Being the favorite means nothing in this rivalry.

APOhio State head coach Luke Fickell.

Could Ohio State's decision to hire Urban Meyer mean the Buckeyes will lose out on a recruit?

APUrban Meyer

If you believe Sam Webb, the managing editor of GoBlueWolverine.com, Urban Meyer factor could affect Ohio State in a negative of way when it comes to recruiting GlenOak running back Brionte Dunn.

Webb's not alone. He gets the backing from Scout.com Midwest regional manager Allen Trieu and Scout.com Ohio analyst Bill Greene.

In Webb's interview, Trieu says the news that Meyer is likely the next head coach and the style of offense he will be running, that may push things a little more Michigan's way in terms of signing Dunn.

And Greene says:

I think the return visit (to Michigan) is beyond huge. I think it's a pretty tell-tale sign. I think things are trending in Michigan's favor here, and away from Ohio State, and I think it's big.

I don't know if he realizes how symbolic it is. To me it's very symbolic when you're visiting a rival school when they're playing the school you're committed to and you're sitting on the rival sideline. To me, that is huge. It's very symbolic. This is trending Michigan's way.

On the other end, Webb writes how the top prospect in Michigan State's class, Canton McKinley defensive end Se'Von Pittman, could still land at Ohio State.

Trieu says:

Well, I think that he's been slowly shifting towards Ohio State for the last month or so and I think that the commitment of his girlfriend to Ohio State for basketball can't be underscored enough. I think it's going to be a battle for Michigan State to hold onto him, but he did take a visit there last week and watched them put a 55-3 beating on Indiana.

Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who's missed the past five games with his hamstring injury, returned to team drills today for the first time since re-injuring the hamstring on Nov. 4.

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerBrowns running back Peyton Hillis participated in team drills today.

BEREA -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis participated in team drills today for the first time since re-injuring his pulled hamstring in practice on Nov. 4.

Hillis, who's missed the past five games with the hamstring,  took a handful of reps during the early 15 minutes of practice open to the media, including taking a couple of handoffs.

Coach Pat Shurmur had ruled Hillis out on Monday for Sunday's game in Cincinnati,  but a Browns spokesman said that can change.

After practice on Thursday, Shurmur said in a statement, "Peyton Hillis went through a rigorous workout afterwards and performed extremely well. He is making progress and may be limited in practice on Friday.''

After Hillis re-injured the hamstring on a practice run Nov. 4, he spiked his helmet to the ground and threw the ball in frustration. A few weeks later, the whole area around the hamsting was still black and blue.

The Browns are expecting Montario Hardesty back for the Bengals game, but Hillis would be an added bonus against the third-ranked run defense. Shurmur will meet with the media after practice, about 1 p.m.

In other Browns news:

* Right tackle Tony Pashos was absent from practice today, and Artis Hicks started in his place. Pashos' wife is due with their first baby on Tuesday, but it's not yet known if that's why he's missing.

* Defensive end Jayme Mitchell, who sat out Thursday with an ankle injury, stood and watched duriing the 15 open minutes.

*Safety Usama Young did not participate in drills during the open portion and was replaced by rookie Eric Hagg.

* Defensive lineman Brian Schaefering, who sat out Thursday with an ankle injury, was back in drills today.

While the NBA players are locked out, Canton's NBDL players are in.

APFormer NBA player Keith McLeod is a member of the Charge.

While the NBA continues its lockout, professional basketball will be played in the area tonight when the Canton Charge of the NBDL begins play in Canton.

CantonRep.com reporter Josh Weir writes how the Charge will have the task of combining winning and developing.

“The best developmental environment is a competitive one,” said Charge general manager Wes Wilcox, whose club opens tonight at home against the Iowa Energy. “And we want to put together a competitive team that the fans can enjoy watching and create a great environment for our games.”

What awaits Charge fans?

It's a team with Canton native, Keith McLeod, first-round draft pick Tyrell Biggs and wing Marcus Relphorde.

"Snopening Day" at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the start of the Cleveland Indians' Snow Days, felt a bit more like a real baseball Opening Day, with temperatures in the 60s and sunny skies. The winter activities at the ballpark run through Martin Luther King Day in mid January. Watch video

It was as if the warmth of a Cleveland Indian Summer bumped up against Black Friday under perfectly gorgeous late November skies the day after Thanksgiving.

The temperature reached the low 60s by mid-afternoon as the second annual Snow Days wintertime activity   got underway at the ballpark at Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street. Today's high will be near 64 - nicer than many Cleveland Indians home openers.

"It's creating a slight problem on the ice, maybe especially for the hockey games because the puck doesn't go as fast," said Cleveland Indians spokesman Jerry Crabb. "But everyone seems to be having a good time and we've turned the chillers on full blast to get the ice more frozen."

Hundreds of people were at the ballpark by mid-afternoon Friday, watching youth hockey on the "Frozen Diamond," sledding down the "The Batterhorn" tubing hill or gliding around an ice-skating track coursing around the baseball outfield.

Team officials said the track is the first non-symmetrical ice skating path in the United States. The one-fifth-mile track, dubbed the "Let's Move It! Frozen Mile" is sponsored by The Cleveland Clinic as a way to stay fit during the cold, dark winter months.

General admission to the park is $5 for Snow Days, but it's $22 if you want to use the sled hill, $12 to skate the path or $28 if you'd like to do both.

Mark Duncan, Associated PressSunny skies bathed Progressive Field Friday for "Snopening Day," the first day of the Cleveland Indians Snow Days at the ballpark, which felt more like a baseball Opening Day than the start of the winter season. Look for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60s again today.

Patrick and Jennifer Jesberger of Willowick brought their daughters Kayla, 13, and Kristen, 11, - using discount tickets from Progressive Insurance Co., where Patrick works.

"We're just out trying to make a memory for the kids during the holiday season and it's a great day for it," Jesberger said.  "The discount brought us out here, but it's been really fun."

Melissa Kurte of Scottsdale, Ariz. was watching her baby daughter while her husband and son skated around the outfield.

"This is fantastic - we've got nothing like this in Arizona, obviously," she said. "We're having a great time, but it might be nice to have a few snow flurries, too."

Crabb said Snow Days was started last year to draw families to downtown Cleveland and to the ballpark during a time when it used to sit dormant.

"It's great to see families enjoying the ballpark for winter-related activities," he said. "And it's even better at night for some people - a completely different feel with the ballpark lighting and all of the trees lit."

