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Submit your high school football video highlights for cleveland.com's Top Play of the Week contest for OHSAA region quarterfinals

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The high school sports staff at cleveland.com wants your videos of the best football plays you record.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The high school sports staff at cleveland.com wants your videos of the best football plays you record for possible inclusion in the Top Play of the Week contest for the OHSAA state football region semifinals.

Top Play of the Week is a video contest to showcase the best runs, catches, defensive plays -- you name it -- from across Northeast Ohio. The contest began last season and featured about a dozen plays each week. Check out cleveland.com's high school sports video page on YouTube.


We welcome video nominations sent from fans, parents, coaches off your official game tape, administrators -- anyone. Email them to us at hssports@cleveland.com.


Get video of a long kick return for a touchdown? Capture footage of a pass caught between two defenders? Please email it to us at hssports@cleveland.com.


The deadline to submit videos from Thursday and Friday games is Saturday at noon; while Saturday games have until 10 p.m.


Check back Monday to see if your play is featured in the latest Top Play of the Week contest. Readers will then have an opportunity to vote for their favorite highlight through Thursday at noon.


Check out the video at the top of this post, our highlight compilation from the first week of the OHSAA playoffs.


Cam Erving fined $9,115 for helmet toss; NFL making sure RG3 didn't break rules by throwing before Ravens game

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Cam Erving was fined $9,115 for his helmet toss, and the NFL is making sure RG3 didn't break the rules by throwing before the game. But photos by cleveland.com show him being done by 7:15.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns center Cam Erving vowed never to get ejected from a game again, and now he's got 9,115 reasons not to.

Erving was fined that amount for throwing his helmet at Cowboy's defensive lineman David Irving, who he said punched him in the face. Both players were ejected five plays into Sunday's 35-10 Cowboy's victory, and fined for unnecessary roughness.

Irving was docked the same amount as Erving, and told espn.com that he learned his lesson.

Erving vowed this week never to let it happen again.

"It was an unfortunate event,'' he said. "I acted how I feel like I was supposed to react, but I have to know as a professional I can't grab a guy's helmet and throw it.''

Erving and Irving both got off easy. Both of them could've been fined $30,387 for fighting and Erving could've lost $24,309 for "impermissible use of helmet.''

In addition, Hue Jackson, who said he's evaluating Erving as his center of the future, will maintain the status quo of the line, which struggled to protect Josh McCown in the second half. Even Joe Thomas gave up a sack/fumble to Terrell Suggs and several pressures.

"Today, do I feel we need to make an adjustment? No,'' said Jackson. "Right now we're going to leave things intact because continuity and being able to know where guys are will be the most important things for us these next six weeks."

NFL making sure Robert Griffin III broke no rules

The NFL is checking into Robert Griffin III throwing before Thursday night's game against the Ravens to make sure he didn't break any rules, but the Browns should be cleared.

Players on injured reserve are permitted to work out on the field as long as it's not within 60 minutes of the game, when official pre-game warmups are taking place. Griffin threw from about 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., according to photos and video taken by cleveland.com, and the game started at 8:25 p.m.

At least one eyewitness told profootballtalk.com, however, that Griffin was still throwing at 7:30 p.m., which would be against the rules.

"From what I know, we did not break the rules,'' Jackson said. "Obviously, until the investigation is complete, you don't know. We will wait for them to hand that down, but hopefully, everything will be alright as far as that is concerned."

The NFL has talked to the Browns, but a league spokesman told cleveland.com that a a team would only be in violation if the player warmed up inside the 60-minute window. Griffin came off the field at 7:15 after throwing passes to Jordan Payton, and spent time shaking hands and posing for photos with servicemen.

Jackson can 'take the heat' for benching Cody Kessler

Jackson has no problem with all the second-guessing for his decision to yank Kessler in the third quarter of Thursday's 28-7 loss to the Ravens with the Browns trailing only 13-7 in the third quarter.

"No, I'm OK with that,'' he said. "We all have our opinions. I did it for my reasons. As I explained last night, I will not shy away from that. At the time, it was the right decision to make for our football team because I was looking for a spark and I didn't get it. I am not going to be perfect in everything I do and I am not going to do what everybody thinks that I should do. I will take the heat. I understand how this works, and I respect that."

He also said he had a great conversation with Kessler about it Friday morning.

"Cody is in a great place,'' he said. "You guys all know, he understands the situation from last night was a tough one. He learned that this experience of a Thursday night game is tough. It's different. This was his first opportunity under the lights and our whole team's first opportunity under the lights, a kind of pressure-packed gameplan on Thursday night and a whole different process during the week than what you normally do, and it can be a little unsettling.''

He added, "it wasn't just Cody, let me say that. When I look back at it now and had a chance to watch the tape, it's an offensive unit issue. Obviously, everything that you guys know from me is driven by the quarterback. He knows that and understands that. He'll come back out here and get ready to fight against Pittsburgh."

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards: Live updates and chat Game 8

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Get the latest updates and analysis from the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 8 against the Washington Wizards.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Washington Wizards on Friday night in Game 8 of the 2016 NBA regular season.

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

Make sure to follow Vardon and Fedor on Twitter

Game 8: Cavs (6-1) vs. Wizards (2-5)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at Verizon Center.

TV/radio: FoxSports Ohio; WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM (ESP)

Cavs probable starting lineup: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Kyrie Irving.

Wizards probable starting lineup: Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat, Bradley Beal, John Wall.

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

Lorain 30, Dublin Jerome 14: See the plays that defined Titans' Division I, Region 2 semifinal win

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A 24-point third quarter led Lorain to its 10th straight victory and a spot in next week's OHSAA Division I, Region 2 football championship game.

MANSFIELD, Ohio — A 24-point third quarter led Lorain to its 10th straight victory and a spot in next week's Division I, Region 2 championship game.

Lorain senior running back Carlos Chavis rushed 21 times for 211 yards and the go-ahead touchdown to spark Lorain's comeback and 30-14 win Friday against Dublin Jerome. The Titans trailed by eight points at halftime. See how Chavis and Co. beat the Celtics in the video above, and find more highlights below that appeared on Friday Night Huddle, a weekly show produced by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and cleveland.com.


The third-seeded Titans (10-2) enjoyed another stout performance at cornerback from senior Daesean Brooks. Hear how he developed after just a year of experience.



Here's a look at Lorain's win, from a strong start for the Celtics (10-2) to the Titans' second-half flurry.


Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Jerome struck first and didn't even need two minutes to take a 7-0 lead on senior quarterback Joe Dunnan's 24-yard touchdown pass to Matt Nesbit.






Aaron Huff and the Titans answered four minutes later on a 14-yard TD run. They missed a two-point conversion attempt and trailed 7-6.






