Kent State turned in a dominant defensive performance. The Golden Flashes held Ohio to 183 total yards.

If Kent State defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis needed anything else on his resume to become the next head coach of the Golden Flashes, his defense delivered it with one last stellar 2010 performance that produced a 28-6 upset victory over Ohio University on Friday at Dix Stadium.

"I definitely think it helped his cause," Kent State safety Brian Lainhart said.

Defensive end Monte Simmons agreed: "With him in that position, I think it would be amazing."

OU head coach Frank Solich, while not nominating Rekstis, said his stamp was all over the Bobcats' failure to score a touchdown for the first time in 27 games, dating to 2008.

"They're too good defensively when they are on top of their game," Solich said. "We weren't even close. We couldn't get anything going. I can't remember being more frustrated."

It was as dominant as any defensive performance this season for Kent State (5-7, 4-4 Mid-American Conference), and there have been several. The positive was holding OU to 183 total yards -- including 50 rushing -- on a day the KSU offense effectively just stayed out of the way.

Of the four Kent State scoring drives, none covered more than 37 yards, making it easy for the turnover-prone unit not to have a miscue for the second time this season.

The defense took care of the rest:

•Two fumble recoveries: one led to a touchdown.

•Two interceptions: one led to a touchdown.

•Two fourth-down stops on fake punts: both led to touchdowns.

•One blocked field goal.

•Seven sacks.

"They set the tone today," Kent State assistant coach Jerry McManus said. "They've been setting the tone all year, but really set the tone today."

The game-breaker was a fourth-quarter interception by KSU's Dan Hartman that set the stage for a 27-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Eugene Jarvis. The play not only sealed the game, 21-6, but gave Jarvis a final 100-yard rushing game in his career.

One drive later, the replay booth overturned a decision on the field that originally kept the ball in OU's hands into a fumble recovery for KSU. Two plays after the reversal, backup tailback Andre Flowers had a 10-yard TD run for a 28-6 KSU lead.

The victory gave the Mid-American Conference East Division title to the Miami RedHawks (8-4, 7-1). OU (8-4, 6-2), the defending division champs, remain bowl eligible.

For departing Kent State head coach Doug Martin, he received the well-wishes of his players and the Gatorade bath at the end.

"He didn't like that," said Jarvis, who finished a rare sixth season of football, thanks to Martin's adamant NCAA pleas for his return after suffering a lacerated kidney in 2009.

"He'd have rather been carried off the field," said Jarvis.

Delhomme, a 12-year veteran, has mentored McCoy all season, and coach Eric Mangini attributes some of McCoy's early success to Delhomme, who is signed through next season.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerJake Delhomme will start against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Delhomme recently said that rookie Colt McCoy is the Browns quarterback of the future.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme, who will start Sunday against his former Panthers, says rookie Colt McCoy is the Browns' quarterback of the future.

The remark came on a conference call with Carolina writers, when Delhomme was asked how excited he is to play against his former team.

"Certainly I will be fired up to play because I'm sitting back, watching the young kid play, and he's pretty good," said Delhomme. "So I'm like, "Have I played my last down?" That can go through your head. The kid's playing well, and he is going to be the future of the Cleveland Browns. I understand that. So it's a great opportunity. I'm excited about it, I will say that."

Delhomme, a 12-year veteran, has mentored McCoy all season, and coach Eric Mangini attributes some of McCoy's early success to Delhomme, who is signed through next season.

"Colt really has benefited from having Jake here," said Mangini. "When Colt was starting, I think those guys drive into work each day together and spend a lot of time discussing the game plan, the reads, it's outstanding.

"For years to come, Colt will remember the time he's spent with Jake Delhomme and the importance of that and learning what it means to be a pro. Jake, he's a tremendous pro and to have a mentor like that it's invaluable."

McCoy, Wright doubtful: McCoy missed practice again Friday and is doubtful with his high left ankle sprain. He limped through the locker room Friday, and there's a good chance he won't dress for the game. With Josh Cribbs questionable with a foot injury, who will be the third quarterback?

"We'll have to see where Cribbs is," said Mangini. "After him, I think the only guy that we have is [Chansi] Stuckey who has thrown the ball."

Eric Wright is doubtful with a knee injury, but moved well in the locker room and is holding out a shred of hope. Joe Haden is expected to start in his place.

"I've still got a couple of days," Wright said. "We'll see how it goes. I'll be back sooner than later. I'm just trying to work as hard as possible to get back. I haven't missed a game since my rookie year, so obviously I don't like to miss any time." Six questionable: Five Browns besides Cribbs are questionable: defensive back Mike Adams (abdomen), linebacker Eric Barton (shoulder), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee), defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (ankle) and tight end Ben Watson (ankle).

Daboll explains: Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who has been heavily criticized by fans for the Jaguars loss, explained the woeful performance.

"We didn't play well enough," he said. "We definitely had chances there to move the football, to get it in the end zone and we didn't get it done. All of us, we didn't get it done."

Did he try to force the run?

"They did a good job of stopping the run and we tried a variety of runs," he said. "Gap trap runs, scheme runs, we tried some inside zone runs, we tried some outside zone runs, we tried scheme outside zone. I believe you have to be able to run the football, too. We practiced it, we stressed it all week and they did a better job than we did all the way around, all aspects."

As for not getting the ball to the tight ends -- one ball apiece to Ben Watson and Robert Royal and three to tight end/receiver Evan Moore -- Daboll said, "Colt was going to the right spots with the football in terms of his reads, he was. He didn't have many poor reads, just kind of based on the coverage and how they played things. That's just kind of how it went."

On if he should have been more aggressive after turnovers: "We didn't score, so I definitely should have done something differently," said Daboll. "We didn't get it done.

"There were some things that we did see, even in the running game because Peyton [Hillis] has been good for us all year and the line has done a good job. In the passing game, they got us. Obviously if you don't score after that, you look in the mirror and say, 'I should have called this or should've called that.' They did a better job all the way around.'"

On Mo Mass: On the bright side, Daboll said receiver Mohamed Massaquoi's past three games have been his best. He has had 10 of his 19 catches in those games.

"He's done a nice job of creating some separation, making plays when he had a chance. He missed a couple of plays early on in the year maybe that he could have brought down, but he's getting better," said Daboll.

Cleveland State stayed perfect Friday night, improving its women's basketball record to 7-0, with a 67-49 victory over Florida A&M at Wolstein Center.

Cleveland State stayed perfect Friday night, improving its women's basketball record to 7-0, with a 67-49 victory over Florida A&M at Wolstein Center.

Cleveland State is off to its best start since 1974-75.

Horizon League Player of the Week Shalonda Winton had her third double double of the season, with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Rattlers fell to 2-2.

Destinee Blue led Cleveland State with 17 points.

Twenty of CSU's 26 field goals came courtesy of an assist.

Akron 94, Georgia Southern 81

The Zips blew a double-digit lead in the second half, but came back to win the first game of the Southern Methodist Thanksgiving Tournament in Dallas.

The Zips (4-1) outscored Georgia Southern, 24-11, in overtime. Akron scored 15 of the first 17 points in overtime, 10 coming from Kara Murphy to regain control of the game.

The Lady Eagles are now 1-4.

Akron's Rachel Tecca finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Murphy scored 12 points.

Lake Erie played well in the first and second periods Friday, then sputtered in the third period and overtime.

The Oklahoma City Barons, an expansion team in the American Hockey League, have enjoyed their first few encounters with the Monsters.

The Barons made it three victories in three games with a 3-2 overtime win at The Q on Friday night. Right winger Colin McDonald scored at 3:01 of OT to quiet an enthusiastic crowd of 10,608.

The Monsters (10-9-2-2) played their seventh game in 10 days. An 8-in-11 ends this afternoon against Oklahoma City.

The Barons (13-6-1-1) won the first two of a six-game season series in mid-October at Oklahoma City. The scores were 4-3 and 3-0.

Lake Erie played well in the first and second periods Friday, then sputtered in the third period and overtime.

"Fatigue might have been an issue for us, but it was more about what Oklahoma City did," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "I think that's the best team we've played. They have an awful lot of firepower."

McDonald turned and unloaded on goalie John Grahame, who got a piece of the puck but was unable to stop it from sliding across the line. McDonald had tied the score late in the third.

"I think the kid just surprised Johnny a little bit," Quinn said of the game-winner. "Any time you throw the puck to the net, good things can happen."

