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New Ohio license, check system still causing confusion

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Ohio's new automated hunting and fishing licensing and game check system has arrived, and many sportsmen still have questions and complaints.

 

Deer Hunting and Game Check 2011-12.jpgThe White-Tailed Deer Hunting & Game Check brochure outlines the new licensing and check system. It is available from the Ohio Division of Wildlife by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting the district office in Akron. Many wildlife officers have the brochure, and it can be downloaded from wildohio.com.

 Jamey Graham has been on a mission, introducing hunters and anglers to Ohio's new automated licensing system now in effect. Many sportsmen have been critical of the new system, or hate the break from tradition. A few believe it will encourage poaching.

The Wild Ohio Customer Relationship Management System (WOCRMS) is encouraging sportsmen to buy their licenses and permits at the Ohio Division of Wildlife's Internet site, although they can still be purchased from a license agent.

Causing the most controversy is a game check system that short-circuits the traditional trip to a deer or wild turkey check station by allowing hunters to check their game via telephone or the Internet.

 "The No. 1 question I hear is whether hunters now have to check their deer or wild turkey, since they don't have to physically take them to a traditional check station." said Graham. "Not only must they check their game, but they must do it by 11:30 p.m. on the day the deer or turkey was killed."

 A wildlife communications specialist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Graham has been very visible at sportsmen's events, club meetings and banquets, fishing and hunting shows and county and state fairs. Here are the most common questions fired at Graham over the months, and facts about the WOCRMS.

 Q: How do I check in a deer or turkey?

A: There are three ways. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE or 1-877-TAGITOH. Visit the ODOW sites, wildohio.com or ohiogamecheck.com. Or visit a traditional license agent.

Q: Any exceptions?

 A: Landowners who do not need to buy a license or permit can't check in by telephone. They must go to a traditional license agent or on-line to check their game.

Q: Must I still tag my deer or turkey before moving it?

A: Yes.

 Q: Since hunters don't have to physically check in a deer, won't that encourage people to not check in their game?

 A: There is no goof-proof method to stop someone from not checking their game. Poachers broke game laws under the old system. They'll still try to do it. The new system lets the DOW immediately determine whether a deer or turkey has been checked, giving wildlife officers an excellent tool to stop poaching.

Wildlife officials insist the agency's new licensing and check system provides instant information to help them to enforce game laws, and keep tabs on deer harvested by hunters around the state. Some sportsmen worry the new system will encourage poaching, such as these trophy deer. They were illegally harvested in Knox and Coshocton counties by a Lorain man and subsequently confiscated by Ohio wildlife officers Pete Novatny (left) and Barry Henning.

Q: How do we know the system works?

A: More than a half-dozen states are successfully using this type of system.

Q: How do I find a traditional license agent to buy my license or check my game, since they're not in the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations brochure any more?

A: Call the DOW, or go to the DOW's Internet site.

 Q: How can I prove I've checked my deer or wild turkey?

A: You'll be given a confirmation number, no matter how it's checked. That number can quickly be matched to the hunting license and permit, preventing abuse. 

 Q: How can the new system be more convenient? I liked visiting my old check station. 

 A: Sportsmen can check game around the clock. They can keep a copy of their license or permit stored in their computer, should they lose one of them.

Q: What are all the tags for on a deer hunting permit?

A: From the bottom up, the tags are to a) temporarily tag a deer after it is killed; b and c) permanently tag a deer's head that is left with a taxidermist and venison dropped off at a processor.

Q: Any tips?

 A: Carry licenses and permits in a waterproof container. Have a pen ready when you call to check wild game, so you can jot down the confirmation number. It must be written on the deer or turkey permit.

Need more help? Visit wildohio.com and watch a short video on the WOCRMS.


NBA officially postpones camps, cancels 43 exhibition games

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Cavaliers lose three preseason games, two at home

David STern.JPGNBA Commissioner David Stern and the league's owners are hoping to find a solution to their financial dilemma ... any solution should include a hard salary cap.
As expected, the NBA announced Friday the indefinite postponement of training camp and the cancellation of 43 exhibition games as league owners and locked-out players remain without a new labor deal.

No talks are scheduled, but the two sides are expected to meet again next week after reporting no progress Thursday.

The announcement cancels two Cavaliers pre-season home games (Milwaukee/ Oct. 11 and New Orleans/ Oct. 15) and one road game (Orlando/Oct. 13). It's likely more exhibition games will be lost as owners and players look to resolve a lockout that began July 1.

"We have regretfully reached the point on the calendar where we are not able to open training camps on time and need to cancel the first week of preseason games," deputy commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "We will make further decisions as warranted."

Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 overall pick in June, said he remains hopeful a deal can be struck soon.

 "I'm real optimistic," Irving said during an elementary school appearance in Green. "There's going to have to be give on both sides. Once that gets figured I think the season will go right along."

Some of his union brethren are bracing for a long stalemate, however. Celtics guard Ray Allen told the Associated Press he's willing to sacrifice the entire season for the long-term security of players.

"Nobody wants to miss a year," he said. "But I'm prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us."

Irving hinted that some of his new Cavaliers teammates might begin players-only workouts, similar to what some football teams did during the NFL lockout. He mentioned Ohio State as a possible location.

"Nothing is set in stone," Irving said.  
 

 

Orlando Brown, former Cleveland Browns player, found dead

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Former Cleveland Browns player found dead.

orlando.jpgFormer Cleveland Browns lineman Orlando Brown, 40, found dead.

Former Cleveland Browns lineman Orlando Brown has been found dead in his downtown Baltimore home.

In a Baltimore Sun article:

Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Brown's death at the beginning of his news conference with reporters on Friday afternoon. City police and fire officials confirmed that they were at the player's home at the Harborview complex in South Baltimore.

Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said medics were called after the player was found unresponsive in his home in the 1200 block of Harbor Island Walk. Medics called police to the scene at about 11 a.m. as a matter of protocol, and police say there were no signs of foul play or any initial indications as to the cause of death. The state medical examiner will perform an autopsy.

Brown began his career with the Browns in 1994. In 1999, Brown was hit in the eye with a penalty flag, causing significant injuries and leading to an injury settlement with the NFL.

 

 
 

Wayne Simmonds, of the Philadelphia Flyers, is taunted with banana peal

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Black hockey player is insulted by fan during game on Thursday night.

wayne.jpgWayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds has been dealt a huge amount of racial slurs as he climbed the hockey ladder, writes Frank Seravalli of Philly.com, but those experiences did nothing to prepare him for Thursday night.