A blocked punt marked the game's first significant miscue and set up Jerome with short field position.






Dunnan took advantage, and used his feet early in the second quarter to push the Celtics' lead to 14-6. The score remained that way at halftime.






Zion Cross and the Titans began their rally with a 28-yard TD run about three minutes into the second half.






Chavis scored the tying points on a two-point conversion.






Brooks' critical pass breakup on fourth down that left him out of the game momentarily also kept the score tied.






Chavis took advantage two plays later and rumbled 75 yards to the end zone. He added another two-point conversion run for a 22-14 lead.






Quarterback Justin Sturgill provided an insurance touchdown on an 11-yard TD run. It marked Lorain's third TD of the third quarter. Again, the Titans converted a two-point conversion.






Lorain clinched the victory in the final minute as Dunnan fumbled the football and freshman Savon Chavis, Carlos Chavis' younger freshman brother, recovered at the 2.






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.

No. 5 Medina football loses to No. 1 Olentangy Liberty, 45-27: Watch the plays that shaped the game

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Take a look at the plays that shaped Medina's regional semifinal loss to Olentangy Liberty.

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Medina could not overcome a 24-point deficit as it fell to Olentangy Liberty, 45-27, on Friday in a Division I, Region 2 football semifinal on Friday at Arlin Field in Mansfield.

Liberty senior and Ohio State commit Brendon White had five touchdowns, and Medina RB Jimmy Daw had four touchdowns in his final high school game.


Here’s a look at the key plays that helped shape the game.


1. White gets the Patriots on the board first


After an early turnover, Liberty settled into the game and it got on the board first when QB Mitchell Okuley connected with White on a five-yard slant pattern for the first touchdown of the game.




2. Patriots double the lead


Liberty came back with a defensive stop and another long drive ended with a five-yard TD pass from Okuley to Drew Rosi. The touchdown pushed Liberty’s lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.




3. Fake punt keeps the ball away from Medina


The Bees looked to have the Patriots’ offense stopped deep in its own territory early in the second quarter. Liberty punter Will Fowler came on the punt. The rugby-style kicker veered to his right and instead of kicking, ran down the sidelines for a gain of 23 yards.




4. Medina tries to come back


Medina trailed by 24 late in the first half before scoring a touchdown to cut the halftime deficit to 17. After each team traded possessions early in the third quarter, Alex Whittaker connected with Jimmy Daw for a 51-yard touchdown down the Medina sideline, their second long TD connection of the game. The play cut Liberty’s lead to 24-14.




5. White loses a fumble to Medina


With the Patriots’ lead down to 10, White fumbled on the following possession and Medina recovered. The Bees had a chance to cut the deficit to single digits, but failed to convert on a fourth down.




6. Touchdown No. 3 for White


Liberty turned the fourth-down stop into another touchdown as White made up for his fumble with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Okuley to push the lead back to 17.




7. Takeaway leads to White’s fourth touchdown


Medina fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and the Patriots recovered. It didn’t take long for Okuley and White to connect for another touchdown. An 11-yard TD pass to White, his fourth of the game and second in 75 seconds, helped Liberty restore a 24-point lead.



No. 2 St. Edward football defeats No. 3 Stow, 41-35, in OHSAA Division I, Region 1 regional semifinal: Watch the plays that shaped the game

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These are the plays that led to St. Edward's 41-34 win over Stow in the OHSAA Division I, Region 1 regional semifinal at Twinsburg’s Tiger Stadium Friday night.

TWINSBURG, Ohio –  St. Edward used a defensive stand in the final minute of the game to defeat Stow 41-35 in the OHSAA Division I, Region 1 regional semifinal at Twinsburg’s Tiger Stadium Friday night.

The Eagles got three touchdown runs from running back Curtis Szelesta, while Stow quarterback Kyle Vantrease threw two touchdowns and ran for two more.


These are the plays that shaped the game:
































 


Ryan Isley is a freelancer from Akron. For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Live score updates and chat: Ohio State football at Maryland

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Ohio State football will try to continue its path toward a Nov. 26 showdown with Michigan when it plays at Maryland today. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Ohio State football team, ranked No. 5 in this week's College Football Playoff rankings, is playing at Maryland today in a Big Ten Conference game. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m., and the game will be shown on ESPN.

Ohio State, favored by 29 points, is 8-1, 5-1 Big Ten. Maryland is 5-4, 2-4. 

Follow the game in the comments below with the cleveland.com coverage team of Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis; as well as Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston.

Statewide Ohio football scores for Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

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Check out Friday's high school football scores from around Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The following scores gathered by The Associated Press are from Friday, Nov. 11.

Division I

Cin. St. Xavier 29, Cin. Colerain 23


Cin. Sycamore 20, Mason 7


Cle. St. Ignatius 31, Solon 17


Huber Hts. Wayne 52, Dublin Coffman 10


Lakewood St. Edward 41, Stow-Munroe Falls 35


Lorain 30, Dublin Jerome 14


Pickerington Cent. 38, Pickerington N. 24


Powell Olentangy Liberty 45, Medina 27








Division II

Cin. La Salle 34, Cin. Turpin 3


Hudson 14, Aurora 7


Massillon Perry 66, Cols. Franklin Hts. 28


Miamisburg 28, Troy 21


New Albany 31, Dublin Scioto 7


Olmsted Falls 49, Westlake 21


Warren Harding 49, Chardon 31


Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 14, Avon Lake 6








Division IV

Chardon NDCL 17, Youngs. Mooney 12


Cin. Wyoming 29, Germantown Valley View 12


Cols. Hartley 44, Port Clinton 7


Kettering Alter 28, Clarksville Clinton-Massie 0


Ottawa-Glandorf 33, Lewistown Indian Lake 28


Perry 42, Peninsula Woodridge 41


Shelby 40, Philo 12


Steubenville 26, Johnstown-Monroe 8








Division VI

Beverly Ft. Frye 40, Barnesville 19


Cuyahoga Hts. 34, Louisville Aquinas 0


Defiance Ayersville 30, Bucyrus Wynford 6


Hamler Patrick Henry 21, Liberty Center 3


Kirtland 35, Columbia Station Columbia 13


Maria Stein Marion Local 22, St. Henry 0


Mechanicsburg 56, Delphos Jefferson 20


Newark Cath. 20, Cols. Ready 14, OT



John Carroll upsets No. 1 Mount Union in OAC battle

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Mount Union suffered its first regular season loss since 2005.

ALLIANCE, Ohio - The emotion of victory was so overwhelming that William Woods did not hesitate with his proclamation about John Carroll quarterback Anthony Moeglin -- and he was not far off.
 
"It's safe to say that he's become a legend on the John Carroll campus," said Woods, a wide receiver. "He helped snap a 20-plus [losing] streak against Mount Union. Anthony's a legend for sure."

