Richfield Revere 14
Medina Highland 17, Brunswick 7
Mentor 38, Youngs. Boardman 7
Metamora Evergreen 27, Tontogany Otsego 23
Miami Valley Christian Academy 29, Lockland 10
Miamisburg 28, Day. Thurgood Marshall 6
Middletown Fenwick 30, Cin. Anderson 0
Middletown Madison Senior 34, Oxford Talawanda 0
Millbury Lake 47, Montpelier 0
Millersburg W. Holmes 46, Wooster Triway 40
Milton-Union 21, Casstown Miami E. 7
Minford 49, S. Point 19
Minster 41, Ft. Loramie 7
Mogadore 42, Norton 13
Mogadore Field 47, Minerva 21
Monroeville 45, Edon 16
Mt. Orab Western Brown 40, Hillsboro 0
Mt. St. Joseph's, Md. 53, Youngs. Mooney 12
Mt. Vernon 55, Marion Harding 19
N. Baltimore 41, Holgate 20
N. Bend (Cleves) Taylor 41, Lawrenceburg, Ind. 7
N. Can. Hoover 32, Lyndhurst Brush 26
N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 28, Southington Chalker 0
N. Olmsted 34, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 18
N. Ridgeville 20, N. Royalton 13
N. Robinson Col. Crawford 42, Mt. Gilead 21
Navarre Fairless 28, Coshocton 27
New Bremen 21, Bradford 0
New London 46, Oberlin 28
New Middletown Spring. 41, Brookfield 31
New Washington Buckeye Cent. 30, Plymouth 6
Newark Cath. 28, Portsmouth W. 12
Norwood 8, Cin. Madeira 7
Oberlin Firelands 174, Milan Edison 33
Orange 37, Cle. E. Tech 0
Orrville 47, Cols. Linden McKinley 13
Ottawa-Glandorf 36, Oak Harbor 0
Paden City, W.Va. 20, Salineville Southern 19
Painesville Harvey 49, Burton Berkshire 42
Pataskala Licking Hts. 69, Galloway Westland 7
Pataskala Watkins Memorial 52, Cols. Whetstone 13
Peninsula Woodridge 42, Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 0
Perry 41, Painesville Riverside 12
Perrysburg 49, Oregon Clay 6
Philo 34, Zanesville W. Muskingum 7
Piqua 34, Tol. St. John's 30
Pomeroy Meigs 26, Gallipolis Gallia 12
Port Clinton 63, Elmore Woodmore 0
Powell Olentangy Liberty 43, Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 14
Ravenna 37, Tallmadge 14
Reynoldsburg 48, New Albany 42, 2OT
Richwood N. Union 21, Cardington-Lincoln 14
Ridgeway Ridgemont 43, Vanlue 12
Rittman 34, Richmond Hts. 12
Riverside Stebbins 54, W. Carrollton 8
Rootstown 48, Newton Falls 21
Salem 54, Mineral Ridge 7
Sandusky 20, Huron 3
Sandusky Perkins 42, Bellevue 16
Shelby 20, Mansfield Madison 6
Smithville 35, Massillon Tuslaw 14
Spencerville 35, Leipsic 14
Spring. Cath. Cent. 68, Spring. Greenon 12
Spring. Kenton Ridge 40, Spring. NE 0
St. Clairsville 30, Carrollton 20
St. Henry 27, Covington 3
St. Marys Memorial 40, Sidney 28
Stow-Munroe Falls 48, Green 21
Strasburg-Franklin 30, Bowerston Conotton Valley 6
Streetsboro 33, Ravenna SE 6
Struthers 34, Youngs. Liberty 7
Sugar Grove Berne Union 33, Cle. Lincoln W. 0
Sugarcreek Garaway 41, Dalton 20
Sullivan Black River 42, Collins Western Reserve 7
Swanton 44, Tol. Ottawa Hills 14
Sycamore Mohawk 37, Fremont St. Joseph 6
Sylvania Northview 27, Tol. Waite 26
Sylvania Southview 41, Tol. Rogers 6
Thornville Sheridan 24, Granville 21
Tipp City Tippecanoe 56, St. Paris Graham 0
Tol. Bowsher 32, Maumee 28
Tol. St. Francis 41, Temperance Bedford, Mich. 27
Tol. Start 19, Pemberville Eastwood 7
Tol. Whitmer 40, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 20
Trenton Edgewood 21, Monroe 17
Troy Christian 49, Lima Perry 0
Union City, Ind. 26, Union City Mississinawa Valley 14
Uniontown Lake 41, Akr. Garfield 28
Van Wert 42, Bryan 14
Vandalia Butler 56, Spring. Shawnee 28
Vermilion 30, Lorain Clearview 20
Versailles 28, Celina 7
Vienna Mathews 61, Ashtabula St. John 8
W. Alexandria Twin Valley S. 43, New Lebanon Dixie 0
W. Chester Lakota W. 42, Can. Glenoak 18
W. Salem NW 39, Akr. North 8
W. Unity Hilltop 21, Waynesfield-Goshen 14
Wapakoneta 33, Bellefontaine 0
Warren Champion 28, Atwater Waterloo 7
Warren Harding 35, E. Cle. Shaw 0
Warren Howland 49, Akr. Kenmore 0
Wauseon 42, Sherwood Fairview 10
Waverly 9, Piketon 8
Westerville Cent. 21, Gahanna Lincoln 13
Wheelersburg 14, Ironton 6
Wheeling Central, W.Va. 39, Steubenville Cath. Cent. 28
Wickliffe 34, Rocky River Lutheran W. 7
Williamsburg 48, Cin. Deer Park 6
Willow Wood Symmes Valley 32, Chillicothe Huntington 0
Wilmington 48, Morrow Little Miami 26
Windham 34, Sebring McKinley 12
Wintersville Indian Creek 20, Cambridge 0
Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 21, Belmont Union Local 16
Wooster 27, Akr. Firestone 7
Worthington Christian 41, Landmark Christian 0
Worthington Kilbourne 27, Dublin Scioto 24
Youngs. Ursuline 28, Youngs. East 13
Zanesville 20, Newark 17
Brandon Mounts' two fourth quarter touchdown runs highlights Lions' come from behind win.
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio - The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin motto for the 2015 football season is Leave A Legacy. Lions junior running back Brandon Mounts took that message to heart in the fourth quarter in front of a Rebels partial crowd at Harry E. Winters Stadium.
Mounts scored the final pair of touchdowns for the Lions as NDCL rallied from a 35-28 deficit with 5:50 left in the game in the 41-35 NDCL win. Mounts got his Lions right back in the game with a 64-yard touchdown run down the Lions sideline. Place kicker Gabe Brkic added the crucial extra point to tie the game at 35 with 4:58 remaining.
The Lions defense stepped up and got the ball back to their offense thanks to a sack by Harrison Richardson of South quarterback Mike Federico on third-and-15 to force a Rebels punt.
The Lions took over in South territory at the 45. Mounts needed just one play to give his Lions the lead. The NDCL coaching staff called the exact same play that Mounts scored his first touchdown on. If it worked once, why not call it again. Mounts got to the outside and ran down the Lions' sideline and into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown run giving the Lions a 41-35 lead with 2:18 left.
The Lions defense stepped up and secured the win. The Lions recorded three sacks of Federico deep in South territory and eliminated any chance of a Rebels last second rally. Richardson and sophomore defensive lineman Manni Malone combined on the final sack of the game.
South's offense got off to a fast start by scoring on its first two possessions of the game. Federico tossed a pair of touchdown passes, 24 yards to Andre Smith and 39 yards to Ramon Collins, to give the Rebels an early 13-0 lead. The Lions scored the next 14 points of the first half on a 22-yard touchdown pass to Mounts from senior quarterback Tyler Sabath in the first quarter and a Sabath to Ryan Sabo 29-yard hookup.
South ended the first half scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run by Federico, with a 2-point conversion run by Anthony Tutolo giving the Rebels a 21-14 lead.
The Lions tallied the only third quarter score. Sabath hooked up with Alex Balogh for a 35-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21.
Both teams traded scores in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter before Mounts took over to secure the Lions win. Mounts only carried the ball six times but rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions defense tallied a total of six sacks on the night. Fourteen penalties also cost South.
Vote for who you think was the top offensive performer from Friday night action in Week 1 of the 2015 high school football season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Below is a look at some of the top Week 1 high school football offensive performers from Friday night.
Vote for your favorite in the poll below. Voting is open until Thursday at noon.
The Week 1 contenders:
Joey Bates, Kirtland: Rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets' 24-9 win against Chagrin Falls.
Jason Blizzard, Mentor: Caught 11 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinals' 38-7 win against Boardman.
Austin Brenner, Copley: Threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns in the Indians' 41-25 win against Twinsburg.
Michael Canganelli, Mayfield: Rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries in the Wildcats' 35-14 win against Nordonia.
Jayson Gobble, Stow: Rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries in the Bulldogs' 48-21 win against Green.
Jerry Judd, Streetsboro: Threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two touchdowns in the Rockets' 33-0 win against Southeast.
Chris Justice, Eastlake North: Kicked a game-winning 45-yard field goal in the Rangers' 48-45 win against Westlake.