A fan threw a banana peel at Simmonds as he skated in alone on a shootout attempt during a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in London, Ontario.

"I caught it from the side of my eye," Simmonds said. "It was a banana. Hopefully, that wasn't directed towards me being black.

"Because if it was, that's just somebody being ignorant."

The banana peel, thrown from the upper deck, landed directly in Simmonds path toward Red Wings goalie Jordan Pearce during the shootout.

After the game, some of Simmonds' teammates quietly whispered inside the locker room, shaking their heads in disgust.

Sadly, Simmonds said he has come to expect things like that - even in 2011.

"When you're a black man playing in a predominantly white man's sport, you've got to come to expect things like that," Simmonds said. "Over the past 23 years of my life, I've come to expect some things like that. But I'm older and more mature now, I kind of just left things roll off [my back]. I try not to think about stuff like that."

A similar incident happened in 2002 when Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Kevin Weekes, also black, had a banana thrown at him in Montreal during a playoff series. Former Florida Panthers forward Peter Worrell had also experienced the same racial threats.

 

High school football: Week 5 - Live Twitter updates

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Get live updates from high school football games across Northeast Ohio tonight.

svsm.JPGView full sizeSt. Vincent-St. Mary takes on Archbishop Hoban tonight at Infocision Stadium in Akron.

High school football hits its midway point this week and cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer have Northeast Ohio covered.

You can check out a live scoreboard, see game recaps and photos at cleveland.com/hssports and get real-time scores via Twitter Friday night by searching the hashtag #pdvarsity. Also, if you're at a game tonight, tweet updates using that hashtag.


Here is a list of games The Plain Dealer will have reporters at tonight:

Don't forget to follow The Plain Dealer's writers on Twitter for updated scores and more:

Kristen Davis: @CleveHSsports
Joe Maxse: @JoeMaxse
Tim Warsinskey: @TimsTakePD
Tim Rogers: @TimRogersPD
Bob Fortuna: @BobFortuna


Cleveland Browns News and Notes with Shurmur, McCoy, Cribbs and Hardesty (video)

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Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot talks with players as they prepare for the 0 - 2 Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Watch video


Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot talks with players as they prepare for the 0 - 2 Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday.

Orlando Brown --- 1970 to 2011: Football helped him find a life with limits to violence

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Here's a look back on an Orlando Brown feature story in The Plain Dealer in 1995.

obrown.jpgOrlando Brown was found dead today.
Editor's note: Former Cleveland Browns' lineman Orlando Brown, 40, was found dead today. Here's a look back on a story written by Mark Kay Cabot in 1995.

 

When Browns right tackle Orlando Brown was a freshman at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, he returned to the mean streets of Washington, D.C., to attend the funeral of his 14-year-old cousin.

He had warned his mother, Catherine, not to attend the funeral, that it could be dangerous, but she insisted. So Brown made the trip home to accompany her. 

"While everyone was viewing the body, five dudes walked in out of nowhere, started kicking the casket, threw it on the floor and started shooting the body up," said Brown. "Then they walked back out. Ever since then, when someone under 21 dies in D.C., they have police guarding the door and they lock it after a certain time so it doesn't happen again."

From that point on, to Brown, "D.C." stood for Death Certificate, and he vowed he would never go back. Not for good, anyway. And football became his ticket out.

"When you grow up on the streets in D.C., you have to take the attitude that you were either going to get killed or you were going to have to shoot someone," said Brown. "I didn't want to sit up in the house all the time, so I went out on the streets. But after seeing so many people get killed, I said it's not for me. With all those guns around, I didn't want to end up taking someone's life over a jacket."

Never mind that Brown had already nearly reached his full size of 6-7, 340 pounds. Guns are the great equalizer.

"I've been shot at," said Brown. "If you're a young black man in D.C., who hasn't been? I grew up fighting for my life."

When Brown was at Woodson High in Washington, his football coach helped keep him off the streets.

"If I was out late on the corner, he'd find me and take me home," said Brown. "If I didn't show up for school, he'd come and pick me up. He stayed on me. I owe him a lot."

Brown began his college career as a defensive lineman at Central State and transferred to South Carolina State, where he was converted to offensive left tackle his senior year. He was signed by the Browns as a free agent in 1993 after being put through an exhaustive workout by offensive line assistant Pat Hill.

Brown spent his rookie year on injured reserve and made the quantum leap to starting right tackle last season because of a barrage of injuries along the line. With Brown in the lineup the last eight games, the Browns went from an average of 91 yards rushing to 116.

"When I first came to Cleveland, I had to adapt," said Brown. "I had never been around white people. I had gone to all-black schools and all-black colleges. I wasn't prejudiced, I just had never really met a white person.

"Then Pat Hill came to work me out and I called my mother and I said, 'I thought all white people were evil toward black people.' And she said, 'No, I've been telling you that, I work with them. But you had to get out and see for yourself.' The first white player I ever met was Steve Everitt.'

To which left tackle Tony Jones joked, "Hey, Orlando, don't worry, they're not all like that."

Jones took Brown under his wing right from the start and began production of "My Fair Tackle."

"You could tell he was from a really rough background just by all the scars on his body and how physical he was," said Jones. "There were times I thought he might kill somebody out there. But it's like night and day now. He still gets angry, but he can stay within his game."

Brown said Jones taught him all aspects of being a pro. "Tony taught me not just about pass sets, but about how to act in public," said Brown. "I was still rowdy and I still had a little D.C. in me."

Brown has transferred his street-fighting skills to the football field.

"I don't really like football, but I like to pound people," he said. "I like to hit who I want. Ain't no guns on the field, but almost anything goes. I like to see that man in front of me suffer."

When Jones wasn't on Brown, Hill was. From the time Hill went to South Carolina to work him out, he set about the task of molding him into a quality tackle. He even persuaded him to play football instead of accepting a $400,000 offer from the World Wrestling Federation.

"All he had ever done in college was run-block," said Hill. "We basically had to start from scratch."

While Brown was on injured reserve, Hill would meet with him at 6 a.m. and set up chairs to simulate defensive alignments. Brown was also given a tape of Rams All-Pro Jackie Slater by Browns Director of Player Personnel Mike Lombardi. He watched the tape over and over. Brown is tireless in the weight room, bench-pressing a team-high 960 pounds.

