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Live OHSAA football playoffs blog: Scoreboards, updates, videos, chat room from Friday's state semifinals 2015 (Varsity Blitz Live)

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Varsity Blitz Live is an interactive fan experience with up-to-the-minute updates from all OHSAA high school football playoffs games tonight, plus videos and a lively chat room.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Welcome to the center of all the Friday OHSAA state semifinal football playoffs action with live updates, pictures, videos and scoreboards on all games being played in Ohio, plus a chat room for fans.

We'll provide constant score updates on all eight state semifinals throughout Ohio in the scoreboard graphic below. Refresh the page to see the latest updates.


Every Friday and Saturday night in the playoffs we invite you to join us for Varsity Blitz Live, an interactive fan experience where you’ll get up-to-the-minute updates from every game and a lively chat room at the very bottom of this post to talk with fellow fans as well as our reporters at games and in the office compiling box scores.


To join the conversation and see your Tweets featured below, all you need to do is include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets. Or you can comment through your cleveland.com community account.


The chat room at the very bottom of this page also features updates, pictures, videos and analysis on playoff games throughout the region.


Here is a lineup of where we have reporters stationed tonight. Look for their updates to pop into the chat below. Get previews on these games, as well as all Saturday playoff contests involving local teams.


Division II: Reporters Scott Patsko and Matt Goul are covering Hudson vs. Massillon Perry.


Division III: Reporter Joe Noga and freelancer Ryan Isley are covering Archbishop Hoban vs. Zanesville.


Division VII: Reporter Tim Bielik and freelancer Jim Berdysz are covering Mogadore vs. Danville.


Remember to include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets and they will appear in the chat at the very bottom of this page.


Here is a live scoreboard of all eight playoff games throughout Ohio tonight. Refresh page to see latest scores.



For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


4 hours left to enter this week's free OHSAA football playoff picks contest ($100 weekly prizes, $500 grand prize)

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Play in free playoff picks contest during the high school football postseason and you could win $100 and $500 Visa gift cards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Football fans are invited to play in a contest predicting winners for OHSAA high school playoff games. The contest is free, and there's a chance to win weekly $100 prizes and a $500 grand prize.

There will be a weekly prize – a $100 Visa gift card – for the person who picks the most correct winners in a given round, as well as a grand prize – a $500 Visa gift card – for the person who has the most overall correct picks throughout the five weeks of the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.


Congratulations to the Round 3 $100 winner, Rick of Fremont. He was the only person among 851 players to correctly pick all nine games involving local teams last week.


See the full leaderboard after Round 3, as well as how the cleveland.com high school staff measures up. Don't worry, staff members are not eligible to win the $100 and $500 prizes.


Among the staff, Tim Bielik leads with 46 correct picks out of 54 games during the first three weeks of the playoffs. Nathaniel Cline is one back at 45.


Here's more on how the contest works:


Contestants will be asked to predict the winning team for all playoff games involving a local school during the first three rounds. Local schools are ones from Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. Then, for state semifinals and state championship games, contestants will make picks on all games in all seven divisions, regardless of which teams are in the game.


Again, click here to register (simply click the “registration” tab). It’s free and takes just a few minutes to get started.


You can also see contest rules and eligibility requirements for possible prizes at the link above. Visit the leaderboard to compare your picks/point total with predictions made by cleveland.com's staff.


Good luck with your predictions.


For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

High school boys basketball schedule database: Customizable schedules by date, team 2015-16

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Check out an interactive and searchable schedule database for the boys basketball season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — High school boys basketball fans, cleveland.com has you covered all season long with an interactive and searchable schedule database for the Northeast Ohio region.

Readers can search the cleveland.com schedule database by date or a range of dates, such as Friday to see the schedule for the first day of the season, or next Monday through Saturday to see all games being played in the region next week.


Or type in a school name to call up that team's season-long schedule and results. 


On game nights, the page also shows results with links to box scores and content from the games.


Check out cleveland.com's interactive and searchable schedule database for girls basketball, too.


For more high school sports news, like NEOvarsity on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


 

Competitive balance, Star Trek among topics in cleveland.com football predictions for OHSAA state semifinal playoff games (photos)

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See predictions by the cleveland.com high school sports staff entering the state semifinals of the OHSAA football playoffs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s time for predictions for the OHSAA football state semifinals, from what will happen to outrageous picks.

Throughout the postseason, cleveland.com's high school sports reporters will give you predictions on what they think could, should and will happen -- as well as a completely outrageous prediction.


We hope you have predictions you want to share as well. We invite you to post them in the comments section below.


If you prefer more traditional predictions, head over to the High School Football Playoff Picks contest, which is presented by the University of Akron. You could win $500 and $100 Visa gift cards. 