Moeglin rallied No. 16 John Carroll and converted a 7-play, 68-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Woods that gave the Blue Streaks a stunning 31-28 victory over the No. 1 Purple Raiders on Saturday afternoon at Mount Union Stadium.

Moeglin, a freshman, was 18-of-33 for 239 yards and three touchdowns.

The Blue Streaks (9-1) snapped the Raiders' (9-1) stranglehold of the OAC. The OAC title gives John Carroll an automatic bid to the 32-team Div. III NCAA Playoffs. The victory snapped the Raiders' streak of 24 straight conference titles and 27 overall.

Mount Union also suffered its first regular season loss in 11 years -- which is a streak of 112 games. It was John Carroll's first victory over the Raiders since 1989 and first conference title since 1994.

"This is something that you dream about," said John Carroll coach Tom Arth about the victory. "This is a win for John Carroll University and everyone that supports us."

The victory for John Carroll was also over a Mount Union team that has won 12 national titles, including last season.

Moeglin is especially familiar with the dynasty known as Mount Union, because he grew up less than 15 minutes from campus. And that makes the victory even sweeter.

"It probably makes it a little sweeter because I'm from around here and friends and family came to the game," Moeglin said. "They recruited me coming out of high school. I have nothing but respect for Mount Union. They run a great ship . . . but being a part of this team that never gives up is what makes this sweet."

There was nothing bitter about the Blue Streaks' start that led to a 13-0 lead. But this is Mount Union, and the Raiders answered and led 21-13 at the end of the third quarter.

Moeglin put together a drive, and his strike to receiver Nico James in the teeth of the defense led to a 40-yard score by James. John Carroll trailed by two after a failed 2-point conversion with 11:05 left.

The momentum appeared in the Raiders' favor, but the tide quickly turned. A blitz jarred the ball loose from Mount Union quarterback Dom Davis. Defensive end Dylan Hall scooped up the ball in stride and ran untouched for a 45-yard score.

"While running, I just kept telling myself not to get caught," Hall said. "That was my first touchdown since I was 6 years old in pee wee."

It didn't take long for the Raiders to respond. Davis recovered from his fumble with a 37-yard TD pass for a 28-25 lead with 3:30 left.

Now it came down to Moeglin.

"In the huddle, the offense told me that they believed in me," Moeglin said.

That trust paid off.

Moeglin managed the drive that started at the 32. He got the ball down to the 24. On third-and-12, he rifled a dart into the arms of Woods, who squeezed in for the score with 39 seconds left. Mount Union had very little time on one more possession, but failed to move the ball on four downs.

"Character and leadership are the two words I'd use to describe Anthony," Arth said. "He exudes those qualities every single day, every single moment. We have so much faith and trust in him, especially for moments like this. That's what character and leadership is all about. When you've got your back against the wall, you've got the ability to put a team on your shoulder and execute. He did that."

Case Western Reserve falls to Carnegie Mellon to prevent perfect season

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Case Western Reserve suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Carnegie Mellon, 26-21.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Case Western Reserve Spartans' quest for an undefeated season came to an end Saturday as they lost to Carnegie Mellon, 26-21, at DiSanto Field.

The Spartans, ranked No. 20 in Division III, were trying for their first undefeated regular season in seven years, a share of their first-ever Presidents' Athletic Conference title, and the outright University Athletic Association Championship.

But they fell behind early and couldn't catch up as they finish the regular season 9-1 overall, 7-1 in the UAA. The loss also likely cost Case a shot at the Division III playoffs. The playoff pairings will be announced on Sunday. Carnegie Mellon is 7-3, 6-2.

Case jumped ahead on its first possession, 7-0, on an 11-yard TD pass from Rob Cuda to Joey Spitalli.

But Carnegie Mellon scored the next 17 points to take a 10-point lead with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Cuda scored on a 37-yard run to make it 17-14, but CMU bounced back on a 1-yard run by Sam Benger early in the fourth quarter.

Case again rallied and pulled to within 24-21 on a 1-yard run by Myles Anthony with 11:06 remaining, but late in the game after the Case defense stopped CMU on downs on its own 2-yard line, Cuda was sacked for a safety to close the scoring.

Cuda finished 15 of 30 passing for 186 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and he added 123 yards on 16 carries. Jacob Burke had 88 yards on 16 rushes.

Carnegie Mellon quarterback Alex Cline hit on 19 of 29 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown and Benger carried 31 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Ohio State's boring November wait for Michigan: Be thankful the Maryland game looked like that

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It was another exclamation point for a team that wants you to believe it's different than the one you saw 20 days ago.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Don't beat yourself up if you clicked over to the Clemson-Pittsburgh game. Competitive football is far more entertaining than what was happening in Maryland on Saturday evening. 

What happened in Maryland wasn't football. 

It was a rerun of the November game you've seen over and over again during the Urban Meyer era: A Buckeye blowout of some overmatched Big Ten team while you anticipate the Michigan game. 

You're waiting for that final regular-season test, which is what you've been conditioned to do your entire life. This year the Michigan game is Nov. 26, which will determine whether the Buckeyes -- or the Wolverines -- will play for a Big Ten championship and, perhaps, a national championship. 

But don't let the boredom be the prevailing feeling from a 62-3 win over Maryland. Let it be relaxing, mindless entertainment. Let it be fun. Let it be thankfulness. 

Because on a day like this, remember what happened at Penn State 20 days ago. 

Remember when it was unclear if Ohio State could complete a downfield pass. 

Remember when it was unclear if Curtis Samuel was touching the ball enough. 

Remember when it was unclear if the defense was built to get critical stops. And, above everything else, whether Ohio State was a national championship contender.

On this fall day, you don't have to worry about it. 

Here are all the cool things you could saw while lounging on your recliner with a beverage without sweating the score: 

* Tight end Marcus Baugh jumped over a Maryland defender kind of the way Cardale Jones did during garbage time two years ago (see, it is redundant). 

* J.T. Barrett leaving early with exactly 300 yards of total offense and four touchdowns -- two passing, two running. Barrett could have passed former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees' all-time Big Ten touchdowns record, but Ohio State is honoring the touchdowns Brees' racked up in bowl games. Barrett has 94 career touchdowns accounted for, Brees 104. Note: Brees had two receiving touchdowns, but those don't count in the number for touchdowns accounted for. Why? Call your congressman. 

* Samuel just owning another team? He had nine touches and three touchdowns and furthered his resume to be in the Heisman Trophy discussion. 

* Backup Joe Burrow throwing a touchdown pass for the second consecutive week, this one to 6-foot-5 freshman Binjimen Victor. What Ohio State fan doesn't love watching young guys score touchdown in garbage time?