"I have never worked with a player so strong or so determined," said Hill. "He's where he's at because of how hard he works."

Last season, Brown's crowning achievement was holding Philadelphia's William Fuller to no sacks while helping to spring the running game for 140 yards in a 26-7 Browns victory. He gave up only one sack all season, to Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, when Brown said he was set incorrectly for the play.

"No one's improved more over the span of two years than Orlando Brown since I've been here," said coach Bill Belichick. "He's got a ways to go, but his work ethic is tremendous."

No one would ever guess that Brown, the biggest player on the team by far, was born prematurely at 3 pounds, 2 ounces. His mother, who works at a junior high school in Washington, was teaching Greek mythology when she was pregnant with Brown, the youngest of her five children. Before he was even born, she nicknamed him Zeus. Little did she know.

"My mother is 5-2 and my father is average-size," said Brown, also know as Big Dog. "We don't know who I take after. My mother thinks maybe I was given growth hormones when I was premature. But I finally got used to being this big. It's paid off."

Brown, who will have some ferocious battles in practice in Platteville, Wis., the next three days against Bears end Alonzo Spellman, is negotiating a long-term contract that will keep him in Cleveland through the prime of his career. He made the minimum of $108,000 last year and is signed for $178,000 through 1995, making him one of the lowest-paid starters in the NFL. But he wanted to report to camp on time this season to begin preparing for defensive linemen like Green Bay's Reggie White and Buffalo's Bruce Smith.

One of the first things he plans to do with his new salary is buy a home for his mom near her hometown of Atlanta. Then, somewhere down the road, he'll find a place for himself, as far away from Washington as possible.

"I want to go somewhere quiet, where I don't have to hear sirens every night," said Brown. "It's still a little hard for me to get used to not hearing sirens or gunfire."

 

 

Fukudome's a keeper - Indians Comment of the Day

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"Fukudome looks like a keeper. He comes to play every day. Sign this guy ahead of some of those deadbeats, including Sizemore, who has just had too many injuries. Hard hitting outfielder and a hard hitting first basemen and we could have a fun 2012." - Moosie

Cleveland Indians beat Red Sox, 9-6View full sizeKosuke Fukudome has impressed some Indians fans since coming over to the team in July.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians' night is all good as they hammer Chicago White Sox, 11-2, cleveland.com reader Moosie thinks the Indians should bring back Fukudome. This reader writes,

"Fukudome looks like a keeper. He comes to play every day. Sign this guy ahead of some of those deadbeats, including Sizemore, who has just had too many injuries. Hard hitting outfielder and a hard hitting first basemen and we could have a fun 2012."

To respond to Moosie's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.


Indians open up final home series of 2011 tonight - Live Twitter updates

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Justin Masterson faces Carl Pavano tonight at Progressive Field

justin-masterson.jpgView full sizeJustin Masterson starts for the Indians tonight.
The Indians finish up their home schedule this weekend with a series against the Twins.

Justin Masterson takes to the mound for the Indians tonight. The Twins counter with Carl Pavano. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Get updates on Twitter from @hoynsie and @dmansworldpd in the box below.

MLB scoreboard.

Ohio State football is built for success, Bill Livingston writes

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The behemoth that is Ohio State football looked very down in Miami. But no enterprise is college football is bigger, and few are better equipped to rise again quickly, Bill Livingston writes.

livy.jpgFrom the marching band, to the size of the American flag, to the more than 105,000 fans in the stands, there is nothing small about Ohio State football.

Columbus -- Everybody loves the little guy in college football these days, even though the goal seems to be for the little ones to become big ones.

TCU beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, despite playing a schedule filled with opponents who were likened to the "Little Sisters of the Poor" by Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. Then the Horned Frogs jumped to the Big East for BCS bowl riches, just as the ugly stepsister of power conferences lost much of its relevance with the coming defections of Pitt and Syracuse.

Boise State is blue heaven to many fans, and not only because of a field the color of a mountain lake. Boise has already won its regular season game, at Georgia.

The corollary to this should be that no one feels sorry for the giant when the beanstalk comes crashing down. Wilt Chamberlain famously said, "No one roots for Goliath." But he wasn't a college football fan.

It turns out that plenty of people root for Ohio State, which is as good a candidate for the role of Goliath in college football as anyone.

Ohio State and its scuffling offense face Colorado Saturday, with OSU still representing the arrogant face of the college football establishment to some fans. Gee's shot at TCU and Boise State was only in defense of a system that has served Ohio State better than anyone else. The Buckeyes have played in six straight BCS bowls and eight in nine years, going into this season of reduced hopes, caused by multiple player suspensions and the forced resignation of the enormously successful Jim Tressel as coach.

A recent New York Times study found that Ohio State has more fans than any other college football team in the country. Contributing to this are the size of the media markets in the Big Ten, the passion of the fans here, the scope of OSU's alumni base and its sustained success. The Big Ten has the three most popular schools (Michigan and Penn State are second and third), and not a one of them plays in a stadium that seats less than six figures. The vast scale of Ohio State football is hard for some fans to embrace. Expectations are always of boundless empire. Money bag boosters are ready to fund shining new facilities. There are all those Heisman Trophies. Two fight songs. Iconic coaches. Cult stuff like buckeye necklaces, "Hang On Sloopy" and a dotted "i."

The casual fan might think Ohio State football didn't exist before Woody Hayes. Actually, no less than Paul Brown was the coach for the school's first national championship in 1942, founding the Buckeye dynasty before he created that of the Browns. If the one in Cleveland did not survive his departure, the one in Columbus has had nearly a 60-year run.

The visionary Brown should be part of OSU's holy trinity, along with Hayes, cap-stomping on the sideline, and Tressel with his necktie, sweater vest and meticulous preparation.

The scandals created warped caricatures of Ohio State's two best coaches.

Hayes and Tressel were both sincere about academic improvement. Tressel, despite his current disgrace, did many more good things than the bad ones that went on, usually while he made sure to have plausible deniability. Ohio State is flawed, not dirty. The pressure to win led to both Woody's punch and Tressel's cover-up.

Many fans, including most of those who actually went to Ohio State, were angered and embarrassed when the five rules violators were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas. Just maybe not as angry or embarrassed as they were after the loss in the Liberty Bowl to Air Force a generation ago.

In a time of deprivation and outright destitution in the country, Ohio State's excesses have a twisted appeal, particularly in Cleveland. First of all, Tressel was from here. Moreover, Buckeye football is not success on a shoestring. It is well-heeled success. Ferragamos, maybe.

