GM Chris Antonetti says DH Travis Hafner will be back in 2012 for the final year of his contract.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerTravis Hafner hit 13 home runs this season and played in just 94 games, but Indians management believes he's productive enough when healthy to bring him back next season for $13 million.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Three days after the final game of the World Series, the Indians must decide whether to exercise the 2012 club options of Grady Sizemore for $9 million and Fausto Carmona for $7 million.

If they don't, Sizemore is eligible for free agency and Carmona for salary arbitration.

The Indians don't have an option on Travis Hafner for 2012, but they do have a decision to make. They could bring him back next year to honor the final year of his contract for $13 million, or they could cut the cord on the biggest deal in Indians history and start over at DH.

On Thursday, GM Chris Antonetti said Hafner would be back, despite making two trips to the disabled list this year and not playing more than 118 games a season since 2007. For a while, there has been a feeling among the Indians string-pullers that if Hafner's production ever dropped low enough, ownership might be willing to eat a part of the contract.

Hafner played only 94 games this year. He hit .280, with 16 doubles, 13 homers and 57 RBI. Apparently that was enough to persuade owners Larry and Paul Dolan to put down the knives and forks.

"What Travis has continued to demonstrate is that, when he's healthy and on the field, he's a productive hitter," said Antonetti. "So when we look to next year's team, we think Travis is going to be healthy and if he is, he'll be a productive player for us."

Here are some other points Antonetti and manager Manny Acta touched on during their wrap-up of the 2011 season:

Sizemore will go to Vail, Colo., on Monday to have his bruised right knee examined by Dr. Richard Steadman. The information the Indians receive will help determine if they exercise his option.

Steadman performed microfracture surgery on Sizemore's left knee last year. The Indians don't think Sizemore will need surgery on his right knee. The decision they make on his option will determine, in part, what they can and can't do in the postseason.

"It will determine where we may have some needs," Antonetti said. "There's an economic impact as well, in terms of the dollars we can allocate to improve the team elsewhere."

One of Carmona's biggest problems this season came when he pitched out of the stretch. Acta said the Indians will work on that in spring training.

Acta said rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis will go into spring training with a "leg up" on the second-base job.

Regarding rookie third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, Acta said, "I can't say he'll be our third baseman in April, but he's going to get a good opportunity in spring training."

From the way Antonetti and Acta talked about third baseman Jack Hannahan, it sounds as if he will be back.

The Indians could have as many as nine players eligible for salary arbitration if Carmona's option isn't picked up and Tony Sipp makes Super Two status. That will increase the Indians $49 million payroll big time.

First baseman Matt LaPorta has been told he has to come to camp next spring and win a job. Acta wants to add a hitter to the lineup. It could be at first or third base, and Acta doesn't care which side of the plate that person hits from.

Antonetti feels Jim Thome, 41, can still help a team next season.

"I think Jimmy is the one who is going to make the decision whether he plays or doesn't," Antonetti said.

Acta wants the Indians' defense to improve. It has made 110 errors in each of the past two seasons.

"You won't make the postseason if you have 100 errors a year unless you have a dominant pitching staff and offense," Acta said.

Indians hitters struck out 1,269 times, the second-highest total in the AL. Acta said a lot of that has to do with the youth and inexperience of the Indians.

"We had the third-youngest team in the big leagues," he said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Will Peyton Hillis rebound with a big game against Tennessee on Sunday?

John Kuntz/The Plain DealerCleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis.

Peyton Hillis, the darling of most Cleveland Browns' fans, received his most criticism for not playing last week against the Miami Dolphins.

Hillis was out with strep throat, and former football players (Hanford Dixon and Bob Golic) questioned Hillis for not playing.

So how will Hillis respond on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans? Hillis will face a team with a strong run defense.

  Tennessean reporter Jim Wyatt writes how former Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer is the offensive coordinator for the Titans. Palmer was the Browns' head coach from 1999-2000 and that time as the team's coach taught Palmer a few lessons. “If I ever take an expansion job again,” he said, “shoot me.”  Palmer was fired after going 5-27. In 2002 under...

Mike Levy, PD fileFormer Browns head coach Chris Palmer is now a coordinator with the Titans.

  Tennessean reporter Jim Wyatt writes how former Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer is the offensive coordinator for the Titans.

Palmer was the Browns' head coach from 1999-2000 and that time as the team's coach taught Palmer a few lessons.

“If I ever take an expansion job again,” he said, “shoot me.”

 Palmer was fired after going 5-27. In 2002 under Butch Davis, the Browns made the playoffs.

“It is really overrated starting a franchise up,” Palmer said.

“But people forget Cleveland was in the playoffs in its fourth year, so I think that was a tribute the players and the people that started the organization. Cleveland is a good football town.”

In the article, Palmer says he regrets he didn’t get more time as head coach, but he said he has no hard feelings.

“You always wish you had more time,” said Palmer, who is in his first year with the Titans. “I would like to live longer than I am going to, but that’s not going to happen.”

More Cleveland Browns

Running backs coach defends Peyton Hillis . . . Bob Finnan of The News-Herald writes about Hillis and his supporters.

The Browns wonder if they can keep Hillis and D'Qwell Jackson, writes CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk.

Previewing the Titans on Cleveland.com.

If the NBA and players don't resolve their issues, Kobe Bryant is headed to Italy.

APKobe Bryant may take his talents to Italy.

 
ROME -- Italian club Virtus Bologna said it has reached a verbal agreement with Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers star to play in Italy during the NBA lockout.

"We have reached an economic deal," Virtus president Claudio Sabatini told a local radio station. "There's still some things to arrange but at this point I'm very optimistic. I would say it's 95 percent done."

A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday that the sides have settled on a $3 million contract for the opening 40 days of the Italian league season.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has still not been signed.

Bryant, who spent much of his childhood in Italy, was in the country for sponsor appearances over the past two days but was flying back to the U.S. for labor talks with the NBA on Friday.

Bryant is expected to get a work visa and return to Italy next week.

"Kobe should be in Bologna by Wednesday or Thursday with his visa in hand for medical visits and then we can deposit the contract with the league," Sabatini said. "I want to make clear that right now there are still no signatures. We've got to write the contract, which will then be read over and over again."