Snow Days runs every weekend through Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Day.

The night before, Sunday, Jan. 15, the Ohio State and University of Michigan hockey teams will play in "The Frozen Diamond Face Off," the first hockey game in Progressive Field history and the first-ever outdoor college hockey game in the State of Ohio.

The two schools also play their annual rivalry football game today in Ann Arbor, a fact not lost on Jesberger, who was decked out in his Ohio State colors Friday - but was also seen briefly walking side-by-side with a few fans in their Michigan maize and blue.

"Oh, now we're not with them - that was just coincidence," said Jennifer Jesberger, laughing. "We might be friendly out here in the sun while skating, but we know better than to associate with anyone from Michigan this week."

</email>To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mscott@plaind.com,

216-999-4148

On Twitter: @MichaelScott81

For the last time with Luke Fickell as Ohio State's head coach, the Buckeyes will emerge from their tiny dressing room at the top of the tunnel at Michigan Stadium on Saturday and clatter down to the playing field. Under a noon sky, the perfect hour for a showdown, they will face the din and disruption of college football's biggest rivalry.

Jay LaPrete, Associated PressThis is Luke Fickell's first -- and likely last -- Michigan game as Ohio State head coach.

Into the storm's blasts, Fickell's players will take the allegiances they formed in that small room -- and in the weight room and on the practice field and in the heat of games. They are bonds that their coach would not let circumstance and controversy break. They believe this is the compass that can steer them back to a safe haven.

Asked if his 6-5 Buckeyes were playing to secure a winning season, a plusher bowl destination, for him, or for what, now that the six-year run of on-the-field Big Ten championships is over, Fickell said, "For one another."

That is where their loyalty really lies. All that male-bonding stuff, all the Agincourt "band of brothers" ideas about conflict in a hostile land, really do apply. In the biggest football stadium in the country, against a peaking archrival that believes payback for seven years of defeat is at hand, it will come down to those few who left the room and walked with locked arms onto the field.

The afternoon will have an elegiac feel to it because Fickell will be supplanted by glamorous winner Urban Meyer next season. Fickell followed Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes' coach who dominated Michigan as no Ohio State coach has ever done, and he will have preceded Meyer, who will be expected to win even bigger.

When Tressel was forced out by scandal, he took with him the stated intent to foster a family feeling between himself and his players. It had some truth to it, but it was not the happy extended clan Tressel depicted. It was a star system as much as most major college football programs are.

Maurice Clarett, Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor, his three highest-profile players, all received NCAA suspensions for taking improper benefits. Each was more equal than everyone else. Pryor became the Johnny Appleseed of the tattoo scandal. His running mate, DeVier Posey, was the heaviest penalized player in the jobs scandal involving a Cleveland booster.

The two scandals cost Fickell some of the timely reinforcements he needed to stop the bleeding. His method of dealing with the attrition has been to instill a warrior caste, one that neither mourns nor misses defectors, one that looks forward to new challenges, not backward at lost opportunities.

It worked, in as much as the team held together, despite talent reduction, injuries and controversies. The issue of the selfishness of the suspended players in sabotaging their own senior seasons and those of blameless teammates never erupted in the locker room.

But now, in "The Game," against the opponent that defines seasons at Ohio State, with a team that seemed resigned to losing by the end of last week's defeat by Penn State, can Fickell possibly succeed?

Fickell faces the most unpromising circumstances since Tressel won with a backup quarterback here in his first try in 2001.That quarterback was Craig Krenzel, who would win bigger games for Ohio State, including the 2002 national championship game against Miami. Then again, Tressel was lucky with quarterbacks. Krenzel was not his first choice. Nor was Smith, who beat Michigan three times.

Fickell decided Pryor was not worth the aggravation. The interim coach dallied too long with limited Joe Bauserman, but now he has true freshman Braxton Miller, a Troy Smith run-alike, if nothing else. Unfortunately, Miller's inexperience, along with those of his receivers, has made the passing game a failure.

Can you win "The Game" with an offense out of the days of Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes? Upon taking the job, Fickell said, "I will take this shot any way I can get it."

He will take his last shot the same way he said he would approach each challenge, "Never sound retreat."

Fickell has another saying, "Next man up."

It is as if it is a baseball game, and pinch hitters can do their part. But his batting order is short on big sticks. The Buckeyes are left with intangibles and attitude. They might be all Fickell has to offer at this stage. Then again, he might be referencing the only truths that last. When his Buckeyes walk back to that tiny locker room here, they will not have gained any character, win or lose, from what happened in "The Game." They had it when they walked out.

Browns running back Peyton Hillis returned to practice Friday and is optimistic he'll be ready to play Sunday in Cincinnati.

"I'm looking very positive for this game and hopefully everything will work out and I'm praying that it will," Hillis said. "We don't want to push it too fast but we're all shooting for this Sunday. I'm excited I feel 100 percent again."

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerBrowns running back Peyton Hillis had an unexpected turnaround this week in his recovery from a hamstring injury and may be off the sidelines and on the field Sunday in Cincinnati.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur had on Monday ruled Hillis out of the game, thinking he was at least a week away. But after Hillis' unexpected improvement, he upgraded Hillis on Friday to a game-time decision. On Thursday, the Browns put Hillis through a rigorous workout after practice and he came through it well. He followed that with a strong performance in team drills Friday -- one in which he ran full speed -- and Shurmur is now optimistic, too. Hillis is officially listed as questionable.

"Nothing surprises me," Shurmur said. "He's made huge progress this week. Again, because he hasn't played ball in a long time, I think it's still important that I'm cautious with his return."

Hillis attributed his speedier rehab to a platelet-rich plasma injection he received in the hamstring 21/2 weeks ago. It's a therapy that uses high levels of platelets -- in this case from his own blood -- containing growth factors to accelerate the healing process.

"It's supposed to make you heal a lot faster than what it was and that's obviously what it did," Hillis said. "I'm steadily improving day by day."

If Hillis plays, the Browns suddenly have a cornucopia of running backs. Montario Hardesty, who is also listed as questionable with a calf injury, is "ready to roll" in Cincinnati, Shurmur said.

Shurmur was uncertain Friday who would start -- when Hillis was ruled out, Hardesty was slated to start ahead of Chris Ogbonnaya, who ran for 115 yards against the Jaguars last Sunday.

Shurmur did make it clear that Hillis is still his No. 1 back when he's ready for full duty.