The Indians work the margins of the free-agent market. The Cavaliers' bonanza days are over. (Terrelle Pryor's defection will have far less impact on Ohio State's future than that of LeBron James will on the Cavs.) The Browns, with a better chance to succeed under NFL rules than either, have been the worst of the three Cleveland pro teams since they returned.

Maybe that will change for the better this season, just as Ohio State football seems to be changing for the worse. But the unpalatable, undeniable fact is that Ohio State football is literally too big to fail -- to the TV networks, the bowls and the NCAA.

The Buckeyes are hanging on this season, like Sloopy. But the days of winning big will return because those of living large never stopped.

Cleveland Browns' Peyton Hillis misses practice with illness; Montario Hardesty says he's ready to fill in if needed

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Browns running back Peyton Hillis is questionable with an illness, and Montario Hardesty is ready to step up if needed.

hardesty.jpgMontario Hardesty says he's ready to carry the load if Peyton Hillis, who missed practice Friday due to an illness, is unable to go against Miami on Sunday.

It's a rough day at the office when your star running back shows up for work feeling sick two days before the big game and has to be sent home for rest and fluids.

But that's exactly how Browns coach Pat Shurmur's day began Friday.

On the final day of preparation for the 0-2 Dolphins, Peyton Hillis -- who rushed for two touchdowns and 94 yards last week -- dragged himself into work feeling crummy and went home to sip fluids and rest. He's listed as questionable for the game, meaning he's 50-50 to play.

The Browns also wanted him away from the facility to prevent other players from getting sick.

"He just wasn't feeling well," said Shurmur. "It just happens this time of year, so we felt the best course of action was just to send him home. We'll see how he's doing, but whatever it is, we don't feel like it's going to affect him on Sunday. My thoughts are that he'll be there."

Fellow back Montario Hardesty, who took all the first-team reps in Hillis' place Friday, already has been proactive about not getting sick. Finally getting his chance after a year layoff due to injury, Hardesty is not about to be felled by some pesky bug.

"As soon as the weather started changing, I got on it early," he said. "So I've been on the Vitamin C for about a good three weeks now."

Hardesty had no inkling his buddy was getting sick when they last practiced and sat in meetings together on Thursday.

"Not at all," said Hardesty. "Sometimes things just happen. We came in today, and he was out, so I've just got to step up, that's all."

As it was, the plan for Hardesty was to get him into the game earlier this week to provide a change-up and keep Hillis fresh.

"I'd like to see him play early in the game, so where that ends up being, it would definitely mean the first half and probably the first quarter," said Shurmur. "It was good for Montario to get with the [first team] in most of the reps today. That'll help push him along and get him ready to play."

Hillis, who's in the process of negotiating a long-term contract extension and discussed it with reporters Thursday, doesn't really want fewer touches despite his hard-running style.

"I don't really feel like I need a breather," said Hillis. "I think of myself as a hard worker, and I don't want to get out of the game. But for your body, you probably should. I'm open to anything. Montario is a good back. If that's what the coach wants, then that's what they're going to get."

Hardesty is determined to atone for his poor outing last week in Indy. He gained 1 yard on three attempts and fumbled near the goal line, where Browns left tackle Joe Thomas pounced on the ball. Coming in cold off the bench in the fourth quarter to try to convert a red-zone opportunity, Hardesty struggled on his three rushes, losing 1 yard, fumbling and then gaining 2 yards to put the ball on the 2. Hillis, who stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips and watched while Hardesty replaced him in that crucial situation, trotted back out for the third-and-2, which was an incompletion. The Browns had to kick a field goal.

Hillis, who had lost a fumble earlier, admitted that it was hard standing on the sidelines. But he made up for it with the 24-yard TD that broke open the game for the Browns. And Hardesty? Well, he's ready to erase the memory of his performance.

"I just want to go out and put that behind me," he said. "I don't think I played as well as I could've played, so I'm ready to go out and show it on Sunday."

If Hillis is still ailing on Sunday, Hardesty thinks he's ready to carry the load. All told, he has 19 yards on eight carries for a 2.4-yard average, and a long gain of 7.

"Yeah. I definitely think I'm ready to play," Hardesty said. "[I'll] try to go out there and capitalize on opportunities. It's professional sports, so I gotta always be ready to play and perform. I feel like I'm ready to go in. I've been preparing well for the last few weeks. I'm excited to get out there and play some football on Sunday."

In the event Hillis is full-go, Hardesty is eager for the earlier reps Shurmur has promised him.

"I'm excited," he said. "I'm always excited come Sundays. I like it better when those butterflies are gone early. I'm excited about playing, getting into the game and having an opportunity to play some more."

He's confident the offense won't miss a beat with him in there, even if Hillis rests. Hillis also appeared to hurt his side in a drill Thursday but came back strong on the next rep.

"No doubt," said Hardesty. "Like I said, I've been working hard. I'm confident in my body, confident in my mental reps. I'm confident that I'm ready to go out and play the game. I know what's going on -- blocking, running, receiving the ball. I'm ready to go out and play football."

He still thinks he's got something to prove, and there's no time like the present.

"Even just from growing up, being a little kid, and then last year not playing, I definitely feel like I've always got something to prove," he said. "So I go out every day and try to prove things on the practice field. And then Sunday is the main stage, so I can really go out and show the world."

Walsh University coach a finalist for Cleveland Cavaliers' D-League franchise

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Akron native has led NAIA program to two national title games

wilcox-cavs-mug.jpgWes Wilcox is general manager of the Cavaliers new D-League club in Canton.
The Cavaliers are close to selecting a coach for their D-League team in Canton and among the finalists is Jeff Young -- already a Cavalier in name.

Young is the men's coach at Walsh University, one of the NAIA's most successful programs. The Akron native has led the North Canton-based Cavaliers to two Division II title games in his seven seasons, winning the 2005 championship. Young also played at Walsh.

The Cleveland brain trust, which includes D-League general manager Wes Wilcox, is believed to be deciding between two candidates for the vacancy. 




Jim Thome's 604th career homer helps Indians tie Twins, 4-4, after 5

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Indians and Twins were tied, 4-4, after five innings. Jim Thome went 3-for-3 with a double, homer, infield single and three RBI.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians and Twins were tied, 4-4, after five innings Friday night at Progressive Field.