Virtus had been due to open the season Oct. 9 against Roma, but schedules now need to be reworked after Venezia was added to the league as a 17th team.

The deal, which would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends, should last about 10 games.

Sabatini wants to create a special schedule that assigns Bryant's games to Italy's biggest arenas.

"This is an important investment and a unique chance for the city of Bologna and all of Italian basketball," Sabatini said. "I'm hoping everyone wants to collaborate."

More on the Lakers
For more news, notes and analysis of the Lakers, check out the Land O' Lakers blog from the Kamenetzky Brothers. Blog

The 33-year-old Bryant has three years and $83.5 million left on his contract with the Lakers.

Between the ages of 6 and 13, Bryant lived in Italy when his father Joe Bryant played with Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and Reggiana from 1984-91. The elder Bryant also once owned a small part of Olimpia Milano. He now coaches the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.

The younger Bryant still speaks Italian fairly well, and discussed his memories of his time in the country during an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport two days ago.

"Italy is my home. It's where my dream of playing in the NBA started. This is where I learned the fundamentals, learned to shoot, to pass and to (move) without the ball," Bryant told the Italian newspaper. "All things that when I came back to America the players my age didn't know how to do because they were only thinking about jumping and dunking."

Bryant added that playing in Italy "would be a dream for me."

Bryant has been bothered in recent seasons by an arthritic joint in his right knee, which has required several minor operations. He sat out a majority of the Lakers' practices last season and saw his scoring, shooting percentage and minutes decrease in his 15th NBA season.

Former USC guard Daniel Hackett, a dual citizen who plays for Pesaro in Italy, said he would give Bryant a hostile reception if he faced the former NBA MVP.

"The only way to stop a player that good is with a hard foul and he knows that," Hackett said. "I've got five fouls to commit and they're going to be the hardest five fouls I've ever committed."

Hackett also criticized speculation that Bologna will ask opposing clubs hosting Bryant's away games to chip in a portion of ticket sales to help pay Bryant's salary.

"I really hope Kobe doesn't lower himself to this level for economic and commercial motives," Hackett said, according to the Gazzetta. "To me, it would be a big disappointment to see him here under these circumstances, and a loss of respect for a player who is too big to dirty his hands in this league."

Bologna president Sabatini replied, "Fortunately not all Italian players think like Hackett."

Turkish club Besiktas and at least one team in China had also expressed interest in Bryant, who has won five NBA championships and been an All-Star 13 times.

Bologna also recently approached Spurs swingman Manu Ginobili, who played with the club before joining San Antonio in 2002. Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari rejoined his former Italian club Olimpia Milano last week.

The NBA season is scheduled to open Nov. 1 but owners and players have failed to agree on a new labor deal. The two sides are at odds over how to divide the league's revenue, a salary cap structure and the length of guaranteed contracts.

Last week, NBA officials announced the postponement of training camp and the cancellation of 43 preseason games.

Virtus has won 15 Italian league titles but none since 2001, when it also won the Euroleague for the second time.

Bologna did not qualify for this season's Euroleague, although the team has big ambitions after signing former Clemson point guard Terrell McIntyre, who led Siena to four consecutive Italian titles before transferring to Malaga in Spain before last season.

Having mingled with fans in Milan on Wednesday, Bryant also received a warm welcome in Rome on Thursday, where he was brought to the Campidoglio museum to be given a commemorative medal from the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Plain Dealer Browns reporter also answers fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Bill Lubinger.

The Browns are 2-1 heading into Sunday's 1 p.m. home game against the Tennessee Titans. Which team will win, and by how much? That's the question in today's Starting Blocks poll.

Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Tony Grossi, who says he expects the Browns to win in a close game.

Tony also answers fan questions from his weekly Hey, Tony! feature. Today, he answers questions about how good the current Browns defensive line can be; whether linebacker Chris Gocong is worth the new contract he received this week; and what kind of job he thinks Browns general manager Tom Heckert has done so far.

SBTV will return Monday with Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot breaking down Sunday's Browns-Titans game.

And don't miss this week's edition of the Browns Insider webcast, which streamed at 10 a.m. Thursday and is available in archived version now.

"This guy has guts and busts his hump for this team. He was sick, for crying out loud. He will be 100% Sunday and will rock. He is the epitome of a hard-nosed Cleveland Brown. We have not seen too many of those the last 10 years." - wilda12

View full sizeGetty ImagesPeyton Hillis has impressed Browns fans with his style of play.

In response to the story Peyton Hillis defends decision not to play because of strep: Cleveland Browns Insider, cleveland.com reader wilda12 thinks people need to back off Hillis. This reader writes,

"This guy has guts and busts his hump for this team. He was sick, for crying out loud. He will be 100% Sunday and will rock. He is the epitome of a hard-nosed Cleveland Brown. We have not seen too many of those the last 10 years."

"Manny earned it. Did Mike Hargrove have a pennant under his belt before winning two in the 90s? No. I think it is a great move. Manny got the most out of an untried team with many rookies and lots of injuries." - fliegeroh

View full sizeChuck Crow | The Plain Dealer Manny Acta will be in the Indians' dugout for at least two more season.

In response to the story Cleveland Indians pick up manager Manny Acta's 2013 option, but now he must rebuild coaching staff, cleveland.com reader fliegeroh thinks Acta's a good fit here. This reader writes,

"Manny earned it. Did Mike Hargrove have a pennant under his belt before winning two in the 90s? No. I think it is a great move. Manny got the most out of an untried team with many rookies and lots of injuries."

Former Cleveland Cavaliers center/forward Ben Wallace charged with drunken driving.

APMiami Heat's LeBron James , right, brings the ball up as Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (6) defends.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Authorities in suburban Detroit say Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace has been charged with drunken driving and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon after a traffic stop.

Bloomfield Township police said Thursday that the 37-year-old Wallace was arrested about 3 a.m. Saturday after officers observed a Cadillac Escalade being driven erratically. Police said they found an unloaded pistol in a backpack.

Officers say Wallace was given a blood-alcohol test and he was above Michigan’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Police declined to provide further details.

Wallace, who helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title, was arraigned and released on a $5,000 personal bond. His next court hearing is Monday.