"If our backs are healthy, then Hillis is the starter, backed up by Montario, backed up by Obie," Shurmur said. "That's ideal. They'll be up and they'll all be in there playing and I think they're going to have to find a way to get in their rhythm with the plays that they have."

Hillis, who missed five games with the hamstring injury and one with strep throat, now has a chance to put his star-crossed season behind him and try be the back he was last season, when he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Hillis said the events of this season haven't been as much of a nightmare for him as it might seem. The laundry list includes taking the advice of his agent not to play with strep throat and teammates wondering if it was contract-related; throwing long passes pregame in San Francisco while inactive; skipping a Boys and Girls Club appearance on Halloween; getting married midweek in Arkansas instead of receiving treatment to play; and an "intervention" by teammates trying to help him get his head back on straight.

"[The portrayal has been] way too dramatic," he said. "Things happen. I guess when more people are looking at you, everything seems more severe. I've got to be responsible and understand that as well. As far as this year goes, I just look at it like bumps in the road you have to overcome. I've just got to find a way to overcome all of this and be the player I used to be."

He said he hasn't changed, despite some teammates saying he's a different guy this year.

"No, I believe that as far as me as a person, I'm still the same guy," he said. "You get a few bumps in the road and you have to rebound from that and do your best on and off the field. Hopefully you can go out when you can and play ball and I don't care who you are, when you go out and you do well, it's going to make you feel better as a person and on this team."

He described his meeting with the players' captains group "a bunch of hearsay. People are going to believe or think or hear whatever, but me and the guys are fine. We never thought twice. They just wanted me to get healthy and if I can, help us win. It was very professional. There was no bad blood."

Hillis said sitting out the past five games has been difficult.

"It's awful, I mean just to the point of getting treatment and knowing you can't play, standing on the sideline seeing how you lose close games and wondering you could've been out there and you could've helped and stuff like that, so I've been working my best to get out there and I'm excited about the opportunity."

Hillis said he tried to come back too early, when on Nov. 4, two days before the Houston game, he came up limping after a run in practice.

"Maybe I pushed it too much," he said. "But you know, that's it, just me being a player and wanting to get out there and play and things just happen."

He said the time off has made him hungrier.

"I miss playing football," he said. "It's what I was brought up my whole life to do. I'm excited to get out there playing a game. I'm excited about winning games. I'm excited to see how I can play during this time. I'm excited to make adjustments and improvements for myself and the team."

Browns cornerback Joe Haden is looking forward to his rematch with Bengals receiver A.J. Green. In the season opener, Haden held the standout rookie to no catches . . . until the Bengals caught the Browns napping late in the game. Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski called for a quick snap and hit Green for an easy 41-yard go-ahead touchdown....

Browns cornerback Joe Haden is looking forward to his rematch with Bengals receiver A.J. Green.

In the season opener, Haden held the standout rookie to no catches . . . until the Bengals caught the Browns napping late in the game. Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski called for a quick snap and hit Green for an easy 41-yard go-ahead touchdown.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns cornerback Joe Haden (23) is credited with breaking up 16 passes this season.

Green has 41 receptions and six TDs this season despite missing the Bengals' game against Baltimore last Sunday and the second half against Pittsburgh the week before with a knee injury. Green leads NFL rookies with 635 receiving yards and is second among rookies in receptions, trailing only the Browns' Greg Little (42).

"I look forward to [playing against Green] a lot," Haden said. "He's one of the best receivers we have in the division. He's gotten better as [rookie quarterback Andy] Dalton's gotten more mature. They have a good connection. He goes to him a lot. It just seems to be working really well with those guys."

Haden, who faced Green twice in college, broke up five passes and had a near-interception in their first meeting.

"We had a lot of time to study them," said Haden. "We were on top of our game."

Haden said it might be tougher this time around.

"He's a deep threat and he has really good speed," Haden said. "He can jump and he's an all-around really good receiver. It will definitely be a challenge to cover him. It should be a good matchup."

Browns defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, head of the league's No. 1 pass defense, knows Green has improved since Week 1.

"A.J. Green is a phenomenal young talent," he said. "He's playing really well. You can see the things that he can do down the field, he goes up, he's a big target, he runs well, runs good routes, has good hands. He's a tough, tough guy. He's going to be a good player in this league for a long time. He's going to be a tough matchup for whoever's on him. I just hope whoever's on him is up to that challenge."

Haden has broken up 16 passes this season, but last week dropped two potential interceptions and has yet to pick one off this season.

"It means I'm around the ball a lot, but I should catch some of them," Haden said. "I'll try to work on that."

Pashos absent: Right tackle Tony Pashos was absent from practice Friday because his wife was in labor with their first baby. Coach Pat Shurmur said he expects Pashos to play Sunday. Artis Hicks worked in Pashos' place.

Mitchell idle: Defensive end Jayme Mitchell has missed two straight days with and ankle injury and is questionable for Sunday. In case he can't play, the Browns promoted defensive lineman Kiante Tripp from the practice squad. To make room, the team waived running back Thomas Clayton.

Tripp spent training camp this season with the Falcons after signing as an undrafted free agent July 27 out of Georgia. The Falcons waived him Sept. 2 and he has spent the past seven weeks on the Browns' practice squad.

Mitchell lost his starting job last week to Emmanuel Stephens, who has had four tackles each of the past four games.

Shurmur said he wasn't surprised to learn Mitchell told reporters he wasn't happy about his demotion.

"I would expect him to not be happy about that," he said. "I spoke to him twice [Friday] and we spoke [Thursday] so we're just working our way through that."

Marecic questionable: Fullback Owen Marecic (concussion) is questionable, though Shurmur said he has a chance to play despite missing practice all week.

Kevin Durant and former Cleveland State guard Norris Cole also expected to play

Cavaliers draft pick Tristan Thompson will play in the LeBron James charity game on Thursday

     UNIONTOWN, Ohio -- This wasn't the way Kurt Vidmer envisioned his final game for Chagrin Falls' football team.   Andrew Winkelman wasn't looking at Friday's Division III state semifinal as the final chapter of an incredible career, either. 

 
 
 UNIONTOWN, Ohio -- This wasn't the way Kurt Vidmer envisioned his final game for Chagrin Falls' football team. 

 Andrew Winkelman wasn't looking at Friday's Division III state semifinal as the final chapter of an incredible career, either. 

 Ditto for Anthony DeCamillo after Youngstown Cardinal Mooney knocked the Tigers out of the postseason with a 24-14 win at Blue Streak Stadium. 