Grahame started for the first time since Oct. 24 at Houston. He had been with the parent Colorado Avalanche until recently, then was unable to play because of illness.

Oklahoma City took a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 6:47 of the first. Left winger Liam Reddox popped in a rebound past Grahame for his 11th goal in 21 games.

Late in the first period, the Monsters got a break when Oklahoma City bungled a two-on-none.

At 6:01 of the second period, Lake Erie tied it when right winger Luke Walker jammed the puck past the right leg of goalie Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers.

Lake Erie took a 2-1 lead at 14:38 of the second period, thanks to center Mark Olver's creativity. Positioned behind the goal line, Olver intentionally banked his shot off the backside of Drouin-Deslauriers.

At 13:23 of the third period, Oklahoma City thought it had tied the game after left winger Linus Omark drove in on Grahame. The officials disagreed.

Less than two minutes later, the Barons removed all doubt. McDonald barely got a stick on a pass from left winger Liam Reddox and tipped in the shot.

"In the third period, they turned it up a notch and we sat on our heels a bit," Quinn said.

Lake Erie went 5-for-5 in killing penalties. It entered 95-of-108 on the penalty kill; the 88 percent efficiency ranked fifth in the AHL. Its 94.2-percent efficiency at home ranked first.

Ohio State recruit Kalpana Beach scored 7 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter as Westlake upset Rocky River, 47-42, Friday night on the first day of the girls basketball season. Rocky River is ranked 18th in The Plain Dealer's preseason poll.

Westlake girls basketball player Kalpana Beach scored 13 points to help her team defeat Rocky River. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

Ohio State recruit Kalpana Beach scored 7 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter as Westlake upset Rocky River, 47-42, Friday night on the first day of the girls basketball season.

Rocky River is ranked 18th in The Plain Dealer's preseason poll.

Beach, a senior forward who originally gave Notre Dame her nonbinding oral commitment, also had six rebounds and four assists.

Junior guard Rachael Trujillo and junior forward Katie Carroll also had 13 points apiece.

Rocky River junior forward Ciara Kessler led her team with 10 points.

Normandy 43, Bay 29 Sophomore guard Katlin Snyder netted 14 points as the Invaders won at the Great Lakes Classic at Midpark.

Normandy outscored the Rockets, 26-12, during the second and third quarters.

Shaker Heights 66, Massillon Perry 53 Guards Jordyn Peck and Chyriss Lockhart combined for 34 points in the Great Lakes Classic win.

Lockhart, a senior, converted nine field goals and one free throw for 19 points.

Shaker is ranked sixth in The Plain Dealer's preseason poll.

Magnificat 67, North Canton Hoover 63 Hoover missed a layup that would have tied the game, and the Blue Streaks made two free throws to ice the win at the Great Lakes Classic.

Hoover rallied from a 10-point deficit with about four minutes left.

Magnificat got 17 points from Stephanie Haas and 15 from Megan Barilla.

Amherst 71, Midview 37 Senior guard Julia Porostosky netted 19 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore point guard Brianna Shagovac added 17 points.

Midview got 22 points from senior guard Danielle Herwig.

Hockey

Hudson 4, Mentor 2 Jake Collins started the season with a hat trick at the Rocky River Thanksgiving Classic.

Goalies Dillione Picone and Alex Mezerko combined for 30 saves for the 1-0 Pirates.

Solon 11, Avon Lake 2 Four players scored at least two goals, including three by Corey Jeziorski in another Rocky River Thanksgiving Classic.

Elyria Catholic 6, North Olmsted 5 Senior defenders Dustin Myles and Mitchell Haszto each netted two goals for the winners at the Bruce Anderson Memorial Tournament in Parma.

Zak Sommer scored the game-winner, putting the Panthers ahead, 6-4, with 3:41 remaining. Senior Josh Escandon tallied 16 saves for the Panthers.

The game was tied, 3-3, entering the third period.

Senior forward Mike Konyesni scored twice for North Olmsted.

Steubenville, Ohio -- It is a mantra as old as "On any given Sunday," but significantly more poignant. It goes like this: "The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win."

Mogadore's Joe Scolaro, left, tackles Shadyside's Matt Duda in the second quarter of the Wildcats' 28-13 loss in a Division VI state semifinal game on Friday night. - (Karen Schiely / Akron Beacon Journal)

Steubenville, Ohio -- It is a mantra as old as "On any given Sunday," but significantly more poignant.

It goes like this: "The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win."

After keeping mistakes to a manageable number through 13 games, Mogadore had an uncharacteristic 14th game Friday and lost to Shadyside, 28-13, in a Division VI state semifinal game in Harding Stadium.

If there is a silver lining in losing in the state semifinals, it's that the Wildcats (13-1) won't have to worry about playing powerful Delphos St. John's in next week's state championship game in Canton's Fawcett Stadium.

Delphos, a five-time state champion and the top-ranked team in the state, humiliated Sidney Lehman Catholic, 49-0, in the other semifinal.

Despite blocking two punts, three-time state champ Mogadore failed to make it to the state championship game for the eighth time in the school's storied history simply because it made too many mistakes. Instead, Shadyside (13-1) will try to win its first.

The Wildcats, at a distinct size disadvantage along both lines, kept things competitive for the first 24 minutes, but the Tigers scored 21 straight points in the second and third quarters and had a 28-6 lead before hard-running Jake McAvinew scored on a 3-yard run for Mogadore with 6:42 to play.

Errors, physical and mental, did just as much to rob the Wildcats of an opportunity to keep things closer. They came in the form of nine penalties for 64 yards, two fumbles lost and eight dropped passes. Shadyside turned the ball over once.

"It probably wasn't one of our cleanest games of the year," said Mogadore coach Matt Adorni, who had his team in the playoffs for the 12th year in a row.

"We didn't make the plays we were able to make during the rest of the year. Still, we didn't let them get crazy and run away with it. Some nights the ball doesn't bounce your way, but there are a lot of kids who'd give anything to be standing here at 13-1. Tonight was just not our night."

McAvinew, who has played in more than 40 Mogadore victories during his workhorse career, led the Wildcats with 81 yards on 18 carries as the Tigers, from Belmont County, keyed on the 5-10, 210-pound senior.

Quarterback Adam Schrack completed 8 of 23 passes for 107 yards and probably deserved a better fate as his receivers had trouble holding onto the ball.

Shadyside quarterback Ellis Brown gave the Wildcats fits most of the night. The 6-0, 152-pound senior's statistics were not overwhelming -- he gained 30 yards on eight carries and completed just two of 11 passes for 55 yards -- but he avoided several sacks and kept drives going by picking up first downs.

Senior Brendon Sedinger led the Tigers with 102 yards on 29 carries, mostly in the second half when Shadyside slid into ball control mode.

The Wildcats got off to a rocky start when Shadyside's Matt Duda returned the first punt of the game 54 yards to the Mogadore two-yard line with the game less than four minutes old. Fullback Evan Marling (6-0, 235 pounds) bulled for the touchdown, and Taylor Brown -- no relation to the quarterback -- easily converted a two-point conversion.

Junior place-kicker Alex Roebken accounted for Mogadore's first-half points when he kicked field goals of 39 and 37 yards into the wind.

His second field goal came after junior Zach Heigelmann blocked a Shadyside punt, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Shadyside 9. They failed to get to the end zone after a Chance fumble on what looked like a promising option play lost 14 yards.

Shadyside capitalized on a Mogadore fumble when D.J. Shoemaker stripped the ball from Schrack during a sack in the second quarter, and Taylor Brown picked up the fumble and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.

Sedinger gave Shadyside a 21-6 lead on a 10-yard run in the third quarter after the Wildcats were called for one of three personal fouls on a punt return that gave the Tigers possession at the Mogadore 19.

Brown completed the 21-point spurt when he threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Duda with 2:23 left in the third.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott blamed the officials after Cavaliers 111-100 loss at Orlando. Magic center Dwight Howard attempted 24 of the Magic's 28 free throws.

Orlando, Fla. -- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott made it clear where to place the blame for Friday night's 111-100 loss to the Orlando Magic -- and it wasn't in his locker room.

"I thought our guys really competed tonight, I really did," he said after the Cavs dropped to 6-9. "I thought we played hard for the second straight game, and that's a good sign. That's something I was very proud to see our guys never give up.