A.J. Rose, Garfield Heights: Rushed for three touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 41-14 win against Holy Name.
Jake Sopko, Avon: Threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles' 41-24 win against Strongsville.
Tyler Zelinski, Highland: Threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets' 17-7 win against Brunswick.
Vote for who you think was the top defensive performer from Friday night action in Week 1 of the 2015 high school football season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Below is a look at some of the top Week 1 high school football defensive performers from Friday night.
Vote for your favorite in the poll below. Voting is open until Thursday at noon.
The Week 1 contenders:
Mario DeJoy, North Olmsted: Had a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown, and recorded seven solo tackles in the Eagles' 34-18 win against Valley Forge.
Spencer Robinson, Woodridge: Returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown in the Bulldogs' 42-0 win against Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.
Sam Tarnowski, North Royalton: Intercepted two passes in the Bears' 20-14 loss to North Ridgeville.
Tony Thompson, Maple Heights: Recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown in the Mustangs' 36-6 win against John Adams.
Gage Wagner, Ravenna: Had three tackles for a loss in the Ravens' 37-14 win against Tallmadge.
Check out top storylines, key games, top performers and more from Friday of Week 1 in the 2015 football season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first Friday night of high school football in Northeast Ohio is always ripe with surprises and excitement. This year was no different.
Aurora topped No. 12 Solon, 24-14 and Buchtel scored an upset against No. Cleveland Heights, 41-6. The Greenmen and Griffins began the season unranked in the cleveland.com Top 25 but each made a strong case to at least remain in the conversation.
No. 11 Berea-Midpark could shake things up in the poll this week after beating No. 5 Bedford, 41-21.
More games of note
No. 22 Highland football topped Brunswick 17-7 the in the team's first regular season game at the Hornets' new stadium. The win represents Mike Gibbons' first as head coach at Highland.
No. 4 Midview quarterback Dustin Crum threw for three touchdowns to help the Middies blank No. 18-rated Lorain, 28-0.
Michael Canganelli's 235 rushing yards helped No. 9 Mayfield to a 35-14 win against No. 17 Nordonia.
No. 7 Avon football road a big night from quarterback Jake Sopko in 41-24 win over Strongsville. He found Will Heilman for two of his four touchdown passes and finished with 306 passing yards.
Jason Blizzard led No. 2 Mentor football past Boardman, 38-7.
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin won a tight road game against Willoughby South, 41-35.
How the Top 25 fared
Take a look at how the cleveland.com Top 25 football teams fared on Friday. Check back to see how things pan out for the rest of the top-ranked teams in the area on Saturday.
See hundreds of pictures from Friday night
Action photos
Avon defeats Strongsville, 41-24
Berea-Midpark defeats Bedford, 41-21
Feature photos
Brecksville season opening festivities
Lakewood at Medina off the field highlights
Mayfield football season opener
Game balls
Vote for the best defensive performance from Week 1.
Vote for the best offensive performance from Week 1.
What's on tap for Saturday?
No. 8 Benedictine will take on Toledo Central Catholic, the defending Division III state champions, on the road at 4 p.m. The Bengals won the state title in Division IV last season before making the jump to DIII in the off-season and many think Saturday's game could be a preview of postseason action to come.
No. 6 Glenville is set to square off against Euclid, which landed outside the Top 25 to start the season. This will be the Panthers' first regular season game with coach Jeff Rotsky at the helm.
No. 3 St. Edward will look to open a season with a win against Gilman (Md.) for the second straight season. The Eagles blew past the Greyhounds, 38-7, last year.
Closer to home, No. 1 St. Ignatius will play host to Normandy at Byers Field at 7 p.m.
Follow our high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag.
Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), on Twitter (@rrozboril) or on Facebook (facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
MAYFIELD, Ohio -- Check out video highlights from No. 9 Mayfield football's 35-14 season-opening win Friday against visiting No. 17 Nordonia. Among the highlights you'll see are a 60-yard touchdown run by Mayfield running back Michael Canganelli, and a 1-yard TD run from Nordonia RB Anthony Perrine.
MAYFIELD, Ohio -- Check out video highlights from No. 9 Mayfield football's 35-14 season-opening win Friday against visiting No. 17 Nordonia.
Among the highlights you'll see are a 60-yard touchdown run by Mayfield running back Michael Canganelli, and a 1-yard TD run from Nordonia RB Anthony Perrine.
You'll also see some big hits from both defenses, an interception by Canganelli and a takeaway by Nordonia quarterback Justin Post (playing cornerback).
Canganelli's 86-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a 52-yard keeper by quarterback Mario Monastero are among the second half gems.