Previous predictions (how many came true?):


Predictions from Week 11


Predictions from Week 12


Predictions from Week 13


REPORTER TIM BIELIK


Could happen: Hudson's defense could slow down Massillon Perry's Keishaun Sims on its way to Ohio Stadium for the state finals.


Should happen: Four defending state champions (St. Edward, Cincinnati La Salle, Coldwater and Maria Stein Marion Local) should advance to the state finals in their respective divisions.


Will happen: Mogadore will end its 13-year state championship game drought by handing Danville its first loss of the season.


Outrageous prediction: After two takeaways against St. Vincent-St. Mary, Archbishop Hoban's Jonah Morris will duplicate that against Zanesville and also catch at least two touchdown passes.


REPORTER NATHANIEL CLINE


Could happen: Hudson and Hoban could advance to the state finals winning their games by seven points or more.


Should happen: Mogadore should advance to the state finals.


Will happen: Kirtland and St. Edward will win their matchups by 10 points each.


Outrageous prediction: Players from the winning team between St. Edward and Stow will pass on celebrating at Chipotle because it will be closed after the game. They’ll instead grab something at a drive-thru near Byers Field in Parma.

REPORTER MATT GOUL

Could happen: Special teams could be the determining factor in Saturday's St. Edward-Stow game. Both teams have electric kick returners in Kyle Fallon for St. Edward and sophomore Terrian Wray for Stow.

Should happen: Kirtland should make its fifth straight state final appearance and face Marion Local.

Will happen: At least one story — not here — will have a cheesy StarTrek reference in relation to Mansfield Madison's StarTek Stadium.

Outrageous prediction: All five games involving Northeast Ohio team this weekend has a defensive touchdown. Not sure how outrageous this would be, but it's definitely less likely than the StarTrek mixup I made while reading game sites out loud for the first time.

REPORTER JOE NOGA

Could happen: The same number of Northeast Ohio teams (four) that advanced to Columbus for the state finals last season could advance in 2015. That would leave one of the area's five semifinalists on the outside looking in.

Should happen: Hoban quarterback Danny Clark should pass for more than 200 yards against Zanesville. The Blue Devils are big up front on the defensive line and will make running the ball a problem early. Clark will need to make plays downfield early to loosen Zanesville's defense up for RB Todd Sibley.

Will happen: Kirtland linebacker Evan Madden will have more than five tackles for loss against Grandview Heights.

Outrageous prediction: Taking a page from box office hits "Dave" and "Moon over Parador," Stow coach Mark Nori is asked to step in for his doppelgänger, Browns coach Mike Pettine, after Pettine is incapacitated prior to Monday's game against Baltimore. Nori leads the Browns to a victory and then returns to the Bulldogs, becoming the first man to coach in an NFL game and a high school state championship game in the same week.

REPORTER SCOTT PATSKO

Could happen: Hudson could become one of two No. 5 seeds to reach the state finals. Division IV state semifinalist Youngstown Ursuline is also a No. 5 seed. No other remaining playoff team is lower than a three seed.

Should happen: Less than half of the eight undefeated state semifinalists should reach the state finals.

Will happen: St. Edward RB Cole Gest will have more than 100 yards rushing by halftime in Saturday’s Division I state semifinal/regional final vs. Stow.

Outrageous prediction: After people realize that 20 public schools and eight private schools have reached the football state semifinals this season, it’s decided the odds of public schools reaching the finals are sufficient, and nobody ever discusses OHSAA competitive balance again.

REPORTER ROBERT ROZBORIL

Could happen: Mogadore could end Danville's bid for a perfect season.

Should happen: St. Edward RB Cole Gest and Stow RB Jayson Gobble should each reach the end zone at least once.

Will happen: Hudson's defense will hold Massillon Perry to 20 or fewer points as it has against every opponent this season.

Outrageous prediction: A fan will jump out of the stands and challenge a player to a dance-off during their touchdown celebration.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Akron Zips take back the Wagon Wheel with a 20-0 victory over Kent State

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In the annual Wagon Wheel rivalry game between the Akron Zips and Kent State, it was the Zips who had the most to play for and it showed.

AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips took down Kent State, 20-0, Friday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium to regain the Wagon Wheel and lock down a bowl game by finishing the regular season at 7-5, 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

If was Akron's first time holding Kent scoreless since 1985.

The caliber of football delivered by both teams was proven on the first series of the third quarter, a 19-play, 69-yard drive for Akron that covered the first 12:44 of the period. Kent State kept the drive alive with a third-and-29 pass interference.

Later, facing a first-and-goal at the 2, Akron was forced to kick a field goal for a 17-0 lead.