"But it's hard when you're playing against eight people. That makes it a lot tougher. I'm just saying. There's five white jerseys and three with stripes. It's hard to play against all of them out there."

Scott thought Antawn Jamison was fouled a couple of times with no calls, and Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson each earned technical fouls for voicing their opinions to the referees in the second half.

The officials called 25 fouls on the Cavs and 20 on the Magic. Cleveland shot 20 free throws, while Orlando shot 28, 24 of them by Dwight Howard, who tied his career high for free throws attempted and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

But it wasn't the numbers that upset Scott. It was more the tone of the evening as set by referees Ed Malloy, Bennie Adams, Kevin Fehr.

"Just the fact that when you asked them a question about certain calls, it was 'I really don't know.' Or 'I can't guess. I really don't know,' " Scott said. "Get another job. I just don't understand it. Our guys fought and played hard. I know there's going to be some bad calls. I understand that's a part of the game. They are human. But not for 48 minutes. That's all I'm saying.

"They're going to miss calls, but they can't miss them all night long. Especially on one end."

Asked about the fine he's sure to incur from the NBA for those comments, Scott flashed a wry smile and said, "My checkbook's OK."

Then he added, "I truly feel we didn't get a fair shake tonight in the game."

Actually, after spotting the Magic a 10-point lead in the first quarter, the teams played about even the rest of the way. The difficult stretch came in the second quarter. After the Cavs closed to within 32-27, the Magic went on a 16-4 run that included four 3-pointers, two of them by Quentin Richardson.

That was a theme that played over and over again throughout the game. Every time Cleveland seemed poised to make a run, Orlando thwarted it with one of its 14 3-pointers.

"When they're knocking down that 3-ball, they're a tough team to beat," said Daniel Gibson.

After Howard scored 12 points in the first quarter in spite of some physical defense by Anderson Varejao, the Cavs decided to foul him before he could get to the basket. Howard wound up making 13 free throws, just about matching his season average of 53.5 percent. But once the Magic took a 62-49 lead at halftime, while hitting 55 percent from 3-point range (11-of-20), the game was essentially over.

Jamison finished with a season-high 22 points, while Williams added 20 points and eight assists. After one strip by Rashard Lewis knocked Williams down early in the third quarter, he sat on his butt under the Cavs basket and watched the Magic fastbreak the other way.

This is the best time of the season for Ohio State Buckeyes' fans. Colorful outfits and personalities will be on display in the stands when the Buckeyes take the field against the Michigan Wolverines.

View full sizeSeth Perlman, APJohn Chubb (left) and Jon Peters (right) cheer for the Buckeyes as they played Illinois in October.

College football rosters turn over season after season. Coaches fall from grace in a flash.

But those familiar game-day characters -- head coach look-alikes and fanatics whose painted mugs, scary hair and wild outfits attract TV cameras like moths to the back-porch light -- remain the constant.

They make personal appearances. (Some even hand out business cards. ) They are tailgate-party regulars. And for Ohio State-Michigan week, college football's most storied rivalry, these faithful fans will have their crazy, colorful, game-faces on....

Big Nut

Name: Jon Peters

Description: Paints face half scarlet, half gray, wears Ohio State jersey, striped Buckeye shorts, paints legs silver, wears scarlet or gray leg-warmers on arms, carries Brutus the Buckeye doll in one hand and huge buckeye nut in pocket for luck.

Hometown: Fremont

Age: 49

Personal: Married, with two daughters and son ("I call him 'My Little Peter,' 'cause my last name's Peters") and a grandson ("I call him 'Little Nut.'")

Day job: Works in materials department at Whirlpool Corp. in Clyde.

The kickoff: Started in 1995 when he won "Best Dressed" contest at local Ohio State-Michigan fundraiser; traces Ohio State passion to grandfather and great-grandfather, both OSU grads, and his first Buckeye game, a 22-0 loss to Michigan in 1976, in which each team had a standout from Fremont: Buckeye linebacker Bob Brudzinski and Wolverine tailback Rob Lytle, who died from a heart attack last weekend.

Pregame: Takes about two hours to become Big Nut; also prepares 50 buckeye necklaces to hand out at games.

Money-maker?: "Mrs. Big Nut would like it to be, but no. I like to bring a smile to someone's face. That's what it's all about."

Favorite Buckeye: Linebacker Chris Spielman. "He played with so much heart."

How survives the bye week: Does high school play-by-play on cable TV. "I'll catch a high school game somewhere...and count the days until the next Buckeye game."

Block O

Name: Dave Miller

Description: Can be identified by Block O shaved in head, 500 buckeyes strung around neck and face painted half scarlet, half gray.

Hometown: Malvern

Age: 41

Personal: Single; "No kids, no wife. An understanding girlfriend."

Day job: Project engineer for Motorola; travels for his job and worked all summer just north Ann Arbor, sporting his Block O scalp. "They stole the (Ohio State) decals off my truck."

The kickoff: Has been Block O about 3 years. Miller, a lifetime Ohio State fan, returned from a 2007 loss to Illinois and was Block O from then on. "I wanted some extra mojo for the Michigan game, and it was quite a hit with fans, so I continued." Now he makes four to six Buckeye games a year; also wears Block O get-up on yearly vacation to North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Pregame: Takes 45 minutes to an hour to become Block O. And, yes, he shaves his own head, using a mirror -- a skill he picked up in the Marines.

Money-maker?: "No, in fact, I've had people offer to buy the necklaces I carry around. I give them away."

Favorite Buckeye: Quarterback Rex Kern, although Miller is too young to have ever watched him. "I just always loved reading stories about him and how he played the game."

How survives the bye week: "I'll peruse the other Big Ten games or I'll throw in one of the great DVDs of the Bucks beating Michigan, or the Miami game (2003 Fiesta Bowl)."

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerLarry Lokai, also known as Buckeyeman, stands with Woody Hayes impersonator Roger Thomas as the Buckeyes take the field against Minnesota in 2008.

Buckeyeman

Name: Larry Lokai

Description: Guy in half-red, half-gray fright wig, face painted red with 13 gray stripes and seven buckeye necklaces around neck -- one strand for each Ohio State national championship and each Heisman Trophy winner, and 107 buckeye total nuts for each Ohio State-Michigan game.

Hometown: Urbana

Age: 68

Personal: Married, four grown children and 17 grandchildren, the oldest of which is an Ohio State freshman and third-generation Buckeye.

Day job: Urbana city councilman; retired high school agriculture teacher.

The kickoff: Had planned to become farmer after high school -- until he attended the Ohio State-Wisconsin game in 1962. "That game was the turning point in my life." Earned undergraduate and master's degrees from Ohio State; in fact, between him, wife, in-laws and siblings, his family has 18 degrees from there. Became Buckeyeman after winning a national fan scream-off in 2000. Now attends all Ohio State games, home and away.

Pregame: Takes 25 minutes; has transformation down to a science. On game day, he's up at 4 a.m., on road by 5 and in parking lot at 6:30.

Money-maker?: Lokai spends about 110 days a year on Buckeyeman appearances, such as Ohio State's "Becoming a Nut" freshman orientation. Sound lucrative? It's not. "I hate to tell my wife this, but it probably costs me somewhere around $7,000 to $8,000 a year."

Favorite Buckeye: Kicker Mike Nugent, because his mom attended Springfield Catholic Central High School with Lokai's sister.

How he survives the bye week: "Reconnect with the wife." Her birthday falls around Buckeyes bye week. So, each year, he makes good on promise to take her jewelry shopping in the Detroit area, where she grew up.

Buck I Guy

Name: John Chubb

Description: Wears white 10-gallon cowboy hat, 6-foot-long white cape with Ohio State athletic "Block O" logo, white pants and white shirt with matching logo.

Hometown: Columbus

Age: 50

Personal: Married, with three grown children.

Day job: Sells computer supplies.

The kickoff: Since 2003, donned outfit for fun; was born 3 miles from Ohio Stadium and lives 15 minutes from "Horseshoe"; a Buckeye fan since childhood, when his dad would return from day of hunting, young John would catch him up with game details.

Pregame: Takes about a half-hour to get his game-face on.

Money-maker?: "Absolutely not. Fan and fan only. It's for the love of the game." Attends all home games and drives to regional road games, buying tickets game by game. Most he's ever paid for a seat? "Handsomely, let's just say that."