Wallace attended Cleveland Community College (1992-94) and played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2008-09.

Big winds today and a cool front will sideline Lake Erie fishermen, and make the fishing difficult on inland waters. The sun is in Sunday's forecast, but it should take a couple of days for the scattered fish to begin feeding again.

 Hang on to your hats. The big winds are back today, and will sideline Lake Erie fishermen for a couple of days. Rains have muddied the steelhead streams, just as the first runs of trout have begun to appear. Bluegill, crappie and bass are moving to the shallows on inland lakes, but the action should be slow until later in the weekend.

CLEVELAND AREA

The yellow perch fishing was good before the windy weather arrived. Look for the fall perch bite to be in full swing next week when the waters settle, but it will take some scouting to find the preferred depths. Look for the night bite for walleye to begin in the coming weeks. As the weather calms, the piers and river mouths should be prime for steelhead trout.

CENTRAL LAKE ERIE

The reports have been fair to very good this week, with perch in the spotlight from Huron to Ashtabula. The winds will scatter the fish for a while, but anglers can expect outstanding fishing when the stable weather arrives and the perch begin to aggressively feed again. Anglers are reporting a wide range of depths for good perch catches, from 40 feet to more than 70 feet. Expect to do a lot of scouting until the schools of perch are located next week.

The walleye fishing has yet to improve along the shoreline, with some mediocre catches coming from deeper waters before the winds arrived. Some steelhead trout should be caught from the piers east of Cleveland by late weekend, with the lighthouse pier at the mouth of the Grand River getting good reviews.

INLAND LAKES, RESERVOIRS

 Crappie and yellow perch are biting at Pymatuning Reservoir, with the causeway a hot spot while casting a jig-minnow or  jig-redworm combinations. The causeway has been a top spot, as well as the waters around the Jamestown Marina. Walleye fishing is poor to fair, but some are being hooked on blade baits along the causeway.

Mosquito Reservoir crappie have been biting best late in the day and after dark, with the most angling pressure along the causeway. A few walleye have been caught while trolling spinner rigs and nightcrawlers in 10 to 15 feet of water around the south end of the lake.

The cold front has scattered the largemouth bass, putting anglers in a slow-motion mode to catch bass as they gather around weed beds and shoreline structure, especially fallen timber. Cast plastic worms, soft plastic jerk baits and pitch jigs and trailers around weed beds, where the water is warmer, and around shoreline timber. West Branch and Mosquito reservoirs should be good choices for bass, especially later in the weekend.

RIVERS AND STREAMS

Just as many of the rivers and streams get back to normal today, more rain is in the forecast to stall the early steelhead trout fishing. While some of the rivers should begin to clear again by Sunday, the Grand River will be muddy for an extra couple of days.

Steelhead trout fishermen will have to focus on the various small streams, such as Euclid Creek and Arcola Creek, and the tributaries flowing into the larger rivers. On the Grand River, the top tributaries are Paine Creek, Kellogg Creek and Big Creek, and all will clear much faster than the Grand River. 

 WESTERN LAKE ERIE 

 The Western Basin yellow perch and walleye fishing was poor to fair this week, before the windy weather was to arrive. Look for improved fishing next week after the big waters calm and clear. The various harbors will be good locations for small yellow perch and largemouth bass. 

 FISHING TOURNAMENTS

Electric Elite Invitationals (Mogadore Reservoir): 1. Khen Sutiroth and Vong Sanouvong, 5 bass, 19.43 pounds, $1,123; 2. Dave Maggard and Ron Miller, 5 bass, 17.88 pounds, $444; 3. Steve McClung and John Shriver, 5 bass, 16.66 pounds, $233. Big Bass: Sutiroth and Sanouvong, 5.69 pounds. Season Point Champions: McClung and Shriver. 

 DOG TRIAL RESULTS

Steve Johnson Memorial All-Breed Hunter's Trial
 South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Association, Chatham Township

Dogs of the Day - Flushing: Dave White, Labrador retriever (Lab), Storm. Pointing: Ken Beuhner Sr., German shorthaired pointer (GSP), Grace.

All-Age - Flushing: Sam Stazzone, English springer spaniel (ESS), Buddy; Lou Monaco, ESS, Kasey; Regis Wolanin, ESS, Dakota; Tim Reznik, Amber, Lab. Pointing: Ken Beuhner Sr., GSP, Grace; Gary Thozeski, Brittany (Brit), Chili; Dick Motz, English setter (ES), Abbey; Derek Plyler, German wirehaired pointer (GWP), Bella.
 Open - Flushing: John Kristof, golden retriever (GR), Molly; Dave White, Lab, Thunder; Tim Holowecky, ESS, Dusty; Bob Rinehart, ESS, Tober. Pointing: Bob Vibonese Jr., GSP, Sam; Joe Pitts, English pointer (EP), Gilbert; Dick Motz, ES, Amber; Matt Carroll, GSP, Stretch.
 Derby - Flushing: Justin Reznik, Lab, Lily; Shawn McCraw, ESS, Duke; Tom McCraw, ESS, Ace; Nick Chmara, Lab, Malley. Pointing: Gary Thozeski, Brit, Ember; Steve Caulier, GWP, Sophie; Lou Dell'Osso, Brit, Tatonka; Dan Kaminski, GSP, Tucker.
 Puppy - Flushing: Dave White, Lab, Joules; Ken Prince, GR, Duke. Pointing: No awards.
 Senior - Flushing: Dave White, Lab, Storm; Mike Kristof, Lab, Viper; Allen Dudra, Lab, Violet; Al Shultice, ESS, Roob. Pointing: Derek Plyler, GWP, Jesse; Dennis Barbish, EP, Peaches; Larry Jennings, GSP, Porky.

The walleye fishing is in a slump, putting yellow perch back in the spotlight around Lake Erie.

D'Arcy Egan, the Plain DealerThe Browns are ready to go yellow perch fishing on Lake Erie with fishing guide Frank Kittrick of Y-Knot Charters in Lorain. With spining tackle in hand are (left to right) Steve Brown of Medina, Greg Brown of Brunswick Hills, Phil Brown of Powell, Ohio and Matt Brown of Ringgold, Ga.

 Thank heavens for yellow perch, the dependable delight for Lake Erie fishermen.