The big difference came on third-and-short, as Akron consistently went to noseguard/fullback Cody Grice for key yardage. The few bodies in the stands all knew what was coming, but Grice delivered more often than not.

"Those guys up front looked out for me,'' Grice said. "We talked in the huddle and I told the guys, 'I need you to push.'"

Grice was credited for seven yards on six carries, but for every time he was stopped for a loss, there were two others when he delivered. Coach Terry Bowden said the victory was "the most rewarding" he has ever had, and pointed to Grice as a big reason why.

"He has been the inspirational leader of this football team," Bowden said.

Unlike the recent past, when the Zips played teams they were supposed to beat this season, they stepped up. Akron took down Eastern Michigan (1-11), UMass (2-9), Miami (3-9), Kent (3-9) and Buffalo (5-6) along with a small college triumph over Savannah State and perhaps the biggest win of the season, on the road at Louisiana-Lafayette (4-6).

Kent, on the other hand, was playing for an upset, but never mounted a challenge. It had one key third down early. But instead of pounding away on third-and-1 with 250-pound senior tailback Trayion Durham, they ran a short-side option that was doomed from the snap.

Akron's offense was good enough for 369 yards of offense with Conor Hundley rushing for 98 yards and a touchdown and QB Tommy Woodson passing for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Offensive woes: For a team that has had trouble scoring, Kent's offense worsened as the game wore on and finished with just 135 yards in 44 plays and 19:01 possession time to Akron's whopping 40:59.

Kent's offense never took a snap in the third quarter as the kickoff following Akron's field goal was fumbled and recovered by Akron. Another field goal capped the scoring for the day.

Kent's scoreless effort reflects a team that scored only eight points all season in the fourth quarter. The Golden Flashes ended their season on a five-game skid at 3-9, 2-6.

Costly turnover: After Akron took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter, both teams muddled through most of the second quarter until another Kent State error. Trying to run out the clock, quarterback George Bollas fumbled with the Zips recovering at the 11. A Woodson to Newman Williams TD pass followed for a 14-0 halftime lead.

A tearful Kent head coach Paul Haynes said afterward, "We're trying to run the football, ran into the referee and turned it over."

The Flashes would not get another chance to score.

Go bowling: Asked what bowl game he wanted to play in, Grice said, "I ain't going to lie. I would love to go to the Bahamas."

Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden hasn't passed written or computer tests after second concussion

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The two-time Pro Bowler has not played since Nov. 1.

BEREA, Ohio - With Joe Haden likely to miss his third straight game recovering from his latest head injury, coach Mike Pettine revealed Friday the Browns cornerback has been unable to pass through the first major stage of the NFL's concussion protocol.

The two-time Pro Bowler, who hasn't played since Nov. 1, is having trouble returning to his baseline status in his neurological exam. The baseline is established during a player's annual preseason physical.

"There is a written test and computer test and that right now is the obstacle," Pettine said.

Haden is attempting to rally from his second concussion of the season. He appeared to get kicked in the head while trying to tackle Cardinals wideout Michael Floyd on a 60-yard touchdown. Browns receivers Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel also are in the league's protocol.

It's becoming a lost season for Haden, who's missed five games due to injury, including four from concussions. The sixth-year veteran has not played to a Pro Bowl level, but he's major upgrade on the corners who have tried to replace him.

The Browns (2-8) are riding a five-game losing streak heading into Monday night's matchup with the Ravens.

There are three major steps a player must take to be cleared by the league -- return to neurological baseline, graduate from aerobic, weight training and non-contract drills without recurrence of symptoms and gain clearance from an independent neurological consultant.

"There's a sequence of testing and it's compared to your baseline," Pettine said. "I know there's a written part of it. There's a computer part of it that goes back and compares. I know there's different - I'm not exactly sure of the exact protocol. It's a memory test. It's all different pieces of it that once you clear all those, then you simulate contact and then you get cleared by the independent."

* Browns lead the NFL in concussions since 2012

The Browns have sustained 11 concussions since the start of training camp, the second most behind the Chargers (12). Cleveland has led the NFL in concussions since the start of the 2012 season, according to a PBS/Frontline database.

Pettine didn't offer an explanation on the team's high number of head traumas.

"There would have to be some thought, some analysis to that, and I don't know if I'd have a knee-jerk reaction that would provide an answer as to why we would be ranked where we are," he said.

Cleveland Indians sign catcher Anthony Recker to minor league deal; invite to spring training

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Catcher Anthony Recker, 32, appeared in 32 games for the Mets this year. He's also played in the big leagues with the A's and Cubs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians signed catcher Anthony Recker to a minor league deal Friday and invited him to spring training. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 17.