Favorite Buckeye: "No hesitation at all. It's old number 45, Archie Griffin. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner and he's from Columbus."

How survives the bye week: "Wait on the next game to come."

Jim Tressel

Name: Dennis Singleton

Description: The other mild-mannered gent at Ohio State games in a gray sweater vest, tie and white shirt with sleeves rolled up.

Hometown: Huber Heights

Age: 62. "Five years older than Tressel. We both have two sons, two daughters."

Personal: Married, with four grown children.

Day job: Drives Pepsi truck.

The kickoff: People just started telling him he looked like the Buckeyes' coach. When his wife bought him a sweater vest, that clinched it. ESPN once called him "Jimposter." Causes a stir at high school games. Has attended more Ohio State games this season than usual, but is a reluctant character. "Well, I'm a little overwhelmed by it, but people sure get a kick out of it."

Pregame: Ready in minutes. "When I put a sweater vest on, I feel like Clark Kent putting on Superman's cape."

Money-maker?: "Oh, I wouldn't. I don't know if that would be appropriate. I wouldn't want to do anything that he would object to."

Favorite Buckeye: "Well, Archie (Griffin) has to be at the top of the list. But, certainly, Chris Spielman has to be up there."

How survives the bye week: Channel surfing college football on TV "for as long as I can stay awake."

View full sizeCourtesy of Jeff HolzhausenJeff Holzhausen, also known as Michigan SuperFan, wears a maize and blue Batman-like outfit to games.

Michigan SuperFan

Name: Jeff Holzhausen

Description: A maize and blue Batman-like fellow with sunglasses, a pointy-eared mask, cape, cowbell and megaphone.

Hometown: Chelsea, Mich., about 10 minutes from An Arbor.

Age: 37

Personal: Married with a 9-month-old son, named Logan, after the character in the X-Men and Wolverine comics and movies.

Day job: Manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan.

The kickoff: Earned three degrees at Michigan; debuted as SuperFan as a freshman in 1992; now sponsors a SuperFan student each year, paying for tickets for home and road games; hasn't missed an Ohio State-Michigan game since 1988.

Pre-game: It used to take over an hour. "Now I've got it down to 10, 15 minutes."

Money-maker?: "No, people have offered me money for appearances. I usually won't allow it. I tell them to make a donation to the university or whatever."

Favorite Buckeye: "(Former Ohio State coach) John Cooper, for obvious reasons."

Woody Hayes

Name: Roger Thomas

Description: Easy to spot -- even among 105,000 crazies -- in Ohio State cap, white short-sleeve shirt and Buckeye tie, black pants and the legendary coach's familiar glasses. (His hometown optometrist -- an Ohio State grad -- dug out a matching frame and customized with his prescription.)

Hometown: Tipp City

Age: 71

Personal: Married, with two grown children.

Day job: Commodity futures broker for 40 years.

The kickoff: Started about seven years ago. Woody likeness, even without get-up, is uncanny. He and wife of 44 years are huge college football fans. People would approach them at sports bars and call him "Coach." When owner of Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf invited him for a benefit, the character took off. Thomas had been a regular at games, but has since cut back because of age and health issues. But he hasn't curbed his Buckeye love. "They're the greatest football team in Ohio -- and that would include a couple of professional teams."

Pregame: To transform into Woody? "Oh, gee, about five minutes." (By the way, sounds like him, too.)

Money-maker?: Nope. "I get a lot of hugs and handshakes and smiles and stuff, and I'm not confused about who I am. I'm a messenger. I take messages for Woody."

Favorite Buckeye: "Golly, Woody Hayes. God love 'em, you know, he did a great job."

How survives the bye week: "Well, we watch football. We watch 'em all day Saturday when we don't go to Ohio State."

Chagrin Falls football coach Mark Iammarino felt if his team didn't have an answer for Orrville's running game, it was going to be a long night. It turned out the Tigers had an answer for everything the Red Riders threw at them and more in a 21-3 Division IV state semifinal game victory Friday night at Medina's Ken Dukes...

Chagrin Falls defensive end Austin Garofolo sacks Orrville quarterback Kyle Lichti in the second quarter of the Division IV semifinal game in Medina on Friday night. - (John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

Chagrin Falls football coach Mark Iammarino felt if his team didn't have an answer for Orrville's running game, it was going to be a long night.

It turned out the Tigers had an answer for everything the Red Riders threw at them and more in a 21-3 Division IV state semifinal game victory Friday night at Medina's Ken Dukes Stadium.

Chagrin Falls (13-1), ranked No. 12 in both The Plain Dealer and state poll, will play unranked Columbus Bishop Hartley (12-2) for the championship 11 a.m. Friday at Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Hartley edged defending champion and No. 8-ranked Kettering Alter, 29-28, to advance.

"You have to have a great defense in the postseason and we did a tremendous job tonight against a very talented team," said Iammarino. "That team has outstanding receivers, very good running backs, a strong offensive line and their quarterback threw for close to 2,000 yards.

"We wanted to make them throw in third-and-long situations and we were able to do that and for us to keep them out of the end zone, is just a tremendous accomplishment."

An understatement.

The Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division co-champions held Orrville to 92 yards on the ground and 29 yards through the air. Senior tailback Tre Simpson accounted for 67 of those rushing yards while sophomore quarterback Kyle Lichti completed just 2 of 20 passes for a mere 29 yards and four interceptions.

"We watched a lot of film on them this week," said Tigers junior safety Everett Dishong, who accounted for two picks. "We noticed they motion with their motion, they always go to their A-back's side and we just read it perfectly with the flood routes."

All the scoring was done in the first half as Chagrin Falls dented the scoreboard on the game's first possession, going 68 yards in 13 plays and capped by Jack Hinman's 3-yard run and Ricky Vannelli's extra-point kick. The drive was keyed by quarterback Timmy Porter's third-down pass to Bradley Munday, good for 31 yards.

Chagrin Falls had the ball two plays later thanks to a Nathan Lelonis interception and a 14-0 lead two minutes later, going 23 yards in five plays with Jack Campbell scoring on a 3-yard scamper.

Orville cut its deficit to 14-3 with 7:56 left in the first half when Dylan Tanner kicked a 30-yard field goal before Chagrin added the game's final score on Munday's 33-yard touchdown run.

"We knew if we prepared and did the right things, we'd be the best team on the field," said senior defensive end Austin Garofolo, who had three tackles for loss, including one of his team's four sacks. "Since we started scoring early, we got them out of their offense. They like to run, pulling the tackle and the guard, but they couldn't do that because they had to pass once they got behind."

Getting the big lead only fired up the Tigers' defensive unit.

"It's more of motivational factor to get our offense back on the field so they can score more because our team is all about putting the pressure on," added Garofolo.

Porter completed 7 of 13 passes for 84 yards while Munday gained 106 of the Tigers' 181 yards on the ground.

"We just couldn't get anything going, offensively, but you have to give [Chagrin Falls] a lot of the credit," said Orrville coach Doug Davault. "They stuffed us and everytime we thought we had a little bit of something going, they'd take it away.

"You know they want to run their counter and sweep, and they want to throw it a little bit but they give it to everybody and that's what makes them so tough to defend."

Steubenville, Ohio -- The last game for seniors Jake McAvinew, Kodey Chance and Kyle Cramer wasn't a thing of beauty. In fact, the Mogadore trio has probably forgotten much of Friday's 28-13 Division VI state semifinal loss to Shadyside. But what the Wildcat seniors left was a measuring stick for the next class to live up to.

Steubenville, Ohio -- The last game for seniors Jake McAvinew, Kodey Chance and Kyle Cramer wasn't a thing of beauty.

In fact, the Mogadore trio has probably forgotten much of Friday's 28-13 Division VI state semifinal loss to Shadyside. But what the Wildcat seniors left was a measuring stick for the next class to live up to.

Mogadore didn't make it to next Friday's state final at Canton Fawcett Stadium against Delphos St. John's like it had hoped, but the senior class finished a four-year career with a 44-7 record.

Included in that were four postseason appearances and the school's first trip to the state semifinals since 2002.

"We gave it our all," said McAvinew, who starred for the Wildcats as a fullback and defensive end. "We did it for each other and gave each other everything we had. I knew in my heart we'd be this good."

The Wildcats won the close games, winning games decided by 10 points or less four times. They also proved to be a second-half team, outscoring the opposition, 51-14, in the third and fourth quarters of the postseason before Friday's game.