Running back Demario McCall also scored a touchdown. Is he the next Samuel? You got a peek. 

So you see, all sorts of fun. Even if the game was boring. 

Next week Ohio State travels to Michigan State for its final regular-season game before the playoff starts -- the Michigan game is a playoff game, OK? -- and given the way the Spartans have been playing this year, it may be a lot like what happened in Maryland on Saturday. 

But what happened in Maryland was a good thing for Ohio State. 

It was another exclamation point for a team that wants you to believe it's different than the one you saw 20 days ago. 

Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor goes from Gold (Glove) to Platinum (Glove) for defense

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Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, after winning the Rawlings Gold Glove on Monday night for his defense, was awarded the Platinum Glove on Friday night as the top defender in the American League.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Gold wasn't enough for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, so he went platinum.

Lindor, after being named the Gold Glove winner for American League shortstops on Monday, received the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award, signifying the top defensive player in the AL, on Friday night in New York. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo received the award for National League defenders.

MLB's Gold Glove winners were honored Friday at Rawlings Gold Glove ceremony.

Lindor, 23 on Monday, not only is the first Indians player to win a Platinum Glove, but he's the youngest player ever to be so honored. Rawlings has been handing out Gold Gloves since 1957. This is the sixth year for the Platinum Glove award.

The last Indians shortstop to win a Gold Glove was Omar Vizquel in 2001. The last Indians player to win a Gold Glove was center fielder Grady Sizemore in 2008.

A statement by Rawlings said Platinum Glove winners are determined by a defensive metric devised by SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) and the votes of fans from around the world.

Based on SABR's Defensive Index, Lindor led all AL shortstops with a 18.5 SDI, while Rizzo finished with a 8.6 SDI. Fan voting on the Platinum winners started Monday night after the Gold Glove winners were announced.

Tribe's SS Lindor wins first Gold Glove

Lindor and the Indians enjoyed a great 2016 season. At the start of the year, Lindor said he wanted to start the season when it was cold and end the season when it was cold. In other words, he wanted to still be playing baseball in November.

He got his wish as the Indians reached the seventh game of the World Series before losing to Rizzo and the Cubs, 8-7, in 10 innings.

Lindor, who went to his first All-Star game last season, hit .301 (182-for-604) with 30 doubles, 15 homers and 78 RBI. He scored 99 runs, led the AL with 15 sacrifice flies and stole 19 bases in 24 attempts.

In the postseason, he hit .310 (18-for-58) with two homers and six RBI. In the World Series, Lindor hit .296 (8-for-27) with two RBI.

Here's a list of the Indians' previous Gold Glove winners: 1958: 1B Vic Power; 1959: 1B Vic Power, OF Minnie Minoso; 1960: Vic Power; 1961: Vic Power, OF Jimmy Piersall; 1964: OF Vic Davalillo; 1970: C Ray Fosse; 1971: C Ray Fosse; 1976: OF Rick Manning; 1990: C Sandy Alomar; 1993: OF Kenny Lofton; 1994: OF Kenny Lofton, SS Omar Vizquel; 1995: OF Kenny Lofton, SS Omar Vizquel; 1996: OF Kenny Lofton, SS Omar Vizquel; 1997: SS Omar Vizquel, 3B Matt Williams; 1998: SS Omar Vizquel; 1999: 2B Robbie Alomar, SS Omar Vizquel; 2000: 2B Roberto Alomar, SS Omar Vizquel, 3B Travis Fryman; 2001: 2B Roberto Alomar, SS Omar Vizquel; 2007: OF Grady Sizemore, 2008: OF Grady Sizemore.

Padua volleyball sweeps Columbus Bishop Hartley to win fourth state title

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The Bruins swept past Columbus Bishop Hartley, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20, to win the program’s fourth state title since 2008.

DAYTON, Ohio — Not to embarrass anyone, but following the Division II state championship match Saturday, Padua’s Courtney Morris was carried out of the press room on the back of a teammate.

Why?


Because she sprained her ankle after jumping too high in celebrating her team’s championship victory at Wright State University’s Nutter Center. The Bruins swept past Columbus Bishop Hartley, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20, to win the program’s fourth state title since 2008, sending Morris and her teammates into a spirited celebration.


When asked what happened, the senior smiled sheepishly and said, “I did something dumb.”


But perhaps her assisted exit from the press room was a symbolic matter of role reversal. While not the kind of player who would put a team on her back, she certainly was the glue that held the team together, not only in its drive to a state championship, but also back in the beginning of the season when the Bruins started out by losing three of their first four matches.


Padua lost six times during the season and didn’t even win their conference title, but here they are in November hoisting a state championship trophy — thanks in no small part to a stunning semifinal victory over rival Lake Catholic, which was top-ranked and previously undefeated.


“It was actually really hard at the beginning of the season, just because we had such high expectations for this team and it did start off bad,” Morris said. “But as the season went on I started to get the hope that, OK, we can really do this. The win against Lake Catholic finally told me that we’re fully capable of doing this.”


Anyone in attendance Saturday had no doubt, as the Bruins were in control of the match from its outset. Hartley, which was ranked second in the final state poll (Padua was ranked fourth) made small runs in each of the sets, but it was clear from the outset which was the better team.


“Padua is a great team,” Hartley coach Michael Rahe said. “We knew they were going to come out and be ready to play. They were aggressive. They swung at every ball. They were the aggressor today.”


At the head of it all was Morris, a setter who is committed to playing next year at the University of Connecticut. She had 33 assists and eight digs and also added four kills for good measure. Morris did a good job of spreading the wealth, as Rachel Kopchu had 16 kills, Cierah Jackson had 11 and Sydney Szafarski had seven.


“Even though we did lose our first few games, we still kept confidence in ourselves,” Szafarski said. “We didn’t let those losses affect our whole season. We each realized that we had to get better — one more kill each game, one more dig. And I think progressively we did way better and now it shows.”


Padua coach James BeHarry said he was very pleased with his team’s play, especially since they were taxed so much in the five-set semifinal victory over Lake Catholic on Thursday.


“I actually thought we played a pretty good match against Hartley,” he said. “It’s difficult coming off a really emotional victory like we had against Lake Catholic. Thank God we had a day to prepare because I don’t know if we could have rebounded from the emotion of that victory.”


It was that gritty attitude that was exemplified by the play of Morris. She had to sit out the beginning of the second set because she had to get blood cleaned off her uniform. Later in that same set she went up to block a spike by Hartley’s powerful outside hitter Kristen Chatman, and the ball hit her square in the face, leaving her dazed.


“I went up to block and she hit me right on the eye,” Morris said. “It was kind of puffy at first, but … well, it hurt. It was a hard hit. But then coach took me out so I could clear my vision and then I was perfectly fine.”


And so were the Bruins, who now have won volleyball titles in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2016.


