Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

NFL 2016 Week 3: Today's games to watch, scoreboard, TV, previews (photos)

0
0

Ben Roethlisberger leads the Pittsburgh Steelers against Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles in the battle of Pennsylvania: Today's NFL games to watch, scoreboard, TV listings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two games involving AFC Central teams are among the key matchups on today's NFL Week 3 schedule.

The Cincinnati Bengals play host to the unbeaten Denver Broncos with the Bengals trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

The Steelers, meanwhile, travel cross-state for the battle of Pennsylvania against the Philadelphia Eagles. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stirred fans of the Cleveland Browns this week when he complimented Eagles rookie QB Carson Wentz and said he was surprised the Browns hadn't taken him with the second pick in the NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are home to the Baltimore Ravens and the Jaguars list running back Chris Ivory as questionable. He hasn't played all season.

Brian Hoyer is expected to start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears in the Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. Hoyer is subbing for the injured Jay Cutler.

Here's a look at some prime games to watch, along with the complete weekend schedule and TV. You can get scores and updates all day on our NFL Scoreboard.

TODAY'S PRIME MATCHUPS:

Denver Broncos  (2-0) vs. Cincinnati Bengals  (1-1)
When: 1 p.m. on CBS
Where: Paul Brown Stadium
Why watch: The defending champion Broncos clearly have one of the best defenses in the league but their offense remains in question. So what happens when the Broncos face one of the best offenses in the Bengals?

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
When: 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Where: Lincoln Financial Field
Why watch: The battle of Pennsylvania will receive state-wide and national attention because of the old guard in Ben Roethlisberger and the mania associated with Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. After games against sub-par defenses (Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears), Wentz will get a true test on Sunday against the Steelers.

WEEK 3 SCHEDULE:

Thursday

Sunday

  • Minnesota at Carolina, 1 p.m., FOX
  • Detroit at Green Bay, 1 p.m., FOX
  • Baltimore at Jacksonville, 1 p.m., CBS
  • Arizona at Buffalo, 1 p.m., FOX
  • Oakland at Tennessee, 1 p.m., CBS
  • Cleveland at Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
  • Washington at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m., FOX
  • Denver at Cincinnati, 1 p.m., CBS
  • San Francisco at Seattle, 4:05 p.m., FOX
  • L.A. Rams at Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m., FOX
  • N.Y. Jets at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m., CBS
  • San Diego at Indianapolis, 4:25 p.m., CBS
  • Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 4:25 p.m., CBS
  • Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Monday

  • Atlanta at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Winless Cleveland Browns take on winless Miami Dolphins: Crowquill

0
0

Winless Cleveland Browns travel to Florida to take on the winless Miami Dolphins

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns (0-2) travel to Florida today to take on the Miami Dolphins (0-2). Both teams are winless, but the similarities stop there. One of these teams will pick up their first win. The Browns may have good reason to fear it will be the fish.

To begin with, the Browns are starting third-string quarterback Cody Kessler, while the Dolphins will start veteran Ryan Tannehill. On Thursday night against the Houston Texans, the New England Patriots proved it's possible to win starting a third-string quarterback, but that's New England not Cleveland.

Also, Miami's losses were on the road to Seattle and New England. Not quite the same as the Browns losing one on the road to a Philadelphia Eagles team with a rookie quarterback and losing one at home to a slow-starting Baltimore Ravens team.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

Cleveland Browns Pregame Scribbles: Hue Jackson's job gets harder each week -- Terry Pluto (photos)

0
0

As the injuries pile up, so do the challenges for Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson.

MIAMI, Florida -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook as they prepare to face the Miami Dolphins:

1. It seems like I keep writing that every week is a challenge for Hue Jackson and his coaching staff. Well, that's because every week probably will be exactly that. But few weeks should not be like this: Josh McCown (broken collarbone), Carl Nassib (broken hand), Corey Coleman (broken hand), kicker Patrick Murray (knee injury), Ibraheim Campbell (hamstring). Making it worse, Coleman and Murray were hurt in practice.

2. On the surface, it seems the Browns should be blown out in this game. Jackson is starting a rookie quarterback (Cody Kessler). He is without his best receiver (Coleman). Other guys are hurt, etc. And they are on the road. Miami is 0-2, but the losses are to Seattle and New England -- two very good teams.
Jackson will have to work hard to keep this game from being a mess.

3. In the first two games, the Browns threw 59 passes, and 30 went to two receivers. Terrelle Pryor (17) and Corey Coleman (13) have been the favorite targets.

4. Pryor has caught 6-of-17 passes thrown to him. He has mostly been a deep threat, and some of those passes in his direction were way off the mark. With rookie Kessler starting at quarterback, will the Browns spread the ball around more? Veteran Andrew Hawkins is starting in place of Coleman. Rookie Rashard Higgins could be the first man coming off the bench when the Browns use three receivers.

5. I liked Higgins in minicamps and during some of the preseason. I think he can be a productive possession receiver. Maybe we'll see some of that in this game.

6. We all know the Browns are constantly looking for a quarterback. Miami is a team that sort of has a quarterback. It's very hard to evaluate Ryan Tannehill. He was the No. 8 pick in the 2012 draft, the same draft where Andrew Luck was the top pick and Robert Griffin III was the No. 2 pick. The Browns used the No. 3 pick on Trent Richardson, and then picked quarterback Brandon Weeden with the No. 22 pick.

7. Tannehill has started every game for Miami since joining the team. This will be his 67th start. His career record is 29-37. In this age of quarterbacks being injured, durability certainly is valued. Tannehill is durable. He also is athletic, as he's a former college receiver who converted to quarterback. He can run the ball, but is wise to stay away from big hits.

8. Tannehill has some pretty good career stats: 89 TD passes compared to 56 interceptions. His career QB rating is 85.3. Those numbers look like a quarterback who should have a winning record. But he doesn't. Here are his records: 7-9, 8-8, 8-8, 6-10, 0-2.

9. The Dolphins have been asking if Tannehill is the problem, or is it something else? Adam Gase is his third coach in five seasons. The former Denver offensive coordinator turned down a chance to interview for the Browns head coaching job in 2013. He had been calling plays for only one year, and he said he needed more experience. Gase also might have been very guarded about going to the Browns because of their lack of patience with coaches.

10. After Gase refused to interview, the Browns eventually hired Rob Chudzinski. He lasted only one season (2013). Then came Mike Pettine (2014 and 15) and now Hue Jackson. Gase is in his first season as a head coach. He has a lot of power, his contract giving him control of Miami's 53-man roster.

11. John Greco is starting at center. That led me to research the 2014 season, when starting center Alex Mack broke his leg in the fifth game. Greco started one game at center. When Greco was at center, Paul McQuistan took over at right guard and had a miserable game. So Greco returned to his natural right guard spot.

12. The Browns ended up using four players at center in 2014: Nick McDonald, Ryan Seymour, Mack and Greco. That led former general manager Ray Farmer to draft Cameron Erving with the 19th pick in 2015. Farmer feared Mack would leave as a free agent after the 2015 season, which did happen. He hoped Erving could not only play center, but also every other spot on the line. That didn't work out.

13. Erving is out with a bruised lung. He could be sidelined for a several weeks. Veteran Alvin Bailey is at right guard, Greco's old spot.

14. It's too early to know if Erving can become a starter. His problems with snapping in the shotgun are ... well ... problematical. In other words, it makes some people with the Browns nervous. So Erving not only has to get healthy, he needs to find his confidence as the center.

15. Miami has no running game so far. Tannehill (52 yards, 11 carries) is the team's leading rusher. Starter Arian Foster is out. They will play Jay Ajayi as the starting running back. Foster and Ayaji have only 66 yards rushing in 21 carries.

16. My prediction: Miami 27, Browns 13. My record is 1-1.

Cleveland Indians fall flat against Chicago White Sox in 8-1 loss; magic number is 2

0
0

The Indians set a team record by using 24 players in a nine-inning game. It wasn't enough. Their magic number remains two. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are going to need some assistance if they are to capture the American League Central crown in front of their home crowd.

The Royals offered a hand on Saturday afternoon, when they tamed the Tigers with a ninth-inning rally. That trimmed the Indians' magic number to two. The much-ballyhooed digit didn't decrease any more on Saturday night, as the Indians dropped an 8-1 decision to the White Sox.

For the Indians to wrap up the division title -- the club's first in nine years -- at Progressive Field, they will need a victory in Sunday's series finale, in addition to another Detroit defeat. Otherwise, the Indians will have to attempt to secure the AL Central on their regular season-ending road swing through Detroit and Kansas City.

Soon enough, the Indians should be able to reduce their starting rotation to three or four hurlers. Another bullpen day didn't produce the results the Indians had desired.

Cleveland used eight pitchers, starting with Cody Anderson and ending with Adam Plutko, who made his major-league debut. Anderson lasted only two innings. The White Sox attained a 2-0 advantage just three hitters into the game. Chicago tacked on a run in the fifth against Perci Garner and another in the sixth, when Todd Frazier launched a 428-foot homer to left off of Shawn Armstrong.

Austin Adams surrendered four runs (three earned) in the eighth to make Chicago's lead insurmountable.

The Indians couldn't quite solve White Sox southpaw Jose Quintana, who limited the Tribe to one run on six hits over six frames. Cleveland packed the bags in the first, but Carlos Santana grounded into a double play. The Indians squeezed one run out of another bases-loaded situation in the second. Brandon Guyer reached third base with one out in the fourth, but Quintana retired Coco Crisp and Roberto Perez to escape harm.

By the end of the evening, Terry Francona had inserted Chris Gimenez at third base, Jesus Aguilar at first, Adam Moore behind the plate and Erik Gonzalez and Michael Martinez in the middle infield.

The Indians set a team record by using 24 of their 35 available players -- Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco not included -- in a nine-inning game. They used 23 players on May 3, 1952, and April 26, 1921.

What it means

The Indians are 6-2 on their nine-game homestand, which concludes Sunday. They own a 53-27 mark at Progressive Field. With a win on Sunday, they would match their franchise record for victories at home in a season. In 1995, the Indians compiled a 54-18 mark in Cleveland.

Whiffs aplenty

Tribe pitchers tallied 15 strikeouts and issued only one walk. White Sox catcher Alex Avila went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. 