For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Joe Noga on Twitter (@JoeNogaCLE), by email (jnoga@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
North Ridgeville defeated North Royalton despite the absence of Demario McCall.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — North Ridgeville senior running back and Ohio State commit Demario McCall did not play Friday in the Rangers' 20-13 win against North Royalton.
McCall told Jeff Svoboda of Buckeye Sports Bulletin that he had a sprained ankle and was on the sideline with a walking boot on his left foot.
Ohio State commit Demario McCall unable to go tonight but he's rooting on his fellow Rangers in North Ridgeville pic.twitter.com/rhpUuui9xD
— Jeff Svoboda (@JeffSvoboda) August 28, 2015North Ridgeville coach Luke Durbin said he expects McCall to play in Week 2 at Amherst.
North Ridgeville QB Collin Sittinger threw two touchdowns, and running back Jamir Malone added a touchdown in the win.
North Royalton will travel to play against Parma in Week 2.
The Indians have won six out of eight games with their latest, a 3-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians manager Terry Francona sent three consecutive pinch hitters to the plate in the seventh inning against the Angels Friday night and they changed the game.
Does the Tribe still have time to change its fate for the season?
Francona's reinforcements of Lonnie Chisenhall, Jose Ramirez, and Abraham Almonte jumpstarted the Indians' 3-1 victory over Los Angeles for Cleveland's third consecutive win and sixth out of the last eight games.
After Chisenhall drew a lead-off walk, Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice and tied the game on Almonte's double. Jason Kipnis, the American League's top hitter, broke the tie with a base hit off reliever Trevor Gott (2-2) that plated Almonte.
Carlos Santana knocked in Kipnis with a two-out chopper up the middle off of Jose Alvarez.
Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer made those runs stand. Pitching in place of Danny Salazar, who was scratched from the start because of an illness, Bauer tossed eight innings, allowing a run on C.J. Cron's two-out single in the fifth.
Bauer (10-10) struck out seven and scattered five hits, walking one. He was the beneficiary of four double plays. Bauer now has 152 strikeouts this season, giving the Tribe four pitchers with at least 150 strikeouts for the first time in team history.
Cody Allen worked a perfect ninth inning for his 27th save.
What it means
The Indians (61-66) have won 12 of their past 19. Thought to have written off the season when they traded four players in the span of a few weeks, Cleveland is just five games out in the A.L. wild card race.
The Angels (65-63) are one of the teams ahead of the Indians for that second wild-card spot. They're 1.5 games out of the playoffs and have lost six of the last eight games.
Record books
Chisenhall singled in the eighth inning, giving Cleveland 10 hits for the 10th consecutive game at home. The Indians hadn't recorded 10 straight home games with at least 10 hits since 1936.
Learnin' Lindor
Francisco Lindor doubled off Angels starter Andrew Heaney to lead off the sixth inning, giving him 80 hits since his promotion from Triple-A Columbus on June 14. Only four major leaguers had more entering play Friday night.
Lindor entered the game batting .447 over his last 20 contests. Only two others under the age of 22 had batted .447 or better in a 20-game stretch -- Ken Griffey Jr. in 1991 and Alex Rodriguez in 1996.
But Lindor's not a finished product. After his sixth-inning double, he was thrown out at third on a grounder to shortstop.
Welcome back
Former Cleveland outfielder David Murphy started in left and went 1-for-3 with a long single off the wall in right out of the cleanup spot for the Angels.
This was Murphy's first game at Progressive Field since the Indians traded him to Los Angeles on July 28 for Double-A shortstop Eric Stamets. Murphy, who's in his 10th season, spent all of 2014 and most of this year in Cleveland.
Murphy was off to a terrible start with the Angels (4-for-23), but entered play Friday batting .333 over his last 48 at-bats.
Tough go
Mike Aviles started in center field for just the third time this season, and the Angels found him.
Albert Pujols delivered Los Angeles' first hit -- a double in the fourth inning -- that sailed by Aviles as he took a questionable route to the ball.
In the fifth, Eric Aybar skied one that dropped between Aviles, the shortstop Lindor, and left fielder Michael Brantley. Aviles was positioned deep in center and couldn't get there in time. The Angels scored two batters later.
Thanks for coming
On the first full night of high school football in pigskin-crazed northeast Ohio, 22,273 passed through the gates at Progressive Field, pushing the Indians' total home attendance to 1,120,822.
What's next?
The Indians host the Angels at 7:10 (SportsTime Ohio. WTAM 1100 AM/WMMS 100.7 FM) for the second of this three-game series, Los Angeles' only trip to Cleveland this season.