Recker, 32, caught 32 games for the NL champion New York Mets this year. He hit .125 (10-for-80) with two homers and five RBI. At Class AAA Las Vegas, Recker hit .245 (23-for-94) with eight homers and 21 RBI in 27 games.

The 6-2, 240-pound Recker bats right-handed and made his big league debut with the A's in 2011. Oakland drafted him in 2005 in the 18th round.

Recker is the second catcher the Indians have signed to a minor league deal and invited to camp this off-season. Adam Moore spent this year in the Tribe's organization. They re-signed him as a free agent after taking him off the 40-man roster at the end of the season.

The Indians have three catchers on the 40-man roster -- Yan Gomes, Roberto Perez and Tony Wolters. Recker is the fifth player they've signed to a minor league deal and invited to big league camp. Outfielder Shane Robinson, infielder Michael Martinez, right-hander Joe Colon and Moore are the others.

Western Michigan defeats Toledo, 35-30, giving MAC West title to Northern Illinois

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Western Michigan held on to defeat Toledo on Friday, 35-30, making Northern Illinois the champion of the MAC West.

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Corey Davis caught two touchdown passes and Western Michigan upset No. 24 Toledo, 35-30, on Friday to send Northern Illinois to the Mid-American Conference championship game.

The Rockets (9-2, 6-2) could have earned the MAC West title and a spot in the league title game, but the Broncos (7-5, 6-2) created a three-way tie for the division. NIU beat both Toledo and Western Michigan and will face Bowling Green on Dec. 4 at Ford Field in Detroit.

NIU opened the door for the Rockets to win the division outright by losing to Ohio on Tuesday. But the Rockets were undone by crucial penalties and one big turnover, helping Western Michigan pull away.

The game turned when Toledo's Alonzo Russell fumbled a punt to set up Davis' second touchdown, a 30-yard catch from Zach Terrell with 1:07 to play in the first half that gave the Broncos a 25-21 lead.


Cleveland Browns uniform tracker: Orange pants in prime time

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The Browns last hosted a Monday Night Football game back in 2009.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' return to Monday Night Football will also mark the return of their orange pants.

Josh McCown & Co. will wear brown jerseys, orange pants and brown socks for their prime time matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. It'll be only the second time all season the Browns have worn orange pants.

The team wore the same jersey-pants combination (but with orange socks) in the season opener, a 31-10 beatdown courtesy of the New York Jets. 

The Browns have not been on Monday Night Football since 2009. They last wore brown-on-orange on MNF in 2003 against the St. Louis Rams.  

Brown. Orange. Brown.Our look for Monday night #BALvsCLE

Posted by Cleveland Browns on Friday, November 27, 2015
Browns Uniform Tracker 2015  
Wk Opp. Jersey Pants Result  
P1 vs WAS White White L, 17-20
P2 vs BUF White Brown L, 10-11
P3 at TB Brown White W, 31-7
P4 at CHI White Brown L,0-24  
1 at NYJ Brown Orange L, 10-31  
2 vs TEN White White W, 28-14
3 vs OAK Brown Brown L, 20-27  
4 at SD Brown White L, 27-30  
5 at BAL White Brown W, 33-30 OT  
6 DEN Brown White L, 23-26 OT  
7 at STL White Brown L- 6-24  
8 vs AZ Orange White L, 20-34  
9 at CIN White White L, 10-31
10 at PIT White Brown L, 9-30  
11 vs BAL Brown Orange ?  

Johnny Manziel could play again this season, says Browns' OC John DeFilippo: 'Never say never'

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Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo won't rule out demoted QB Johnny Manziel playing again this season.

BEREA, Ohio --  Johnny Manziel might have one more Houdini act left in him this season.

Despite his demotion this week from starting quarterback to third-stringer, Manziel might make his way back onto the field at some point this season, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said Friday.

"As we all know, a six-game season in the NFL is a long stretch -- a very long stretch,'' said DeFilippo. "We're a long way from the end of the season. You don't close doors on anything. You never say never in this profession. To say that Johnny Manziel will not play again this season, I'm not ready to say that."

He said Josh McCown "could play for the rest of the season or we could make a change. You just don't know. All I know is this week, and we are really fortunate to have Josh and a guy that has played well for us and played well against this football team that we're playing on Monday night. We're really excited for Josh to go out there and play."

As for whether or not Manziel will even be active for Monday night's game against the Ravens behind McCown and Austin Davis, DeFilippo said "that's a good question. I'm not sure yet. We have some guys on the fence in terms of whether they're  going to be active or not. Coach (Mike Pettine) will decide that as we go along here during the week."