 In the era of plentiful Lake Erie walleye, perch took a back seat. They became an afterthought for area anglers, a fish to catch around the harbors of Cleveland and Lorain in spring and fall. Easy to hook and exceptionally good to eat, perch are back in the spotlight.

Even the fishing guides whose stock in trade are walleye are anchoring for perch these days.

 "The walleye fishing has become a hit-or-miss thing this summer and fall," said fishing guide Frank Kittrick of Y-Knot Charters, now docked in Lorain. "With this year's consistently bad weather and the slump in the walleye population, it's been difficult lately to give fishermen a quality walleye trip."

 I joined Kittrick on Thursday as he took out four of the Brown brothers, who grew up in Parma Heights and often get together to go fishing. They book Y-Knot Charters throughout the year for the Lake Ontario salmon experience, or a taste of trolling for Lake Erie walleye.

With the walleye hard to find all along the Lake Erie shoreline right now, the prospect of perch brought Steve, Matt, Phil and Greg Brown back to the big lake.

"Perch is where it all began for my brothers and I," said Steve Brown, who has 11 brothers and a sister. "My dad, Don Brown, outfitted us with fiberglass rods and reels from Giant Tiger and took us to Edgewater Park to catch perch."

Kittrick enjoys fishing for perch, but hasn't given up on the walleye fishing just yet.

 "I'll move my boat to Huron in the middle of October to take advantage of the late-season trophy walleye fishing in that area," Kittrick said. "For some reason, the walleye are far offshore right now, and scattered. There were some good catches a few weeks ago around the weather buoy (on the Ohio-Ontario border, north of Vermilion), but those fish seem to have disappeared."

While walleye migrate to cooler eastern Lake Erie in summer, the yellow perch are far more territorial. The schools of perch seem to stay close to home from the spring spawning season to late fall, when they're on a feeding binge to get ready for winter. As walleye fishing has slumped, more anglers are saving fuel and focusing on the near-shore perch, usually found in traditional hot spots a short ride from local launch ramps.

It's more economical to make a short run, set the anchor and probe the bottom waters of Lake Erie with emerald shiner minnows for yellow perch. High-priced fuel is a consideration before racing around the big lake in search or walleye - or trolling for miles to tempt a walleye with a Reef Runner diving plug, Stinger spoon or a spinner rig tipped with nightcrawlers.

"I'm frustrated, but not too worried about the walleye," said Kittrick. "I've been guiding for more than 20 years, and I've seen down cycles before. We had a tough walleye summer in 2006, but then the amazing 2003 class of walleye grew big enough to catch in 2007."

While perch fishing has long been considered prime in spring and fall, a lot of fishermen are now targeting perch throughout the summer. The perch catches have been consistently quite good from the Toledo to Ashtabula.

"When the walleye light up in the middle of October off Huron, where they gather every year, we'll see some good fishing," said Kittrick. "Until then, I'm going perch fishing."
 

Poor weather culprit for Lake Erie walleye woes this year, says Jeff Tyson; stocking or spring closure not options for 2012

 SANDUSKY, OHIO

This year's walleye harvest will be low, said Lake Erie fisheries supervisor Jeff Tyson, with poor fishing weather the culprit.

"We had really unsettled weather early in the year," Tyson said. "The weather stabilized for a short while, then it got hot and pushed walleye to deeper waters. Now we're experiencing more unstable weather, but I expect the near-shore walleye bite to improve in the coming weeks."

Tyson said the walleye fishing has been good in New York waters this year, a summer destination for Ohio-hatched walleye. The fish have been slow in returning to Western Lake Erie this fall, where they'll feed in preparation for the 2012 spawning season. 

 The lakewide walleye population has slumped because of a series of poor hatches. The 2003 hatch was spectacular and the 2007 hatch was fair to good. Unfortunately, they are the high points of Lake Erie walleye reproduction over the past decade.

With an estimated population of about slightly more than 20 million catchable walleye, Ohio's share of the 2011 allowable walleye harvest set by the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission last March was 1.5 million fish. That's about half of the lakewide quota of 2.9 million fish.

Ohio anglers won't catch that many walleye this year. And the Ohio share - and summer bag limits - may be cut if the walleye population continues to slide.

If Ohio's share is cut to 900,000 fish, the spring bag limit would remain at four, but the summer limit would be cut from six walleye to just four or five. Closing the spring season, said Tyson, is not an option right now. Ohio regulations prevent a spring closure, and the regulations would require public hearings and take many months to change.

Raising and releasing walleye for Lake Erie won't happen either, said Tyson. Ohio doesn't have the hatchery space, or the funding.

 "It would cost an enormous amount to raise enough walleye to make a difference," Tyson said. "The return on the investment would be low."
 
 

Despite a setback to start the season, Jordan Hall has been the key for the Buckeyes.

Allison Carey / The Plain DealerChristian Bryant

Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch writes how Christian Bryant has overcome foot issues to become one of the better defenders for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Bryant, a safety, will make his second start on Saturday against Michigan State after backing up junior Orhian Johnson the first two weeks of the season.

“Christian is a very confident guy. That is one of the things he brings to our defense,” coach Luke Fickell said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, whether you’re a freshman or a senior, some people just naturally have that.”

Bryant brought a spark in a 24-6 loss to the University of Miami when he entered the game for Johnson in the second quarter with the Buckeyes trailing 14-0. Co-defensive coordinator Paul Haynes, who coaches safeties, sat Bryant down the next day to let him know what the effort had earned him.

Bryant jumped into the mix last season when nickel back Tyler Moeller suffered a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season. How good did Bryant play?

He made five tackles and seemed on his way.

But the discomfort in his right foot was building, so much so that after a loss at Wisconsin two weeks later he was hospitalized for the infection. It got worse before it got better and required surgery. He finally was able to return for the Sugar Bowl and played extensively against Arkansas.

“As we went into this year, we were expecting him to be a pretty good part of the defense,” Heacock said. “And as we’ve gone along, it seems like he has made plays in practice, has been productive in almost every practice we’ve had. Then when he gets into the game, he seems to do well.”

Around the Horse Shoe

Is Ohio State's Big Ten dominance over?

Ohio State's Reid Fragel is eager to play Michigan State.