Reigning Cy Young Award winner and Indians righty Corey Kluber (8-13, 3.43 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (12-10, 3.80 ERA).
Cleveland Browns save their best for the preseason game that means the most as the dominate against Tampa Bay.
TAMPA, Florida -- If the Browns do have a winning record this season, the first half against Tampa Bay will probably be the blueprint.
With both teams primarily playing their starters into the third quarter, the Browns took a 24-7 lead with the key men for both teams on the field.
They did it with defense. With special teams. With two good drives on offense, and no turnovers from Josh McCown.
That's how it will have to work for these Browns.
Consider how the game opened.
The Browns defense sacked rookie Jameis Winston on third down. It was 3-and-out and a punt.
Then came a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown by Travis Benjamin, who looks confident once again fielding punts.
The Browns defense was relentless. Four times, they sacked Winston. Three more times they were credited with quarterback hits. They broke up four passes.
Add to the package how Browns rookie Charles Gaines picked off a pass that set up a 36-yard field goal for Carey Spear. So the Browns had 10 points not set up by the offense.
TWO GOOD DRIVES
The Browns first scoring drive was exactly what Coach Mike Pettine and new Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo had in mind.
It covered 80 yards in 16 plays. It lasted about six weeks and featured McCown throwing passes to six different receivers.
OK, the time of possession was 9:37 to be exact. The only negative is that not once, but TWICE, McCown took off to run for first downs. He didn't slide in front of defenders, he lowered his shoulder and took very hard hits.
With Connor Shaw (thumb surgery) and Johnny Manziel (elbow problems) already out, Pettine had to be cringing when McCown decided to pretend he was Kevin Mack.
Yes, McCown wanted to make a statement about how his poor play in Tampa Bay was not all his fault in 2014. But he's 36, and in the league for 13 years. And it's the preseason! He was blasted again at the end of the first half. So make it three teeth-rattling blows.
Now, the good stuff.
For the most part, McCown knew where he wanted to throw the ball.
Travis Benjamin, Isaiah Crowell and Brian Hartline all made excellent catches at key points in the drive. Hartline's 3-yard grab in the end zone was a savvy veteran move as he kept his feet in bounds as he was being rammed into the sideline by a defender.
The Browns offense did nothing the rest of the half . . . other than make sure not to commit turnovers.
They opened the second half with a 78-yard, 11-play drive . . . chewing up 6:16 on the clock. McCown hit tight end Gary Barnidge for the score.
McCown was 17-of-23 for the game, 117 yards, two touchdown passes, 117.3 rating.
Other than his attempts to run over tacklers, that's what the Browns want from him.
QUICK BROWNS SCRIBBLES:
1. Desmond Bryant was a monster early. Tampa Bay could not block him. He was credited with 1.5 sacks. He also hit Winston as he threw a pass.
2. Rookie Charles Gaines had an interception. He broke up two other passes. Then he left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.
3. Taylor Gabriel has excellent hands. He runs precise patterns. He caught four passes and is becoming a favorite target of McCown's. The same is true of Travis Benjamin.
4. Dwayne Bowe played his first preseason game. The veteran was rusty and not in synch with McCown. Three passes were thrown his way, none were caught. Their timing was off.
5. Rookie Ibraheim Campbell continues to impress with his hard hits from the safety spot. He also had a sack.
6. Danny Shelton did a very good job against the run. He is the big man that the defense has needed in the middle of the line, way ahead of where Phil Taylor was at the same stage of his rookie year.
7. The Browns still couldn't get much of a running game going. In the first half against Tampa's starters, the backs (Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson and Terrance West) had only 29 yards in 12 carries.
8. Winston was 6-of-15 passing for 90 yards, an interception and sacked four times. He throws the ball well, but he had very little time to do so.
9. Thad Lewis replaced McCown and scored on a 7-yard touchdown run. That ended a 62-yard drive. Lewis looked solid in the third quarter.
10. For the Browns, this was exactly what they hoped in the third game -- the one in the preseason where the starters play the most. Only downside was concussions suffered by Pierre Desir and Duke Johnson.
Charles Gaines, Travis Benjamin, Josh McCown, Desmond Bryant, Chris Kirksey among top players in dress-rehearsal victory. Watch video
TAMPA, Florida -- The native Americans originally called the region "Tanpa," which translates "sticks of fire." It's believed to reference the high concentration of lightning strikes in the bay area.
A strong storm blew through Raymond James Stadium about two hours before the Browns' preseason game against the Buccaneers. It was the Browns who did all the flashing once it began in a 31-7 victory. The first-unit defense stymied No. 1 draft pick Jameis Winston, Josh McCown led a pair of impressive touchdown drives and Travis Benjamin was effective in special teams and catching passes.