Another bruise

Guyer was hit by a pitch for the 31st time this season. White Sox closer David Robertson plunked the outfielder in the left arm in the ninth inning.

Double the trouble

Jose Ramirez notched his 45th double, the most by a switch-hitter in a season in franchise history. Ramirez and Michael Brantley are the only Tribe players in the last 10 seasons to tally 45 doubles in a season. Brantley accomplished the feat each of the last two years.

September slumber

Francisco Lindor went hitless in two at-bats. He has not collected a base hit in his last 23 at-bats.

Rare feat

Frazier became the first big leaguer to belt a home run off of Armstrong. The Tribe reliever has served up only two homers across 117 1/3 innings since the start of the 2015 season. He has split that time between Cleveland and Triple-A Columbus.

They came, they saw

An announced crowd of 32,088 watched on Fan Appreciation Night.

What's next

The Indians and White Sox will meet at Progressive Field for a 1:10 p.m. ET first pitch on Sunday. It will mark the Tribe's final regular-season home game. The Indians will send right-hander Josh Tomlin (12-8, 4.61 ERA) to the mound. Chicago will counter with southpaw Carlos Rodon (7-10, 4.29).

Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jamar Taylor provide lift in secondary: Browns notebook

0
0

Battered secondary held up until the end for the Browns in Miami.

MIAMI, Fla. -- Ryan Tannehill's first two passes were the best of times and the worst of times for the Browns depleted secondary. The first pass, which came on the second play of the game, was intercepted by Jamar Taylor, the former Dolphin that came to the Browns in a trade during April's draft. It was Taylor's first career interception. 

"It felt good," Taylor said of coming back to Miami and starting the game off with a pick. "I got to give the credit to (safety Jordan) Poyer. He actually alerted me of the play and it came my way. We knew we was going to get some today, it was just a matter of time." 

The second pass came on the fifth play of Miami's second drive, a strike to DeVante Parker from 26 yards out for the game's first touchdown. Parker beat rookie cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who also got flagged for a holding penalty on the play. The reaction on Twitter to the play after cameras caught Boddy-Calhoun walking back to the sideline? Who is that? 

Those fans would find out in the second quarter when Boddy-Calhoun intercepted a pass from Ryan Tannehill and returned it 27 yards for a score that put the Browns ahead, 10-7. He became the first player in Browns history to record an interception return for a touchdown during his first NFL game. It was a pretty unlikely play at the time, and one Boddy-Calhoun credits to a pretty unlikely person for. 

"When you get the ball in your hand," Boddy-Calhoun said, "I was watching the Tavon Austin highlight this morning and I said I want to be like him when I get the ball in my hands, so credit to him." 

Taylor has been starting on the outside all season, a job he won over veteran Tramon Williams. Boddy-Calhoun is an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota, originally signed by Jacksonville and then waived on September 3. The Browns claimed him on September 4. 

He said that he found out early in the week that he would be up for this game and that there would be significant playing time for him. 

"Since I've been here, Coach has always told me to be ready," Boddy-Calhoun said. "He's told me to be on my job, so I'm always ready to come in at any point and time." 

"I just like his style," head coach Hue Jackson said of the rookie following the game. "I liked what he did at practice and I told him he was going to have an opportunity to play. Regardless of whether we were totally healthy or not, I just saw something in practice. Our defensive coaches ... they felt the same way that I did, lets give him an opportunity to go out there." 

Since becoming a member of the Browns less than a month ago, Boddy-Calhoun said he's done everything he can to try and get up to speed on the Browns defense. 

"I've absorbed a lot working with (Jamar Taylor), working with the coaches and stuff," he said, "just trying to be in the film room every day, be in the playbook every day to learn as much as I can as fast as I can." 

All told, Boddy-Calhoun and Taylor combined on the day for five tackles, two interceptions and two passes defended. Unfortunately, the day ended on a sour note for the secondary when Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry caught a 32-yard pass from Tannehill to the Browns 11-yard line in overtime, setting up the game-winning run on the next play. 

Taylor said he got beat on a double move, "a fake bang and back out." 

"Jarvis gave me a hell of a route," he said. "He gave me a hell of a route. From how he ran his route, every time, I just got to play better eyes. He ran a hell of a route, hell of a player, much respect to him, but I put that on me for sure." 

It was a difficult way to end for a group that withstood injuries to two starters, cornerback Joe Haden and safety Ibraheim Campbell, and lost Williams late in the game. It was enough to even damper Boddy-Calhoun's big moment. 

"I'll trade in that play for a win every day of the year," Boddy-Calhoun said. "It was a good play, but I really wish we got the win today." 

Taylor felt the same way. 

"Like B-C said, I'd give that play back if we get a win." 

He's no lemon: Linebacker Corey Lemonier, another September 4 waiver claim for the Browns, recorded three tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. It was his second career sack and first as a member of the Browns. His forced fumble and recovery set up the potential game-winning kick, which Cody Parkey missed as time expired. 

Injuries: Cornerback Tramon Williams left with a shoulder injury and did not return. Defensive lineman Stephen Paea had a back injury but a team spokesman said he was fine. 

----- 

Follow me: on Twitter | on Facebook

How Browns' Terrelle Pryor was 'very mad at myself; I let my team down' in 30-24 OT loss to Dolphins

0
0

Terrelle Pryor played receiver, quarterback and even safety for the Browns, but his effort went for naught as the Browns failed to win the game in crunch time.

MIAMI, Fla. -- Terrelle Pryor played quarterback, wide receiver, and even safety for a play. He ran for a touchdown against the Dolphins, and he led all receivers with 144 yards. But after the gut-wrenching 30-24 loss in overtime, all he could think of was a catch he didn't make.

It was a short pass on third down that Byron Maxwell stripped from him near midfield with the game tied at 24 with 52 seconds left in regulation.

Never mind that Pryor had run for the TD that pulled the Browns to within 24-21 with 10:12 remaining; and caught a 40-yard pass to set up the field goal that tied it with 3:14 left.

The non-catch had him frustrated after the tough loss, one in which new kicker Cody Parkey missed the potential game-winnng kick as time expired in regulation, his third miss of the day.

"I made a couple errors today and I'm very mad at myself,'' Pryor said. "I let my team down, period. That's the only way I can put it.''

Never mind that Pryor took 14 snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat to take some of the pressure off of rookie quarterback Cody Kessler while also starting at the X receiver spot in place of Corey Coleman instead of his usual Z. Or that he went in for one play as a safety at the end of the first half. Or that he rushed four times for 21 yards, including a long gain of 15 and the 3-yard TD.

He said this week that he'd die on the field because he loves the game so much, and repeated that Sunday. Pryor knows he was almost watching this one -- and every other one -- from home.    

"Yeah, I was a quarterback, I got released four times,'' he said, his voice low. "The game was almost taken away from me. When I'm at home, it makes me want to tear up sometimes. That's why it means so much to me. I let (my teammates) down a couple times today.''

Jackson, who drafted Pryor as a quarterback in 2011 in Oakland and then gave him another shot at the position last offseason in Cincinnati, knew he could put a lot on his plate.

He was also hard on him for not coming down with that third-down catch that may have changed the outcome. As it was, linebacker Corey Lemonier strip-sacked Ryan Tannehill to set up that potential game-winning 46-yard field goal -- which Parkey pushed wide left as time expired in regulation.

But Jackson subscribes to the theory that "to whom much is given, much is required."

"(Pryor's) got to go make the play,'' said Jackson. "The guy was able to strip the ball out. He's kind of like me: he's a hothead, so I've got to tone him down. He wants to get every call from the official. Let me worry about the officials."

Instant gamer: Browns lost 30-24 to Dolphins in OT to fall to 0-3

Explained Pryor:  "I felt like I was getting held the whole game. (I dropped) the slant, a perfect pass. I kept on talking to the refs, 'This guy's holding me (Byron Maxwell).' I lost focus for that second. That's not me. I'm very dissatisfied with myself.''

That Pryor was able to to seesaw between QB and receiver was no surprise to Jackson, who convinced him to become a wideout after he cut him last year as a QB in Cincinnati.

"That's what I expect from Terrelle,''  Jackson said. "I've known Terrelle for a while. He's capable of a lot. You guys might be surprised; I'm not. He's a very talented player. His best football is still ahead of him.''

The gutsy performance blew away even left tackle Joe Thomas, who's just about seen it all in his 10 seasons. Pryor became the first NFL player to register at least three passing attempts, three rushing attempts and three receptions in the same game since Billy Kilmer did it for San Francisco in 1964.  

"It's a shame that we lost, because people will forget but that was one of the single-handed most impressive performances from a player that I've seen in awhile,'' said Thomas. "It was pretty amazing for a guy that wasn't really in the league last year.''

When Pryor wasn't throwing, catching or scoring, he was blocking downfield and sacrificing his body. After all, he also said this week he'd cut off his finger to win for the Browns.

"It's been a long journey for him, getting cut, bouncing around and wondering if his NFL career was over,'' said Thomas. "Having Hue come back and take him under his wing and embrace him and give him that chance -- you've got to give Terrelle a lot of credit. He's been completely committed to making that transition to receiver.''

Pryor, who threw a 26-yard strike to Gary Barnidge on the Browns' second drive, admitted he was a little gassed trying to wear two hats. Overall, he accounted for 200 of the Browns' 430 yards -- almost half.

'I should've put my hand up,'' he said. "There's a lot of plays I wish I could have back and let Higgy (Rashard Higgins) get in there, but they've got to pull me off this dang field. I love the game, man. It just means the world to me.''

Pryor loved that Jackson put so much on him.

"I can do it,'' he said. "I thank God every day that he gave me the ability to play so many different things and be effective. It just shows you how great a coach Hue Jackson is. Like I said, I'll die on the field for him because this guy loves the game.''

If only Pryor could kick field goals, the Browns may have pulled it out.

"If (Jackson) asked me to go play center, tackle, I'm going to work my butt off to go and do it,'' he said. "A lot of people overlook us and talk bad about us, but I feel like our team is one of the best teams in the NFL. We've just got to figure out how to win.''

Continuing to let Pryor multi-task is one way to start.