Jon Spencer of MansfieldNewsJournal.com gives out his awards.

Doug Lesmerises writes on Cleveland.com about OSU's linebackers.

Here's a story on Jordan Hall by The Toledo Blade.

NBA All-Star is franchise career record holder in games played, games started, rebounds, blocked shots

Former Cav Zydrunas Ilgauskas says he plans to retire after 13 NBA seasons, all but one spent with the Cavaliers. (Hector Gabino/El Nuevo Herald/MCT)

WFNY discusses what the Cleveland Browns have to do to win their upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Michael ConroyCan a healthy Peyton Hillis keep the Browns' winning streak alive?

Every Friday leading into a Sunday contest for the Cleveland Football Browns, WFNY provides a roundtable-like discussion featuring each writer and his feelings on what the Dawgs need to do in order to leave the contest victorious.  On the flip side of the coin, we aim to feature at least one voice from the opposing team who aims to provide a bit of a contrast; a devil's advocate if you will.

This season, we will share some of our thoughts with the loyal readers of cleveland.com while inviting you all to continue the conversation with your fellow fans. 

Without further ado, this season's Week 4 edition of The Browns Will Win If...

**

Andrew: ...They don't let Chris Johnson finally start earning his new paycheck. I don't like to read too much into stats after 3 games, especially this year when the Browns have faced Andy Dalton/Bruce Gradkowski, Kerry Collins, and Chad Henne, but the Browns have been pretty good against the pass. They've been disruptive with their pass rush and Joe Haden has played like an absolute superstar this year. But the Browns have not looked good against the run at all. Without Kenny Britt, logic dictates that the Titans will try to lean on Chris Johnson and try to get him going against a susceptible rush defense.

The Browns simply cannot let that happen. If the Titans can control the game on the ground, the Browns are in for a rough afternoon because the Titans defense has looked nothing short of great this year. On offense, I just want to see the Browns begin to figure out how to start getting positive yards on 1st down. Whether it's playcalling or execution, the Browns have been unable to help themselves in later downs by netting positive yardage plays on 1st down. The Browns aren't going to turn around their offensive woes in one week, but a good start would be better playcalling and execution on 1st down plays.

Kirk: ...the offensive line has a statement game. With Peyton Hillis expected back and Montario Hardesty fresh off a solid performance last week, it's time to get the run game jump-started. Right tackle has been a disappointment between Artis Hicks and Oniel Cousins; let's hope Tony Pashos makes it to Sunday and is an upgrade there. I think we'll continue to see a learning curve with Pinkston and Lauvao. The offensive line will need to be up for the challenge with a Titans' D that ranks best in the NFL right now.

Defensively, it needs to be more of the same. I was downright stunned at the effectiveness of the Browns' defense on that final drive after being on the field for a good portion of the game. With Kenny Britt out, Joe Haden can cover Nate Washington, and the safeties can concentrate more on making sure Chris Johnson doesn't make Week 4 the one where he gets back on track. I expect the defensive line to continue to build momentum from their strong start, but they need to avoid costly penalties.

**

Click Here to Continue Reading "The Browns Will Win If..."

The postseason starts on Saturday. Which team will win the World Series?

Laurence Kesterson / Philadelphia InquirerWill Cliff Lee be the difference in a World Series title for the Phillies?

The playoffs begin Saturday and the certainly the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies are the favorites to play each other in the World Series.

But what about the Detroit Tigers? They are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Some of the so-called experts give the Milwaukee Brewers a shot.

Freshman receiver Devin Smith could help friend and freshman quarterback Braxton Miller get comfortable against a tougher defense today when Ohio State hosts Michigan State.

View full sizeAssociated PressOhio State quarterback Braxton Miller plays against Akron.

Columbus -- When a quarterback and a receiver have that connection, they know it. They don't have to play video games together or laugh at the same jokes or be part of the same recruiting class, but it doesn't hurt. Whatever that chemistry or that understanding is, it helps.

Brian Hartline talked about it a lot right before the 2008 season -- how he'd really developed it with quarterback Todd Boeckman. Then, three games into the season, Boeckman wasn't the quarterback anymore. And new quarterback Terrelle Pryor never really got on the same page with Hartline and Brian Robiskie, not completely. (Pryor had that friendship with receiver DeVier Posey, and the two later hooked up for 15 touchdowns as sophomores and juniors. But Posey's only touchdown catch as a freshman came from Joe Bauserman.)

Now, freshman quarterback Braxton Miller doesn't have veteran receivers like the Brians at his disposal for his second career start, today's Big Ten opener against Michigan State. But he does have a target with whom he formed a connection even before he was a Buckeye.

Freshman receiver Devin Smith, who may not be starter yet but continues to earn more time in the receiver rotation, has caught all three of Miller's touchdown passes this season. And while that might be a coincidence, it also might be a sign of what's to come in the seasons ahead. It's certainly some continuation of what began at an OSU summer camp before their senior years of high school. They worked together in one-on-one drills, passing and catching just like they did against Colorado last week.

"We seemed to click right then and there. ... That's when it all really started. I thought he was a cool guy, and we exchanged numbers and talked all the time, and he asked me if I was coming here, and I committed and ever since, we talk," Smith said after catching two touchdowns in Miller's first start, a 37-17 win over the Buffaloes. "We hang out all the time and talk football and things like that. We're real tight."

Smith, who leads the Buckeyes with 183 receiving yards and is tied with tight end Jake Stoneburner at eight catches, said he could work with any quarterback, but he admits the time he spent throwing with Miller this summer has made them better. Today, comfort will be critical for Miller as he gets his first extended look against a challenging defense, after playing well against overmatched Akron and Colorado and throwing just four passes in the loss to Miami.

"We've got to eliminate the run, the quarterback scramble for big yardage, and we've got to force him into making mistakes," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said this week. "I think that's a natural progression with a quarterback who scrambles around. Sometimes they're not very patient; the younger they are, the less patient they are, so the quicker they go."

When Miller does go to the air, it makes sense that he might look to a 6-foot-3 friend, who can go up and get the ball.