Here are five noteworthy Browns from their dress-rehearsal performance:
Charles Gaines: Browns coach Mike Pettine said this week the rookie cornerback has made substantial strides since the start of training camp. His improvement reached another level against the Buccaneers.
The sixth-round pick intercepted a pass and broke up two others before succumbing to a hamstring injury. The Browns' depth in the secondary is being tested as the regular season creeps up.
They entered the night with Justin Gilbert (hip flexor) and K'Waun Williams (abdominal) sidelined and lost Pierre Desir to a second-quarter concussion.
Gaines' interception, on the final play of the first quarter, led to a field goal, extending the Browns' advantage to 17-0.
Travis Benjamin: The Rabbit is back. He opened the scoring with an electrifying 53-yard touchdown on a punt return. Benjamin caught the ball in the middle of the field, cut to the right, made the first defender miss and raced untouched to the end zone. It looked like the confident returner of 2013 prior to his torn ACL.
Benjamin also caught four balls for 39 yards, including one in which he reached behind him and snared a deflected Josh McCown pass on a third-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 36. It kept the chains moving on an epic 16-play, 80-yard TD drive that consumed 9 minutes and 37 seconds.
Josh McCown: Earlier this week, the quarterback didn't want to talk about his disastrous one season here. He seemed to play angry Saturday night.
He started and finished well and took some hellacious hits in between while scrambling for yards and looking to extend plays. Frankly, he should have been smarter on several runs and was fortunate to escape injury after getting de-cleated by linebacker Kwon Alexander.
But coaches will appreciate the toughness and love the two touchdown drives he directed to open the game and second half. He threw short TD passes to receiver Brian Hartline and tight end Gary Barnidge. McCown's happy return to Tampa was complete after the 7-yard touchdown toss to Barnidge. The quarterback was 17-of-23 for 117 yards and a 113.9 passer rating.
Desmond Bryant: The entire defensive line was dominant in the first quarter and none looked better than No. 92. The veteran finished with 1-1/2 sacks and a quarterback pressure.
The revamped line anchored by Danny Shelton looks ready for the regular season.
Chris Kirksey: The Browns linebacker finished with four tackles, and his pressure on Winston helped create the Gaines' interception. It was a solid showing for the second-year linebacker.
Browns quarterback Josh McCown engineered two long TD drives against his former Bucs team and rebounded from his two interceptions last week. Watch video
TAMPA, Fla. --- Josh McCown's homecoming here against the Bucs was a big hit, literally.
Unfortunately for him and for the Browns, they lost running back Duke Johnson in the first half to a concussion and receiver Terrelle Pryor sat out the 31-7 victory with his strained hamstring.
But McCown overcame the adversity -- and at least five big hits -- to rebound from his two-interception game last week against the Bills.
Heading into the dress-rehearsal game here, McCown preferred not to reflect on his 1-10 season with the Bucs last year. In fact, the Tampa Bay Times observed that the 36-year-old would be looking for his first win as a starting quarterback in Raymond James Stadium.
He got that and more, giving the Browns some hope heading into the opener Sept. 13 on the road against the Jets. The Browns are now 1-2 in preason have one more tuneup Thursday night in Chicago, but McCown will sit that one out.
Given that McCown is done for the preseason, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has to be pleased with his starting quarterback. In seven drives Saturday night, McCown completed 17-of-23 attempts for 117 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 113.9 rating. He was sacked -- drilled, actually -- once by linebacker Kwon Alexander and also rushed three times for 20 yards, including a long gain of 9.
Granted, McCown and the Browns stalled for five drives between their two long TD marches, but McCown and the first-team offense put a total of 17 points on the board in a half and one series.
After Travis Benjamin opened the Browns' scoring on a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown, McCown went to work at his 20 and put on a clinic with an 80-yard, 16-play drive. He completed 6 of 7 attempts for 36 yards on the march, including a 3-yard TD pass to Brian Hartline.
McCown also scrambled twice for first downs on the drive, including a 9-yarder and an 8-yarder. He was drilled hard after both runs, and crushed by Alexander for the sack as he was scrambling around again on third down late in the first half.
"He's a competitive guy,'' said coach Mike Pettine. "I grabbed him and said 'use your head.' I think it was because it was Tampa.''
Pettine joked that he discovered McCown is 'foolish' for taking such big hits. He also kidded that he's sitting him in Chicago because it's another former team.
With Johnny Manziel standing on the sidelines in streetclothes with a sleeve on his sore right elbow, it seemed that McCown might done for the day after the crushing blow by Alexander.