Gallery preview 

Cleveland Indians shut down by Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: DMan's Report, Game 155 (photos)

0
0

The Cleveland Indians finished with more errors (three) than hits (two) in a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Carlos Rodon allowed two singles and struck out 11 in eight innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Here is a capsule look at the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

No party in Cleveland: The Indians (90-65) remained 7.0 games ahead of the second-place Detroit Tigers (83-72) in the AL Central. 

The Indians authored a dud at the most inopportune of times, when they could have clinched the division. Their magic number was reduced to one when the Tigers lost to the Kansas City Royals, 12-9, in Detroit.

The Indians' final two series, comprising seven games, are on the road. They open a four-game set against the Tigers on Monday.

Disappointment: The White Sox have gotten 88 combined starts from talented lefties Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Rodon -- and still are just 74-81, fourth place in the AL Central.

Fizzle: The Indians won the season series against the White Sox, 11-8. But they lost the final two series, going 2-5.

The Indians lost the final two of this three-game series. They lost to Quintana, 8-1, Saturday night.

In the 8-1 defeat, they had eight hits and committed three errors. On Sunday, they managed the two hits and committed three errors.   

Not today: Rodon (8-10, 4.08 ERA) had allowed six earned runs in each of his previous two starts, including Sept. 14 vs. the Tribe.

Rodon and his power repertoire were excellent Sunday. His success was no fluke. Among the evidence: Tribe Nos. 1-2 batters, Rajai Davis and Jason Kipnis, each was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Rodon walked three. He threw 73 of 108 pitches for strikes.

The Tribe's lineup did not include regular shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is leaking oil at the plate. Lindor is hitless since the first inning against Detroit on Sept. 16.

Don't blame J.T.: Tribe righty Josh Tomlin gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked none and struck out one.

Tomlin (12-9, 4.48) has allowed three earned runs in four appearances, including three starts, in 19 1/3 innings in September.

Cody Parkey, Austin Pasztor try to move on after difficult day for both

0
0

Parkey missed the potential game-winning kick and Pasztor was flagged for five penalties.

MIAMI, Fla. -- Cody Parkey was about 75 miles north of where the Browns were scheduled to play on Sunday afternoon when he got the call that they wanted him to kick for them.

"I was in Jupiter, Florida," he said after the Browns' 30-24 loss at Hard Rock Stadium. "I just got done kicking actually. So I was basically around here."

Following the game, he probably wished he could have been seven thousand miles away.

"They brought me in to make some kicks and unfortunately I couldn't make all of them today," he said. "It really hits me hard and I wish I could've made them."

Parkey's day started with a missed 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and ended with a miss from 46 yards as time expired that could have won the game for the Browns. In between, he hit from 46 yards, hit from 48 yards, knocked a 42-yard attempt off the left upright and made a 38-yard kick to tie the game at 24.

Sunday was the first day the Browns saw Parkey kick, head coach Hue Jackson said after the game. He flew to Berea but the Browns couldn't kick him before getting on the plane and flying to Florida. Jackson said Parkey kicked for them before the game and Parkey estimated that he got 20 to 25 kicks pregame, which he called "enough."

Still, lining up for a game-winning kick the day after signing with a new team is a big ask.

"It's tough, but that's what I signed up to do," Parkey said. "So I can't make an excuse. I can't do anything about that. I've just got to go man up and make the kick."

"It's a tough deal for him," Jackson said. "But again, he didn't lose the game. I'll say that again, anybody wants to say who lost the game, just look right at me. This had nothing to do with the players and them. This is on me and I take full responsibility for it all."

"I can't have them back," Parkey said. "I can't do anything about it now. It's over. So I've just got to move on."

Tough day on the right side: It was a difficult day for right tackle Austin Pasztor, too. The fourth-year offensive lineman who won the job out of camp was flagged for five penalties on Sunday -- three holds and two false starts. That included one of each on a second quarter drive that saw the Browns with the ball first-and-10 at the Dolphins 20-yard line.

The two penalties turned a promising drive into a third-and-25 from Miami's 35-yard line and ended in a Parkey field goal.

"I was really trying to get off the snap count to get in front of (defensive end Cameron) Wake," Pasztor said of the false start. "He has great jump-off, so that was something that I saw on film and I've played him before and I knew that, so I'm trying to get the best jump I can and I guess I left early on that one."

Pasztor said on the hold he needed to do a better job of getting in front of the defender and he left himself with the choice to either hold or give up a sack.

Back to Wake. Despite a quiet start to 2016, he has 70 career sacks, including 18.5 in 2014 and 2015 combined. Miami's coaching staff has been working to keep his snaps down in order to keep the 34-year-old fresh.

"I think he's the best pass rusher I've played against," Pasztor said. "(Indianapolis' Robert) Mathis is another one that I've played that I think is a very good pass rusher, but Wake is definitely up there."

"Hey, that's the NFL," Wake said after the game. "You got to go against the best on both sides of the ball. Every time I step on the field, that's my job. Whoever I'm going against is hopefully having a bad day. I just hope that continues."

Pasztor seemed to understand that reality after the game.

"Obviously it's a difficult challenge, but that's what you want as a professional athlete, right? You want to play against the best," Pasztor said. "You want to be put in the toughest situation and, ultimately, come out on top and today I didn't do that."

Pasztor said that, in the end, he has to get into better position so that it doesn't come down to making the decision between getting a penalty or getting his quarterback hit.

"For me, I'm focused on getting better," he said, "getting to the position where I'm winning the pass block and it's not between a hold or a sack."

-----

Follow me: on Twitter | on Facebook


Cody Kessler 'amazingly unflappable' despite 'not feeling great' in 30-24 OT loss to Dolphins

0
0

Cody Kessler drew praise from his teammates and coaches for how poised and tough he was in his NFL debut against the Dolphins.

MIAMI, Fla. -- Browns coach Hue Jackson stopped by Cody Kessler's locker after Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Dolphins and asked if the rookie was alright.

"Yes sir,'' Kessler responded.

Kessler, who dressed slowly, had his leg wrapped after coming up limping and grabbing it after a fourth-quarter incompletion. His arm was bruised and bleeding after a crushing hit by Cameron Wake. He was also checked on the sidelines for a concussion late in the game, but it was actually his right arm that was bothering him at the time.

"He got pummeled a few times, and he kept getting up,'' Jackson said. "He could have sat himself on the bench, because I don't think he was feeling great, but he fought. He made some key throws and he stood in there. Every player on our team came out here fighting, trying to do everything they could to win. It just didn't go our way."

Kessler, hit six times according to the stats, admitted he didn't want to come out for the concussion check after the blast by Wake, who was too much for Austin Pasztor to handle by himself.

"I laid there for a second and was kind of just holding my arm,'' he said. "The referee said 'you've got to come out and get checked real fast.' Obviously I didn't want to. I told them it was my arm. I took a shot and it started bleeding a little bit. I wanted to stay in there and keep competing.''

Terrelle Pryor: 'I let my team down'

While Kessler was being tested, Pryor ran 3 yards for a TD out of the wildcat, one of his 14 snaps as Kessler's QB helper. The scored pulled the Browns to within 24-19, and the Kessler ran back out on the field just in time to hit Gary Barnidge with the two-point pass that made it 24-21.

But after having lost Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown to fractured left shoulders in each of the first two weeks, Kessler's sore arm raised a red flag.

"I'm fine,'' he said. "Just a little bruise."

Despite the beating, Kessler passed his first NFL test after Jackson asked folks to trust him on draft day for reaching for the unheralded QB in the third round.

"He was amazingly unflappable in the huddle,'' said left tackle Joe Thomas. "It was very impressive. Obviously a guy that didn't expect to play at all this season going in there, on the road in a very loud environment, playing with as much poise and composure as he did, he surprised a lot of people. He impressed a lot of people including myself.

The encouraging performance came while Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, whom the Browns passed on at No. 2, was lighting up the Steelers in a surprising 34-3 route. Wentz threw for 300 yards and two TDs, earning a 125.9 rating. He also set the NFL record for most passes without an interception to start a career.

So it was good for the Browns -- and for Jackson -- that Kessler made plays against the Dolphins' star-studded front, completing 21 of 33 attempts for 244 yards. He had no TDs or interceptions, and earned a 85.9 rating. 

It began horribly, with Kessler getting strip-sacked on his opening drive, but he settled down and had the Browns in position to win in regulation. Unfortunately for the Browns, new kicker Cody Parkey, who signed on Saturday and practiced with the team for the first time in pre-game warmups, missed the potential gamewinning kick as time expired in regulation.

"(Kessler) had some moments that we wish we had back, but he also did some good things,'' said Jackson. "That was his first experience and it's tough. He's trying to play quarterback, the hardest position in all of the world, away from home, against a very hostile defense that's after you. He held his own, but I have to coach him better.''

Struggling with crowd noise, Kessler had opening drive he'd like to forget: a delay of game, a fumbled snap that he recovered and then the strip-sack by Wake who stormed by Pasztor. The lost fumble spoiled Jamar Taylor's pick of Ryan Tannehill on the second play from scrimmage.

"That first series kind of woke me up a little bit and got me going and knocked the nerves out of me,'' Kessler said. "From then on, we did a good job of putting some long drives together offensively."

He went on to complete some nice passes, including two of 25 yards to Pryor and one of 28 yards to Ricardo Louis. But Pasztor couldn't handle Wake and was penalized five times, two on false starts and two on holds, which thwarted drives.

Kessler also had to endure three missed field goals by Parkey, including the potential gamewinner. The Browns tied it 24-24 after being down 24-13 in the fourth.

 "I was just trying to stay positive on the sideline and keep the guys going,'' said Kessler. "We made a great effort to come back and give ourselves a chance there at the end. It's tough. It hurts to lose. I hate losing. I know these guys hate losing, but coach Jackson told us after that he loved our fight and he loved that guys kept going all the way till the end."

Kessler's performance won over the locker room.

"It wasn't too big for him,'' said receiver Andrew Hawkins. "He didn't come off like a rookie, he wasn't in the huddle acting like a rookie. He wasn't timid, he wasn't nervous, he wasn't scared. Kessler came in there with all the poise of a veteran. All he kept saying was, 'We're going to win this football game' and he fought his tail off. He got hit a couple times, he was hurting a little bit, but it didn't slow him down at all. My hat's off to him.''

