CineSport's Noah Coslov and Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer talk about the impact Urban Meyer will have not only with Ohio State, but the entire Big Ten.
CineSport's Noah Coslov and Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer talk about the impact Urban Meyer will have not only with Ohio State, but the entire Big Ten.
For more Cinesport video, go here.
Related story: Urban Meyer's salary fits right in with Ohio State's big-money football operation: Terry Pluto
"Jake Delhomme was one of the worst acquisitions in a long time, and that may make fans hesitant to welcome McNabb. Thing is, he actually has some life left."
In 1999, the Browns had to a chance to draft Donovan McNabb and chose Tim Couch instead. 12 years later, McNabb is looking for a team after being released by the Vikings.
McNabb has played his entire career in the west coast offense and spent time with Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur in Philadelphia. So.......????
Here are some comments from cleveland.com readers on if the Browns should be interested in McNabb.
glough writes,
"Is Donovan on the Browns' radar? Not only is there an obvious connection to Heckert, but also his prowess in the WCO--not to mention the Browns' lack of solid QB play. Delhomme was one of the worst acquisitions in a long time, and that may make fans hesitant to welcome McNabb. Thing is, he actually has some life left."
tribefan1956 says,
"Why would we do that? He's been dumped twice this year by teams that aren't exactly lighting it up with MVP caliber quarterbacking from the guys who replaced him. Yeah, that's a great idea. Let's bring him in here so we can watch him struggle, boo him off the field, and then complain about him on this site, demanding that he be run out of town on a rail"
Should the Browns give McNabb a look? And go........
The Indians have just about completed their minor league player development staff for the 2012 season..
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There is a big-league flavor to the Indians minor league coaching staff.
Former big leaguers Steve Karsay and Scott Erickson have been hired as pitching coaches. Karsay, who pitched 11 seasons in the big leagues, will coach the Indians' Arizona Rookie League pitchers. Erickson will coach at Class A Carolina.
Karsay pitched with the Indians from 1998 through 2001. Erickson went 142-136 in 15 big-league seasons. He won 20 games for the world champion Twins in 1991. It will be Karsay and Erickson's first professional coaching jobs.
Francisco Cabrera is the new hitting coach for the Tribe's Dominican Summer League team. It was Cabrera's two-run pinch-hit single that won Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS for Atlanta against Pittsburgh.
The new field coordinator will be Rob Leary, who spent the last nine years working with the Red Sox. He replaces Tom Wiedenbauer, promoted to first base coach on Manny Acta's big league staff.
Mickey Callaway is the new pitching coordinator. He replaces Dave Miller, who was promoted to Acta's staff as bullpen coach. Callaway was the pitching coach at Class A Kinston last year.
Here are the other coordinators: Alan Zinter, hitting; Travis Fryman, infield; James Quinlan, rehab; Jake Beiting, strength and conditioning. The Indians still need to hire a base running/outfield coordinator to replace Gary Thurman, who was hired by the Marlins to be on Ozzie Guillen's staff.
The Latin America staff stays the same with Nelson Perez, strength and conditioning, Julio Rangel, mental skills coordinator and Lino Diaz, cultural development coordinator. Johnny Goryl, Ken Rowe and Minnie Mendoza remain as advisors.
As for changes in minor league managers, Dave Wallace moves from short-season Class A Mahoning Valley to Class A Lake County. Ted Kubiak, who managed Lake County last season, will take over Mahoning Valley.
Edwin Rodriguez, as previously announced, will manage Class A Carolina. Rodriguez managed the Marlins last year before getting fired.
Here is a quick look at the coaching staffs:
Class AAA Columbus: Mike Sarbaugh, manager, Phil Clark, hitting; Ruben Niebla, pitching, Michael Salazar, athletic trainer.
Class AA Akron: Chris Tremie, manager, Rouglas Odor, hitting, Tony Arnold, pitching, Chad Wolfe, athletic trainer.
Class A Carolina: Edwin Rodriguez, manager, Scott Erickson, pitching, Jeremy Heller, athletic trainer. Hitting coach has yet to be hired.
Class A Lake County: Dave Wallace, manager, Jim Rickon, hitting, Jeff Harris, pitching, Bobby Ruiz, athletic trainer.
Class A Mahoning Valley: Ted Kubiak, manager, Tony Mansolino, hitting, Greg Hibbard, pitching, Matt Beauregard, athletic trainer.
Rookie League Arizona Indians: Anthony Medrano, manager, Steve Karsay, pitching, Junior Betances, hitting, Dennis Malave, coach, Ted Blackwell, athletic trainer.
Rookie Dominican Summer League Indians: Max Diaz, manager; Mario Brito, pitching, Francisco Cabrera, hitting, Carlos Fermin, coach, Miguel Ledesma, athletic trainer.
Tony Grossi predicts the Ravens over the Browns in a close game. Watch video
Cleveland, Ohio - Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, hosted by Branson Wright and backup quarterback Charlie Batch Bill Lubinger, who's standing in for the loquacious Chuck Yarborough.
The Cleveland Browns will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, one of the better teams in the NFL. The Ravens are so good on defense, that even without starting linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens collected nine sacks last week against San Francisco.
Quarterback Colt McCoy better look out.
Today's guest is Plain Dealer Browns beat writer Tony Grossi, who doesn't expect the Browns to try to sign future free agent DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Grossi also talks about why Sunday's game was moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
SBTV returns on Monday with guest Mark Kay Cabot.
"Well, I see that that the NBA superstars are doing the SAME EXACT THING before the lockout, so that was pretty much a waste of time."