 But what the senior class did at Chagrin Falls might never happen again. 

 Try back-to-back runner-up finishes in Division IV in 2010 and 2009. 

 Try three straight trips to the semifinals. 

 Try three Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division titles and try an incredible 40 wins in their last 44 games. 

 "Hearing [those accomplishments] helps right now," DeCamillo said. "If you would have told me all that as a freshman, I'd be in disbelief. 

 "Right now it hurts, but it was great playing with these guys. We left it all on the field. We gave it everything we had. Leaving a legacy like this is incredible." 

 While the loss to the seven-time state champion Cardinals (10-3) wasn't exactly what these seniors wanted, what they accomplished is unparalleled at the school. 

 That made things a little easier for Mike Hageman, Billy Cale, Mike Tozzi, Sam Gardner, David Nearman, Alex Hallwachs, Dan O'Kane, Wes Kenyon and Everett Dishong. 

 Those nine seniors were starters against Mooney and joined Vidmer, Winkelman and DeCamillo as the best class to ever come out of the school. 

 While Chagrin Falls (13-1) failed to reach the finals for only the second time in the senior class' career, they'll walk away as the cornerstone of what the Tigers hope is a lengthy string of success. 

 "We did our best and always played together," Vidmer said. "When we were tested, we showed we could be the better team. 

 "It was great fun. We set a lot of school records and played more than anyone else in the state. We never won a title, but we did play great." 

 The seniors' effort wasn't lost on players like Grant Lingafelter, Wes Bomback, Bradley Munday, Jack Campbell, Tommy Iammarino or Matt Markley. 

 All juniors, the sextet watched the Tigers' 2012 class do things almost unimaginable when the team started two-a-days four years ago. 

 With Iammarino back at quarterback and Munday and Campbell returning to the backfield, a long postseason run might not be out of the question again. 

 "When I think of these seniors, I think leadership," Iammarino said. "Hopefully we can follow in their footsteps and continue their success. They were amazing." 

Season will begin on Christmas Day; training camps could open on Dec. 9

AP fileNBA Commissioner David Stern is on verge of getting his Christmas wish as players and owners reached a tentative agreement to end the lockout

Justin O'Rourke bore little resemblance to a guy who didn't throw a pass in the second half of his previous game. The Avon senior quarterback completed 19 of 29 passes for 278 yards to lead the Eagles to a 43-20 victory over Aurora on Friday night in front of 6,000 fans in the Division II state semifinals at Parma's...

Aurora quarterback Blake Calcei cries after his team lost to Avon in the state semifinals Friday, November 25, 2011. Blake also lost teammate Paul McGhee the previous day in an auto accident. - (Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer)

Justin O'Rourke bore little resemblance to a guy who didn't throw a pass in the second half of his previous game.

The Avon senior quarterback completed 19 of 29 passes for 278 yards to lead the Eagles to a 43-20 victory over Aurora on Friday night in front of 6,000 fans in the Division II state semifinals at Parma's Byers Field.

The Eagles improved to 13-1 and advanced to the state championship game for the first time. Avon will play Trotwood Madison next Friday in Massillon.

"This is the best feeling in the world, baby," O'Rourke said. "Everybody was clicking. We definitely worked as a team tonight."

Aurora, grieving the loss of a teammate Thanksgiving Day, finished 12-2. Paul McGhee, a sophomore defensive end, was killed in a one-car accident Thursday afternoon.

"Avon's a heck of a football team with great skill on both sides of the football," Aurora coach Bob Mihalik said. "Couple that with what we've been through. We were emotionally spent. We gave everything we could. When you're playing with a heavy heart going against a team like that, the cards are stacked against you."

O'Rourke, who didn't throw a pass in the second half of Avon's 35-21 victory over Tiffin Columbian in the regional championship, threw touchdown passes to five different receivers.

"Everybody made plays," O'Rourke said. "The team played very well, overall. Their inside linemen were very tough, and our line handled that very, very well. I didn't get touched once tonight."

Avon took advantage of an Aurora turnover to score first. The Greenmen drove to midfield on their opening possession, but Zach Quinn lost a handoff and Greg Harrison recovered for the Eagles.

O'Rourke completed three passes to move the Eagles inside the 20. Patrick Dougherty knocked down an O'Rourke pass on third-and-6, and Avon had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Brad Young.

Avon's defense stifled Aurora's running game to shut down the next two possessions.

The Eagles then put together a 53-yard drive to increase the lead to 10-0.

A 15-yard pass from O'Rourke to Ross Douglas, plus a personal foul, moved the Eagles to the Aurora 25. Avon finished the drive with a 12-yard pass from O'Rourke to Jacob Mullins.

Aurora got back in the game after an Avon turnover. O'Rourke completed a short pass to Matt Eckhardt, who fumbled. J.T. Haughey recovered for the Greenmen.

Three plays later, Blake Calcei completed a pass down the right sideline to Quinn, who muscled his way into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown with 4:33 left in the second quarter.

Avon answered with an 80-yard drive before the half. O'Rourke completed 4 of 6 passes during the drive, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Smith.

Smith made a nice leaping catch to wrestle the ball away from a defender around the 5, then walked in from there. Avon had to settle for a 16-7 lead when the Greenmen blocked Young's extra point.

The Eagles blew the game open with two quick scores in the third quarter. O'Rourke's 40-yard strike to Will Karnavas gave Avon a 22-7 lead.

Three plays after Matt Holkenborg recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Austin Bevans scored on a 1-yard run to extend the lead.

Bevans stepped in for Douglas, who was injured after going over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. It was about the only thing that went wrong for Avon.

Avon coach Mike Elder said O'Rourke's performance last week was due more to what the opponents were giving it than any problems O'Rourke was having.

"We strived to be balanced all year long," Elder said. "That young man is a great young player, and he played well again tonight."

Bob Migra is a freelance writer in Westlake.

Uniontown, Ohio — Less than three lousy minutes. That's how long it took seven-time state champion Youngstown Cardinal Mooney to ruin another exemplary Chagrin Falls football season.

Chagrin's Bradley Munday catches a pass in the end zone for the only touchdown from either school in the first half in a Div III high school football game between the Chagrin Falls Tigers and Cardinal Mooney Cardinals at Uniontown Lake on Friday, Nov 25, 2011. - (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

Uniontown, Ohio — Less than three lousy minutes.

That's how long it took seven-time state champion Youngstown Cardinal Mooney to ruin another exemplary Chagrin Falls football season.