View full sizeEric Albrecht, Columbus DispatchOhio State wide receiver Devin Smith (15) catches a touchdown pass against Colorado defensive back Greg Henderson (20) during game action at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Sept. 24, 2011. OSU defeated Colorado, 37-17.

"Devin can make plays. He's a guy that can get on top of you, have some speed. Obviously good balls were thrown to him and he made the plays," OSU coach Luke Fickell said. "We need that. We know people are going to pack it in on us with a lot of run stuff. We need the wide receivers out there to have the ability to make plays, especially when people are going to get up on them."

Overall, Miller is 15 for 29 this season for 235 yards. He has targeted Smith seven times, with Smith catching five of those throws for 101 yards. Smith felt a long catch on the sidelines that was ruled incomplete last week should have been called a catch, too. He  should have a chance to make up for that today, at least if the Buckeyes' offense is getting some form of balance.

"He's a good target to throw to," said Miller, obviously the quieter part of the friendship. "It's a big opportunity. I'm going to take advantage of it."

And Smith will do whatever he can to help him.

"It's the future of Ohio State," Smith said of all the freshmen getting playing time. "If we can keep things going and work hard, we can do great things."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

More about Saturday's game

MENTOR, Ohio - No. 3 Mentor continued its season with another high-powered offensive performance en route to a 38-14 victory against No. 14 Brunswick. The Cardinals (6-0) haven't scored fewer than 38 points this season.

MENTOR, Ohio - No. 3 Mentor continued its season with another high-powered offensive performance en route to a 38-14 victory against No. 14 Brunswick.

The Cardinals (6-0) haven't scored fewer than 38 points this season.

"When we get the ball rolling, there's not much that can stop us besides ourselves," said quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

A big part of the seemingly unstoppable offense is Trubisky.

He completed 23 of 36 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 77 yards and another score.

Although he's at the helm of the offense, he's quick to give credit to his offensive line.

"Our O-line did a great job tonight with protection," he said. "They played outstanding tonight."

In a game that was whipped by wind and rain, Trubisky managed to keep a consistent passing attack throughout.

"I was pleased with the passing game," said head coach Steve Trivisonno. "Everybody said you can't do this in this weather. Both teams did a great job throwing in bad weather. It was just fun to watch."

Mentor's offense wasn't as consistent at the beginning of the second half after leading, 24-6, at the break.

They were halted by the defense of Brunswick (5-1) throughout the third quarter.

"We were a little shaky coming out in the third quarter," Trubisky said.

Trubisky started the second half with his second interception while throwing into the wind.

The Blue Devils didn't allow Mentor to score in the third quarter, while Brunswick tightened the score, 24-14, with an 8-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dan Yohman,

However, Brunswick wouldn't return to the end zone.

Yohman finished the night 20-of-43 with 255 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Running back Nick Roberts had 78 rushing yards on 20 attempts for the Blue Devils.

The Cardinals' offense countered in the fourth quarter with a 28-yard touchdown run by Trubisky that gave them a 31-14 lead with 9:06 remaining in the game.

Although the Blue Devils continued to battle, they allowed the Cardinals to extend their lead.

With two minutes remaining, Nick Kovach punched in a 3-yard touchdown run.

Mentor commanded the game from the start, which has been a reoccurring trend this season.

"We've had that ability this year to put a lot on quick," Trivisonno said.

Mentor's win sets up a showdown Thursday at second-ranked Solon (6-0).

Cody Erbacher is a freelance writer in Kent.

CHESTERLAND, Ohio - Aurora got strong performances from its defense and special teams and just enough from its offense and outlasted West Geauga, 17-7, in a Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division on Friday in Chesterland. On a cold, soggy night where both teams struggled to find their footing -- literally and figuratively -- the game came down to a...

CHESTERLAND, Ohio - Aurora got strong performances from its defense and special teams and just enough from its offense and outlasted West Geauga, 17-7, in a Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division on Friday in Chesterland.

On a cold, soggy night where both teams struggled to find their footing -- literally and figuratively -- the game came down to a battle of defenses, special teams and field position.

Aurora (5-1, 2-1), ranked 12th in The Plain Dealer Top 25, won those areas decisively in the first half, capitalizing on Wolverines mistakes to open a 17-0 lead.

Operating on a cold, muddy mess of a field, the player of the game was Aurora kicker/punter/special teams ace Anthony Melchiori, who not only helped the Greenmen win the battle of field position, but also put points on the board.

Melchiori's punts consistently helped tilt the field position battle in Aurora's favor, with one downed inside the 5-yard line, but it was his 27-yard field goal late in the second quarter that sparked the Greenmen.

The field goal, which was straight into the teeth of a strong, steady wind, was the first of two consecutive scoring plays from scrimmage for Aurora.

"That field goal he made in the first half was huge, into the wind," Aurora head coach Bob Mihalik said. "His punting all second half kept us in good field position."

On the ensuing kickoff Aurora pounced on a Wolverine fumble, and on the first play of the possession Zach Quinn found the end zone for the second time, this time on a 20-yard screen pass from Blake Calcei.

Given the conditions and the way the Aurora defense shut down the Wolverine offense in the first half, it appeared that the 17-0 lead would be more than enough for the Greenmen.

West Geauga (5-1, 2-1), the PD's No. 22 team, cut the deficit to 17-7 on John Ziccardi's 6-yard touchdown run.

The score capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive on the Wolverines' first possession of the second half.

Throughout the second half West Geauga found more success moving the ball, but the Wolverines couldn't punch through and cut the lead any further.

Bill Mayville is a free-lance writer in Parma Heights.

MADISON, Ohio - Madison senior Billy Skerkavich is a mudder. Friday night's terrible weather and field conditions did nothing to slow Skerkavich in the Blue Streaks' 27-20 victory over visiting Eastlake North.

MADISON, Ohio - Madison senior Billy Skerkavich is a mudder.

Friday night's terrible weather and field conditions did nothing to slow Skerkavich in the Blue Streaks' 27-20 victory over visiting Eastlake North.

"I just love this. Usually I'm a little slower than everybody else, but I feel like I'm the same speed in this," Skerkavich said, his face and blue jersey caked in mud and his toes buried in the soupy slop of Blue Streaks Memorial Field.

"This is kind of an advantage for me. I love rolling around in the mud."