“We’ve been down here quite a bit,” BeHarry said. “It might not be the best team we’ve ever had down here, but this is the greatest team we’ve had down here.”


 

Shannon Williams leads Brecksville volleyball to Division I state title

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Brecksville won its first volleyball championship in school history by the scores of 25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 27-25.

DAYTON, Ohio — When it comes to looking good on the volleyball court, there are few better than Brecksville-Broadview Heights setter Shannon Williams.

The junior puts on a show in every match she plays — flying around the court to either receive the ball or set up a teammate. She is a bundle of energy and a source of constant encouragement.


She’s also the setter of arguably the best team in the state after the Bees defeated three-time defending champion Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame in the Division I championship match Saturday at Wright State University’s Nutter Center. Brecksville won its first volleyball championship in school history by the scores of 25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 27-25.


“That’s a really, really good team,” Mount Notre Dame coach Joe Burke said. “They’re outstanding. Their setter is incredible.”


Williams had 50 assists as the Bees put on a hitting clinic. She also had 20 digs and one kill. And in her spare time she also came up with three blocks.


But what she did best was find the right person at the right time. Brecksville gives opponents fits because the Bees can beat you in so many ways. Early in the match it was Abby Barth putting the ball away. Emma Tupa had some key kills throughout the match, as did Amber King.


But midway through the first set it became apparent that it was going to be JoAnna Chang's night, so Williams did what all good distributors do — she got the ball to the hot hand. Chang, a sophomore, ended up leading the Bees with 23 kills against only three errors, an incredible performance on such a large stage.


“I know when she gets hot or when any of my hitters get hot, and I get them the ball,” Williams said. “My job is to get the ball put away and make them look good. She was looking very good and I wasn’t going to stop. If she looks good, I look good.”


While the scores may give the impression that Brecksville was in control for most of the match, that was far from the case. In the first two sets the Bees made mid-set runs that gave them a lead they would never relinquish.


However, Mount Notre Dame has won nine state titles, more than any school in Ohio. The Cougars know how to win and they weren’t about to go quietly. In their regional final victory over Cincinnati Ursuline, they lost the first two sets before roaring back to victory. In their semifinal victory over Dublin Coffman they appeared to be beaten late in the fourth set, only to come back to take the fourth and the fifth.


“After seeing that (Coffman) match we knew that they would never stop fighting,” Williams said. “They would never give up and their crowd would help them.”


Sure enough, with their deliriously loud student section behind them, the Cougars put it all together to take the third set, 25-14. Would another epic Mount Notre Dame comeback be in the offing? Not if Brecksville could help it.


“In the third set our energy went down a little bit, so we had to just get it together and build it back up for the fourth,” Tupa said. “We just had to put every ball away that we could.”


The Cougars jumped to leads of 3-0 and 5-1 in the fourth set before the Bees settled down and fought their way back into it. They finally took the lead at 8-7 when the 5-foot-8 Williams went up and blocked an attempted spike by MND’s 6-foot outside hitter Natalie Steibel. A few points later Williams did it again and the lead was 12-8.


But Mount Notre Dame was not about to lie down.


“In the huddle I reminded the team that we had been in the same position before,” said MND senior Sarah Riesenberger. “We lost the first two against Ursuline and came back and beat them, so there was no reason we couldn’t do it again.”


Every once in a while a coach will make a move based solely on a hunch, which is what Brecksville coach Rob Cline did in the fourth set. He decided to put in Macayla Mancuso just to mix things up. The 5-foot-10 freshman missed a portion of the season due to injuries and she didn’t even play in the team’s state semifinal victory over St. Joseph Academy. But she came up with four blocks in the final set.


“Their middles were just tearing us up,” Cline said. “(Macayla) came in and had four block assists in that game. It was so unlikely that she wasn’t even on my stat sheet — I had to write her name in.”


It’s such decisions that state titles are sometimes built upon. But the Bees weren’t there yet. The Cougars held leads of 24-22, 24-23 and 25-24, giving them multiple chances to force a fifth set. Eventually Tupa hit a winner down the line and Barth backed that up with a huge block that gave Brecksville a 26-25 lead. Steibel then hit a spike out of bounds, sending the Bees and their faithful into a thrilling celebration.


“(Mount Notre Dame has) a tradition that is amazing,” Cline said. “It’s a great machine that keeps rolling. To get our first title and beat this team that is so historical, that says a lot.”


 

Alyssa Behrend’s double OT goal gives Gilmour 2-1 victory to win Division III state girls soccer title

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In its first appearance in the OHSAA Division III state championship game, the Gilmour Academy girls soccer team defeated Cincinnati Country Day 2-1 in double overtime thanks to a game-winning goal from junior forward Alyssa Behrend. Behrend’s goal with 1:03 remaining in the second period of overtime gave the Lancers the 2-1 victory at MAPFRE Stadium,...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In its first appearance in the OHSAA Division III state championship game, the Gilmour Academy girls soccer team defeated Cincinnati Country Day 2-1 in double overtime thanks to a game-winning goal from junior forward Alyssa Behrend.

Behrend’s goal with 1:03 remaining in the second period of overtime gave the Lancers the 2-1 victory at MAPFRE Stadium, the home of the Columbus Crew.


“This is the state championship, first off, so I knew I had to put everything I had out on the line,” Behrend said. “Just knowing we had a minute left and we were going to go into PKs just gave me that extra push to get that ball into the back of the net.”


This win gives the Gilmour girls soccer team its first state championship in its 25th year as a program.

“It’s amazing. We haven’t even won our district until this year. I knew even last year that this year was going to be special for this team and that they had the chance to do something great,” said Gilmour head coach Joe Ciuni. “Mentally we were extremely tough the whole season, and they worked so hard. They absolutely deserve all of this.”

With the win, Gilmour finishes the season 22-1-0. Cincinnati Country Day ends its season as state runner-up at 19-2-2.

“A lot of credit goes to Cincinnati Country Day. That was a fantastic game that they played as well, and we just kept pushing,” Ciuni said. “I told the team that, especially in overtime, you got to dig deep. Whatever is left in the tank, you have to just empty it.”

Throughout the first half, the match was a defensive battle. While both teams had their chances, neither was able to break the scoreless tie. The Indians finished the half with three shots, while the Lancers only had one.

Cincinnati Country Day had an opportunity to score on a free kick from nearly 10 yards outside Gilmour’s box with about seven minutes remaining in the first half, but the Lancers were able to clear the ball.

Gilmour’s best opportunity to score in the first half came with about one minute left. Sophomore forward/midfielder Annie Greene hit a shot towards the upper corner of the goal, but Cincinnati Country Day senior goalkeeper Olivia Robinson moved to her left to catch the ball.