Kessler, who played in a pro-style offense at USC, acknowledged that not much caught him by surprise.

"I spent countless hours all week preparing and getting ready,'' he said. "I wanted to have no hesitation in the game. I've got to do a better job getting in and out of the huddle and speeding up a little bit to give us more time in the play clock to change protection.''

Kessler's one drive in OT started at his 9 and was spoiled by a sack and a holding call on back-to-back plays. They punted from the 13.

"I just wish at the end there we would've put a drive together and gave ourselves a chance in overtime,'' he said.

Now, if he just feels okay when he Wakes up.

Gallery preview 

Golf legend Arnold 'The King' Palmer dies at age 87

0
0

Arnold Palmer, one of golf's greatest ambassadors, died on Sunday.

Arnold Palmer brought a country club sport to the masses with a hard-charging style, charisma and a commoner's touch. At ease with both presidents and the golfing public, and on a first-name basis with both, "The King" died Sunday in Pittsburgh. He was 87.

Alastair Johnston, CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, confirmed that Palmer died Sunday afternoon of complications from heart problems. Johnston said Palmer was admitted to the UPMC Hospital on Thursday for some cardiovascular work and weakened over the last few days.

"Today marks the passing of an era," said Johnston, Palmer's longtime agent at IMG. "Arnold Palmer's influence, profile and achievements spread far beyond the game of golf. He was an iconic American who treated people with respect and warmth, and built a unique legacy through his ability to engage with fans."

Palmer ranked among the most important figures in golf history , and it went well beyond his seven major championships and 62 PGA Tour wins. His good looks, devilish grin and go-for-broke manner made the elite sport appealing to one and all. And it helped that he arrived about the same time as television moved into most households, a perfect fit that sent golf to unprecedented popularity.

"If it wasn't for Arnold, golf wouldn't be as popular as it is now," Tiger Woods said in 2004 when Palmer played in his last Masters. "He's the one who basically brought it to the forefront on TV. If it wasn't for him and his excitement, his flair, the way he played, golf probably would not have had that type of excitement.

"And that's why he's the king."

Beyond his golf, Palmer was a pioneer in sports marketing, paving the way for scores of other athletes to reap in millions from endorsements. Some four decades after his last PGA Tour win, he ranked among the highest-earners in golf.

"It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern-day PGA Tour without Arnold Palmer. There would be no PGA Tour Champions without Arnold Palmer. There would be no Golf Channel without Arnold Palmer," PGA Tour Commisioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

"No one has had a greater impact on those who play our great sport or who are touched by it. It has been said many times over in so many ways, but beyond his immense talent, Arnold transcended our sport with an extraordinarily appealing personality and genuineness that connected with millions, truly making him a champion of the people."

On the golf course, Palmer was an icon not for how often he won, but the way he did it.

He would hitch up his pants, drop a cigarette and attack the flags. With powerful hands wrapped around the golf club, Palmer would slash at the ball with all of his might, then twist that muscular neck and squint to see where it went.

"When he hits the ball, the earth shakes," Gene Littler once said.

Palmer rallied from seven shots behind to win a U.S. Open. He blew a seven-shot lead on the back nine to lose a U.S. Open.

He was never dull.

"I'm pleased that I was able to do what I did from a golfing standpoint," Palmer said in 2008, two years after he played in his last official tournament. "I would like to think that I left them more than just that."

He left behind a gallery known as "Arnie's Army," which began at Augusta National with a small group of soldiers from nearby Fort Gordon, and grew to include a legion of fans from every corner of the globe.

Palmer stopped playing the Masters in 2004 and hit the ceremonial tee shot every year until 2016, when age began to take a toll and he struggled with his balance.

It was Palmer who gave golf the modern version of the Grand Slam -- winning all four professional majors in one year. He came up with the idea after winning the Masters and U.S. Open in 1960. Palmer was runner-up at the British Open, later calling it one of the biggest disappointments of his career. But his appearance alone invigorated the British Open, which Americans had been ignoring for years.

Palmer never won the PGA Championship, one major short of capturing a career Grand Slam.

But then, standard he set went beyond trophies. It was the way he treated people, looking everyone in the eye with a smile and a wink. He signed every autograph, making sure it was legible. He made every fan feel like an old friend.

Palmer never like being referred to as "The King," but the name stuck.

"It was back in the early '60s. I was playing pretty good, winning a lot of tournaments, and someone gave a speech and referred to me as 'The King,'" Palmer said in a November 2011 interview with The Associated Press.

"I don't bask in it. I don't relish it. I tried for a long time to stop that and," he said, pausing to shrug, "there was no point."

Palmer played at least one PGA Tour event every season for 52 consecutive years, ending with the 2004 Masters. He spearheaded the growth of the 50-and-older Champions Tour, winning 10 times and drawing some of the biggest crowds.

He was equally successful off with golf course design, a wine collection, and apparel that included his famous logo of an umbrella. He bought the Bay Hill Club & Lodge upon making his winter home in Orlando, Florida, and in 2007 the PGA Tour changed the name of the tournament to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The combination of iced tea and lemonade is known as an "Arnold Palmer." Padraig Harrington recalls eating in an Italian restaurant in Miami when he heard a customer order one.

"Think about it," Harrington said. "You don't go up there and order a 'Tiger Woods' at the bar. You can go up there and order an 'Arnold Palmer' in this country and the barman -- he was a young man -- knew what the drink was. That's in a league of your own."

Palmer was born Sept. 10, 1929 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four children. His father, Deacon, became the greenskeeper at Latrobe Country Club in 1921 and the club pro in 1933.

He had two loves as a boy -- strapping on his holster with toy guns to play "Cowboys and Indians," and playing golf. It was on the golf course that Palmer grew to become so strong, with barrel arms and hands of iron.

"When I was 6 years old, my father put me on a steel-wheeled tractor," he recalled in a 2011 interview with the AP. "I had to stand up to turn the wheel. That's one thing made me strong. The other thing was I pushed mowers. In those days, there were no motors on anything except the tractor. The mowers to cut greens with, you pushed.

"And it was this," he said, patting his arms, "that made it go."

Palmer joined the PGA Tour in 1955 and won the Canadian Open for the first of his 62 titles. He went on to win four green jackets at Augusta National, along with the British Open in 1961 and 1962 and the U.S. Open in 1960, perhaps the most memorable of his seven majors.

Nothing defined Palmer like that 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills. He was seven shots behind going into the final round when he ran into Bob Drum, a Pittsburgh sports writer. Palmer asked if he could still win by shooting 65, which would give him a four-day total of 280. Drum told him that 280 "won't do you a damn bit of good."

Incensed, Palmer headed to the first tee and drove the green on the par-4 opening hole to make birdie. He birdied the next three holes, shot 65 and outlasted Ben Hogan and 20-year-old amateur Jack Nicklaus.

Palmer went head to head with Nicklaus two years later in a U.S. Open, the start of one of golf's most famous rivalries. It was one-sided. Nicklaus went on to win 18 majors and was regarded as golf's greatest champion. Palmer won two more majors after that loss, and his last PGA Tour win came in 1973 at the Bob Hope Classic.

Tom Callahan once described the difference between Nicklaus and Palmer this way: It's as though God said to Nicklaus, "You will have skills like no other," then whispered to Palmer, "But they will love you more."

"I think he brought a lot more to the game than his game," Nicklaus said in 2009. "What I mean by that is, there's no question about his record and his ability to play the game. He was very, very good at that. But he obviously brought a lot more. He brought the hitch of his pants, the flair that he brought to the game, the fans that he brought into the game."

Palmer combined power with charm, reckless abandon with graceful elegance. Golf no longer was a country club game for old men who were out of shape. He was a man's man, and he brought that spirit to the sport.

It made him a beloved figure, and brought riches long after he stopped competing.

That started with a handshake agreement with IMG founder Mark McCormack to represent Palmer in contract negotiations. Palmer's image was everywhere, from motor oil to ketchup to financial services companies. Even as late as 2011, nearly 40 years after his last PGA Tour win, Palmer was No. 3 on Golf Digest's list of top earners at $36 million a year. He trailed only Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Palmer's other love was aviation. He piloted his first aircraft in 1956, and 10 years later had a license to fly jets that now are the standard mode of transportation for so many top players, even though the majority of them are merely passengers. Palmer flew planes the way he played golf. He set a record in 1976 when he circumnavigated the globe in 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds in a Lear 36. He continued flying his Cessna Citation 10 until he failed to renew his license at age 81, just short of 20,000 hours in the cockpit.

Through it all, he touched more people than he could possibly remember, though he sure tried. When asked about the fans he attracted at Augusta National, Palmer once said, "Hell, I know most of them by name."

Only four other players won more PGA Tour events than Palmer -- Sam Snead, Nicklaus and Woods.

Palmer's first wife, Winnie, died in 1999. They had two daughters, and grandson Sam Saunders plays on the PGA Tour. Palmer married Kathleen (Kit) Gawthrop in 2005.

Details on a memorial service and burial will be announced later.

Palmer was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997, which was caught early. He returned to golf a few months later, winking at fans as he waded through the gallery, always a smile and a signature for them.

"I'm not interested in being a hero," Palmer said, implying that too much was made about his return from cancer. "I just want to play some golf."

That, perhaps, is his true epitaph. Palmer lived to play.

Chardon football climbs to No. 5 in Division II in cleveland.com Divisional Football Rankings for Week 6, 2016

0
0

Chardon's 49-point win against Madison helped the Hilltoppers move into the top five in the cleveland.com Division II rankings for Week 6.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Chardon football's undefeated start to the season earned the Hilltoppers the No. 5 spot in Division II in cleveland.com's Divisional Rankings after Week 5 of the 2016 season.

Chardon defeated Madison, 63-14, to improve to 5-0 and, as a result, moved up into the top five behind, in order, Cincinnati La Salle, Avon, Hudson and Warren G. Harding.


Each week, the staff of cleveland.com will rank the top ten teams in each division as well as six additional teams to watch.


For the rest of the season, all seven divisions will be listed together in one collection.


These polls also represent how cleveland.com's staff voted in the Associated Press state football polls, which can be found in each division after the teams to watch.