Skerkavich, normally known as a linebacker standout, had a career night on offense. With Madison's top three backs hobbled by injuries, Skerkavich ran 30 times for 213 yards (7.1-yard average) and three touchdowns.

Madison was missing Mark Murray (sprained ankle) and Jesse DeJesus (head laceration), who have a combined 705 yards rushing this season. Starting tailback Josh March was slowed by cramps but still gained 99 yards on 15 carries.

Skerkavich (6-0, 215) was the difference on a night both teams' backfield lost key players to injuries. After Madison fell behind, 7-6, Skerkavich finished three straight first-half possessions with touchdown runs of 10, 27 and 5 yards.

The Blue Streaks' victory sets up a Premier Athletic Conference showdown next week between Madison (5-1, 2-1) and Willoughby South (4-2, 3-0), which rallied to beat Chardon on Friday, 49-35.

North (5-1, 2-1) plays South the final week of the season, and also has yet to play University School (4-1, 1-1).

Beating Division I North also was a huge boost for Madison in the Division II, Region 5 computer standings, where it began the weekend at No. 8.

"This was a must-win tonight," Madison coach Tim Willis said.

North's backfield also was shorthanded. Senior tailback Jordan Morris was out with a partial medial collateral knee ligament tear and is expected back next week. Morris is among the area's top rushers with 942 yards and 10 TDs.

North's running game was ineffective without Morris, gaining just 63 yards in 25 attempts. The conditions didn't lessen North's resolve in its normally prolific passing game, but it didn't help the Rangers' effectiveness.

Quarterback George Gresko was intercepted three times in the first half. His second pass of the game was picked off by Matt Webster and returned 38 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Webster was filling in for DeJesus at cornerback. Madison's other two interceptions, by Quentin Cieslinski and Mason Kensinger, also led to touchdowns.

Gresko finished 21-of-46 for 287 yards, including touchdown passes of 48 and 15 yards to Ben Josipovic. Gresko also had a 23-yard touchdown run.

"Madison has a heck of a run defense, so with Jordan or no Jordan, it would be hard to run on them," North coach George Burich said. "Winning the turnover battle was an important factor, and Madison got us on that."

Madison's defense contributed to a 27-14 halftime lead with two red-zone stops.

Madison linebacker Josh Ransom, who had a big night, tackled Gresko at the 1-yard line on fourth down, ending a 77-yard drive. North trailed, 14-7, in the second quarter when Cieslinski intercepted a third-down pass in the end zone.

With a Northeast Ohio Conference River Division football game at rival Stow one week away, it seemed liked the perfect trap game for Hudson. However, the Explorers, ranked No. 15 in The Plain Dealer Top 25 poll, stayed focused at the business at hand Friday night and took care of visiting Garfield Heights, 34-6, in a conference crossover game.

With a Northeast Ohio Conference River Division football game at rival Stow one week away, it seemed liked the perfect trap game for Hudson.

However, the Explorers, ranked No. 15 in The Plain Dealer Top 25 poll, stayed focused at the business at hand Friday night and took care of visiting Garfield Heights, 34-6, in a conference crossover game.

Junior Ben Gedeon made the most of his seven carries for the Explorers (6-1) on a sloppy night, scoring three touchdowns while gaining 113 yards. He scored on runs of 36, 65 and 2 yards. Senior Steve Nagy tallied a 21-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Ben Hart and also had a 1-yard touchdown spurt.

John Marshall 20, John Adams 6 John Marshall's defense has been its strong point all season and Friday night wasn't any different.

The Lawyers, led by Dominique Dickerson's recovered fumble in the end zone, posted a 20-6 Senate Athletic League victory over John Adams.

Dickerson also gained 48 yards on the ground and Deyjon Wilson chipped in with 85 yards on the ground, including a 37-yard touchdown run.

No. 4 St. Vincent-St. Mary 41, Akron Garfield 14 The host Irish (6-0), ranked third in the state in Division III, led 41-0 in the fourth quarter of the nonleague game. Senior running back Matt Matuska scored three touchdowns, including a 51-yard run and a 45-yard pass from Kevin Besser.

No. 8 Avon 42, Rocky River 7 The Eagles (6-0, 3-0), ranked No. 3 in the Division II state poll, scored four times in the second quarter en route to remaining unbeaten with the West Shore Conference road rout.

Matt Tomlin scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown on the game's third play, and Avon never looked back in building a 42-0 halftime lead.

No. 10 Chagrin Falls 21, Wickliffe 0 The unbeaten Tigers (6-0, 3-0), ranked fifth in the Division III state poll, garnered the Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division shutout behind Jack Campbell's 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

No. 18 Ravenna 41, Akron Springfield 14 Senior D.J. Jones had another monster game, gaining 237 yards and scoring three times in the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division win. Jones averaged 14.8 yards per carry Friday to raise his total to 1,313 yards this season on 139 carries, a 9.4 average.

Senior quarterback Brandon Holt added two rushing scores for the visiting Ravens (5-1, 3-0).

No. 23 Midview 37, Bay 7 Quarterback Cody Callaway passed for 204 yards and five touchdowns with Eric Lauer and Ryan Mains grabbing two of those touchdowns each as the Middies (5-1, 3-0) won easily in West Shore Conference play.

No. 24 Kirtland 28, Berkshire 0 The Hornets (6-0, 1-0), ranked No. 2 in the Division V state poll, had the 1-2 rushing punch of Damon Washington and Air Force recruit Christian Hauber account for 119 and 116 yards, respectively, and four touchdowns in the CVC Valley Division shutout.

There were no yards passing for either team and both teams combined for 14 fumbles, 11 of which were caused by the Badgers.

Olmsted Falls 24, Westlake 14 Senior quarterback Brennan Laird threw for two touchdowns and ran for one score in leading the Bulldogs (4-2, 3-0) to the Southwestern Conference victory.

Laird threw a 10-yard scoring strike to Kenny Hanna in the second quarter, and then tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Evan Rieke. Laird also contributed defensively by way of two pass interceptions.

Nathan Ferster converted a 30-yard field goal, while Laird's 4-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring for the winners.

Mayfield 10, Brush 7 A Drazen Markovic interception return to the 1-yard line of the Arcs set up a short touchdown run by Carlos Cruzado in the Wildcats' Northeast Ohio Conference crossover-game victory over their neighborhood rivals.