"It was a fantastic season," Mogadore coach Matt Adorni said. "We probably doubled the amount of wins most people thought we were going to have. To play in this venue against another great program, it's what we pride ourselves on at Mogadore."

It did sting as Chance and Cramer declined to be interviewed, too overcome with emotion. But that's because the Wildcats (13-1) didn't play like they were accustomed to playing. They committed three personal foul penalties, dropped eight passes and were whistled for four illegal procedure penalties.

But they lived up to the legacy Mogadore football has forged.

While this particular loss hurts, the senior class finished with a winning record in the postseason at 6-4 and left a thumbprint at a school that owns three state championships.

"We gave it all we had," McAvinew said. "[The junior class] will play hard. They'll play to the end and never give up."

The squad will do it without McAvinew, who gained 1,486 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. It won't have Chance, who had more than 650 yards total offense and 10 touchdowns.

But it will do it with pride.

Last year was supposed to be the year for the Chagrin Falls Tigers, but here they are, once again playing in the Division IV state championship game. Last year's senior-dominated team didn't get it done, falling to Kettering Alter, but after Friday's 21-3 domination of Orrville, the Tigers did what nobody outside of their locker room thought they could...

Chagrin Falls running back Bradley Munday weaves through the Orrville defense in the first quarter during their Division IV state semi-final game. - (John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

Last year was supposed to be the year for the Chagrin Falls Tigers, but here they are, once again playing in the Division IV state championship game.

Last year's senior-dominated team didn't get it done, falling to Kettering Alter, but after Friday's 21-3 domination of Orrville, the Tigers did what nobody outside of their locker room thought they could do -- make a return trip.

"Nobody expected us to do this," said sophomore tailback Bradley Munday, who had 106 yards on 16 carries including a 52-yard touchdown. "Nobody had confidence in us, but we knew we could do it."

Senior quarterback Tim Porter, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 82 yards, admitted that he didn't expect to return to the championship game at the beginning of the season. But he didn't say it wouldn't happen, either.

"Anything's possible," he said. "You can do anything if you put your mind to it."

Chagrin took control of the game right from the start, taking the opening kickoff and piecing together a 13-play, 68-yard drive that ended on a 3-yard run by Jack Hinman. The Tigers had four successful third down conversions on the drive, including a 31-yard swing pass from Porter to Munday.

While Porter was in control the entire game, his Orrville counterpart, Kyle Lichti, struggled mightily. The sophomore entered the game having passed for nearly 2000 yards with a 49 percent completion rate, but against Chagrin Falls he completed just two of 20 attempts and was intercepted four times.

Munday wasn't a big part of the offense until the regular season ended. That's because Marc Geraci, one of the few returners from last year, was the centerpiece of the offense until being injured in the final regular season game.

"Marc is a great player, really he was the key to our offense," Munday said.

"But when he got hurt I knew I had to step up."

The 5-foot-8 sophomore has had more than 100 passing and receiving yards combined in each of the last three games.

"We knew they had lost a really good player, but this guy's better," Orrville coach Doug Davault said. "We knew he was their best player. The kid can flat-out play."

Munday scored the final touchdown in the second quarter on a 52-yard scamper up the right sideline.

While his Maple Heights teammates charged the field in triumph, Arron Pipkins remained on both knees near the end zone. Right down to the last play, Pipkins had been playing defense, making a final tackle in the Mustangs' 27-17 victory against Lake Catholic on Friday night in a Division II state semifinal at Solon's Stewart Field.

Maple Heights’ Mike Hollins, left, separates Lake Catholic’s Adam Urbania from the ball near the goal line during the Mustangs’ 27-17 victory Friday night in a Division II state semifinal game. - (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

While his Maple Heights teammates charged the field in triumph, Arron Pipkins remained on both knees near the end zone.

Right down to the last play, Pipkins had been playing defense, making a final tackle in the Mustangs' 27-17 victory against Lake Catholic on Friday night in a Division II state semifinal at Solon's Stewart Field.

Even when it was time to celebrate, the spent junior defensive tackle needed time to collect himself before getting into the good time.

"The defense stepped up," said Pipkins, whose team came in knowing it was going to have to contain Cougars' senior running back Richie Sanders. "We know he's a good runner. We tried to keep him going to the outside. He wasn't going to beat us up the middle."

An injured Sanders did not play in this game against Maple Heights a year ago, when the Mustangs won, 21-17. He came in averaging 8.6 yards per carry, totaling 2,049 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground.

He got his 30th touchdown on a 39-yard run one minute into the fourth quarter to cut the Maple Heights lead to 20-17. But for the most part, he had to work for his 114 yards on 22 carries.

Senior Donovan Garner got the satisfaction of going both ways. The starting center picked up defensive tackle duties at the start of the playoffs.

"Coach [Todd Filtz] thought I'd be good on the defensive side," said Garner, who finished his night on offense when the Mustangs used a 20-play drive for their final touchdown. "After watching film, we knew [Sanders] could blow people off the ball or stay low. We just wanted to contain him."

Garner said his team's touchdown 14 seconds before halftime, cutting the Lake Catholic lead to 20-6, helped on the defensive side as well.

"It carried over to the defense," he said. "We wanted to get the ball back and let them score again."

Senior defensive end Claybourne Miller said getting the score before halftime was key to building momentum. Holding Sanders to 39 yards in the first half let him know the defense was on the right track.

"We wanted to force him outside," said Miller, whose defense allowed 181 yards rushing and 86 yards passing. "We had the guys on the outside to catch him. When we were down, we told ourselves to keep our heads up."

Defensive end Kennedy Linston echoed the sentiments of the rest of the team. The Mustangs were not interested in who their next opponent would be in the title game.

"We don't care," he said. "We just care we are 14-0. We deserved it. We played our hearts out."

It's been said before -- defense wins championships.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

The first game of the season proved to be a perfect example of how fundamentals can win a basketball game as the No. 5-ranked Wadsworth Lady Grizzlies connected on 12 of 13 fourth-quarter free throws to close out a 62-53 win over the No. 17 Strongsville Lady Mustangs on Friday night. Wadsworth senior guard Taylor Woods converted all six...

The first game of the season proved to be a perfect example of how fundamentals can win a basketball game as the No. 5-ranked Wadsworth Lady Grizzlies connected on 12 of 13 fourth-quarter free throws to close out a 62-53 win over the No. 17 Strongsville Lady Mustangs on Friday night.

Wadsworth senior guard Taylor Woods converted all six of her fourth-quarter free throws and turned a five-point lead into an 11-point advantage in the game's final seconds. Eleven of Woods' 14 points came at the free-throw line.

"I was just pretending it was practice because we always practice free throws," Woods said. "I actually imagined there was no one in the gym and I was just sitting there shooting by myself. In practice, we do a lot of pressure situations, end-of-game stuff and that's what we practiced and worked for."

Wadsworth entered the fourth quarter with a 48-43 lead, which was built by the strong shooting of Lady Grizzlies junior guard Kara Long. She led the team with 15 points, 12 of which came in the second and third quarters, where Wadsworth outscored Strongsville by a combined 32-25 count.

"We just got into the flow of the game and everything was flowing well," Long said. "The first varsity game of the season, everybody's really nervous. You don't know how your team's going to look. Both teams played really hard and when you play hard, good things happen."

When Strongsville needed a fourth-quarter run, it relied on the team and not just one individual.

Lauren Vagt converted a lay-up, while Carly Thomas, Erica Schultz and Audrey Smolik followed with jump shots from the lane, wing and baseline, respectively.

Smolik poured in a game-high 21 points, while Thomas and Vagt added 15 and nine, respectively, which helped the Lady Mustangs take a three-point lead, 51-48, at the midway point of the fourth quarter.

The Lady Mustangs held Wadsworth to just one field goal over the final eight minutes. However, that one field goal came at a critical juncture. Down by a point after Strongsville started the fourth on an 8-0 run, Wadsworth's Jessie Gearhart registered a steal when the Mustangs lost possession while Trying to beat the pressure near half court.

Gearhart picked up the ball, drove to the hoop, converted a layup and drew the fifth foul from Strongsville's Nicole Lisi. After Gearhart's layup, the Lady Grizzlies remained in front for good.

"We were on a roll and I think their pressure does wear you down at some point," said Jeff Eicher, Strongsville's first-year coach."''"