“I told the girls to keep playing our game. We are a very, very good team all around, and it has been tough to stop us all year,” Ciuni said.

In the second half, both teams came out attacking early. Cincinnati Country Day generated three scoring opportunities within the first 10 minutes, but was unable to score. Gilmour had two chances to score shortly thereafter, but also failed to score.

The Lancers got on the scoreboard about 17 minutes into the second half, as senior midfielder Alex Siskovic scored off a rebound from a free kick to break the scoreless tie.

The Lancers would only hold the lead for nine minutes, as the Indians tied the game with 14 minutes remaining off a goal from freshman forward Kate Brock.

Neither team was able to score again in regulation, sending the game to overtime for the seventh time in OHSAA girls soccer Division III state championship history.

Entering the first overtime period, Cincinnati outshot Gilmour 10-8 (5-4 on goal). But in overtime, Gilmour dominated the ball and created several goal-scoring opportunities. In the final minutes, Greene took a shot that was deflected by the Indians’ goalkeeper, but Behrend followed the ball and hit it into the back of the net to give Gilmour the walk-off win.

“I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do, but then everybody came into the dog pile and it was the best feeling ever,” Behrend said. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without everyone else, so it is a great feeling to have your team behind you at that point.”


No. 5 Ohio State football routs Maryland 62-3 in another blowout

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The Buckeyes put up a second-straight 60-point blowout in Saturday's win over Maryland.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Curtis Samuel took a direct snap, handed the ball off to Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who handed the ball off to Parris Campbell coming across on a reverse.

Cute play call, especially with a six-touchdown lead in the third quarter. 

Saturday's was the kind of game where the Buckeyes could get as cute as they wanted. It didn't mater. Maryland had no shot. The No. 5 Buckeyes beat the Terrapins, 62-3, on Saturday at Maryland Stadium.

The game was over in the first quarter.

It was the first time Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) put up back-to-back 60-plus point games since the first two games of the 1996 season.

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett played until midway through the third quarter, completing 18 of 27 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 47 yards and another two touchdowns.

Samuel reminded you why he's the best playmaker on the roster with 74 receiving yards, 38 rushing and three touchdowns. He also started at punt returner, and returned one punt for 11 yards.

The guy does everything for the Buckeyes, including apparently handing the ball off to someone else.

Maryland, which used three quarterbacks, could do nothing against Ohio State's defense except settle for a first-quarter field goal after it looked like quarterback Caleb Rowe had scored a touchdown. The played was reviewed and Rowe was ruled short of the goal line even though it clearly looked like he got in.

Maybe that would have made things slightly different. Probably not. The Terps finished with 176 yards of total offense.

Linebacker Raekwon McMillan led Ohio State's defense with 10 tackles. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore got his fourth interception of the season. The Buckeyes had five sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

It was the fifth time this season that Ohio State's defense has not allowed a touchdown.

Saturday's game was boring. Which is perfect if you're a Buckeye fan.

What it means

Not much. If you wanted to see Ohio State keep rolling after a win over Nebraska last week, you got it. This was the tune-up game everyone thought it would be, and the Buckeyes will probably play another one next week at Michigan State.

But there's much to learn from beating a clearly overmatched Maryland team.

Wilson injured

Buckeyes senior H-back Dontre Wilson was down on the field for a bit after a play in the third quarter after suffering an apparent upper-body injury. Wilson walked off the field under his own power, flanked by trainers. He didn't return and an immediate update on his status was not given.

Weber chases 1,000

Ohio State running back Mike Weber came in needing 158 rushing yards to break 1,000 this season. He finished with 93 yards and a touchdown. Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) are the only Ohio State backs to rush for 1,000 yards in their freshman season.

What's next?

Ohio State is back on the road next Saturday for a game against Michigan State (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten). Kickoff from East Lansing, Mich., is set for 12 p.m.

Curtis Samuel is Ohio State's most dangerous player since Ted Ginn Jr.: Doug Lesmerises

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He accounted for three touchdowns in a blowout win at Maryland on Saturday.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Ohio State has figured how and how much to use him, which means Curtis Samuel will enter the stretch run of this season as the most dangerous Buckeye on offense since Ted Ginn Jr.

Quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Terrelle Pryor immediately leap to mind as Buckeyes who could refute this premise, two quarterbacks who could throw it and run it and make defenses shudder.

But quarterbacks are quarterbacks, and every week defenses prepare to stop them no matter how they play. Of course Miller and Pryor were difficult to prep for and harder to contain. Miller's stutter steps and Pryor's long strides were rare and effective in their own way.

But that's not exactly what we're talking about here.

We're talking about the guy who gets it after the quarterback takes the snap. The guy a defense needs to line up against and figure out how to cover.

In that regard, Samuel is as difficult to stop as any Buckeye in a decade.

Ginn, as a receiver and punt returner, was taken as the No. 9 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the same year receiver Anthony Gonzalez went No. 32 in the first round. Since then, only two other Ohio State offensive players have been drafted in the first round -- Beanie Wells at No. 31 in 2009 and Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 in 2016.

Elliott was a workhouse. He averaged 140 rushing yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry last year and 125 yards per game and 6.9 yards per carry in 2014. 

Take a handoff, get a hole, run you over or run by you, Elliott could control games. Still, not quite what we're talking about.

Ginn was never used enough. In his final season in 2006, he touched the ball on offense 62 times in 13 games, fewer than five times per game. He added another 44 touches in the return game, the primary option on punts and kickoffs.

He wasn't necessarily shifty, and he didn't have great hands, but when Ginn lined up or dropped back for a return, you could imagine the defense asking a version of "What are we going to do?"

And then, often, he'd be gone.

Jim Tressel's offense too often threw Ginn screens that saw him catching the ball flat-footed, then trying to make a move. All Ginn needed was a couple steps to reach top speed, but too often he didn't get that chance.

But when he did ...

That's the point Samuel has reached. In basically one half of action Saturday in Ohio State's 62-3 blowout of Maryland, Samuel caught five passes for 74 yards and a touchdown and ran it four times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

He now has 637 rushing yards and 750 receiving yards, a total of 1,387 yards for a 138-yard per game average. That's with two weeks of basically not playing in the second half as the Buckeyes plugged in their subs.

Samuel ran the ball out of the backfield with Mike Weber as a lead blocker. He gained yards in motion on a jet sweep. He ran one in on a reverse. He caught a touchdown while asserting his existence as the Buckeyes best deep threat. He worked the middle of the field and beat Maryland by finding holes in the zone. 

He even worked in as a punt return option.

Each time, you can imagine it from the Terrapins -- "What are we going to do?"

Ginn's danger came from his speed. Samuel's derives from his versatility. Defenses can't adjust to his presence on the field because he line up anywhere. Outside, he'll beat one-on-one coverage as a receiver. Inside, he'll take a handoff and turn upfield with a burst.