If Manziel doesn't play anymore this season after lying to his coaches about partying over the bye weekend, DeFilippo is confident he Browns have a good read on their 2014 first-round pick.

"I like what I've seen,'' said DeFilippo. "I really do. Even the jump he made from the Cincinnati game to the Pittsburgh game was a huge jump. I think we'd all agree on that. I think Johnny has played enough football where we know what we have in him.''

Asked if he still believes Manziel can be a franchise quarterback, he said, "Yes.''

And what makes him think that after everything Manziel has put the organization through?

Related: How Mike Pettine demoted Johnny Manziel for being dishonest

"Just by knowing the person,'' he said. "I know the person more than a lot of people. We all make mistakes. We all hope as an organization that he's learned from some of the mistakes he has made. We're all a work in progress, and we're going to keep working with him."

He said he's confident Manziel can dig himself out of the hole he's in with the coaching staff.

"Some of us are dealing with some different issues than others,'' he said. "We know Johnny's issues and we're working with him every day. There's no doubt in my mind that Johnny's going to bounce back."

DeFilippo stressed that he supports the decision "100%'' but acknowledged that it wasn't easy.

"I'm not going to lie - it's disappointing,'' he said. "You have a player that, I think we can all agree in this room, has come so far from a football standpoint in the product he put on the field from a year ago to go out and play that way on the road against a very good Pittsburgh Steeler defense. It's very disappointing, but at the same time a decision was made, and we're going in that direction."

As for whether or not Manziel lied to the coaches about the partying video and his bye weekend activities, DeFilippo said, "I'm going to leave those conversations between myself and Coach. I'm sure you guys can appreciate that."

Timofey Mozgov will return to Cleveland Cavaliers' starting lineup against Charlotte; Matthew Dellavedova says he's good to go

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will have two players back in the lineup, as they look to snap their three-game road losing streak on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will have two players back in the lineup as they look to snap their three-game road losing streak on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets. 

Center Timofey Mozgov returns after missing three games with a strained right shoulder, an injury he suffered in the first half of last Thursday's loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. Originally given a 10-14 day recover time, Mozgov will be back in the starting lineup eight days since suffering the injury.

Matthew Dellavedova, who felt tightness in his calf during that same contest against Milwaukee, told me in the locker room that he is "good to go" as well. He will come off the bench with Mo Williams returning to the starting lineup.

Both Mozgov and Dellavedova were technically listed as game-time decisions against Charlotte. They were both, however, able to participate in the Friday morning shootaround and felt no issues following extensive pregame warmup sessions. 

Mozgov is averaging 7.9 points to go with 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 20.8 minutes. 

Dellavedova's calf injury forced him out of the lineup for just the one game against Toronto and feels the extra time off helped him recover before Friday's game. He is averaging career highs in points (7.9), field goal percentage (44.2), assists (5.9), rebounds (2.3) and steals (0.8).

How local football teams fared Friday in state semifinals of OHSAA playoffs, Saturday matchups (photos)

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Check out how local football teams fared Friday in state semifinals of OHSAA playoffs, plus Saturday's schedule.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Get a rundown of how local football teams fared Friday night in OHSAA state semifinals. Plus see the playoffs schedule for Saturday. 

Final scores will be added below as games become final. Keep up with the latest from all the games in a live blog -- including video highlights -- from Friday's games.


Dates and times for the state championship games being played Thursday and Friday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus will be announced Friday around 10:45 p.m. by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. It will be added below when the information is released. A picture gallery also will be added.


State semifinals were held Friday in Divisions II, III, V and VII -- with Division I, IV and VI games to come Saturday.


For Saturday games, click the links to see preview capsules.


DIVISION I (bracket)


Saturday


No. 1 St. Edward (12‐1) vs. No. 2 Stow (13‐0) at Parma Byers Field.


What's next: Winner advances to state final, to be played Saturday, Dec. 5 at Ohio Stadium. Time to be announced late Saturday night.


DIVISION II (bracket)


Friday


No. 5 Hudson (11‐2) is playing No. 1 Massillon Perry (11‐2).


What's next: State final (details to come later Friday from OHSAA).


DIVISION III (bracket)


Friday


No. 1 Archbishop Hoban (12‐1) is playing No. 3 Zanesville (12‐1). 


What's next: State final (details to come later Friday from OHSAA).


DIVISION IV (no local teams remain but see final four bracket)


DIVISION V (no local teams remain but see final four bracket)


DIVISION VI (bracket)


Saturday


No. 1 Kirtland (12‐1) vs. No. 3 Grandview Heights (12‐1) at Mansfield Madison.


What's next: Winner advances to state final, to be played Saturday, Dec. 5 at Ohio Stadium. Time to be announced late Saturday night.