"""'''''''"

Perhaps you've heard Maple Heights' football team has a little speed. Gather 'round now to hear how the Mustangs powered their way back to the state finals. With quarterback Shaq Washington running solo behind Maple's underrated offensive line, the Mustangs marched over and through Lake Catholic in the second half to defeat the Cougars, 27-17, in a Division II...

Maple Heights’ Kennedy Linston, left, and John Welcome team up to bring down Lake Catholic’s Bryan Blondeaux during the Mustangs’ 27-17 victory in a Division II state semifinal game Friday. - (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

Perhaps you've heard Maple Heights' football team has a little speed. Gather 'round now to hear how the Mustangs powered their way back to the state finals.

With quarterback Shaq Washington running solo behind Maple's underrated offensive line, the Mustangs marched over and through Lake Catholic in the second half to defeat the Cougars, 27-17, in a Division II state semifinal game Friday night at Solon's Stewart Field.

Maple Heights (14-0) plays for the state title next Friday against talent-laden Trotwood Madison (12-2) at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, where the Mustangs lost by 30 points in last year's championship game.

"We're playing football for the city," Washington said. "On our last drive, that's all I was thinking about. Really. The mayor's here. Everybody is here.

"Going into the season, the only goal was win the state championship. Now we have another chance, and I promise you, we will bring it home."

Lake Catholic finished 12-2, losing to Maple Heights in the state semis for the second year in a row.

"We played our butts off every game, every week, every day at practice," Lake Catholic defensive tackle Bobby Zappitelli said through tears amongst his teammates, who mourned the season's end on the field long after the game. "We played for each other and I'm so proud of every one."

Trailing, 10-6, at the half, Washington had just 24 yards rushing. He finished with 151 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He also completed 15 of 25 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns, with no turnovers.

"That Shaq is a talented kid," Zappitelli said. "He's going to have a good future. He's a great, great player."

Center Donovan Garner, guards Devin Williams-Revels and Kendrick Wilbert and tackles Alex Jones and Almonte Patrick kept Zappitelli, Florida recruit Chase Hounshell and the Cougars at bay in the second half.

Maple Heights had the ball three times after halftime and scored three touchdowns. It opened with a 12-play, 64-yard drive, and Washington threw a fourth-down, 8-yard TD pass to wideout Levon Perkins for a 13-10 lead.

The next drive covered 81 yards in 11 plays, including a 48-yard fake-punt run by Andre Stubbs. On a Washington 1-yard touchdown run, he leveled a linebacker at the goal line for a 20-10 lead.

Tailback Richie Sanders got Lake Catholic back in the game on a 76-yard drive. He gained 74 yards on five carries, and his 39-yard TD sprint cut the margin to 20-17 with 11:08 to play. Sanders finished with 114 yards rushing on 22 carries, and 2,163 yards this season.

The Mustangs then unleashed a 20-play, 87-yard drive while lined up in a quad-set -- four wideouts to one side and a fifth on the opposite side. That left Washington alone in the backfield behind his linemen.

"They're called the hogs for a reason," Washington said. "I told them during the last drive, it was up to them, and they stepped up big."

Washington carried the ball 14 times, including the final 10 plays covering 38 yards. He converted three third downs and fourth down. On third-and-10 from the Maple 13, he followed a Garner block and ran 25 yards. He picked up a fourth-and-2 at the Lake Catholic 30, and a third-and-1 at the 5. He scored from the 2.

"Lake Catholic had the best defensive line we've seen this year," Garner said. "We're very powerful, too. It's a good balance between speed and power."

Browns receiver Josh Cribbs admitted "it's not looking good" for him to return Sunday against the Panthers.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs fights for extra yards against the New England Patriots. Cribbs dislocated four toes against the New York Jests and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

Browns receiver Josh Cribbs, hobbling around in one of those omnipresent gray

walking boots, is battling to play Sunday against the Panthers, but admitted he's a longshot.

"I'll be honest, it's not looking good," he said Friday. "I'm trying to make a push for it and I'm not off the table yet, but I haven't practiced all week."

Cribbs, who suffered four right dislocated toes and a foot injury during the Jets game two weeks ago, sat out again Friday and is listed as questionable, meaning there is a 50-50 chance he'll play. He was questionable last week and sat out the 24-20 loss to the Jaguars.

"I'm just moving around, doing stuff off the grid so to speak, trying to see where I'm at," he said.

Cribbs said it's not the toes that are keeping him sidelined, but the foot.

"When my toes were jammed, they were pushed back into the soft tissue of my foot," he said. "So it inflamed the ball of my foot where I plant, and on the top. That's basically what's keeping me out, the inability to plant. I can't press down on my foot because of the pain."

Cribbs said if he returns, it will most likely be on a limited basis.

"But at the same time, if I do get out there and it starts feeling better during the game, I'm not going to be kept out of any role that I need to be in. I'll do what I have to do to help my team win, regardless of my pain."

Browns coach Eric Mangini, who said he is "pretty optimistic" Cribbs will play, also said Cribbs' role would most likely be limited.

"I think that's a starting point for us -- kicks and punts -- and then we'll see where he is with receiver play and Wildcat and stuff like that," said Mangini. "With Josh, if he's playing you know he's going to want to play everything all the time. He'll want to run down the kicks, he'll want to do it all."

Mangini said the goal is to get Cribbs to the game and if "it's going well and he feels good and there are no setbacks, it may increase as the game goes on."

Cribbs said he doesn't want to rush back and risk re-injury.

"I don't want to come back if I can't be me," he said. "The worst thing I can do is come back too soon and hurt myself more and have a setback when there's six game left. I just want to be sure that I can be myself and play up to my potential without having to be limited."

Cribbs said it killed him to watch the loss to Jacksonville on TV, a game in which the Browns scored just 10 points off six takeaways, including only three points by the offense.

"I've only missed [three games] since I've been here, so it was pretty tough for me to sit and watch the game," he said. "I basically felt helpless. I kept turning the TV off and hoping that things happened in our favor. It's heartwrenching to watch us play from a fan standpoint and not be able to go out there and help."

The Browns discovered the hard way what life without Cribbs can be like. With one of their most dangerous players at home, the Browns were one-dimensional on offense, focusing too much on running back Peyton Hillis. The five times the offense got the ball after takeaways (Abe Elam scored on a fumble return on the other), it managed no first downs, no completions and a net of minus-9 yards.

"I feel like I could've helped," said Cribbs. "I'm sure a lot of the guys feel like that. I'm sure [linebacker] Scott Fujita probably feels like if he were in the game, one more turnover would've been created. I feel like anyone who was out feels like they could've done something to alter the game for the better."

He said he has to fight the feeling the offense and special teams isn't the same without him. Cribbs is on offense and special teams at least 50 percent of the time.

"It's a feeling that you just have to live with," he said. "You just have to hope that your team can survive without you, and I know they can without me because they did excellent. They did a great job. We just had to find a way to win at the end. This was one of those "what-if" games, and there have been so many of them throughout this whole season."

Cribbs said "if it's pain, I'll push through it. If it's more injury than pain, I'll have to sit myself down and do what's smart. My biggest feat at this point is coming back too early and re-injuring it."

With a win Saturday the Buckeyes would set the school record for consecutive wins over Michigan.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerA win over Michigan would give the Buckeye a share of its sixth straight Big Ten title tying the mark set by the Buckeyes during the 1972-1977 seasons.

Columbus -- Ohio State is shooting for a six and a seven today.

The seven -- seven straight wins over Michigan, which would set the OSU record for the Buckeyes' longest winning streak in the rivalry -- would be dominating, but it could happen again. Get another coach with the right approach and hope the maize and blue hits a lull, and Ohio State could run off another streak between, say, 2024 and 2030.

But the six? If the Buckeyes get the six -- claiming at least a share of a sixth straight Big Ten title, tying the all-time conference record set by the Buckeyes of 1972-77 -- that'll never happen again. Because everything's changing after this season, and winning a Big Ten title won't be what it was.

"It would be special," fifth-year senior offensive lineman Andrew Miller said. "I've been part of the teams that have beaten Michigan as many times as they have and they won titles and I would stress all those things are really important to us. It wasn't, 'Oh, you're at Ohio State, you expect to be great.' You're human like anyone else, so you really enjoy those successes."