Here are the cleveland.com divisional rankings headed into Week 6.


DIVISION I


1. Cincinnati Colerain (5-0, Region 4)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Cincinnati Sycamore, 52-7.


This week: Friday vs. Mason.


2. Huber Heights Wayne (4-0-1, Region 3)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Clayton Northmont, 58-26.


This week: Friday at Centerville.


3. St. Edward (4-1, Region 1)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Buchtel, 42-12


This week: Saturday vs. Naperville Central (Ill.)




4. Stow (5-0, Region 1)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Nordonia, 63-28.


This week: Friday at Twinsburg.


5. Cincinnati St. Xavier (3-2, Region 4)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 21-14.


This week: Friday at Cincinnati Elder.




6. Olentangy Liberty (5-0, Region 2)


Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Pickerington North, 33-28.


This week: Friday vs. Westerville Central.


7. Upper Arlington (5-0, Region 3)


Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Pickerington Central, 35-29 (OT).


This week: Friday vs. Westland.




8. Pickerington Central (4-1, Region 3)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, lost to Upper Arlington, 35-29 (OT).


This week: Friday vs. Gahanna-Lincoln.


9. Cincinnati Elder (4-1, Region 4)


Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat University Prep (Pa.), 42-0.


This week: Friday vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier.


10. St. Ignatius (4-1, Region 1)


Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Walsh Jesuit, 30-0.


This week: Saturday at Parma.




Teams to watch (11-16)


11. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (3-2), 12. Dublin Coffman (4-1), 13. Fairfield (4-1), 14. Hilliard Bradley (5-0), 15. Solon (4-1), 16. Massillon Jackson (5-0).



DIVISION II


1. Cincinnati La Salle (3-2, Region 8)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Cincinnati Winton Woods, 20-13.


This week: Friday vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller.


2. Avon (5-0, Region 6)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Westlake, 35-21.


This week: Friday at Lakewood.




3. Hudson (4-1, Region 5)


Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat North Royalton, 31-0.


This week: Friday at Cuyahoga Falls.


4. Warren G. Harding (5-0, Region 5)


Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Youngstown Ursuline, 34-19.


This week: Friday at Ashtabula Lakeside.


5. Chardon (5-0, Region 5)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Madison, 63-14.


This week: Friday at Kenston.




6. Copley (5-0, Region 5)


Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Revere, 48-27.


This week: Friday at Tallmadge.




7. Worthington Kilbourne (4-1, Region 7)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, lost to Columbus Bishop Hartley, 45-13.


This week: Friday at Delaware Hayes.


8. Holland Springfield (5-0, Region 6)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Sylvania Southview, 57-8.


This week: Friday vs. Napoleon.


9. Uniontown Lake (4-1, Region 7)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, lost to Massillon Jackson, 23-13.


This week: Friday vs. Canton McKinley.


10. Cincinnati Turpin (5-0, Region 8)


Last week: Ranked No. 15, beat Cincinnati Walnut Hills, 20-0.


This week: Friday vs. Kings.


Teams to watch (11-16)


11. Massillon Perry (3-2), 12. Miamisburg (4-1), 13. Midview (4-1), 14. Troy (4-1), 15. Cincinnati Princeton (4-1), 16. Aurora (4-1).



DIVISION III


1. Archbishop Hoban (4-1, Region 9)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat St. Vincent-St. Mary, 24-0.


This week: Friday vs. Lake Catholic.




2. Toledo Central Catholic (5-0, Region 10)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Toledo Whitmer, 49-28.


This week: Friday vs. Fremont Ross.


3. Trotwood-Madison (4-1, Region 12)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Greenville, 44-0.


This week: Friday vs. West Carrollton.


4. Columbus St. Francis DeSales (5-0, Region 11)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Covington Catholic (KY), 49-17.


This week: Friday at Bishop Watterson.




5. New Philadelphia (4-1, Region 9)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Northwest, 26-7.


This week: Friday at Claymont.


6. Hamilton Township (3-2, Region 11)


Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Liberty Union, 43-0.


This week: Friday at Teays Valley.


7. Columbus Bexley (5-0, Region 11)


Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat West Jefferson, 52-37. 


This week: Friday vs. Madison Plains.


8. Warren Howland (3-2, Region 9)


Last week: Not ranked, beat Hubbard, 24-0.


This week: Friday vs. Youngstown East.


9. Clyde (4-1, Region 10)


Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Perkins, 23-0.


This week: Friday vs. Oak Harbor.


10. Alliance Marlington (4-1, Region 9)


Last week: Not ranked, beat Salem, 42-14.


This week: Friday vs. Louisville.




Teams to watch (teams 11-16)


11. Poland Seminary (3-2), 12. St. Vincent-St. Mary (2-3), 13. Buckeye (4-1), 14. University School (4-1) 15. Revere (3-2), 16. Columbus Bishop Watterson (2-3).


DIVISION IV


1. Steubenville (5-0, Region 15)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Dover, 57-45.


This week: Friday vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary.


2. Columbus Bishop Hartley (3-2, Region 14)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Worthington Kilbourne, 45-13.


This week: Friday at Columbus St. Charles.




3. Kettering Alter (5-0, Region 16)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Middletown Bishop Fenwick, 52-3.


This week: Friday vs. St. Bernard Roger Bacon.


4. Woodridge (5-0, Region 13)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Streetsboro, 70-0.


This week: Friday at Cloverleaf.


5. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (4-1, Region 13)


Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat Lake Catholic, 42-12.


This week: Idle.


6. Plain City Jonathan Alder (5-0, Region 14)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Galion, 43-16.


This week: Friday vs. Delaware Buckeye Valley.







35-0 at the half! #japioneerpride


A photo posted by Jonathan Alder High Scool (@jonathanalderhighschool) on





7. Johnstown-Monroe (5-0, Region 15)


Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat Granville, 45-15.


This week: Friday vs. Johnstown Northridge.


8. Cincinnati Wyoming (5-0, Region 16)


Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Cleves Taylor, 56-0.


This week: Friday vs. Mariemont.


9. Ottawa-Glandorf (5-0, Region 14)


Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Lima Shawnee, 42-0.


This week: Friday at Defiance.




10. Cincinnati Indian Hill (4-1, Region 16)


Last week: Ranked No. 12, beat Mariemont, 42-14.


This week: Friday vs. Cleves Taylor.


Teams to watch (11-16)


11. Bellevue (4-1), 12. Crestwood (4-1), 13. Dayton Dunbar (4-1), 14. Perry (5-0), 15. Clarksville Clinton-Massie (4-1), 16. Waverly (5-0).


DIVISION V


1. Coldwater (5-0, Region 20)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat St. Henry, 21-14.


This week: Friday vs. Parkway.


2. Wheelersburg (5-0, Region 19)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Jackson, 38-13.


This week: Friday at Oak Hill.



3. Milan Edison (5-0, Region 18)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Vermilion, 54-13.


This week: Friday vs. St. Mary Central Catholic.


4. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (5-0, Region 20)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Goshen, 33-15.


This week: Friday vs. Clark Montessori.


5. Sugar Creek Garaway (5-0, Region 19)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Sandy Valley, 34-27.


This week: Friday at Ridgewood.


6. Norwayne (4-1, Region 18)


Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Dalton, 55-7.


This week: Friday vs. Smithville.


7. Canton Central Catholic (2-3, Region 17)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, loss to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 24-23.


This week: Friday vs Northwest.


8. Doylestown Chippewa (4-1, Region 18)


Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat Waynedale, 49-7.


This week: Friday at Dalton.


9. Garrettsville Garfield (5-0, Region 17)


Last week: Not ranked, beat Columbiana Crestview, 41-14.


This week: Friday at Waterloo.




10. Orrville (3-2, Region 18)


Last week: Ranked No. 11, beat Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 48-14.


This week: Friday vs. Indian Valley.


Teams to watch (teams 11-16)


11. Genoa (4-1), 12. Versailles (2-3), 13. Anna (4-1), 14. Coshocton (5-0), 15. West Lafayette Ridgewood (5-0), 16. Elyria Catholic (3-2).


DIVISION VI


1. Maria Stein Marion Local (4-1, Region 24)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Versailles, 28-7.


This week: Friday at Anna.


2. Mechanicsburg (5-0, Region 24)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Triad, 49-0.


This week: Friday vs. West Liberty-Salem.


3. Kirtland (5-0, Region 21)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Berkshire, 42-0.


This week: Friday at Independence.


4. Cuyahoga Heights (5-0, Region 21)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Cardinal, 41-13.


This week: Friday vs. Richmond Heights.




5. Bucyrus Wynford (5-0, Region 22)


Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat Carey, 28-0.


This week: Friday vs. Mohawk.


6. Delphos Jefferson (4-1, Region 24)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat Paulding, 50-22.


This week: Friday vs. Bluffton.


7. Beverly Fort Frye (5-0, Region 23)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Monroe Central, 48-20.


This week: Friday vs. Frontier.


8. Hamler Patrick Henry (5-0), Region 22)


Last week: Ranked No. 8, beat Delta, 42-6.


This week: Friday vs. Archbold.


9. Defiance Ayersville (5-0, Region 22)


Last week: Ranked No. 9, beat Antwerp, 68-13.


This week: Friday at Haviland Wayne Trace.


10. Seneca East (5-0, Region 22)


Last week: Unranked, beat North Robinson Colonel Crawford, 42-28.


This week: Friday at Upper Sandusky.


Teams to watch (11-16)


11. Liberty Center (4-1), 12. Newark Catholic (4-1), 13. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1), 14. Chesapeake (5-0), 15. Lisbon David Anderson (4-1), 16. Harrod Allen East (4-1).


DIVISION VII


1. Fort Recovery (4-1, Region 28)


Last week: Ranked No. 1, beat Minster, 33-21.


This week: Friday at Versailles.


2. Mogadore (5-0, Region 25)


Last week: Ranked No. 2, beat Loudonville, 40-14.


This week: Friday at Crestwood.


3. Warren JFK (5-0, Region 25)


Last week: Ranked No. 3, beat Steubenville Catholic Central, 14-0.


This week: Friday vs. Trinity.


4. Covington (5-0, Region 28)


Last week: Ranked No. 4, beat Troy Christian, 27-26.


This week: Friday at Tri-County North.