DIVISION VII (bracket)


Friday


No. 2 Mogadore (12‐1) is playing No. 1 Danville (13‐0).  


What's next: State final (details to come later Friday from OHSAA).


For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Live chat and updates with Chris Fedor

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Get the latest updates and analysis on the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the Charlotte Hornets.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to snap their three-game road losing streak on Friday night as they take on the Charlotte Hornets.

Follow along in the comments section as Chris Haynes, Joe Vardon and Chris Fedor bring you observations and analysis throughout the game.

Make sure to follow Haynes, Vardon and Fedor on Twitter.

Scoring Summary:

End of 2nd Quarter - Cavs trail Hornets, 52-50. Kemba Walker and Marvin Williams each have 10 points to pace the Hornets. The Cavaliers are led by Kevin Love, who has 13 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James has added 12 points. Timofey Mozgov, playing his first game since injuring his shoulder last Thursday, has eight. 

End of 1st Quarter - Cavs lead Hornets, 23-22. Mo Williams and Timofey Mozgov lead the way for the Cavs with six points apiece. Kevin Love and LeBron James have each added four points. The Hornets are led by Nicolas Batum's six points. 

Game 16: Cavs (11-4) vs. Hornets (9-6)

Tip off: 7 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM AM/1100, WMMS 100.7 FM, 87.7 FM (ESP)

Cavs probable starting lineup: Mo Williams, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov.

Hornets probable starting lineup: Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, P.J. Hairston, Marvin Williams and Al Jefferson.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here to get updates and comment.

Watch Ohio State sing Carmen Ohio after beating Michigan (video)

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The Buckeyes celebrated after a 42-13 win in Ann Arbor. Watch video

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ohio State celebrated in Michigan Stadium again Saturday, winning in Ann Arbor for the fifth time in the last six trips.

The Buckeyes dominated Michigan 42-13, gaining 482 yards, including 376 on the ground.

Then Ohio State sang, finding the friendly corner of the endzone to dance and then sing Carmen Ohio arm in arm.

Watch the video above to see the celebration.

Live updates, videos, chat room on St. Edward, Stow, Kirtland in OHSAA football state semifinals; statewide scores: Varsity Blitz Live

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Varsity Blitz Live is an interactive fan experience with up-to-the-minute updates from all OHSAA high school football playoffs games tonight, plus videos and a lively chat room.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Welcome to the center of all the Saturday OHSAA state semifinal football playoffs action with live updates, pictures, videos and scoreboards on all games being played in Ohio, plus a chat room for fans.

We'll provide constant score updates on all six state semifinals throughout Ohio in the scoreboard graphic below. Refresh the page to see the latest updates. Get caught up on all the Friday action with the latest news, features and videos.


The chat room at the very bottom of this page features updates, pictures, videos and analysis on playoff games we have reporters covering: St. Edward vs. Stow in Division I and Kirtland vs. Grandview Heights in Division VI.


To join the conversation and see your Tweets featured in the chat below, all you need to do is include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets. Or you can comment through your cleveland.com community account.


Every Friday and Saturday night in the playoffs we invite you to join us for Varsity Blitz Live, an interactive fan experience where you’ll get up-to-the-minute updates from every game and a lively chat room to talk with fellow fans as well as our reporters at games and in the office compiling box scores.


Remember to include #NEOvarsity in your Tweets and they will appear in the chat.


Here is a live scoreboard of all six playoff games throughout Ohio tonight. Refresh page to see latest scores.



For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


Ohio State football: Was the Buckeyes win over Michigan surprising? (video)

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Ohio State beat Michigan 42-13 on Saturday, who saw it coming? Watch video

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ohio State leaving Michigan Stadium with a win on Saturday was certainly on the table.

The question was whether or not this team would respond the way it needed to after losing to Michigan State in ugly fashion last week. It could have went three ways:

* Ohio State looks flat, but still wins because it has better players.

* Michigan takes advantage of a beaten Ohio State team, and wins.

* The Buckeyes roll Michigan, which seemed the least likely of the three.

That's what happened. So was it surprising to see Ohio State come out and win as thoroughly as it did in a 42-13 game on Saturday afternoon? Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and I discussed it postgame from Michigan Stadium.

For the record, here are our picks for the game. Everybody had it pretty close.

What do you think? Obviously you're happy with the win if you're an Ohio State fan, but did you expect that? Let us know in the comments section below.

Michigan is the medicine as Urban Meyer shows this isn't 2009 all over again

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"I've been very fortunate to be around some big-time games, very blessed, and from the bottom of my heart, I told the players, that might be the best one I've ever seen," Meyer said. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We play psychologist and we play doctor, wondering about Urban Meyer's state of mind and asking about his health.