"It wasn't as bad as it looked,'' McCown said. "I'll try to be more judicious with that.''
But he trotted out again at the start of the third quarter and nearly matched his sensational opening TD drive. He marched the Browns 78 in 11 plays, finding Gary Barnidge in the front of the end zone for a 7-yard TD catch that made it 24-7. Along the way, he completed passes of 9 yards to Jim Dray and 11 and 10 yards to Travis Benjamin. He also got a 17-yard run from Terrance West.
"We debated as to whether to have (McCown) come out (after halftime),'' said Pettine. "But it was the right decision. It set the tone for the second half.''
Brian Hartline's TD catch
Hartline was initially ruled out of bounds on his TD catch. But the veteran argued for a challenge and the call was reversed on replay review. Hartline kept both feet inbounds for the 3-yard TD that made it 14-0 Browns with 1:27 left in the first quarter.
"It was an outstanding catch,'' said McCown. "It was cool, because we knew it when he caught it.''
Said Hartline:"It was a drawn up play. We had a naked (bootleg) called, and Josh did a great job with his feet and getting out of the pocket. Given the opportunity, I was glad I could make the play."
Duke Johnson concussion
The Browns have waited all preseason for Johnson to return from his strained hamstring, and he finally made his preseason debut against the Bucs -- even starting the game along with receiver Dwayne Bowe, who also played for the first time.
But on a second quarter field goal drive, he jumped for a high pass from McCown and was drilled by cornerback Mike Jenkins. Johnson got up and walked to the sidelines, and looked OK at first, but the medical staff intervened and took him to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.
He never returned to the sidelines, and the Browns announced in the third quarter that he did, in fact, suffer a concussion.
"It was the biggest downer of the night,'' said Pettine.
The Browns have been hoping that Johnson, their third-round pick out of Miami, would step up and grab the featured back role this season. Now, that appears to be in jeopardy, at least at the start of the season. Making his preseason debut, Johnson ran once for 4 yards and caught one pass for a yard.
Pierre Desir, too
Cornerback Desir, who's also missed much of preseason with a strained hamstring, made his preseason debut and also left with a concussion on a collision at the end of the first half when he absorbed a blow to the left side of his head while being blocked. Desir walked off the field slowly and was soon ushered to the locker room. With Justin Gilbert (hip flexor) and K'Waun Williams (abdominal) both sidelined, the Browns can ill afford to lose Desir.
To make matters worse, rookie cornerback Charles Gaines, who picked off Jameis Winston at the end of the first quarter to set up a field goal, left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, which has become an epidemic in the defensive backfield. Gaines also broke up several passes and shut down veteran receiver Vincent Jackson.
Cornerback Joe Haden and safety Tashaun Gipson both started the game, but played only in the first quarter before giving way to Desir and rookie Ibraheim Campbell.
"Specifically the first quarter, we were flying around there and playing fearless football,'' Gipson said of the first-team defense. "It was something that you could look at and say, 'Hey, that looked like the Cleveland Browns defense.'
"We just have to make sure our twos come in and keep up the good work and continue to push us. I thought we looked good out there, especially the first quarter when we had all of our starters out there."
Travis Benjamin's punt return
Benjamin said this preseason that on a scale of 1-10, he wants to be an 11 as a punt returner this season. Saturday night, he was a 12. After the Bucs went three-and-out on their opening drive, Benjamin took the punt back 53 yards for a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 39 yards.
"Travis set the tone with the big punt return,'' said McCown.
Terrelle Pryor, Nate Orchard scratched
Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor, who was on thin ice heading into Saturday night's third preseason game against the Bucs, was a surprise scratch with his hamstring injury.
Pryor, who returned to practice this week on a limited basis, was hoping to play so he can try to make the team. The first cuts to 75 are Tuesday and the final cuts to 53 are Sept. 5.
"We just didn't feel he could open up and go 100%,'' said Pettine. "We had a sense before we came down that he wouldn't play. He'll have a week to heal up.''
Pryor will survive the first cut because the Browns haven't had a chance to see him play yet. He'll have one final chance to show what he can do Thursday against the Bears in Chicago.
"Not everybody's going to be here for the Browns,'' Pryor said this week. "I've been cut three times, four times. I know what it feels like and it is what it is. Would I like to be here? Absolutely. I know I could help this team and make plays for this team but at the same time I can't control the decisions they make. That's kind of on them and I'm going to move forward whatever happens."
Pettine has made it clear that Pryor's inability to get on the field is hurting his chances of making the team.