The Cardinals scored three touchdowns in the span of 2:47 of the third quarter and ended the Tigers' hopes of reaching the state final for the third straight season, holding on for a 24-14 victory in front of 7,000 fans at Blue Streak Stadium in a Division III state semifinal game.

Chagrin lost for the first time this season and for the fourth time in the past 44 games, the best mark of any team in Ohio. Yet, the pain of losing was not lessened.

"I can't say if this one hurts more than last year or not," said Chagrin Falls running back Bradley Munday, one of five juniors who will return on offense next year. "We killed ourselves in this game. We could have won. But anytime you lose, it kills you. We're not used to losing. But we'll be back. We are confident of that."

Chagrin had a 7-0 lead at the half, scoring its touchdown when Munday gathered in a 5-yard pass from Tommy Iammarino after senior Anthony DeCamillo picked up a Mooney fumble and returned it 29 yards to the Mooney 8.

Then came the third quarter and the momentum change. It started when Mooney's Carmen Lanzo blocked a punt on Chagrin's first possession. The ball went out of bounds at the Chagrin 32-yard line and quarterback P.J. Quinn wasted no time in getting the Cardinals on the board. The 6-1, 195-pound senior went 30 yards on a quarterback draw, and Conor Durina's extra-point kick tied the game.

Munday tried to spark the Tigers when he returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards, but Marcus McWilson, whose punting was a big factor, intercepted an Iammarino pass three plays later and returned it 58 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Mooney blitz ended when Quinn lofted a 55-yard scoring pass to Ryan Farragher on the first play after the Cardinals (10-3) forced Chagrin into a three-and-out.

The Tigers (13-1) fought back three plays after Farragher's touchdown. Senior Billy Cale took a pitchout from Iammarino and got around the left side and went 41 yards down the sideline to make it 21-14.

The loss was deepened for the Iammarino family. Sophomore Matt Iammarino was best friends with Aurora sophomore Paulie McGhee, who was killed in a traffic accident on Thanksgiving.

"They were best friends for a long time," coach Mark Iammarino said of his son and McGhee.

Matt and Tommy both had McGhee's number 57 drawn on the back of their helmets in tribute.

Afterward, the coach continued to lift the spirits of his players.

"There is no shame whatsoever in the pain you feel now because that's how much you put into it," he said. "I am proud of you guys. Now, let's go get the band one more time."

The players made their way to the stands and stood as the marching band played the alma mater for the last time this season.

Some were in tears. Some were angry.

But the band played on.

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

On Twitter:@TimRogersPD

Check out the game photo gallery Canton — They are nick- named the Hornets. But a better moniker for Kirtland's tenacious football team would be the Little Giants. They may play in Ohio's second-smallest division, but these Hornets have come up big all season.

Kirtland’s Zach Santo looks for running room against Bucyrus Wynford during the first quarter of the Hornets’ 42-0 win Friday. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

Check out the game photo gallery

Canton — They are nick- named the Hornets.

But a better moniker for Kirtland's tenacious football team would be the Little Giants. They may play in Ohio's second-smallest division, but these Hornets have come up big all season.

Operating like a well-oiled machine, Kirtland took apart previously undefeated Bucyrus Wynford, 42-0, in a Division V semifinal on Friday night at Canton Central Catholic's Klinefelter Field.

The Hornets (14-0) will play Coldwater (11-3) next Friday at Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium at 11 a.m.

When they weren't denying the Royals (13-1) on defense, they were pounding the ball on the ground, with the occasional pass to keep things interesting. Wynford has to be wondering what kind of buzz saw it ran into.

"We stuck to what got us here," said Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde, whose club piled up 365 yards of offense. "We put in a game plan and the kids executed it."

To near perfection, the coach might add.

Both clubs were making their first trip to the semifinals, but there was never any doubt which team would make the championship game.

The Hornets were on the scoreboard in less than three minutes as they moved 72 yards in seven plays. They made their opening statement on the ground, with senior Christian Hauber carrying three times for 31 yards and junior Damon Washington taking the other four carries for 41.

Washington swept left end for the touchdown from 10 yards out with 8:58 left in the quarter.

"I'm a little surprised because you don't expect a shutout in a state semifinal," said Washington, who also played cornerback. "After the first play we knew we could pound it. That's what we do."

After reaching the Wynford 25 on its next series, Kirtland made one of its few mistakes as Hauber lost a fumble.

But three plays later, senior Zach Santo picked off a Zach Chatlain pass and returned it 39 yards to the Royals' 6. Junior quarterback Zach Eilerman capped the short drive with a 1-yard plunge with a minute left in the first quarter.

Santo made his presence felt on offense as he hooked up with Eilerman on a short pass and turned on the jets to outrun the Wynford defense to the right corner of the end zone for a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

"I was running an out route and I just did my best to get in," said Santo, who caught three first-half passes for 73 yards.

Forcing a three-and-out on defense, the Hornets covered 67 yards on their next series as Hauber got the score on a 7-yard run around left end.

"I like to hit people," said Hauber, who finished with 104 yards on 17 carries — all but one in the first half. "I'll let Damon take it outside. I'll truck it inside."

The Hornets gained 276 yards on the ground, with Washington finishing with 79 yards on 10 carries. Eight other players carried the ball as LaVerde used his bench through much of the second half.

To cap the first half, senior defensive back Nick Dhondt intercepted a tipped pass and went 30 yards for the score to make it 35-0 two minutes before halftime. In the half, the Hornets finished with 251 yards of offense. Wynford totaled 39 yards.

The Royals probably thought it was deja vu all over again. A week ago, they trailed Lucasville Valley, 27-0, in the first quarter and rallied for a 54-48 win in overtime.

This time, though, they had no shot pulling off that kind of comeback.

"They are fast and aggressive up front," said Wynford coach Travis Moyer, whose club has won 58 straight regular-season games. "Give them credit, but we didn't do anything to help ourselves tonight."

The Royals totaled 97 yards on offense.

Wynford mounted its only sustained drive when it took the second-half kickoff and moved 68 yards to the Kirtland 12. But the drive ended on downs.

Kirtland never missed a beat as it covered 88 yards. With both Hauber and Washington on the sideline, sophomore Erik Guhde got to finish it off from the 1 to make it 42-0 with 10:11 to play.

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

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

Check out the game photo gallery Canton, Ohio —The exact length is a matter of opinion, but there's no question this has been a long journey for the Kirtland Hornets.