Ohio State's coach is 49-4 in four seasons with the Buckeyes, but when he loses there's still an instinct to question how he's handling it.

He ate cold pizza in the concourse after the Michigan State loss two years ago. Last week after losing to Michigan State, he looked sick to his stomach in the postgame. And 2009 always hung there.

It hung there all season as the example of what happened the last time Urban Meyer tried to defend a championship. You know the comparison well now, but to recap, Florida won a title in 2008, returned a stacked team in 2009 and saw the joy sucked out of a title defense filled with high expectations. When the Gators lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship, Meyer experienced the health issues that were the beginning of his end in Gainesville.

With the Buckeyes, 2014 was his 2008.

Then 2015 was his 2009.

The Michigan State loss was his Alabama loss.

What he didn't have then was a chance at redemption a week later. 

That's what he took with Saturday's 42-13 win over Michigan.

He danced in the locker room. Then he came to the postgame news conference, his family watching, and looked like a guy still happy to be doing what he's doing. 

Michigan was his medicine. 

"I've been very fortunate to be around some big-time games, very blessed, and from the bottom of my heart, I told the players, that might be the best one I've ever seen," Meyer said in his opening statement after moving to 4-0 against Michigan in his career at Ohio State. "To come back from the kick in the stomach we took a week ago.

"It was an awful week of practice, awful as far as everybody felt. To come out and navigate a storm against an excellent team we have a lot of respect for, very good personnel, especially that defense. To come out and do that against them, this is one of the best group of kids I've ever been around.

"Extremely grateful to be around them, and I think Buckeye Nation should be very proud of those guys to do that after this week."

Meyer's emotions showed this Saturday just like last week, but it read like relief and pride this time. He wasn't celebrating any longer by the time he reached the news conference, but he almost seemed impressed with the Buckeyes, which maybe isn't something you get to be every week when the expectations are so high.

It wasn't that way after last week's 17-14 loss to Michigan State.

"That was one of hollowest feelings, I speak for our staff because I know, that was as hollow maybe after a game as I ever felt and our coaching staff felt, and the whole Zeke thing," Meyer said, "and the emotions, you go on a whatever game winning streak and you see everything snapped, incredible.

"You don't train for that game in one week. They've been training. It's the leadership training, it's the character, it's the power of the unit, but you need good talented players to do that."

You get that and you might get a win. And then you find you feel much better about the whole thing.

Remember when Michigan took a shot at Zach Smith? Ohio State's WR coach has a response now

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It's hard to imagine that Zach Smith hasn't been planning this response for months. Actually, there's no way he hasn't been plotting.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It's hard to imagine that Zach Smith hasn't been planning this response for months.

Actually, there's no way he hasn't been plotting. 

Michigan took a shot at Smith in a recruiting graphic posted all over in June during that basically posed this question: Who do you trust more, Zach Smith or Michigan receivers coach and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch? 

The graphic asserted that Smith was young, that he wasn't as qualified as Fisch to watch out for the nation's top receivers. The graphic can be seen above.  

But after Ohio State put up nearly 500 yards of total offense in a 42-13 win over Michigan in the Big House on Saturday, Smith posted his official response on his Twitter page. 

Yes, the official response. 

And Smith wasn't so subtle about it. He used the same question from the grahic in the Tweet he posted on Saturday evening. 

When Michigan initially posted the graphic in June, Smith responded with a flurry of his own responses. One included somewhat of a guarantee Ohio State would beat Michigan. 

"Check my Resume," wrote Smith in one tweet in June. "And if it's confusing... Check my live resume next November. It will be the same resume as the last 3 Novembers."

Kent State falls again on the road, 85-76, to the Pitt Panthers

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The Pitt Panthers shot better than 50-percent from the field and held off a late run by Kent State to remain undefeated on the season.

Kent State logo.jpg 

CLEVELAND Ohio -- Kent State traveled to play against an offensive buzz saw in the Pitt Panthers Saturday afternoon, and paid for it with an 85-76 defeat.

The undefeated Panthers (4-0), shooting 56.4 percent for the game, have scored no less than 84 points in a game this season and were coming off back-to-back games scoring better than 90 points in each. Kent (3-2) had no defense to counter the Panthers, and far too little offense.

KSU did get enough production inside from 6-8 junior and leading scorer Jimmy Hall with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. But there was little perimeter help to be found as senior guard Xavier Pollard off the bench was the bulk of KSU's support with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists, primarily in the second half.

Meanwhile, Pitt's wunderkind forward, 6-9 junior Michael Young, lived up to his reputation with 23 points, four rebounds and six assists.    