Jim Thome went 3-for-3 with a double, homer, infield single and three RBI through five on a night the Indians honored him before the game for being in the 600 homer club.

The Twins loaded the bases with none out in the fifth and failed to score.

Tribe right-hander Justin Masterson's first pitch to Ben Revere was a called strike at 7:47 -- 27 minutes after the scheduled start. Rain had forced the delay.

Revere grounded a 2-0 pitch slowly toward second. Jason Kipnis did what he could but had no shot at the speedy Revere. Masterson has given up a boatload of miss-hit hits this season.

Trevor Plouffe walked on eight pitches. Michael Cuddyer's grounder to first advanced the runners one base. Masterson fell behind Chris Parmalee, 3-0. Parmalee grounded the next pitch past Kipnis and up the middle for a two-run single.

Masterson, continuing to struggle with his command, plunked Luke Hughes on the back of the leg with his first pitch. The Twins did no further damage as Brian Dinkelman whiffed and Rene Tosoni grounded to short.

The Indians cut the deficit in half in their half of the first. Kosuke Fukudome led off by slashing righty Carl Pavano's pitch past third baseman Hughes, who gator-armed the ball while diving to his right.

Fukudome moved to second on a Kipnis grounder. After Asdrubal Cabrera struck out, Jim Thome lined a low, outside fastball into the left-field corner for his 443rd career double and 1,671st career RBI.

Thome extended his hitting streak to eight games.

The Twins threatened in the second. With one out, Drew Butera walked on four pitches. With two outs, Trevor Plouffe doubled to left, Butera stopping at third. Cuddyer flied to left.

The Tribe tied it in the bottom of the inning. Lonnie Chisenhall singled to right and scored on Matt LaPorta's double to right-center. LaPorta was bunted to third by Ezequiel Carrera, but Pavano stranded him by getting Lou Marson to ground to short and Kosuke Fukudome to ground to second.

Parmalee put the Twins back on top in the third. He led off by spinning on a mid-90s fastball on the inner half and ripping it over the right-field wall for his third homer.

Dinkelman singled with one out. Tosoni walked. Joe Benson shattered his bat on a grounder toward third. Chisenhall did an excellent job to keep his eye on the ball and made a strong throw to second, but Kipnis bounded the relay past LaPorta. The Kipnis error enabled Dinkelman to score.

Thome struck again, in a majestic way, in the third. After Kipnis walked and Asdrubal Cabrera flied out, Thome stepped in. Pavano gave Thome swinging room with a 1-1 fastball on the outer half, and the big man from Peoria, Ill., took advantage, blasting it into the trees beyond center field. Estimated distance: 425 feet.

Fittingly, the ball followed a similar path out of the yard as Thome's 511-foot classic on July 3, 1999. Friday's pregame ceremonies included an announcement that a Thome statue would be built and placed near the spot where the 511-foot homer landed.

Masterson's command issues proved too much to overcome in the fifth. His first eight pitches of the inning were balls. Tosoni was drilled in the leg by a 1-1 pitch to load the bases.

Benson took a ball, then went too far on a pitch way outside. It proved to be pivotal. With the count 2-2, Benson grounded into a 1-2-3 double play.

Masterson nearly escaped, getting Butera in a 2-2 count. But the next two pitches missed. Indians manager Manny Acta hooked Masterson for Frank Herrmann, who retired Revere on a foul pop to catcher Marson.

Masterson gave up the four runs (three earned) on five hits. He walked six and struck out four. The walks tied a career-high.

In the bottom of the fifth, Thome checked his swing and hit a dribbler toward third base. Nobody was home because of the shift. The infield single left him a triple shy of the cycle. In 1996, Thome led the Tribe with five triples.

Masterson and Pavano were hurt by plate umpire Al Porter's tight zone.

 

Travis Hafner reaches a grand milestone: Cleveland Indians Insider

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Travis Hafner gets his 1,000th career hit as a study in perseverance. Watch video

pronk.jpgTravis Hafner is on his way to second base with a double on Thursday night, the 1,000th hit of his career.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — It took a while -- 10 years -- for Travis Hafner to notch his 1,000th hit, which came Thursday in a victory over the White Sox at Progressive Field.

But Hafner was not flailing away to get there. The milestone hit, a seventh-inning double to right-center, made him 1,000-for-3,563 (.281).

Most hitters would be thrilled with a .281 career average, especially if it is accompanied by 189 homers, a .383 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage.

Not bad for a 31st-round pick by Texas in 1996 out of Cowley County (Kan.) Community College.

Lack of health, not lack of ability, has foiled "Pronk." He has played just three seasons of 130-plus games, with a career-best of 152 in 2007.

His injuries date to the minors. Before and after his 2001 season in the Texas League, he underwent surgery on his right hand and wrist.

In the majors, Hafner has been sidelined by a fractured big toe (2003), post-concussion symptoms (2005), a right-shoulder strain (2008), right-shoulder soreness (2009), right-shoulder inflammation (2010) and strained right oblique and torn tendon in his right foot (this season).

Regardless of the string of bad breaks, Hafner never has whined or complained.

Having been paid handsomely obviously helps ease the pain of any rehab -- but all the money in the world does not guarantee staying power.

Perhaps that is why, when asked to assess his career at 1,000 hits, Hafner remained silent for several seconds. Then he said, "You're locking me up right there."

Hafner proceeded to talk about the good times and the bad. He never mentioned the words "what might have been" or "regret."

"I think regret only applies in situations where you say, 'If only I had worked harder,'" he said. "I can honestly stand here and say that I've worked as hard as I possibly can. I have put myself in the best possible position to succeed.

"Of course there's frustration. When you know you've done a lot of work to prepare for a season, you're in great shape, and an injury hits -- it's frustrating. But I've never had to say, 'If only I did this' or 'If only I worked harder.' Injuries are part of it, and you deal with them and keep moving."

Hafner's inability to stay in the lineup, combined with his eight-digit salary, has made him a lightning rod for Tribe fans when things don't go well for the player or the club. In the seventh inning Thursday, though, it was all good. Hafner received a standing ovation and, upon being removed for a pinch-hitter, another loud ovation.

"I really appreciated that," he said. "It was a very special moment, something I'm proud of."

Hafner sees no reason he cannot be highly productive for at least several more years.

"My body feels great," he said.

The right shoulder, which required surgery in October 2008, no longer is barking. The oblique is fine. Even the foot, as painful as a torn tendon might sound, is OK.