Kirtland's Zach Santo dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Bucyrus Wynford's Nate Brown tries to push him out in the second quarter of play in the Division V State Semifinals Friday, November 25, 2011 in Canton. Kirtland won the game 42-0. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

Check out the game photo gallery

Canton, Ohio —The exact length is a matter of opinion, but there's no question this has been a long journey for the Kirtland Hornets.

"We've been thinking about this since our freshman year," said senior standout Christian Hauber following Kirtland's 42-0 domination of Bucyrus Wynford that put the Hornets into next Friday's Division V state championship game. "There was never a doubt in our minds that we would have a great chance to be here."

Kirtland, 14-0, had been knocking on the door in the past few years, but this is the school's first appearance in the title game, which will bring an end to a long 11 months.

"We started working for this on Jan. 1," Hauber said. "That's when our football workouts began. Everything we did was 15 because we knew it would take 15 games to get there."

In opening a 35-0 lead in the first half it appeared the Hornets were in a laugher from the start, but as a whole the team was apprehensive.

"I was really, really nervous before the game," said two-way lineman Tim Blankenship. "I was nervous about their size and whether we could execute as well as we did last week and play our game."

It took just one possession to calm the nerves.

The Hornets took the game's opening kickoff and pounded their way down the field, putting together a seven-play, 72-yard drive that took barely more than 3 minutes off the clock and culminated in a 10-yard scoring run by junior Damon Washington.

"When we scored right away and then stopped them we knew right then they couldn't hang with us," Blankenship said.

For Washington, who helped Kirtland roll up 251 yards of offense in the first half, it took just one play, a 14-yard dash on the first play from scrimmage.

"Usually I get the ball on the first play and we see how the defense reacts to my speed," Washington said. "After I got that 14-yard run I thought in my mind, 'We got this.' I knew we could pound the ball and go out and get them."

However, nobody expected a blowout.

"Every game we expect it to be close," Hauber said. "We go in thinking the worst. Everybody just did a fantastic job."

Wynford entered the game averaging 34.5 points per game and the Royals scored 54 in their regional championship victory last week. Kirtland's defense pitched its fifth shutout of the season and held the Royals to less than 100 yards of total offense —39 in the first half.

Wynford quarterback Zach Chatlain struggled all night, completing just 3 of 13 passes for 23 yards. He spent much of the game running from the Kirtland rush.

One such blitz resulted in a pick-six for teammate Nick Dhondt.

Anticipating the snap count, Hauber burst through the line unblocked and forced Chatlain to throw a screen pass before the play had a chance to develop. His receiver wasn't ready for the pass and it bounced off his hands right to Dhondt, who returned it 35 yards for the TD.

Joe Magill is a freelance writer in Cleveland.

A lot of Miller’s freshman season has been about the future. With the idea of being coached by Urban Meyer for the rest of his career now on the table, the possibilities are even more intriguing.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerMuch of Braxton Miller's freshman season has been about the future.

Ann Arbor, Mich. — In his final act last week, Braxton Miller came up a half-yard short. On the edge, by himself, confused and creative, unaided and undaunted, protected and pressured, and in the end, Ohio State’s only hope, the freshman quarterback dived, leaving the ground at the 36-yard line and landing at the 32. On this fourth-and-10 in the final two minutes against Penn State, the 31 was the goal.

“I don’t even know how he got that close,” senior center Mike Brewster said. “There were guys like caving him in to the sideline, and he was 4 yards away and he was like a frog, he just hopped, and it was unbelievable. He’s a special talent, he’s got unbelievable running skills and once he understands the passing offense a little more and matures in the passing game, he’s going to be a force.”

A lot of Miller’s freshman season has been about the future. With the idea of being coached by Urban Meyer for the rest of his career now on the table, the possibilities are even more intriguing.

“He’s a special kid and a special player,” senior receiver DeVier Posey said. “He’s a great kid and he has a good heart and he means well. It’s just the beginning, and I’m honored to be on the field with him because I feel like he’s going to be a great player.”

The plan never was to put Miller in this position as a true freshman, but since taking over as the starter in Week 4, the Buckeyes (6-5) have seen him sink and swim, and now, as usual, they just need him.

Today is the final regular-season game that could change a lot about how this OSU season will be remembered. Not everyone on the roster, or the staff, has a future like Miller.

To help save the season against Michigan today, they really, really need him now.

“I think that Braxton will continue to do what he’s done,” OSU head coach Luke Fickell said. “He’s a competitor. And sometimes, the best thing you can be is a young guy and not realize exactly the magnitude of some different things. . . . We don’t need anything superhuman, we just need you to be who you’ve been and have some confidence in what you do.”

The confidence is subdued when not unleashed on defenders while juking through quarterback draws and scrambles. Asked after his 40-yard, last-minute pass beat Wisconsin about when he gets nervous, Miller said maybe when he has to give a speech in class. During preseason camp, teammates said Miller was so shy, he mumbled the plays in the huddle and was difficult to hear.

“I think he was kind of in a shell during the beginning of the season,” senior running back Dan Herron said. “But you can see he’s way more comfortable now.”

The passing game struggles are partially attributed to Miller, but nothing unlike what would happen to almost any true freshman quarterback. He’s cautious to the point of being overly so at times, more apt to take off and run than hang in the pocket and find his second or third read. Since his first start against Colorado, he has nearly as many rushing yards as passing yards in eight games — 533 to 610 — while completing 46 percent of his throws.

“He still has to become more and more consistent in the passing game, and I think that is kind of reflective of everyone overall that is involved with him,” said offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. “There are a whole lot of things that go into the passing game, starting with the protection, the routes and receivers.”

Bollman then noted that Miller is “not anywhere near perfect,” either. Ohio State doesn’t need perfect. Just possible. That, Miller has provided. The Wisconsin win. The game-tying drive against Purdue that could have been the game-winning drive if not for a blocked extra point.

The Penn State dive. The Buckeyes have come to expect the best of Miller when they need him most. So, apparently, have the Wolverines.

“The way he handles himself, I think how under-pressure he’s played,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said.

“He’s very, very explosive, and he’s a very competitive quarterback,” Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. “He’s not timid in any way.”

By limiting the offense in some ways, and by trying to ensure that his status as a budding-star freshman quarterback isn’t too much for him off the field, Ohio State has tried to protect Miller. But the Buckeyes have also been busy just trying to get by themselves. It’s hard to shield and survive. Today, it’s run Braxton, run.