There hasn't been a national title in this six-year stretch, yet there's no doubt these players are making history and continuing a kind of conference control that won't be as easy once a Big Ten championship game debuts next season. In 14 years of a Big 12 title game, Oklahoma owns the best run with three straight titles. In 18 years of an SEC title game, Florida won four straight early, but the league hasn't seen even a repeat title game champion since Tennessee in 1997-98.

If the Buckeyes get to six, probably three will have been shared, with Penn State in 2005 and 2008 and this year with Wisconsin and/or Michigan State unless both are upset today. During the '72-77 run, five of the six OSU titles were shared -- all of them with Michigan. So just getting to the title game will be difficult -- the Buckeyes would have lost the title game tiebreaker to Penn State in both '05 and '08 and would lose it to Wisconsin this season. That's three title chances gone. And then you have an extra game to win against a good team. Another six-pack will be far more difficult.

Today, like so often in the past, the Ohio State-Michigan game may help create a Big Ten champion, then both teams get more than a month to recover and prepare for a bowl. Starting next season the game can only help set up a Big Ten championship. That could be better or worse, but certainly different.

"You play it like it's the last game in the world, so I don't know about an [end of an] era," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "Maybe some of those by-products will be added, but I don't know how you could lose anything from this game. I just can't conceive of that."

But how will you play like it's the end of the world when another game may be a week away?

"Well, I guess it's all from your perspective," Tressel said. "When you play and coach, if you get to play the next week, it's, hey, it's only a week until we get to play again."

At least the Ohio State-Michigan game will remain at the end of the regular season, which, you'll remember, was a flash point of debate early this season when the Big Ten divisions were created. The Buckeyes and Wolverines will be split, meaning they could meet in a title game, but the timing of the regular-season game was maintained.

"Now, you beat Michigan and you have to go lay it on the line on the field one more time the following week," former Buckeye linemen and current radio analyst Jim Lachey said. "That could change how you play that game. If you've got your star quarterback hurt, do you hold him out until the Michigan game? Now you could hold him out until that [championship] game. It won't be the end-all, be-all because there still will be another game after it. It could dampen it a little bit."

It will change what it means to be a Big Ten champion. So tying a bow on this era by tying the all-time record would be appropriate for what has been a historic time to be a Buckeye.

"I think you always want to be part of history," OSU senior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. "That's why they put the records up there and they keep track of the streaks and everything. But I think most of the time breaking those records is just a product of doing everything right when you're supposed to be doing it."

From Troy Smith to Todd Boeckman to Terrelle Pryor. From Santonio Holmes to Ted Ginn Jr. to Dane Sanzenbacher. From Antonio Pittman to Beanie Wells to Dan Herron. From A.J. Hawk to James Laurinaitis to Brian Rolle. From Ashton Youboty to Malcolm Jenkins to Chimdi Chekwa. From Nick Mangold to Jim Cordle to Mike Brewster.

"I think this is what you're used to, I think this is the caliber of player you're used to," Miller said. "You start every season, and it's a reminder, not to sound bold here, but not every team is as good as we are. So there's a realization and it happens every year. As the seasons progress, you know you're a special team and this is a special tradition and a special place."

Ohio State is pulling away after a scoreless first quarter.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta / Associated PressBrian Rolle controls Denard Robinson on this first-quarter run by the Michigan quarterback in Saturday's game at Columbus.

UPDATE: Ohio State 37, Michigan 7, start of fourth quarter

* At this point, I'm just surprised Michigan managed to keep it scoreless for the first quarter.

UPDATE: Ohio State 34, Michigan 7, 9:12 left third quarter

* A Dan Herron 98-yard touchdown run is brought back to the 19-yardline because of an iffy holding call on Dane Sanzenbacher. It was still an 89-yard run for Herron and led to a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27 points.

UPDATE: Ohio State 24, Michigan 7, halftime

* Terrelle Pryor was 15 of 21 for 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the first half. He also ran eight times for 29 yards. Denard Robinson was 7 of 15 for 76 yards, and he ran 15 times for 101 yards.

UPDATE: Ohio State 24, Michigan 7, 3:06 left second quarter

* Terrelle Pryor steps up nicely inside a poor blitz and finds DeVier Posey, who then runs through a wide-open middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown. Michigan defense now looking like the Michigan defense.

Meanwhile, Denard Robinson has left the game with a pair of dislocated fingers on his left hand. Rich Rodriguez said at halftime that Robinson's status would be assessed in the locker room.

UPDATE: Ohio State 17, Michigan 7

* Jordan Hall, one of the two upbacks with Jaamal Berry as the deep back, takes the kickoff at the 15 and returns it 85 yards for a touchdown. He is mobbed in the end zone, with his high school teammate Terrelle Pryor part of the pile. Jamie Wood gets the last block on the Michigan kicker.

UPDATE: Ohio State 10, Michigan 7, 8:02 left second quarter

* Denard Robinson was very good on that 11-play, 80-yard drive for the Wolverines, the final 1-yard touchdown run set up by a 21-yard Robinson run. Michigan is going to move the ball, and the Buckeyes need to answer now after a nice touchdown drive on their last possession. 

UPDATE: Ohio State 10, Michigan 0

* That may have been Terrelle Pryor's best play in his career against Michigan so far, as he retreated back to midfield, about 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage with three Michigan defenders chasing him, escaped to his left and found Taurian Washington along the sideline for a 13-yard gain, setting up a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher.

Michigan is still outgaining Ohio State 133 yards to 132 yards but the Buckeyes have converted their drives while the Wolverines have not.

UPDATE: Ohio State 3, Michigan 0, 14:52 left second quarter

* A 33-yard field goal by Devin Barclay ended a 10-play, 74-yard drive that took 4:01 off the clock. The Buckeyes had gone three plays and out on their first two series.

Ohio State 0, Michigan 0, end of first quarter

* Anyone see this coming?

Starting with 2007, the Browns have had multiple Pro Bowl players three years in a row. Six were selected after '07, three after '08 and two after '09.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter / The Plain DealerJosh Cribbs hasn't had a big season on special teams, but his past successes have earned him the fans' vote so far for this year's Pro Bowl. Will the Browns have multiple representatives? Tony Grossi breaks down the candidates.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Guessing which Browns might win Pro Bowl recognition used to be an exercise in futility.

From their rebirth as an expansion team in 1999 through the 2006 season, the Browns sent exactly one player to the post-season all-star game. That was linebacker Jamir Miller after the 2001 season.

But starting with the fluky, 10-win season in 2007, the Browns have had multiple Pro Bowl players three years in a row. Six were selected after '07, three after '08 and two after '09.

That trend should continue this season.

Fan balloting is no exact indication of how the final teams will be picked, of course, but the early returns are encouraging to the Browns. Left guard Eric Steinbach and return specialist Josh Cribbs were the leading vote-getters at their positions in the first results released by the NFL.

Steinbach has never made the Pro Bowl in seven previous season, three with the Browns. The fact he showed up No. 1 in the first batch of voting on nfl.com may be a case of astute voting, ballot-stuffing, or both. He certainly shares credit in the Browns' revived running game.

Cribbs' placing obviously is an example of high-visibility name recognition garnered over his last four seasons. He's rewritten record books, been on the ESPN highlight reels and earned two Pro Bowl berths.

Cribbs is winning votes on reputation alone because this obviously has not been a great year for him. But reputation goes a long way, and a few TDs down the stretch could make him a legitimate choice by the end of the year.

It's just that other Browns are more deserving. Here's a look at the other possible Pro Bowl candidates on the Browns:

• Left tackle Joe Thomas: OK, so John Abraham ate him up and Seneca Wallace paid for it with a high ankle sprain. But his reputation (three Pro Bowls in three years) could overcome one really bad game. And other than Baltimore's Michael Oher, name another tackle that's a slam-dunk?

• Running back Peyton Hillis: He's sixth in yards (774) and tied for third in rushing touchdowns (eight). He'll need a big finish to knock four of the following out of the mix: Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, Rashard Mendenhall and Ray Rice.

• Fullback Lawrence Vickers: He has more highlight blocks than perennial winner Le'Ron McClain. After he knocked hard on the door last year, it just might open.

• Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin: He's deserving, but will need more opposing coaches to talk him up like Rob Ryan to gain recognition. There's unbelievable competition in Haloti Ngata, Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton, Richard Seymour and Terrence Knighton.