Mayfield (3-3) took the lead on a 21-yard field goal by Justin Bonchek with 29 seconds left in the third quarter. Cruzado's run came with 9:53 left in the game. Markovic had two interceptions for Mayfield and Vince Austin had two sacks as the Wildcat defense smothered theArcs.

Kent Roosevelt 22, Streetsboro 6 The Rough Riders (5-1, 3-0) outscored Streetsboro in the second half, 13-0, to salvage the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division victory.

Senior wide receiver Richard Graves finished with four catches for 51 yards and a TD while adding a 1-yard touchdown run.

Quarterback TraVon Chapman passed for 29 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 34 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter because of an undisclosed injury.

Beachwood 43, Newbury 6 The wins keep piling up for the resurgent Bison (5-1, 3-0).

A week after defeating Independence for the first time in 21 years, visiting Beachwood won another Chagrin Valley Conference game as senior Ari Sobel accounted for four touchdowns on big plays, running in from 22, 44 and 42 yards and catching a 20-yard TD pass from Alex Hohl.

Euclid 14, Shaw 0 The Panthers won for the first time this year behind second- and fourth-quarter touchdowns by senior De'Andre Rollins.

Rollins scored on a pair of 7-yard runs for the Panthers, who held Shaw to 56 total yards in the Lake Erie League game.

Host Euclid (1-5, 1-1) had the unenviable task of playing undefeated teams each of the past four weeks.

Hawken 43, Richmond Heights 0 One week after rushing for a school record 399 yards, senior Jeremy Simmons ran for four touchdowns in the CVC Metro Division romp.

Lakewood 36, Cuyahoga Falls 0 Senior quarterback Aturo Morgan accounted for three touchdowns in the Northeast Ohio Conference crossover-game win for the Rangers (4-2). Morgan had touchdown runs of 36 and 41 yards and also threw a 51-yard scoring strike.

Garrettsville Garfield 23, Rootstown 22 A 4-yard touchdown run by Sebastian Neikirk along with Zach Hoffman's conversion kick in the fourth quarter proved the difference in the PTC County Division victory for the G-Men (4-2, 3-0).

Bedford 20, Warrensville Heights 6 Senior tight end Isaiah Matthews scored twice as the visiting Bearcats (4-2, 3-0) stayed unbeaten in Lake Erie League play.

Matthews scored on a 9-yard fumble recovery to tie the game, 6-6, in the first quarter and added a 40-yard run for another score in the fourth quarter.

Rhodes 32, Lincoln West 0 LaKeith Walls ran for 181 yards and four touchdowns on just nine carries while Rod Cooper added 100 yards and a touchdown on four carries as the Rams (2-2, 2-1) cruised to the Senate Athletic League victory.

North Royalton 28, Normandy 7 North Royalton (3-3) won its second game in a row, defeating Normandy in NOC crossover-game action.

In his first full game back after recovering from a broken foot, senior running back Evan Adams gave the Bears a big boost, scoring two first-half touchdowns before finishing with more than 100 yards.

Cuyahoga Heights 41, Cardinal 7 The Redskins (5-1, 1-1), ranked No. 15 in the Division V state poll, totaled 465 yards of offense in the CVC crossover win. Troy Janashak, who gained 137 yards on eight carries, also kicked two extra points and ran in a two-point conversion.

Massillon 38, Archbishop Hoban 16 The Tigers (5-1) got 114 yards on the ground and a touchdown from Ryne Moore to keep Hoban winless.

Lorain 41, Warren Harding 14 Pablo Gonzalez gained 102 yards and scored two touchdowns when the Titans (3-3, 1-2) prevailed in the LEL home victory.

Parma 31, Stow 17 The Redmen (3-3, 1-0) rebounded well from last week's pounding against Mentorand mustered the NOC crossover-game victory.

Tailback Aaron Horak sloshed through the rain and mud to rush for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Stow fullback Nick Mutaali totaled 255 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.

Parma's defense was led by Billy Pullman and Dane Colon, each with an interception.

Copley 35, Cloverleaf 21 The Indians (5-1, 3-0) had Argeros Turner rush for 245 yards and four touchdowns while quarterback Lou Gigliotti passed for 103 yards in the Suburban League victory.

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 32, Padua 14 The Lions (5-1, 1-0) won the North Coast League Blue Division game behind Josh Dasch's 180 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Ledgemont 32, Vienna Mathews 0 Dan LaRosa rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns for the Redskins (6-0), ranked No. 1 in the Division VI state poll.

Brad Seiler added 115 yards and a touchdown and also mustered six solo tackles and eight assists in leading Ledgemont to its fourth shutout.

Tallmadge 17, Nordonia 0 Tyrin Williams gained 210 yards and scored two touchdowns when the Blue Devils (4-2, 3-0) remained unbeaten in the Suburban League.

Cross country

Primeau Invitational at Gilmour Academy Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin mustered a fourth-, fifth- and seven-place finish by Steve Frandanisa, Dave Skursha and Michael Beebe, respectively, to earn 63 points and the team title in the Blue Division boys race.

Ryan Polman of Independence took top individual honors with a time of 17:36.

The host Lancers totaled 36 points in capturing the Blue Division girls crown thanks to Halle Markel, Alexis Anton, Rachel Novinc and Caitlin Whetstone, who finished Nos. 1-4.

Tommy Parsons' first-place effort and Connor Musial's third-place performance led Avon Lake's boys to the Gray Division team championship.

Bay edged Solon, 73-74, to prevail in the Gray Division girls crown. Maddie Britton was Bay's top individual performer when she finished fifth. Therese Haiss and Kelsey Aamonth placed third and fourth, respectively, for Solon, while Elyse Bierut and Madi Connelly were first and second for fourth-place Rocky River.

Listen live tonight as the Glenville Tarblooders take on the St. Ignatius Wildcats from Byers Field in Parma.

View full sizeGus Chan | The Plain DealerV'Angelo Bentley and Glenville face a huge game on Saturday against St. Ignatius.

Listen live tonight as the Glenville Tarblooders take on the St. Ignatius Wildcats from Byers Field in Parma.