"The doctors have said that, once you get over the initial incident of the tear, it should feel better," he said. "I haven't had any problems running or hitting, and I'm not going to have to worry about it going forward."

From the Pronk files: Hafner made his major-league debut Aug. 6, 2002, with the Rangers and struck out. The next day, he hit an RBI triple off lefty Mark Redman. Hafner downplayed his wheels at that moment.

"It hit off the wall in left-center and kicked away from the center fielder," he said.

Hafner's first homer was Aug. 11, 2002, in Cleveland. It came off Jason Phillips as part of a 4-for-5 performance that included two doubles.

The homer remains Hafner's only one as a Ranger; the Indians acquired him in December 2002.

The Thomenator: The Indians celebrated Jim Thome's membership in the 600-homer club with a pregame ceremony Friday.

In addition to Thome's family and friends, others in attendance included former Indians manager Mike Hargrove and former teammates Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga, Paul Sorrento and Chad Ogea.

Radio play-by-play voice Tom Hamilton, the master of ceremonies, told the crowd that a statue of Thome will be built and placed near the spot where his 511-foot homer landed July 3, 1999. The homer, off Kansas City's Don Wengert, bounced out of the ballpark and onto Eagle Avenue. The statue will be of Thome in familiar pose before the pitcher begins his delivery, the bat pointing toward the mound.

In a meeting with reporters before the festivities, Thome, 41, maintained he has not made a decision on whether this season, his 21st, will be his last.

"I'm not leaning one way or another," he said. "I try not to get ahead of myself. You don't want to just throw the "r" word out there."

Thome still loves the game, but it has become increasingly difficult for him physically to prepare to play, especially with his back troubles.

If Thome could give one piece of advice to hitters who want so badly to go deep, it would be something simple that his mentor, Charlie Manuel, told him long ago:

"If you try to hit homers, they don't happen," he said.

 

Early miscues do little to slow Maple Heights in rout of Shaw

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MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — It wasn't always pretty, but in the end it was effective and the Mustangs are still perfect. Maple Heights stumbled out of the gate, but behind a dominating defensive performance and a solid rushing attack, the Mustangs easily rolled past Shaw for a 36-6 win at Stafford Stadium on Friday.

Maple Heights Mustangs

MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — It wasn't always pretty, but in the end it was effective and the Mustangs are still perfect.

Maple Heights stumbled out of the gate, but behind a dominating defensive performance and a solid rushing attack, the Mustangs easily rolled past Shaw for a 36-6 win at Stafford Stadium on Friday.

On a night when the field conditions and weather begged for both teams to keep the ball on the ground, the No. 6 Mustangs were able to do just that, with Michael Jenkins and Da'Junn Graham leading the way. Jenkins carried 30 times for 199 yards and four touchdowns, while Graham chipped in with a 28-yard score of his own and added 60 yards on nine carries.

"We knew with the type of conditions we were in that we were going to be a downhill-running team tonight," Mustangs head coach Todd Filtz said. "We have a lot of stuff in our arsenal that goes sideline to sideline, but we told them that we were going to be a downhill-running team.

"We saddled up our hogs, got our quarterback and running back ready to go, and we pounded the football at them."

The victory kept the Mustangs' winning streaks alive. Maple Heights (5-0, 2-0) has won 16 straight regular-season games and 20 consecutive games overall.

Early on the Mustangs did everything they could to help Shaw. The Cardinals forced a pair of turnovers on the Mustangs' first two possessions. Maple Heights' defense made sure the Cardinals would not take advantage of the opportunities and forced punts after both turnovers.

The Mustangs' defense couldn't bail out the offense after every miscue, though, and Maple Heights' third turnover of the half -- a fumble inside their own 5-yard-line -- set up the Cardinals' only score of the game. William Woods' 1-yard touchdown run sent the teams into halftime with Maple Heights in the lead, 22-6.

The Mustangs had several miscues -- two fumbles and two interceptions, and a slew of dropped passes and penalties.

"We're not going to go deep in the postseason taking care of the football like we did tonight," Filtz said. "In the passing game we dropped some passes, had some wide-open guys that we didn't hit.

"We'll get that better. It's something we need to work on, and it's good -- we need things to work on. But the penalties and turnovers are something we need to correct."

Shaw (2-2, 1-1) could not maintain any consistency on offense as Mustangs defenders chased and harassed Cardinals ball-carriers throughout the game. The combination of the Mustangs defense and the Cardinals' own mistakes kept Shaw in long-yardage situations with regularity.

Bill Mayville is a freelance writer from Parma Heights.


Cody Callaway, Jacob Bennett have all bases covered for Midview in win over Rocky River

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ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Midview has established quite the two-headed monster on offense. Whether through the air or on the ground, the Middies moved the ball with a purpose Friday night in a 34-14 West Shore Conference football game at Rocky River.

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — Midview has established quite the two-headed monster on offense.

Whether through the air or on the ground, the Middies moved the ball with a purpose Friday night in a 34-14 West Shore Conference football game at Rocky River.

Sophomore quarterback Cody Callaway completed 23 of 32 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

"It all starts with Cody," Midview coach Bill Albright said. "He does a great job. We've surrounded him with a veteran line. And we've put together a group of five or six receivers who can catch the ball. All these guys are getting to where they want to get a piece of the football."

When Callaway wasn't zipping passes around, running back Jacob Bennett presented other problems for the Pirates' defense. Bennett rushed for 135 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns.

"He made some great runs and got us out of a hole a couple of times," Albright said.

Midview dominated the first quarter, scoring twice in 16 seconds.

The Middies drove 56 yards in 8 plays after the opening kickoff. The big play was an 18-yard screen pass from Callaway to Bennett on third-and-17. Callaway completed his first three passes, and finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Midview was right back on offense after Eddie Brezina intercepted an Alex Theiling pass on the Pirates' first play. Callaway completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Eric Lauer on the next play.

"We put a lot of work in," Callaway said. "Our coaches prepared us well. We put in some new cadences and some new plays. We just played good fundamental football."

It could have been worse if Rocky River's defense had not come up with stops on two fourth-and-short situations on consecutive Midview possessions in the first half.

"They did a great job there," Albright said. "They took us a little out of our game plan."

Rocky River cut the deficit in half with a drive late in the second quarter. The Pirates were facing third-and-goal from the 16 after Tate Smith sacked Theiling for a 7-yard loss. On the next play, Theiling zipped a pass toward the end zone. The ball was tipped, but landed in the hands of Matt Kadlec for the score.