“It is obvious to all of us how gifted a runner he is,” Bollman said. “Now, through the season, you can really see him make some very big-time runs. . . . Certainly, he is a very courageous young man and not afraid to have it in his hands when it is time to make a play.”

In the Michigan game, OSU players are told that everything is doubled, 1 yard is worth 2. Miller’s half-yard shortfall against Penn State would be a full yard short today against Michigan. So Ohio State just needs him to leap twice as far.

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

Five years ago, Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison stopped Ohio State. But not for the Wolverines. He did it for Urban Meyer.

AP PhotoQuarterback Denard Robinson has been relied on less as a ground threat lately, running for 273 yards on 80 carries in his past five games after running for 674 yards on 94 carries in his previous five games.

THE MENTAL

Five years ago, Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison stopped Ohio State. But not for the Wolverines. He did it for Urban Meyer.

As the Florida Gators’ defensive coordinator working for Meyer, he helped take down the Buckeyes, 41-14, in the national title game after the 2006 season. Mattison’s defense held the Buckeyes — averaging 36 points and 410 yards per game — to 14 points and 82 yards.

“They seemed like they brought something new,” OSU center Doug Datish said after the loss. “Just a credit to them, how good they really were, and they did some different blitzes and did different things.”

Then, Mattison had six weeks to prepare for the Buckeyes and two tremendous defensive ends as weapons. Now, as the first-year defensive coordinator at Michigan under good friend Brady Hoke, Mattison has had a week and doesn’t have that level of talent. But he does have the Michigan defense playing like a new group.

Ranked No. 108 in the nation in points allowed last season, giving up 35 a game, the Wolverines are No. 6 this season, giving up 16 a game.

It’s not the exact same structure as at Florida, but it is the same guy, and it’s a big change from the defensive struggles under former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and coordinator Greg Robinson. The Wolverines went back to a basic 4-3, focused on strength and size instead of speed and are playing more fundamental football, with even basic tackling much improved from a year ago.

“They are bigger and stronger, and all the guys are noticeably bigger on film,” OSU offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.

“I’ve known [Mattison] back when he was at Michigan before, so I’ve known him a long time,” said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock. “I knew he’s a great coach and he would get back to the fundamentals.”

Mattison was at Michigan as the defensive line coach and then defensive coordinator for five years (1992-96). This time around, he has added ideas brought from his most recent job as defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.

“He brings an unbelievable scheme,” Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs said. “Obviously, he was coaching with the Ravens before and he’s established an NFL defense here. I think that we do a pretty good job disguising and giving them a bunch of different looks and giving the quarterback something to think about.

THE EMOTIONAL

Battling Mattision will be Bollman, whose 11-year career at Ohio State is certainly coming to a close. More than anyone, Bollman has taken the blame for a lot of the Buckeyes’ shortfalls this year, his first calling plays without Jim Tressel’s input. (By the way, he said he has talked to Tressel “very infrequently” this season.) Loved by his offensive linemen for years, the bigger responsibility has added more heat, and Bollman knows it.

“People are going to think that. Everybody knows how to do and coach this game better than we do, anyway. That is all part of the situation,” Bollman said. “They are not there at practice, and they don’t know what people know and see what goes on and don’t understand the inner workings. I understand they know all the other stuff — they know all the things to do. You sometimes have got to go back and remember why you do this, why you are given a chance to do this, who you are trying to help and who you are trying to bring along and raise. It is not for all the naysayers.”

Bollman said it’s “probably impossible” to ignore the talk of the next coach, but “there have been plenty of good times and there are rough times, too.”

It can’t get much rougher for this offense. One ray of hope, maybe, is that Bollman said the Buckeyes have, in fact, called the throwback tight-end screen for Jake Stoneburner — that worked so perfectly for a touchdown against Nebraska — more than once. It was on the second play of overtime against Purdue, and a second look at the video confirmed Bollman’s claim.

But quarterback Braxton Miller didn’t throw it and eventually took a sack. “Braxton didn’t see him, or felt a little heat, or whatever,” Bollman said, “and if you take that one out and look at it, there is another chance for a pretty good play there.”

The Buckeyes could use another good chance today.

THE PHYSICAL

The Buckeyes must chase down the Michigan running game. Quarterback Denard Robinson has been relied on less as a ground threat lately, running for 273 yards on 80 carries in his past five games after running for 674 yards on 94 carries in his previous five games.

Still, the biggest threats on either side of the ball are the legs of the quarterbacks. A couple of big plays by Robinson or Miller could decide the game. That makes OSU freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier extra important for the Buckeyes when it comes to chasing down ballcarriers, especially Robinson, in the open field.

“He’s got the ability to get to [Robinson],” said Heacock of Shazier. “And he’s got the ability to make a play in space against him, which some players don’t. Some guys just don’t move well enough that they can get that done.

“I don’t think there’s any question it’s nice to have a guy of his caliber and his speed and acceleration and explosiveness in the game, that he can get to the ball and he gives you a chance. And if you know Denard’s going to run, you feel like he’s got a chance to at least get in his face and slow him down.”

The Buckeyes also can’t lose track of running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who is averaging 140 yards on 23 carries in his past four games.

During that same four-game stretch, OSU running back Dan Herron is averaging 111 yards on 21 carries per game.

THE FUN

The last word goes to former Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, who now has a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints. Jenkins was the kind of solid citizen, but with a hard edge, that the Buckeyes could use more of right now. He was at the Buckeyes’ loss to Penn State last week, and he sent this message about playing Michigan, while remembering the way he took down Michigan receiver Greg Mathews at the end of a play during his last Michigan game in 2008.

“I feel it’s to a point now where, if you’re a defensive back or a receiver, if you don’t get into some scuffle within the first 10 plays, you’re not doing something right,” Jenkins said. “It has to happen. That’s just what it is. You come out and you set the tone. That’s what kind of game it is."

KEY TO THE GAME

Linebacker play: Emotion will go a long way, and Luke Fickell and Brady Hoke, in the first battle of first-year coaches in this game since 1929, can give their teams a leg up by getting them on edge. But that will last only so long.

When it gets down to blocking and tackling, the linebackers must prevent regular runs from turning into big plays on both sides. And there are a lot of young guys on the line. Ohio State freshman Ryan Shazier jumped onto the scene with 15 tackles last week, but two of Michigan’s three starting linebackers are freshmen as well. And they’ve been handling themselves.