• Linebacker Scott Fujita: He was playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber before his knee injury. Missing four to six games cost him any chance. Fujita was fifth in voting among outside linebackers. He's the only other Browns player to crack the top five at his position.

• Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand: He's made it two times and always is a candidate to be named by the AFC coaching staff. Special teams coaches know he's among the best.

Fan voting continues on nfl.com through Dec. 20. Players and coaches vote on Dec. 22-23. Supposedly, each vote counts one-third toward the total. Teams are announced on Dec. 28.

The Buckeyes use a 24-point second quarter to take control over their old rivals, as Jim Tressell picked up his seventh consecutive win over Michigan.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerJordan Hall's kickoff return for a touchdown gave Ohio State immediate breathing room after Michigan had closed the Buckeyes' lead to 10-7 midway through the second quarter. The Wolverines, who had dominated the game statistically to that point, never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State learned a valuable lesson during its seventh straight win over Michigan on Saturday.

The Buckeyes need to work on their celebrations.

While tying a Big Ten record by earning a share of its sixth straight conference title, Ohio State's 37-7 victory over the Wolverines was so thorough -- including a Jordan Hall kickoff return for a touchdown, 175 rushing yards from Dan Herron, 220 yards passing and two touchdowns from Terrelle Pryor and a defense that held Michigan 30 points under its scoring average -- that the biggest problems came in the end zone.

Ohio State was called three times for 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after players formed their hands into "O"s as the special Nike gloves that were part of their throwback uniforms were designed to do. After one call, the referee even explained to the fans that the call was for "giving a sign to the crowd."

"I don't think we'll be wearing those gloves ever again," OSU senior offensive lineman, and Michigan transfer, Justin Boren said after the win.

Trying to explain why the officials kept flagging the Buckeyes was the only thing that furrowed the brow of Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who is now 9-1 against Michigan. The rest of the game gave Tressel and the No. 8 Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) a lot to enjoy after sharing the conference crown with Wisconsin and Michigan State.

"What our guys enjoy and what our staff enjoys, we enjoy the journey," Tressel said. "It's the thrill of the challenge. It's hard to do. ... The process of chasing the championship, to me, is the fun."

That fun should lead Ohio State to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 4 with the Buckeyes' record, fan base and ability to draw TV ratings virtually assuring them of an at-large BCS bid. Wisconsin should claim the Big Ten's automatic Rose Bowl bid by finishing ahead of Ohio State in the final BCS standings next weekend.

The Sugar Bowl has the first pick of at-large teams and is unlikely to pass on Ohio State in favor of, for instance, a team like Michigan State. As for a potential opponent, if South Carolina upsets No. 2 Auburn in the SEC Championship next week, the Gamecocks would earn an automatic Sugar Bowl invite.

If Auburn wins and heads to the national title game, the Sugar Bowl would probably pick another SEC team to fill the spot, with 10-2 Arkansas the strongest candidate after beating LSU on Saturday.

"Our dream is to go to the Rose Bowl again," senior middle linebacker Brian Rolle said, "but whatever bowl game we're offered, we'll take it."

The original dream was to reach the BCS National Championship in Glendale, Ariz., and Pryor was still saying "you never know, your never know," about those title dreams. Not gonna happen. But after losing at Wisconsin on Oct. 16, the Buckeyes' finished on a five-game winning streak while striving for the next best thing.

"We feel like we proved ourselves," senior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. "We're playing our best football at the end of the year, and we've been in some tough games, but we've been resilient. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's been incredible. It hasn't been perfect, but I don't have any regrets."

Michigan (7-5, 3-5) and coach Rich Rodriguez have plenty of them, with the job status of the third-year coach expected to be the topic at hand in Ann Arbor this week.

"I can definitely understand the talk," Boren said. "When you've lost in this game, and he's lost three straight, I'm sure it's tough."

With the 112th-rated defense in the country, the Wolverines hung tough early, forcing Ohio State to punt after three plays on their first two drives and holding the game scoreless through the first quarter. Boren said the Buckeyes were coming to the line with two plays, checking into one and then watching Michigan shift its defense before the snap.

But once the pass game found its footing, and helped open up the run game, it was over.

"The defense played well and we finally got moving and got on the scoreboard and that was all she wrote," Pryor said.

After a Devin Barclay field goal early in the second quarter put Ohio State ahead, Pryor's seven-yard touchdown pass to Sanzenbacher increased the lead to 10-0 minutes later.

Michigan answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive to cut the lead to 10-7, but when Hall returned the next kickoff 85 yards for a score and a 17-7 lead, Michigan's bubble burst.

"They worked very hard to go down and get their touchdown, and all of a sudden it took us 20 seconds to answer," Tressel said.

At Wisconsin, it was a Badgers' kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the game that began the Buckeyes' demise. This time, Ohio State's special teams turned the tide, and kept this rivalry right where it has been since Tressel came to Columbus -- firmly in the Buckeyes' hands.

Seven straight wins over Michigan. Six straight Big Ten titles, tying the streak set by the 1972-77 Buckeyes. And 11 wins against one loss.

"I'm very proud of that. After Wisconsin we could have laid down and died, but nobody on this team was going to do that," junior center Mike Brewster said. "This is the best season I've had here. My freshman year we had three losses, sophomore year we had two losses and this year we have one and we've got to keep it going. So 11-1, I can live with."

It leaves something for his senior year, too, a number of losses that would look a lot like the sign the Buckeyes were forming with their gloves.

"I'm hoping it's zero," Brewster said. "But we won't go there yet."

Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma City, the power play and Ryan Stoa dovetailed to help Lake Erie win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As of mid-November, the Monsters had two glaring weaknesses -- one collective, one individual. Their power play was almost comically bad, and prospect center Ryan Stoa kept misfiring.

The weaknesses are now strengths.

Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma City, the power play and Stoa dovetailed to help Lake Erie win, 5-3, at The Q.

Stoa authored easily his best game of the season, scoring two goals -- both on the power play -- and working hard at the other end. His second goal was sensational.

Stoa has bagged six goals in his last six games after an o-fer in 16 games to begin the season. As a rookie in 2009-2010, Stoa notched 23 goals in 54 games for Lake Erie and two in 12 for the parent Colorado Avalanche.

"Early in the year, I didn't think I was playing terribly," Stoa said. "I just wasn't getting the bounce here or the bounce there."

The Monsters (11-9-2-2) have won five of eight. They finally solved the expansion Barons, who had beaten them in the first three of a six-game season series, including 3-2 in overtime Friday night at The Q.

The Barons (13-7-1-1) slipped to 6-2-0-0 on the road. They lost despite a 31-18 advantage in shots, 24-8 in the final two periods.

Lake Erie took a 1-0 lead at 7:49 of the first when center Mark Olver punched in a rebound. Olver had a goal Friday night.

With the Monsters on the power play at 19:17, Stoa worked free and used the backhand to knock a rebound into an open net.

The Monsters extended their streak of games with a power-play goal to five. Before the run commenced, they had not gone back-to-back games with a power-play tally.

Oklahoma City pulled within 2-1 early in the third period. Defenseman Jeff Petry, son of former Detroit Tigers right-hander Dan Petry, beat goalie Trevor Cann while the Barons had the man-advantage.

Scoring against the Monsters' penalty kill qualifies as a feat. They entered ranked third in the AHL with an 88.5-percent efficiency. At home, their 94.7-percent mark was best in the league.

Barons center Brad Moran tied it with an even-strength goal at 3:42 of the third. At that point, the tired Monsters appeared to be reeling. But they righted themselves in a hurry behind goals from Ben Walter (4:20) and Kevin Montgomery (power play, 7:38).

Oklahoma City cut the deficit to 4-3 before Stoa's power-play goal at 17:45. Stoa refused to be denied, fighting off his man and firing the puck into an open net. He left his feet after being pushed.

"Coach harps on me all the time to take the puck wide, and that's what I did," he said. "Before I knew it, I was upside down."

Lake Erie finished 3-for-5 on the power play. Its eight power-play goals in the last five games are two more than its total from the previous 19 games. "Even when we were struggling, I thought we'd have a good power play," Quinn said. "We've been getting pucks to the net and haven't been standing still."

The Monsters completed a stretch of eight games in 11 days, going 5-2-1-0.

"I couldn't be more proud of the guys," Quinn said. "They competed hard throughout, and now they'll get some well-deserved rest."

The Monsters' next game is Friday against Chicago at home.