5. McComb (4-1, Region 26)


Last week: Ranked No. 5, beat Arlington, 44-14.


This week: Friday at Leipsic.


6. Norwalk St. Paul (5-0, Region 25)


Last week: Ranked No. 6, beat New London, 56-0.


This week: Friday at Plymouth.


7. DeGraff Riverside (4-1, Region 28)


Last week: Ranked No. 7, beat Ridgemont, 63-6.


This week: Friday at Sidney Lehman Catholic.


8. Monroeville (5-0, Region 25)


Last week: Ranked No. 10, beat Ashland Mapleton, 33-28.


This week: Friday vs. South Central.




9. Lucas (4-1, Region 26)


Last week: Ranked No. 14, beat Waterloo, 28-14.


This week: Friday at Loudonville.


10. Miami Valley Christian Academy (4-1, Region 28)


Last week: Ranked No. 15, beat Clermont Northeastern, 29-24.


This week: Friday at Fayetteville.


Teams to watch (11-16)


11. Troy Christian (4-1), 12. Jackson-Milton (4-1), 13. Shadyside (5-0), 14. Convoy Crestview (4-1), 15. Toronto (4-1), 16. Delphos St. John's (3-2).

Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers series preview, pitching matchups

0
0

The Indians open their final regular season series at Comerica Park againt the Tigers on Nonday night with a chance to clinch the AL Central title.

DETROIT -- Here is the preview and pitching matchups for the Indians' series against the Tigers.

Where/when: Comerica Park, Monday through Thursday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching probables: RHP Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.11) vs. RHP Buck Farmer (0-0, 4.07) Monday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Mike Clevinger (2-2, 4.65) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.21) Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26) vs. RHP Michael Fulmer (11-7, 2.95) Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. and undecided vs. LHP Daniel Norris (3-2. 3.59) Thursday at 1:10 p.m.

Monday: Kluber is 10-1 in his last 11 decisions. He's 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA against Detroit this season. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .467 (21-for-45) with five homers and 10 RBI against him.

Farmer will be making his first big league start of the season. He's made two relief appearances against the Tribe this year. Francisco Lindor is 2-for-3 against him.

Tuesday: Clevinger has thrown three straight no-decisions, posting a 2.77 ERA. He's made one relief appearance against Detroit this year, throwing two scoreless innings.

Justin Verlander is 0-4 with a 6.46 ERA in four starts against the Indians this year. On Sept. 17, however, he threw seven scoreless innings against them. Mike Napoli is hitting .289 (11-for-38) with three homers and eight RBI against Verlander.

Wednesday: Bauer is 3-2 in his last five starts. He's 2-1 against the Tigers this year, hitting three batters in his last start against them on Sept. 18. Ian Kinsler is hitting .292 (7-for-24) with one homer and three RBI against Bauer.

Fulmer is 2-5 on his last seven decisions. He is 1-2 with a 6.7 ERA against the Indians. Napoli is hitting .500 (4-for-8) with two homers and seven RBI.

Thursday: The Indians have not announced a starter for Thursday. Norris is 2-0 in his last six starts, with the latest victory coming against the Indians on Sept. 18. Carlos Santana is hitting .600 (3-for-5) against Norris.

Series: The Indians lead the Tigers, 13-2, this season. The Tigers lead, 1,110-1,070, overall.

Team updates: The Tigers, trying to claim one of the wild card spots, has won five of the last seven games. The Indians, trying to clinch the AL Central, finished their last homestand of the season with 6-3 record. Their magic number to eliminate the Tigers and clinch the AL Central outright is one.

Players to watch: Detroit center fielder Cameron Maybin has hit safely in 42 of his 48 games at Comerica Park this season. Kluber ranks third in the AL with 214 strikeouts.

Injuries: Tigers - 3B Nick Castellanos (left hand) and RHP Drew Verhagen (right shoulder thoracic outlet syndrome) are on the disabled list. Indians - C Yan Gomes (right shoulder, right hand) and LF Michael Brantley (right shoulder) are on the disabled list. RHP Carlos Carrasco (right hand) and RHP Danny Salazar (right flexor muscle) are out for the season.

Next: The Indians end the regular season with a three-game series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night.

Arnold Palmer, who transformed golf as a spectator sport, dies at 87: Bill Livingston

0
0

Arnold Palmer wasn't the greatest golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus was. But Arnie was the most beloved. That matters.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- His golf ball rested in a barranca alongside a fairway at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, and as Arnold Palmer stood over it, he glanced up and saw the renowned sports columnist Jim Murray peering down at him from the gully's edge.

"You're always talking about Ben Hogan," said Palmer. "What would Hogan hit from here?"

"Hogan," said Murray "wouldn't be there."

He changed the game

Palmer, who died Sunday at the age of 87, was the son of a greens keeper, who gave the exclusive country club game a populist appeal. He hit it where his fans hit it, but he somehow made up for it, either by staring down a must-have putt with his knock-kneed stance or recouping the lost shot with a binge of birdies before the round was over.

"Charge" was a word for cavalry buglers until Palmer made it a golf term.

A Cleveland connection

Players such as Benedictine's Tom Weiskopf had a swing that could have been in an instruction manual. Palmer slashed wickedly at the ball, by contrast, then cocked his head to one side to watch its mighty and occasionally misguided trajectory.

Palmer, in fact, had a Cleveland connection of his own. He really found his life's work while stationed in Cleveland as a member of the Coast Guard, winning two Ohio Amateurs and then setting off for the PGA Tour, there to put the wonder in the wonderful world of golf.

The most beloved

He was daring and brawny, the "Latrobe strong boy," as the nickname of his younger days went, and he played a dashing game at odds with the cold brilliance of Hogan or the power and cunning, always leavened by prudent conservatism, of Jack Nicklaus.

Palmer was known as the "King" for the riches he brought to the golf tour, but he was also simply known as Arnie. Fans thought of him as one of the boys.

He played impulsively, boldly, the way Phil Mickelson did, while swinging from the other side of the ball. Palmer won tournaments he should have lost and lost others he should have won. 

Nicklaus was the greatest player ever, no question. Palmer was the most beloved ever, equally beyond question.

An Army on the march

In the roars of triumph from "Arnie's Army" hallooing through the pines at Augusta National at the start of the '60s to the groans of shock a year later when he double-bogeyed the final hole and lost his chance to be the first to repeat at the Masters, Palmer made golf a sport of sight and sound, sensation and sorrow and spectacle.

In the 1960 Masters, as golf was becoming a television presence nationwide, he  had birdied the two closing holes to win by a stroke.

He followed that with the 1960 Open, coming from seven shots behind in the final round of the 36-hole marathon that was known as Open Saturday.

Then he revitalized the British Open, which had become,a tournament for people named Nigel and Chauncey, by playing it too, although he did not win.

In 1966, he squandered a seven-shot lead on the final nine holes of the U.S. Open at Olympic in San Francisco, foolishly going for the scoring record instead of the victory first and foremost, and then lost to Billy Casper in a Monday playoff.

All glory is fleeting

He won seven majors (four Masters, two British Opens, one U.S. Open), and they all took place from 1958-64. Nicklaus beat him in his own backyard at Oakmont outside Pittsburgh in a playoff for the 1962 Open, signaling a changing of the guard.

It would have been sad, Palmer always chasing his past, never quite able to re-strike the match, except for the palpable joy he took in simply playing golf and the connection he kept with the fans long after the candle had guttered.

One remembers a Masters in the twilight of Palmer's competitive career, when he really couldn't play to that standard anymore, and how genuinely the spectators, the marshals, even the writers wanted him to have a round that would serve as a bright valedictory, such as when Hogan shot 66 at the Masters at the age of 54 in 1967.

"How's ol' Arnie doing?" a sports writing friend asked a marshal holding the gallery ropes on the ninth hole one year at Augusta National.

"Ol' Arnie'd be doing a sight better if he could keep it between the strings," the marshal said.

But  love remains

His farewell was rather from the hearts from those who saw him play, not from the leaderboard that recorded how he did. It came on Palmer's farewell appearance at the U.S. Open, again at Oakmont, in 1994.

Choking up in his remarks after he missed the cut again, Palmer sat mutely at the dais in the interview room while a roomful of reporters and columnists, the hell with objectivity for once, rose as one and spontaneously applauded. Palmer wasn't the only one shedding tears that afternoon.

I've never seen it happen before or since in the media. No one who was there regretted it either.

It was the man's due.

Jay Tufele, a four-star DT tackle and Ohio State target, trims his list: Buckeye Breakfast

0
0

Rated the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Tufele is expected to take an official visit to Ohio State, but the date hasn't been finalized.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State won't accept a verbal commitment from any 2017 prospect because room is so tight, but the Buckeyes would find a place for four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele of South Jordan (Utah) Bingham. 

And the Buckeyes took a step forward in his recruitment on Sunday. 

That's because the 6-foot-3, 297-pound prospect trimmed his list of schools to seven and Ohio State made the cut along with USC, Washington, Utah, BYU, Michigan and UCLA. 

"First off, I would like to thank every college coach that has given me an opportunity to attend their University," Tufele wrote on his Twitter account. "It has truly been a blessing but after long talks with my family I have decided to cut my list to seven.

"These seven schools are the schools that I know will most benefit me, not only as a student but a student-athlete and (in) life after football."

Rated the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Tufele is expected to take an official visit to Ohio State, but the date hasn't been finalized. 

Follow along with our coverage all week for Ohio State's upcoming home game vs. Rutgers. 

Below is some of our coverage from the open weekend:

Les Miles fired at LSU: Does that change things for Ohio State's pursuit of five-star LB Dylan Moses?

Ohio State Buckeyes No. 2 in this week's AP football Top 25 poll

Week 5 AP college football poll: Bill Landis ballot

Ohio State football: Who has been the Buckeyes defensive MVP through three games?

Ohio State football: Who has been the Buckeyes offensive MVP through three games?

Browns DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun's pick-six: A closer look (video)

0
0

Take a closer look at the Browns' defensive touchdown, as well as reaction to the play. Watch video

MIAMI - The Browns' defense caused three turnovers in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Dolphins. One of those was in the first half and gave the Browns their first lead of the game.