Two weeks from now against Michigan, the Buckeyes may not have their typical playmaker edge against the Wolverines. 

But they will have Samuel. At Maryland he showed again why he means as much as any OSU offensive player in recent memory.

Ohio State routs Maryland, 62-3, as revenge and The Game await: Bill Livingston (photos)

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MIchigan State and The Team Uo North (TTUN) or "ichigan" await after another rout of an outclassed Big Ten newcomer.

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland -- The Buckeye battle cry never reaches its highest pitch until the hype-videoed, Senior Tackle-inspired, fan-crazed afternoon when Ohio State plays TTUN (The Team Up North), or, as it is also called, "ichigan."

Which is how it would read anywhere in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, with the "M" covered with an "X" made of red tape during the week of The Game.

All Buckeye fans are looking ahead today. First to Michigan State on Nov. 19, then to the acronym.

But first, something completely different

The Maryland game, a 62-3 rout Saturday afternoon, was a trap game, coming after a  similar 62-3 burning of Nebraska's corn crib, corn crop and Cornhuskers, and preceding the two games with the Michigan schools.

With Ohio State coach Urban Meyer barking, "Beat Maryland!" at the end of every news conference during the week, the Terps were unlikely to be overlooked.

Ohio State led, 45-3 at halftime. This game was no more than the orchestra warming up, battle cry-wise.

They got the ball to Curtis Samuel

The encouraging news was that Ohio State coaches still apparently have Post-it notes on their play sheets that read, "No more Zekes! Remember Curtis Samuel is on the roster!" 

The game-breaking H-back had 10 touches in 83 snaps in the come-from-ahead loss at Penn State. Samuel had all of his nine in 44 first-half snaps for 112 yards in total offense and three touchdowns.

That's 12.4 yards per Midas touch, and probably requires further explanation for the Penn State game plan.

On to what really matters

Michigan is the last game, so it is the sum of all hopes and fears. Michigan has been running up the score in ways envied by Urban Meyer. He once said he "likes 70 (points)," meaning that certainly would pass the College Football Playoff committee's "eyeball test."

But the road to the CPF points toward its finish at the other Michigan school.

The start of it all

Michigan State won its first Big Ten game in a dismal season Saturday, 49-0, over Rutgers.

The path that led to such games as Ohio State's rout of Maryland began at Michigan State, on Sept. 29, 2012, at 11:22 a.m. All the culture-creating and "above the line" winning stemmed from it.

"We had a meeting in a ballroom in East Lansing. Very intense, very emotional meeting. And that's when I saw it," Meyer said. "Up until then I didn't think we had them, to be honest with you. They weren't playing like it. And they weren't acting like it. "

That day, the Buckeyes won their first Big Ten game under his direction, 17-16, by playing keep-away as Carlos Hyde ran between the tackles in the last minutes.

Two unhappy endings

Ohio State is 59-5 under Meyer. Two of the losses were against the Spartans.

The first was the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game, when quarterback Braxton Miller gained 1 yard on fourth-and-2. 

The second was last year in Columbus. It was the "Where's Waldo?" game, only it should have been called "Where's Zeke?"

Ohio State's game plan allotted a mere dozen carries to its great back Ezekiel Elliott, who is the rookie rushing leader in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys now.

Both losses were season-breakers, the first denying Ohio State a spot in the 2013 national championship game and the second keeping the Buckeyes from a chance to defend their national title.

Two others longer ago

A 34-yard punt in 1998 hit Shaker Heights' Nate Clements in the butt. The Spartans, trailing by nine points in the third quarter and about to be dismissed, recovered at midfield.

Michigan State won, 28-24. It was the Buckeyes' only loss. Heralded Alabama coach Nick Saban, a former Browns' assistant coach, was the Spartans' coach. But his team's record was only 6-6.

In 1974,  top-ranked, previously unbeaten Ohio State lost on the last play to the 7-3-1 Spartans when the Buckeyes were stopped on a goal-line stand in East Lansing. Brian Baschnagel scored on a broken play, but referees ruled time ran out before the last play began.

Two wins from a division title

The battle cry here was a jovial chorus of "Maryland, Our Maryland" for the Buckeyes. More dramatic anthems await.

Before The Game, The Revenge Game.

Cleveland Cavaliers have Terry Talkin' ex-Cavs all over the world -- Terry Pluto

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There are former Cleveland Cavaliers playing everywhere from Miami to Milwaukee to Minnesota to China.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Milwaukee Bucks were very serious about their desire for Matthew Dellavedova.

The former Cleveland Cavalier backup point guard is starting and playing 29 minutes a game, averaging 8.8 points, 6.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds.

His shooting is a bit off -- .435 from the field, .315 on 3-pointers.

The Bucks went into the weekend with a 4-4 record. Dellavedova brings toughness, defense and unselfish play to that young roster.

He signed a four-year, $39 million contract with the Bucks. The Cavs did a complicated sign-and-trade deal, bringing Mike Dunleavy to Cleveland.

According to ESPN, Dellavedova bought a large, five-bedroom home on the shores of Lake Michigan for $1.3 million.

MOZZY THE STARTER

The Los Angeles Lakers rushed to sign Timofey Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million deal right as free agency opened.

The 7-foot-1 center has started all eight games games for the Lakers, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting .617 from the field. He plays 22 minutes a game.

Larry Nance Jr. doesn't start for the Lakers, but the Revere High product is playing 20 minutes a game -- averaging 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds.

New coach Luke Walton has the Lakers off to a 4-4 start.

ABOUT DAVID BLATT

The former Cavs coach turned down chances to be an NBA assistant this season to return to the Euroleague.

He signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract to coach Darussafaka Dogus in Istanbul, Turkey. Blatt reportedly is the highest-paid coach in Europe.

He took over what amounted to an expansion franchise that was 9-15 last season. They are off to a 4-2 start this year.

The team also plays in other leagues, so it's difficult to put the different records in context. The Euroleague record is important. Blatt's return to the Euroleague is a huge story.

Another former Cavs coach -- Mike Brown -- is Steve Kerr's top assistant in Golden State.

ABOUT ANTHONY BENNETT AND DION WAITERS

I was just in the mood to check on former Cavaliers.

The top pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cavs, Bennett is trying to stay in the league with the Brooklyn Nets.

He has played 37 minutes in Brooklyn this season -- firing up 20 shots. That includes 4-of-13 on 3-pointers. He has four rebounds and 21 points in those 37 minutes. He is not out there to pass.

The Cavs 2012 first-rounder, Dion Waiters, is starting for Miami. He has replaced departed Dwyane Wade in the lineup.