Theiling threw his second touchdown pass, 13 yards to Kelly Austin, in the third quarter.

Bennett scored on runs of 17 yards and 20 yards in the second half. Midview also got a 39-yard pass from Callaway to Jeff Ondo late in the third quarter.

Midview improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the WSC. Rocky River slipped to 3-2 and 1-1.

"We knew it was going to be tough," Rocky River coach Rick Adams said. "They're well-coached and they have some great athletes. Pick your poison on their offense. They can do it all."

Bob Migra is a freelance writer in Westlake

Kirtland uses big plays to again trip up Cuyahoga Heights

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See a photo gallery from the game here. KIRTLAND, Ohio — Kirtland has Cuyahoga Heights' number, and that number is four.

Kirtland's Damon Washington runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. - (Lisa DeJong, PD)

See a photo gallery from the game here.

KIRTLAND, Ohio — Kirtland has Cuyahoga Heights' number, and that number is four.

Cuyahoga Heights is 50-4 since early in the 2006 season. All four losses are to Kirtland.

Friday night, the host Hornets dealt Cuyahoga Heights another blow with a series of big plays on defense, offense and special teams in a 24-12 victory.

Kirtland has won 20 consecutive regular-season games, and its most recent loss was, of course, to the Redskins.

For players on both sides, it's impossible to understate how meaningful the rivalry has become the past half-dozen years.

"This is the best feeling," Kirtland cornerback/tailback Damon Washington said. "They've been our rivals for the last six or seven years. We prepare for them, and they prepare for us all season. This is the biggest game of the year, the game we care about the most."

Kirtland, ranked second in the Division V state poll, improved to 5-0, 2-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division. The ninth-ranked Redskins are 4-1, 1-1 in the CVC Metro Division. The game counted in the league standings and was a huge boost for Kirtland in the Region 17 playoff standings, where it is the top seed. No. 6 Cuyahoga Heights could be in danger of missing the playoffs.

The game was a box-score buster because the final stats only hinted at the true story.

Kirtland had five first downs (two in the second half), and Cuyahoga Heights posted 21. Cuyahoga Heights outgained the Hornets, 258-209.

The difference was big plays.

Washington's 40-yard interception return gave Kirtland a 7-3 lead. Zach Santo's 63-yard run in the second quarter stole the lead back, 14-9.

Jared Lyon kicked a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Washington's 63-yard touchdown run sealed the win.

In addition to three interceptions, Kirtland's defense produced eight sacks, many of them in key situations. Sophomore tackle Cannon Schroeder and senior end Tim Blankenship each were in on three sacks.

"That was huge," Schroeder said. "We stopped the run in the first half, and later in the game, we had to get pressure."

Senior Troy Janashak scored all of Cuyahoga Heights' points on two field goals and a 3-yard touchdown run.

The Redskins' biggest problem was offensive breakdowns. They had five drives inside the Kirtland 35 that produced zero points.

"We just couldn't finish drives, and we'd make a few dumb penalties and mistakes, and they'd get a sack, and it would put is in a hole," Janashak said.

Cuyahoga Heights took a couple gambles that didn't pay off. After a sack by Kirtland's Christian Hauber, the Redskins went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 14, while trailing, 7-3, in the first quarter.

Alex Zander completed a pass to Tim Surman, but Santo tackled him at the 4.

Trailing, 14-9, late in the third, the Redskins went for it on fourth-and-1 from their 31, and a run was stopped inches short. Four plays later, Lyon kicked his 46-yarder.

"Not a whole lot went our way tonight," Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin said. "Our kids played pretty hard, and we moved the ball a lot."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

On Twitter:@TimsTakePD

St. Vincent-St. Mary uses ground game to keep Archbishop Hoban winless

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AKRON, Ohio — In a game of push and shove, St. Vincent-St. Mary proved it had just enough leverage to get past bitter rival Archbishop Hoban. With its high-scoring offense held in check during the first half, the Irish decided to muscle down with its running game after the break. The strategy worked, as SVSM, ranked No. 4 by...

St. Vincent-St. Mary's Aaron Adkins, right, uses the jersey of Archbishop Hoban's DarShaun James to drag him down after a short gain in the first half Friday at InfoCision Stadium in Akron. - (Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal)

AKRON, Ohio — In a game of push and shove, St. Vincent-St. Mary proved it had just enough leverage to get past bitter rival Archbishop Hoban.

With its high-scoring offense held in check during the first half, the Irish decided to muscle down with its running game after the break. The strategy worked, as SVSM, ranked No. 4 by The Plain Dealer, bulled its way to a 17-14 victory against the still-winless Knights on Friday night at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium.

"We had never been down before," said SVSM two-way senior lineman Matt Perry, whose 5-0 club trailed, 7-3, at halftime. "I'm not going to lie, some of the guys were upset. We've got to keep our heads up and deal with adversity. We had to run the ball down their throat."

The Irish, who had been averaging 51 points, did just that, as they used the one-two running punch of seniors Sae'Von Fitzgerald (74 yards) and Matt Matuska (67 yards) to grind out the victory. The Irish had scoring drives of 67 and 54 yards on their first two series of the second half, then used up all but 12 seconds of the clock on their third drive to close out the Knights.

"We weren't really surprised to have to run," said Matuska, whose 3-yard touchdown run put his club in front to stay, 10-7, midway through the third quarter. "We made the adjustment and were prepared. We practice a balanced offense."

The Knights, now 0-5, had the upset brewing after holding the halftime lead. They had forced three turnovers and looked to continue putting the squeeze on the potent Irish offense.

But SVSM found the will to maintain ball control.

"It's just another tough loss for us," said Hoban coach Ralph Orsini. "They made enough plays, and we didn't to pull off the upset. We had the opportunities.

By winning for the fifth straight year, the Irish lead the all-time series, 18-17. They looked to be in good shape when Fitzgerald hauled in a 15-yard scoring pass with two minutes left in the third quarter for a 17-7 lead.

But the Knights put together a 79-yard, 16-play drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown by junior running back DarShaun James with 6:53 to play.

SVSM then used up nearly all the clock in moving 50 yards to the Hoban 4 before giving up the ball on downs.

"I don't care if you are 4-0 or 0-4, it's the Hoban game," said SVSM coach Dan Boarman. "We took what they gave us. They had a lot of guys in coverage, and we thought we could run the ball."