The Dolphins faced third-and-3 at their own 21-yard line in the second quarter when quarterback Ryan Tannehill was pressured, resulting in a pick-six for Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

The play gave the Browns a 10-7 lead, and they carried that momentum into halftime with a 13-10 lead.

Check out the video at the top of this post for a closer look at that play, including reaction from Boddy-Calhoun and cleveland.com reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Dan Labbe.

Watch Briean Boddy-Calhoun's pick-six (video)


DeAndre Liggins' Cavs contract partially guaranteed; dialogue with J.R. Smith continues

0
0

DeAndre Liggins' two-year, $2 million contract with the Cavs is partially guaranteed, which means the team thinks he has a good chance to make its 15-man roster for Opening Night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- DeAndre Liggins, an NBA journeyman and former D-League defensive player of the year who impressed the Cavs this summer, is coming to training camp today on a partially guaranteed contract.

Liggins, 28, is a 6-6 wing from the University of Kentucky who last played in the NBA with the Heat during the 2013-14 season. He's played 57 games in three NBA seasons. Last year with Sioux Falls of the D-League he averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game.

A small portion of Liggins' two-year, roughly $2 million contract is guaranteed, a team source told cleveland.com, and the second year of the deal is a team option. The significance is Liggins is the 14th player coming to camp with at least a portion of his salary guaranteed -- it means the Cavs think he has a better chance to make their 15-man roster than the players in camp whose contracts aren't guaranteed.

The 15th spot (technically, if you're counting, it would be the fourth or fifth spot) is expected to belong to J.R. Smith, the Cavs; starting shooting guard the last two seasons who is still a free agent. Smith has been in town all weekend (he attended at least two Indians games) and the two sides have maintained dialogue on a new contract, but there was no deal as of Sunday night.

Liggins was the D-League's top defensive player in 2014; last season he was second-team all league. He joined the Cavs for the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas and averaged 5.9 points and 5.0 rebounds.

The Cavs' non-guaranteed players coming to camp are Dahntay Jones, who was on the team for its run to the Finals last season; the others are John Holland, Markel Brown, Cory Jefferson, and Eric Moreland.

Players will take physicals today and meet reporters for Media Day. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue's first practice for the 2016-17 season is Tuesday.  

Cleveland Browns Scribbles: Problems at right tackle, kicker -- Terry Pluto (photos)

0
0

Cleveland Browns right tackle Austin Pasztor was flagged for five penalties. The Browns need to make a change at that position.

MIAMI, Florida -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook after their 30-24 overtime loss to Miami.

1. The one free agent the Browns allowed to walk away who has hurt the team the most is right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Pro Bowl center Alex Mack had no intention of returning, but Schwartz was open to re-signing with the Browns. It never happened, as he went to Kansas City.

2. I bring this up because Austin Pasztor had one of the worst games by an offensive lineman -- ever. That's not a big stretch. Pasztor was flagged for three holding penalties. That's right, THREE. And he was flagged for two false starts. If you're counting, you need all five fingers to keep track of Pasztor's penalties.

3. Pasztor's five penalties cost the Browns 65 yards. He also allowed at least one sack. Several times, his man pressured quarterback Cody Kessler. I'm astounded the Browns stayed with Pasztor for the entire game. I'm not going to dwell on losing Schwartz. But I do think it's time for someone else to play right tackle, perhaps rookie Spencer Drango.

4. Heading into Sunday's loss, Profootballfocus.com rated Pastzor No. 64 out of 68 regular NFL tackles. You can say it's subjective, but Pastzor had a very rough game against Philadelphia. He allowed a sack and six QB pressures against the Eagles, according to Profootballfocus. They gave him "a clean sheet" in the game against Baltimore.

5. My thought is when a player is obviously having a terrible game on the offensive line, why not take him out? They do at other positions, including the defensive line. Pasztor's confidence was shot trying to block the quicker Dolphins -- and he made it worse with all the penalties.

6. If the Browns had Phil Dawson, would they be 2-1? I know, it's picking at an old wound. But in the 25-20 loss to Baltimore, Patrick Murray had an extra point blocked and returned for a safety. That's two points for Baltimore. Murray missed a 52-yarder. That's a tough kick, but the good kickers do connect from that distance. Special teams coach Chris Tabor said the problem was Murray, not the blocking, on the failed extra point.

7. Murray was injured in practice Friday. He was replaced by Cody Parkey, who had been working out at a local high school field. Parkey was cut in training camp by Philadelphia. In 2014, he made the Pro Bowl. But he was injured in 2015, then cut last month. He was 3-of-6 on field goals. He had no time to practice with the team because he was signed so late.

8. Coach Hue Jackson said: "I know everyone will say it came down to field goals, but I'm not going to put that kind of pressure on Cody. He just got off the plane with us."

9. All of that is true, but he missed from 41, 42, 46 yards. You miss three field goals in an overtime loss ... well ... it came down to field goals because the other units kept the game close.

10. My guess is the Browns will be shopping for another kicker. Since Dawson left, they have used five: Billy Cundiff, Travis Coons, Garrett Hartley, Parkey and Murray. Now in his fourth season with the 49ers, Dawson is 84-of-98 on field goals (85 percent). From at least 50 yards, he's 13-of-19.

11. Ray Horton's defense did a decent job, given the circumstances. They were without their best passer rusher (Carl Nassib) and best defensive back (Joe Haden) because of injuries. They picked off two passes. They also recovered a fumble. It was a sack and a recovery by linebacker Corey Lemonier, claimed on waivers by the Browns after spending three years mostly on the bench for the 49ers.

12. Playing his first NFL game, Briean Boddy-Calhoun picked off a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. The Browns claimed him on waivers from Jacksonville. Horton was playing a lot of new and inexperienced guys.

13. I was glad the Browns gave more carries to Duke Johnson. He responded with 69 yards in 10 attempts. Isaiah Crowell ran for 79 yards in 15 attempts. Add it up, and that's a big-time running back -- 148 yards in 25 carries. Hue Jackson is putting a ground game together.

14. It was rookie receiver Ricardo Louis -- not rookie Rashard Higgins -- who made some plays filling in for the injured Corey Coleman. Louis caught three passes for 40 yards. He did have a drop. Only one pass (incomplete) was thrown to Higgins.

15. Gary Barnidge became an important part of the offense, catching five passes for 66 yards. The Browns have a good tight end and should use him.

Picking Ohio Mr. Football, midseason award frontrunners: Week 6 Read and React

0
0

Archbishop Hoban's Todd Sibley, Warren Harding's Lynn Bowden and Toledo Central Catholic's Michael Warren are among some of the football favorites.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Five weeks through the season makes for a good stop to acknowledge some of the best performances.

Each year, The Associated Press hands out its Ohio Mr. Football award to the top high school player. Here’s a breakdown of the favorites for that accolade, plus area player-of-the-year standouts and more in this week’s Read and React.


Who are the Ohio Mr. Football frontrunners?


• Lynn Bowden, Warren Harding QB: The Raiders are 5-0, and Bowden has orchestrated an offense that scores no less than 34 points per game. Bowden entered the year ranked No. 8 on cleveland.com’s Big 101 player rankings. Cleveland Heights’ Jaylen Harris is the only offensive skill player rated higher who also has remained healthy. Westerville South’s Jaelen Gill, Olentangy Liberty’s Brendon White and Cincinnati St. Xavier quarterback Sean Clifford all have battled injuries, which makes Bowden an early favorite for Mr. Football. He received second-team All-Ohio honors last season.


• Michael Warren, Toledo Central Catholic RB: A Toledo commit, Warren’s latest show came Friday at Toledo Whitmer’s expense. He rushed 24 times for 219 yards and four touchdowns, playing for last year’s Division III state runner-up against a Division I playoff contender. Warren’s chances for Mr. Football increased when Holland Springfield running back Bryant Koback suffered a broken fibula and tibia Friday against Sylvania Southview, a week after he rushed for 373 yards against Perrysburg. A Kentucky commit, Koback already had 19 touchdowns through four games. Another standout running back, Trotwood-Madison’s Raveion Hargrove, missed his last two games because of a thigh bruise.


• Todd Sibley, Archbishop Hoban RB: The Pitt running back has stirred the Knights’ offensive concoction. Only a 10-7 loss to defending Division I state champion St. Edward has kept the D-III champs from a perfect record. Sibley had 144 yards rushing in that one. Not counting a blowout of Canada's Royal Imperial Collegiate, Sibley rushed for almost 600 yards against four OHSAA playoff hopefuls.


Others to note: Andrew Marty, Cincinnati Wyoming QB; Ra’Von Bonner, Cincinnati Sycamore RB.



Northeast Ohio’s top offensive player of the first half


• Jimmy Daw, Medina RB: Sibley was mentioned above, and Daw already owns the Bees’ single-season touchdowns record, which he set in Week 4 with six scores in a 52-14 win vs. Elyria. Daw didn’t enter the season with the notoriety of other running backs, but he made cleveland.com’s Big 101 list. If Medina keeps up its 5-0 pace, all of Ohio will know about Daw.


• Logan Thut, Crestwood RB: A senior running back, Thut already has 1,242 yards and 13 touchdowns for Division IV Crestwood. The Red Devils are 4-1 after a 38-34 loss Friday to Division VI darling Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas. Thut’s production gives him a nod among a talented senior running back class that includes Copley’s Michigan State commit, Weston Bridges, and Benedictine’s DeCavilon Reese.


Arshaun Wilson-Boone, Bedford QB: The Bearcats are 5-0 with this senior signal caller, who orchestrated the Bearcats to at least 32-point efforts each time. His 274 yards and four touchdowns passing Saturday in a 41-0 win at Maple Heights is the latest performance.



Others to note: Tommy Benenati, Chardon QB; Joe Gobble, Stow RB; Jaylen Harris, Cleveland Heights.



Defensive player of the first half


• Bubba Arslanian, Aurora LB: Coach Bob Mihalik called Arslanian on Friday the best player he’s coached. Arslanian doesn’t have a Division I college offer, which Mihalik thinks is because of his size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) that makes him a hidden gem at linebacker. Aurora has won four straight with this enforcer leading the way.