Waiters is averaging 10.4 points in 33 minutes a game, but he is shooting only 33 percent from the field.

Waiters became a free agent last summer. He saw the kind of money given to Dellavedova and thought he'd cash in.

He signed a $2.9 million deal with the Heat, with a player option for $3 million in 2017-18.

ABOUT ANDREW WIGGINS

Now in his third pro season, Wiggins is making real progress under new Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau.

The top pick in the 2014 draft, he never played for the Cavs (except in the summer league). He was traded to Minnesota (along with Bennett) as part of the Kevin Love deal.

Wiggins is averaging 24 points. The big jump is his improved shooting, .475 from the field and .636 (14-of-22) on 3-pointers. It's only seven games, but Wiggins' outside shot does look better.

He often was indifferent on defense, and Thibodeau is inspiring him to do better in that area. Wiggins is only 21 and now is starting to understand how to do more than just put up points.

ABOUT EX-CAVS IN CHINA

I was looking at a Hoops Hype list of former NBA players now in China.

I had strange flashbacks to the four years LeBron James spent in Miami as former general manager Chris Grant tried to find players. Here are some former Cavs from those grim times, along with some others who passed through Quicken Loans Arena.

Here we go:

1. Samardo Samuels: He played 109 games for the Cavs between 2010-13, averaging 5.9 points.

2. Lester Hudson: He played 13 games for the Cavs in 2011-12. He averaged 12.7 points. He turned down a chance to re-sign with the Cavs. He played only eight NBA games after that.

3. Donald Sloan: Played 45 games for the Cavs between 2011-13, averaging 5.5 points.

4. J.J. Hickson: He was with the Cavs from 2008-11, averaging 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. He played for several NBA teams after that.

5. Jared Cunningham: He played 40 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 2.6 points.

6. Carlos Boozer: He was with the Cavs from 2002-04. He played 12 NBA seasons. He's now 34 years old.

7. Alex Kirk: He was with the Cavs in 2014 and played five games.

8: Norris Cole wasn't with the Cavs, but the Cleveland State product was not able to find more than a one-year NBA deal, so he signed to play in China.

ABOUT THE COMEBACK

I will be signing copies of my Cavs Book, The Comeback, at several places this week:

  • Nov. 14 -- Barnes & Noble Mentor, 7-8 p.m.
  • Nov. 16 -- Stark-Lake Library in Uniontown. I will be speaking and it's free. 6:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 17 -- Barnes & Noble Fairlawn, 7-8 p.m.
  • Nov. 19 -- Barnes & Noble Woodmere, 1-2 p.m.

Will Curtis Samuel go to New York or did Ohio State blow his chance at the Heisman Trophy?

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Samuel had three more touchdowns in Saturday's win at Maryland. Watch video

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Will Curtis Samuel, Ohio State's Brooklyn-bred star, get a homecoming in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony?

That would be a special story.

You don't find too many players the caliber of Samuel coming out of New York City, let alone one good enough to contend for the Heisman.

Here's a fact about Samuel that we can unequivocally state after 10 games: He's one of the best players in the country. Few possess his ability to hurt you in the run game and the pass game.

"There's not many like that who can do it all," Urban Meyer said Saturday after Samuel posted 112 total yards and three touchdowns in basically one half of a blowout win over Maryland.

Here's something to ponder about Samuel: Does he get the ball enough to actually earn an invite to the Heisman ceremony?

Samuel has been special, the only player in major college football with 600 yards each rushing and receiving, and he's done that touching the ball 13 times per game.

Most think Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is a lock to win the Heisman, but getting an invite would mean something. Consider that Meyer hasn't had a player get the call in his time at Ohio State despite having a couple legitimate candidates in Braxton Miller (2012), J.T. Barrett (2014) and Ezekiel Elliott (2015).

"I don't really pay too much attention to that," Samuel said. "I just go out there, do what I gotta do on the field, and whatever happens happens."

With 637 rushing yards and 750 receiving yards, Samuel is on pace for a better season than Percy Harvin (the patron saint of H-backs) ever had under Meyer at Florida.

Might a season of 1,000 yards rushing/1,000 yards receiving still be on the table? Only one player in the history of college football at any level has done that, former Villanova running back Brian Westbrook.

That would definitely put Samuel in the Heisman hunt. But can he actually get there?

Ohio State's positioning for the Big Ten Championship took a hit on Saturday, but for the sake of projecting the best possible situation for Samuel, lets put the Buckeyes in Indianapolis. That would give Samuel three more games before Heisman ballots are due on Dec. 5.

He needs 363 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark in each. Going off his per-carry and per-reception averages, Samuel would need around 45 carries and 19 receptions in the next three games.

That's 21 touches per game, which would be a major deviation from Ohio State's plan for Samuel.

"We've had tight ends before who were kind of dual-purpose guys, but this is a tough one to defend," Meyer said. "He can run inside zone, outside stretch plays, and vertical."

And yet the plan for Samuel is 15 touches per game. They've only gone above that three times, and the number has only reached 20 once, when he had 22 in the season-opener against Bowling Green.

Of course, Samuel doesn't have to get 20 touches per game to reach 1,000/1,000. He's shown he can be explosive on just a handful of touches, and his versatility makes him one of the most dangerous players in college football.

He scored touchdowns on an outside run, a reverse handoff and a 36-yard reception on Saturday.

"That was definitely part of the gameplan," Samuel said, "just put me one-on-one out there with one of their guys and see who comes down with the play."

Samuel usually wins.

There are two ways you can look at Samuel's production if you're a Heisman voter:

1. He only gets the ball 13 times per game and he's still putting up these numbers. You don't need to see him get it 20 times. Nobody does it like Samuel. He's returning punts now? That guy can do it all. You've seen enough to know he's deserving of attention for the most outstanding player in college football.

2. He's a great player, but he's not enough of a focal point of the offense. You look at guys like Jackson, Texas running back D'Onta Foreman (241 carries, 1,613 yards) or San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey (the nation's leading rusher with 1,779 yards) and wonder what Samuel would be doing if Ohio State would just give its best player the ball more.

If No. 2 ends up being the prevailing thought among the 900-plus Heisman voters, then you can look back at the couple of games where it seemed like Samuel got lost in the offensive shuffle.

He had nine touches and no receptions against Indiana; and had 10 touches with only two rushing attempts in a loss at Penn State. There were multiple games where Ohio State ran 20-plus plays before Samuel touched the ball.

The Buckeyes seem to be back on track with their plan for Samuel, which just happened to coincide with back-to-back 60-point games.

If Samuel routinely got 20 touches per game, this probably wouldn't be a question. But that's not the plan.

With the way Ohio State uses the H-back position, and the cap on touches even for a player like Samuel, it's possible his chance to show he deserves to be in New York has already passed.

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