Kent stayed with the Panthers early, 22-22, but by halftime the outcome was evident. The Panthers held a 42-32 advantage, shooting the lights out at 60 percent from the field. Kent would close the margin to 69-60 with just over eight minutes to play in the second half, then 81-74 inside the final two minutes, and 83-76 with 38-seconds left.

But the Panthers would not let the Flashes get any closer. KSU will now try to get its first road win of the season on Saturday, against Cleveland State in Quicken Loans Arena.

Ohio State routs Michigan in a game Woody Hayes would have loved: Bill Livingston (photos)

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They run out of a different formation and with swifter players now, but what served Woody Hayes so well bludgeoned Michigan Saturday -- the rush from scrimmage.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- You might remember this, Woody, although probably not.

It was the "Von Foot" game, which probably got in your considerable craw the way the M-word always did.

It happened after Oklahoma's placekicker, Uwe von Schamann, pranced around the field at The Shoe in 1977, fluttering his arms like an orchestra conductor, while the boos poured down during the last timeout. That was following the Sooners' recovery of an onside kick, down two points, late.

After your Buckeyes had come back from a 20-point deficit to take an eight-point lead into the last minutes, Von Foot's 41-yard field goal on the last play made the Sooners winners, 29-28 .

A kid wet behind the ears burst into the Ohio State interview room after you were all but talked out. You were murmuring what-if's to a sympathetic Columbus columnist, Woody. You gave the kid time for one question.

"Do you have a sense of how exciting the game was?" the kid asked.

Wrong question.

"Oh, the hell with exciting," you spluttered in the lisp that got thicker when you were angry. "I'd rather be dull as hell and win."

The kid's ears have been drying for a long time since then.

But because the Urban Meyer-Jim Harbaugh coaching duel Saturday rekindled all kinds of memories of you and Bo Schembechler, it also brought back memories of how you liked to run between the tackles and pound the opponent until the hammer's head wore out, which was long after the defense had.

As you looked down at the Big House Saturday, you would have approved of the way the Buckeyes played. They routed resurgent, but hardly ascendant Michigan, 42-13. (Knowing how much you did for your players, Woody, and how committed you were to their education, the reporter, grown older but probably no wiser, assumes you were up there, looking down.)

It's the same ground game, but it's more exciting now. It comes barreling out of  the spread formation. It's power running, but with defenders strung out like nervous pickets waiting for an assault. One missed tackle, and the enemy is at the gates of the end zone, because they all can fly.

Relax. It's just a term for speed. It's not 3 yards and a cloud of dust anymore. It's more like 6.8 yards, the Buckeyes' average Saturday, and a cloud of second-and-shorts.

The Buckeyes hugged the ground like travelers with acrophobia. Ohio State rushed for 369 yards, and 54 of their 69 plays from scrimmage were runs. They passed for a paltry 113 yards.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett rushed for 139 yards and Ezekiel Elliott, of the "I'm outta here" Elliotts, rushed for 214.

It wasn't just that Elliott only got 12 carries against Michigan State last weekend, it was that he only averaged 2.8 yards per carry.

Some of us wondered just what stunted "hey, look at me" impulse led Elliott to berate the game plan last week, although he had ample justification to do so.

We also wondered why the second-leading rusher in Ohio State history could not muster any graciousness after a loss in the wake of 23 straight victories.

"Zeke apologized 37 or 38 times. This is one of the best groups of kids I've ever been around," said coach Urban Meyer, who spent a third straight Thanksgiving Day with Elliott and his family as his guests.

"Hope to get four," Meyer joked.

"You Win with People," as you said, Woody, in the title of your book.

After the game Saturday, Elliott also thanked, in order, God and the offensive line. As an old tackle at Denison, Woody, I'm sure you liked it when Elliott made the  line, not cleanliness, next to godliness.

As for losing, broken sideline markers and shredded Block O caps, shoved cameramen and a thrown punch at a Clemson player, all testify to how enraged you could get when things went poorly.

Those who knew you best said, really, it was more a matter of your team failing to reach its potential. The numbers on the scoreboard weren't as bad as the emptiness you felt after so much had gone unrealized or even squandered.

Meyer knows about the emptiness.

"It was an awful week of practice, awful as far as the way everybody felt," Meyer said of the aftermath of the loss to Michigan State. "One of the hollowest feelings . . . that was as hollow maybe after a game as I've ever felt."

The hollow men were full of vim, vigor and redemption this weekend, though. 

What might have happened had Elliott not been thrown for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal at the Wolverines' 3 in the last 2 1/2 minutes? If he had scored, would Meyer have gone for two extra points to make it 50?

You did that against the rivals, Woody. Twice. Because they wouldn't let you go for three.

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