True freshman Desmond Morgan, at 6-1 and 220 pounds, will be making his sixth start of the season and fifth straight, and he ranks fifth among the Wolverines in tackles, with a season-high nine against Purdue. And redshirt freshman Jake Ryan, a 6-3, 230-pound Westlake native and former St. Ignatius star, is second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and has been starting all season. Junior linebacker Kenny Demens leads the Wolverines with seven tackles per game.

I don’t expect either offense to just march up and down the field all day. So a couple of missed tackles at the second level, turning 8-yard gains into 40-yard gains, could determine the winner

THE PREDICTIONS

Elton Alexander (7-4)

On Twitter: @eapeedee

Ohio State 27, Michigan 24.

Last sip of Kool-Aid, Buckeyes win one for the Fickell.

Doug Lesmerises (8-3)

On Twitter: @PDBuckeyes

Michigan 23, Ohio State 17.

Nothing lasts forever. OSU fans knew it would end eventually. Boy, does it make next year interesting.

Bill Livingston (6-5)

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Michigan 31, Ohio State 21.

It was tough here even when RichRod was at Michigan and Jim Tressel was at OSU. Neither is the case now.

How you voted

We asked at cleveland.com/osu: Which team will win the Ohio State-Michigan game, and by how many points?

OSU by 6 or less: 31 percent

UM by 15 or more: 18 percent

UM by 7-10: 17 percent

UM by 11-14: 14 percent

OSU by 7-10: 9 percent

UM by 6 or less: 7 percent

OSU by 15 or more: 3 percent

OSU by 11-14: 1 percent

Votes as of Friday evening: 2,304

The Monsters might not have a winning record — yet — but they are dangerous. Nobody needs to educate the Bulldogs after they were overwhelmed, 5-1, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 8,339.

Lake Erie Monsters

The Monsters did not merely defeat the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday night at The Q. They administered a beat-down, the type of victory that sends a message to the rest of the league.

The Monsters might not have a winning record — yet — but they are dangerous. Nobody needs to educate the Bulldogs after they were overwhelmed, 5-1, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 8,339.

Yes, Hamilton is struggling. Yes, it is severely undermanned. But the Monsters need not attach an asterisk to this performance, because it likely would have been enough against the best the Bulldogs could offer.

The Monsters (8-9-1-1) have won four of five and own a five-game points streak. Hamilton slipped to 6-10-1-1.

When factoring in physicality and skill, the Monsters delivered arguably their best game in the franchise’s five seasons. They kept pounding and passing, pounding and passing.

“They’re decimated by injuries,” Monsters coach David Quinn said. “They have 10 guys on IR. That being said, I certainly loved the way we played.”

Through two periods, Lake Erie led, 4-1, and held a 28-11 advantage in shots. All that remained in doubt was how many more Bulldogs would be blasted over the boards and into the Lake Erie bench.

The answer was one, bringing the game’s total to two. Monsters enforcer Patrick Bordeleau unloaded on winger Alain Berger in the third minute of the third. The hit was clean, but Berger needed to be helped off the ice and down the tunnel to the locker room. The Bulldogs had no comment regarding Berger’s condition.

In the final minute of the second, Monsters winger Hugh Jessiman — aka Huge Speciman — sent winger Alexander Avtsin flying.

Bordeleau (6-6, 220) and Jessiman (6-6, 230) imposed their will all night. In the latter stages of the second period, Bordeleau tangled with defenseman Zack FitzGerald. The fight ended with FitzGerald on his back and Bordeleau receiving a loud ovation on his way to the box.

Lake Erie finished with a 47-22 advantage in shots.

“Our decision-making in the offensive zone was good,” Quinn said. “We’re getting better and better at possessing the puck.”

Monsters goalie Cedrick Desjardins made 21 saves to improve to 5-2-1.

The Monsters were without one of their best players, defenseman Stefan Elliott, who was recalled by the Colorado Avalanche. Elliott has a plus-5 rating in 18 games.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com; 216-999-4664

William Buford scored 17 of his 25 points after the break, and the Buckeyes routed Valparaiso, 80-47, on Friday night.

Ohio State's William Buford (44) shoots over Valparaiso's Matt Kenney, left, and Erik Buggs (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 80-47. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Columbus — Jared Sullinger blamed it on too much turkey. Whatever the reason, No. 3 Ohio State shook off its slow start with a dizzying display at the beginning of the second half.

William Buford scored 17 of his 25 points after the break, and the Buckeyes routed Valparaiso, 80-47, on Friday night.

Aaron Craft added 15 points and eight assists for the Buckeyes (6-0), who tuned up for a big home showdown against No. 6 Duke on Tuesday. Sullinger had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Deshaun Thomas added 12 points.

Buford had four points in Ohio State’s 19-2 surge right after the break, and the crowd used the final minute to serenade Michigan with derisive cheers ahead of their football game today.

The quick burst to start the second half made the outcome a formality — and allowed the Buckeyes to begin thinking about facing the Blue Devils in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

“From the standpoint of looking at a team like Duke, it draws back to our game with Florida,” said Ohio State coach Thad Matta, referring to the Buckeyes’ relatively easy 81-74 win over the Gators earlier this season. “It’ll be a good challenge for us. Like the Florida game, we’ll know a lot more about us after it.”

Sullinger said he couldn’t wait for the much anticipated game against Duke, with Value City Arena already sold out.

“We know the team coming in here on Tuesday night,” said Sullinger, who also had five assists against Valpo. “It should be a good battle.”

The game clearly tilted at the outset of the second half. The Buckeyes brought a four-point lead into the final 20 minutes, but they quickly asserted themselves at both ends of the floor.

“We played well for a stretch in the first half,” Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew said. “We didn’t play a great 20 minutes, but I was optimistic we’d be able to play a good second half. Then we all saw Ohio State’s ability to go on a quick run.”

Sullinger had seven points — including a crowd-pleasing 3 — in the second-half surge, with Craft adding a 3 and a layup and Buford hitting two jumpers. Buford made six of his seven shots in the second half, including all three of his 3-point attempts.

“My teammates were able to get me the ball and were setting good screens for me,” he said. “And I was able to knock them down today.”

Women

No. 18 Ohio State 84, Stony Brook 37

Get updates on Twitter from Doug Lesmerises @PDBuckeyes and Bill Livinigston @LivyPD as Ohio State takes on Michigan.

View full sizeMarvin Fong | The Plain DealeIs this Luke Fickell's last game on the Ohio State sideline.

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