• Melvin Jackson, St. Edward CB: Without Jackson, the Eagles are likely 3-2 and not 4-1 with a 10-7 Week 2 win at Archbishop Hoban. The cornerback had an interception and blocked field goal, which ended Hoban’s threat. A number of Jackson’s teammates, senior defensive end Justin Herold and junior linebacker Omar Fattah, are first-team defensive candidates.


• Michael Chime, St. Ignatius DL: The senior has 19.5 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. He even returned a short punt for a touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 260-pounder is joined on a defensive renaissance by senior linebacker Adam Shibley, who has 19.5 tackles and two sacks. The Wildcats (4-1) have three shutouts and held a potent Mentor offense to seven points.


Others to note: Brandon Bischof, STVM LB; Owen Loncar, Kirtland LB; Austin Williams, Mogadore LB.



Coach of the first half


• Mike Elder, Avon: The Eagles ascended to the top of the state rankings and own signature victories against Avon Lake and Midview. After graduating quarterback Jake Sopko to Cincinnati and other standouts, this Eagles team is 5-0 via brute force. Elder said after the Midview win he likes it that way as a former lineman.


• Sean Williams, Bedford: Another 5-0 team in Division II, Bedford also graduated standouts to major colleges – running back Chawntez Moss (Pittsburgh) and all-purpose threat Cameron Odom (Ohio). Williams began inserting young players when injuries turned 2015 into a lost season, which has turned into this year's breakout. Take Saturday's 41-0 win against Maple Heights as the latest example.


• Tom Lombardo, St. Edward: This one seems to go without saying, and it’s just like last year – mostly first-year starters jump out to 4-1 start, and the Eagles again look primed to defend their Division I state crown.


Others: Dave Dlugosz, Avon Lake; Andrew Mooney, NDCL; Matt Rosati, Perry.



Northeast Ohio Top 25


No changes for the top 13 in this week’s rankings. They all won.


Check for cleveland.com’s Ohio Super 25 on Tuesday. State rankings are released Monday.


Here is how Northeast Ohio’s best stack up:


1. St. Edward (4-1), 2. Stow (5-0), 3. Archbishop Hoban (4-1), 4. St. Ignatius (4-1), 5. Avon (5-0), 6. Solon (4-1), 7. Medina (5-0), 8. Hudson (4-1), 9. Midview (4-1), 10. Bedford (5-0), 11. Avon Lake (4-1), 12. Chardon (5-0), 13. Copley (4-1), 14. Woodridge (5-0), 15. Aurora (4-1), 16. Cleveland Heights (3-2), 17. Brecksville (5-0), 18. Kirtland (5-0), 19. Perry (5-0), 20. Ellet (5-0), 21. Elyria (3-2), 22. Lorain (3-2), 23. Euclid (3-2), 24. Olmsted Falls (4-1), 25. Mentor (2-3).



Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Browns Rookie Tracker: Cody Kessler, Briean Boddy-Calhoun among new starters in Week 3

0
0

How did the Browns' rookies do in Week 3?

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are trying to identify the core of the team this season. That will mean the development of young players, including the 16 rookies on the roster.

Thirteen of them were active for Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Dolphins.

How did they do? Check out the rookie tracker below, which explains how each rookie - and first-year player - performed on Sunday.

ROOKIES

Dominique Alexander, LB: Played 23 snaps on special teams.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun, DB (starter): Was active for the first time this season due to an injury to Joe Haden. He had returned an interception for a touchdown. He had four tackles and one pass defensed in 57 snaps on defense. Also played 12 snaps on special teams.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun's pick-6: A closer look

Seth DeValve, TE: Played three snaps on offense, including the Browns' 2-point conversion late in the game, when he lined up at receiver. Also played five snaps on special teams.  

Spencer Drango, OL: After getting offensive snaps as an extra lineman the past two weeks, he only played seven snaps on special teams Sunday.

Rashard Higgins, WR: With Corey Coleman out with injury, Higgins' offensive snaps roughly doubled to 18, but he was targeted just once and didn't have a catch. He also had six special teams snaps.

Tyrone Holmes, DE: Active for the second straight week, he was on defense for 14 snaps. Although he didn't' have a tackle, his pressure from the edge helped lead to Boddy-Calhoun's pick-six.

Tracy Howard, LB: Saw his playing time increase due to Haden's injury, getting 22 snaps on defense, where he had one tackle. He had 19 snaps on special teams, including two kickoff returns for 30 yards, with a long of 17.

Cody Kessler, QB (starter): Rebounded from two fumbles on his opening drive to finish 21-of-33 passing for 244 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions. He threw a 2-point conversion pass to Gary Barnidge. 

Cody Kessler unflappable vs. Dolphins

Derrick Kindred, SS (starter): With Ibraheim Campbell sidelined by injury, Kindred started and got 66 snaps on defense. He had four tackles.

Ricardo Louis, WR (starter): Played 51 snaps on offense, finishing with three catches (four targets) for 40 yards, including a 28-yarder that set up the Browns' only offensive touchdown.

Emmanuel Ogbah, LB (starter): Played 57 snaps on defense and finished with three tackles, including one for loss, and a pass defensed.

Jordan Payton, WR: Was active for the first time this season, and got three snaps on offense, but wasn't targeted in the passing game.

Joe Schobert, LB: Previously a starter, Schobert played 14 snaps on defense and 17 on special teams. He didn't have a tackle.  

FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS

George Atkinson III, RB: Played 18 snaps on special teams, returning one kickoff 21 yards.

Randall Telfer, TE: Played 23 snaps on offense, primarily as a blocker.

INACTIVE ROOKIES

Corey Coleman, WR (injury)

Shon Coleman, OL

Carl Nassib, DE (injury)

Cleveland Indians will have to clinch AL Central on road after 3-0 loss to White Sox

0
0

If the Indians are to clinch the AL Central championship, they'll have to do it on the road after losing their final regular season home game to Chicago on Sunday at Progressive Field. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Left-hander Carlos Rodon and the White Sox have played the role of spoiler well when it comes to the Indians.

The Indians had a chance to clinch the AL Central with a victory over the White Sox in their final home game of the regular season. The White Sox took that possibility out of their hands by beating them, 3-0, at Progressive Field.

For the Indians to clinch, they not only needed to win Sunday, but have Kansas City beat the Tigers. Following the Tribe's loss, the Royals did just that, but the Indians didn't hold up their end of the bargain.

Detroit's loss did reduce the Indians' magic number to one, giving them a chance to clinch Monday night when they open a four-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Indians have clinched at least a tie for the AL Central title. The Tribe and Tigers each have seven games left. If the Indians lost seven and the Tigers won seven, the two would meet in a one-game playoff at Progressive Field.

"I would say we'd rather clinch here than have to fight and do it on the road," said Josh Tomlin, who pitched well in defeat. "We've got to get on the road and get this thing done."

Chicago, starting on Sept. 12, beat the Indians five times in the final seven games between the teams. The Indians still won the season series, 11-8, and are 45-24 in the division.

The Indians beat Rodon (8-10, 4.08 ERA) the last time they faced him, but they couldn't touch him Sunday. He held them scoreless on two hits with 11 strikeouts over eight innings. Rodon is 3-0 in his career at Progressive Field and 4-1 overall against the Tribe.

"Rodon is a young pitcher who is getting better," said manager Terry Francona. "His off speed is better. His delivery is smoothing out. Like a lot of young pitcher with talent, you're seeing him gain experience. He's pretty good."

As for missing an opportunity to clinch at home, Francona said, "I'm aware ( that we could have clinched), but we lost. The itinerary says we go to Detroit. We go where they tell us and play who they tell us and try to win."

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a Carlos Sanchez single to left with two out. Todd Frazier scored from second as Coco Crisp made an offline throw home from left field.

Frazier opened the inning with a single to center. Tomlin retired the next two batters, but Frazier stole second with Sanchez at the plate. It was just the fourth stolen base attempted this year with Tomlin on the mound.

The Indians missed a great chance to tie or take the lead in the fifth.

Brandon Guyer hit a leadoff single to center against Rodon. He took second on a passed ball and Crisp walked. 

Catcher Chris Gimemez advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Michael Martinez and Rajai Davis couldn't get the runs home. Martinez, starting for slumping shortstop Francisco Lindor, hit a fly ball to right that wasn't deep enough to score Guyer. Rodon ended the threat by striking out Davis.

Chicago stretched the lead to 2-0 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Sanchez. An astute move by manager Robin Ventura helped.

Justin Morneau started the inning by reaching on an error by Martinez. He took second on a single by Avisail Garcia and third on an infield hit Omar Narvaez. Ventura, with the based loaded, inserted former J.B. Shuck as a pinch-runner for the slow-footed Morneau.

On cue, Sanchez sent a fly ball into wind-swept center field. Davis charged the ball, caught it and made a high throw home. Gimenez caught it to the right of the plate and dove at the sliding Shuck.

Gimenez made the tag, but Shuck's shoulder knocked to ball out of his glove as it sailed all the way to first base.

That was it was Tomlin. He (12-9, 4.48) allowed two runs, one earned, in 6 2/3 innings. In the last three games, he's allowed three earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.

"Josh's stuff has late movement and it was crisp," said Francona. "I thought he was tremendous. We've bumped him up each time -- 72 pitches, 84 pitches and 94 -- and he's holding his stuff."

Chicago added an insurance run in the ninth on a two-out single by Narvaez off Zach McAllister.

Closer David Robertson completed the two-hitter by retiring the Indians in order in the ninth for his 36th save.

What it means

Despite Sunday's loss, the Indians still had a chance to secure a playoff spot if Toronto and Baltimore lost on Sunday.

That did not happen as Toronto beat the Yankees and Baltimore beat Arizona.

The pitches

Tomlin threw 94 pitches, 70 (74 percent) for strikes. Rodon threw 108 pitches, 73 (68 percent) for strikes.

Thanks for coming

The White Sox and Indians drew 24,118 fans to Progressive Field on Sunday. The Indians finished the season with an attendance of 1,591,667 in 81 home dates. It was an increase of 202,262 from last season.

First pitch was at 1:11 p.m. with a temperature of 70 degrees.

What's next?

The Indians and Tigers open a four-game series at Comerica Park on Monday night with Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.11) facing Detroit right-hander Buck Farmer (0-0, 4.07) at 7:10. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images