"Even if he had stayed healthy and gotten every single snap, to go from a quarterback who has never played wideout a snap, to go through an NFL training camp when we have other players to get ready as well, to announce that 'Hey, the project is complete. He can do this,' I think that would've been unrealistic,'' said Pettine. "It is a projection and the projection is we have less information to make that projection based on how training camp went for him."
Pryor wasn't the only unexpected scratch. Rookie linebacker Nate Orchard sat out after his back tightened up earlier in the day. Orchard, the second-round pick out of Utah, missed a day this week for a personal reason, but returned the following day and practiced all week. The day off was unrelated to the back issue.
Other inactive players included Connor Shaw, Marlon Moore, Robert Nelson Jr., Jordan Poyer, Glenn Winston, Luke Lundy, Barkevious Mingo, Michael Bowie, and Ishmaa'ily Kitchen.
What's next
The Browns travel to Chicago Thursday night for the final preseason game at 8 p.m.
See the best Tweets and Vines from the Browns 31-7 win over Tampa Bay.
The Browns performed well in the so-called "dress-rehearsal" game on Saturday night in Tampa Bay. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead and didn't look back. Here are some of the best Tweets, Vines and more from the game.
Things get off to a good start, thanks to a punt-return touchdown by Travis Benjamin and a touchdown catch by Brian Hartline.
Can this game count? Less than two minutes in and its hard to remember this good of a start
— Brian Rosen (@landloyaltyro) August 29, 2015Speaking of that punt return:
.@TravisBenjamin3.
53-yards.
6 points.
Bye now. #CLEvsTB http://t.co/6KrfobDeXK
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2015And that touchdown catch:
But it really is the little things.
Biggest difference I notice so far from last season. 1st downs.
— Aaron (@Moses4708) August 29, 2015One bad thing: Josh McCown exposed himself to a lot of hits.
McCown shows allot of heart diving headfirst there.
Really dumb heart.
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) August 29, 2015A lot of hits.
McCown playing like he's got money on the board.
— Tom Reed (@treed1919) August 29, 2015Seriously.
Put McCown in bubble wrap and ship him home immediately.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) August 30, 2015Which kind of puts the spotlight on the Browns' tenuous quarterback situation.
The #Browns QB situation is so bad that there is real, genuine concern about Josh McCown being healthy enough to start Week 1.
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) August 30, 2015But back to that good start:
So far tonight, the #Browns have been in scoring position more than the star of Fifty Shades of Gray.
— john telich (@JohnTelich8) August 29, 2015It was Pettine-ball at its finest.
Pettine will cater to his personnel. Not always going to be pretty with McCown, but competence is a huge thing in the NFL
— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) August 29, 2015See?
Bucs being placed in the...Pettine Zoo
— Mark (@MarktheNomad) August 29, 2015Meanwhile, the broadcast really wasn't very well-done.
"Danny Shelton not in the game" then TV camera zooms in on Shelton
— Joe Ginley (@JoeGinley) August 30, 2015And McCown started to look a little bit like McCown.
Don't kid yourself, folks, this is Pat Devlin's job to lose.
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) August 30, 2015Seriously. This broadcast was brutal. (Nate Orchard was listed out for tonight's game.)
"We haven't called Nate Orchard's name tonight." They not get the injury list before the game?
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) August 30, 2015Jim O'Neil gave Danny Shelton a thumbs up earlier this week. Shelton gives this game a thumbs up.
Check out this GIF of Danny Shelton @Danny_Shelton55 @browns pic.twitter.com/KX4MrtQbjQ
— ClevelandFanz (@Cleveland_Fanz) August 30, 2015Preseason win No. 1.
Let the delusions begin!
— JJK (@MCHamr2) August 30, 2015Here is a look at the Ohio high school football statewide scores for Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here are the high school football statewide football scores throughout Ohio for Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. Check out Friday's scores too.
Check back later tonight for more scores.
Beachwood 44, Gates Mills Gilmour 36
Cin. La Salle 35, Carmel, Ind. 28
Cle. Benedictine 35, Tol. Cent. Cath. 23
Cle. St. Ignatius 63, Parma Normandy 7
Dola Hardin Northern 54, Beallsville 8
Hamilton Badin 42, Cin. Taft 14
Hamilton New Miami 38, Cin. Gamble Montessori 32
Lakewood St. Edward 14, Gilman, Md. 13
Leavittsburg LaBrae 41, Youngs. Christian 7
Lisbon David Anderson 54, Tuscarawas Cent. Cath. 0
Norwalk St. Paul 56, Sandusky St. Mary 21
Racine Southern 21, Portsmouth Notre Dame 18
Shaker Hts. 21, Hunting Valley University 9
Warren JFK 30, Canfield S. Range 10
Zanesville Rosecrans 44, Fairfield Christian 0