The Irish finished with 269 yards of offense, 198 coming on the ground. Hoban was limited to 116 yards, getting only 46 yards on the ground.

The Knights took the lead when quarterback Dominick Orsini found junior tight end Jimmy Martter in the right corner of the end zone on a 3-yard scoring toss with 1:47 left in the first quarter.

The Irish answered with a 37-yard field goal by Antonio Manfut one minute into the second quarter.

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

 

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Elyria Catholic finds no holes in Avon defense, falls to undefeated Eagles

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AVON, Ohio — For all the twists and turns and spectacular things that happened as No. 8 Avon beat visiting Elyria Catholic, 27-16, Friday night, Avon coach Mike Elder credited his defense for the victory. Junior running back Ross Douglas had 34 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown, and senior quarterback Justin O'Rourke, named homecoming king before the...

AVON, Ohio — For all the twists and turns and spectacular things that happened as No. 8 Avon beat visiting Elyria Catholic, 27-16, Friday night, Avon coach Mike Elder credited his defense for the victory.

Junior running back Ross Douglas had 34 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown, and senior quarterback Justin O'Rourke, named homecoming king before the game, completed 13 of 32 passes for 189 yards.

"There's no question we have playmakers," said Elder, whose team improved to 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the West Shore Conference. "We've had some injuries and whoever's healthy, we trust when we put them in there that they'll do the job. Tonight we spread the ball around fairly well.

"But the story tonight was really our defense. Our defense played lights out. They gave up one big play but outside of that they held a good EC offense to pretty much nothing."

Elyria Catholic coach Mike Polevacik did not disagree as his team lost its third straight to slip to 2-3, 0-2 in the conference.

"They're outstanding," Polevacik said of the Eagles. "I think they're the No. 3 team in Division II in the state, and we're a 2-3 Division IV team. They did a great job. We're very young and we didn't execute. We're having a hard time on offense right now."

Elyria Catholic finished with minus 2 yards rushing, although sophomore quarterback Jeremy Holley did complete 14 of 29 passes for 128 yards, including a 76-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Jordan Altpater. Altpater, who also played defensive back, also returned a fumble 98 yards for a score.

"It was definitely the best night I had all year," Altpater said. "That was my first defensive touchdown I ever had. This is my first year starting on defense, so it meant a lot to me."

Avon led at halftime, 7-3, and then things got crazy in the second half with the teams trading spectacular plays and turnovers.

First Avon added an 11-yard touchdown run by junior running back Mark Kvach with 7:16 left in the third quarter, but Altpater took a hitch pass from Holley and ran 76 yards for a touchdown 49 seconds later to get the Panthers within 13-10.

The game was delayed briefly as Elyria Catholic defensive back Jacob Moore, covering a post pattern, ran hard into the goal post and was taken off the field on a stretcher with 3:40 left in the third quarter. His injuries are not believed to be serious, according to Polevacik, who was also without all-Ohio running back Joe Dempsey, out with a knee injury until at least next week.

The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a 1-yard plunge by senior running back Matt Tomlin, and then the teams traded fumbles. But Altpater ran the length of the field as the Panthers closed to within 20-16 with 9 minutes left in the game.

"He's electric," Polevacik said. "He's ridiculous fast."

After the teams traded interceptions, Avon's Matt Eckhardt scored his sixth touchdown of the year on an 18-yard pass from O'Rourke to push Avon's lead to 27-16 with 5:15 left.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

On Twitter:@pdcavsinsider

Kickoff return for touchdown sparks North Royalton to upset of Elyria: You Pick the Game

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NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — North Royalton heard all about how strong Elyria has been this season, with its spotless record, its high ranking in Northeast Ohio, even its strength in overcoming an apparent team food poisoning incident last week that postponed the Pioneers' game two days. And the North Royalton Bears showed Friday that they have a pretty strong...

North Royalton's Bobby Barnes (7), shown in a game earlier this season, had a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Friday night. - (PD file)

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — North Royalton heard all about how strong Elyria has been this season, with its spotless record, its high ranking in Northeast Ohio, even its strength in overcoming an apparent team food poisoning incident last week that postponed the Pioneers' game two days.

And the North Royalton Bears showed Friday that they have a pretty strong intestinal fortitude, too.

Behind the air attack of junior quarterback Travis Tarnowski, the varied running game that scattered 93 yards among five rushers, and strong overall play of senior cornerback Bobby Barnes, the Bears dominated their way to a 30-14 victory over Elyria. North Royalton improved to 2-3 while Elyria fell to 4-1.

"This whole season we haven't been playing up to our abilities," Barnes said. "Our defense is one of the best around. We showed Northeast Ohio who we are tonight."

Tarnowski completed 7-of-16 passes for 170 yards, and senior receiver Austin Adams had two big catches for 98 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown at the beginning of the game that stunned Elyria. But it was Barnes who might have provided the biggest lift for the Bears.

At the start of the second half, Barnes scored on a 93-yard kickoff return that gave North Royalton a 22-0 advantage and dashed Elyria's hopes of turning around its lackluster first half.

"That was the key," North Royalton coach Nick Ciulli said.

Which is not to say the Pioneers stopped trying. Senior quarterback Dustin Stolarski heaved early and often, completing 20-of-43 passes for 249 yards. He connected on just one touchdown pass, though, a 27-yard strike to junior Dan Ratliff early in the fourth quarter that narrowed the margin to the final score.

Meanwhile, Elyria junior tailback Jumarr Lewis was stopped again and again at the line of scrimmage by a stingy North Royalton defense. By the end, Lewis carried the ball 19 times, but gained only 37 yards.

Royalton's defense came to the rescue in the passing game, too, when Barnes broke up Stolarski's pass to senior Demetrius Walton in the end zone early in the third quarter.

Elyria's Walton still had 10 catches for 143 yards as Stolarski's favorite target, but in the end Pioneers mistakes spelled disaster. With five days to prepare for this week's game after their game against Strongsville was moved to Sunday because of the team illness, Elyria seemed out of sorts too often.

Lewis fumbled on the opening drive, a turnover that led to Royalton's first touchdown. Receiver Da'Jaun Glover fumbled in the second quarter, a turnover that led to the Bears' second touchdown drive. And Stolarski was intercepted twice.

In the end, it was North Royalton's ability to cause queasiness that meant the difference for Elyria this week.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654

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