Cavaliers GM Chris Grant spoke to reporters on Thursday. While he still couldn't say anything about the pending deal between the players and owners, the story, along with news of New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul request of a trade to the Knicks, sparked a discussion on cleveland.com.
Has anything really changed in the NBA or will the best players continue to team up on a handful of teams?
cleveland.com reader moulds71 writes,
"Well, I see that that the NBA superstars are doing the SAME EXACT THING (Paul & Howard) before the lockout, so that was pretty much a waste of time. Cavs not making any moves so far, shocking!"
bcspiel also says,
"I too thought the same thing when I saw Paul was demanding a trade. What changed? The culture of the players being bigger than the team certainly has not. Very disheartening, and why I continue to lose interest in the NBA."
What do you think? Post your comments below.
WFNY looks at the Browns' Week 13 match-up with the division rival Baltimore Ravens
Is there a light at the end of this tunnel?
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 in turn 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 13 edition of The Browns Will Win If...
**
Scott: ...they show up wearing Seahawk or Jaguar jerseys. The Ravens have shown a bizarre tendency to play down to their competition this season; they've topped the Steelers twice and recently beat the surprising San Francisco 49ers, while falling to two teams that have been on the losing side of contests against the Browns. The Browns defense matches up fairly well with the year-to-date number of the Ratbirds, who are 26th in rushing despite having Ray Rice on their roster. Offensively is where I feel the team will suffer as Baltimore offers very little wiggle room and the Browns have nary a safety net. It will come down to the defense finally holding on to one of the many interception chances they've been afforded while Josh Cribbs can either take one to the house or set the offense up nicely as to not have to drive the length of the field very often. The stars would have to align, but recent history suggests that the Ravens are susceptible to miscues. Cleveland will just need a bunch of them this Sunday.
DP: ...they have the Ravens arrested at their team hotel. Other than that? [throws hands up] Stop Ray Rice. Don't give up big plays. Figure out how not to suck on offense. Snap the ball to your holder on field goal tries. Hold on to the ball if your name is Greg Little. Continue playing if your name is Peyton Hillis. Don't throw the ball to the other team if your name is Colt McCoy. See, it's simple!
Click Here to Continue Reading "The Browns Will Win If..."
The Baltimore Ravens seek to put Peyton Hillis in his place on Sunday.
Peyton Hillis has an impressive game the first time he met the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 26, 2010.
All Hillis did was rush for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun writes how at least one player said the defense has buried the memory of that performance.
“Like I said, we put that behind us,” defensive end Cory Redding said. “That was the first time we played them last season. It was early in the game, early in the year. We played them later on in the year, and we stopped him. And we put that behind us."
Hillis did not do so well against the Ravens the second time around with only 35 yards rushing, but Redding expects an energized opponent on Sunday.
“Peyton Hillis is a professional football player,” Redding said. “Regardless of how many weeks he’s been out, he still is a paid, professional football player. So [he has] a lot of pride, a lot of heart. A lot of fight is going to come out of that man.
More Ravens
The Browns continue to prepare for Ray Lewis (Baltimore Sun).
Ed Reed says the rivalry between the Ravens and Browns speaks for itself (Baltimore Sun).
Old college coach helped Suggs in the pros (Baltimore Sun).
Could the Buckeyes face Urban Meyer's former team in the Gator Bowl?
There's a strong possibility Ohio State could play Florida in the Gator Bowl on Jan 2, writes Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch.
It'll pit new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer (who actually won't coach in the bowl) against the team he to a national championships in 2006 and 2008.
“There is a reality to that, certainly, which is probably another reason why there is an interest,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said yesterday. “It makes perfect sense for (Gator Bowl officials) because it would be a home run matchup.”
But May also writes how there could be two Big Ten teams with better records than Ohio State at that point, the Insight, Gator and remaining league-affiliated bowls aren’t obligated to follow the standings. All the pairings might not be set until Sunday night.
Around the Horseshoe
Spread offense may get OSU fans excited (Toledo Blade).
Freshman meets eligibility requirement for the basketball team (Columbus Dispatch).
Ohio State volleyball cruises into second round (Columbus Dispatch).
The Indians add to their catching depth with the signing of Matt Pagnozzi. Mitch Talbot signs with Samsung Lions for $300,000.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians signed catcher Matt Pagnozzi to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., in February.
Pagnozzi, 29, spent time in the big leagues this year with Colorado and Pittsburgh. He played most of the year at Colorado Springs, the Rockies top farm club, hitting .275 (49-for-178) with 13 doubles, two triples, three homers and 29 RBI.
In 12 games with the Rockies and Pirates, the right-handed hitting Pagnozzi hit .276 (8-for-29) with three RBI. He played parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons with St. Louis. The Pirates claimed him off waivers on Sept. 14.
In 2010, Pagnozzi hit .359 (14-for-39) in September for the Cardinals. He is the nephew of former big league catcher Tom Pagnozzi.
The Indians have two catchers on the 40-man roster in Carlos Santana and Lou Marson. Pagnozzi will offer depth and perhaps a more potent bat to push Marson when Santana is playing first.
Catchers Luke Carlin, Michel Hernandez and Chun Chen form the next line of depth in the system. Chen is not on the 40-man and is not eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Look for the Indians to invite him to big-league camp for the second straight year.
On the move: Former Indians right-hander Mitch Talbot is headed for Korea.
Talbot signed a one-year deal worth $300,000 with the Samsung Lions. The Indians removed him from the 40-man roster in October.
He opened last season in the starting rotation, but went on the disabled list in April with right elbow soreness. He went on the disabled list again in July with lower back pain.
Talbot went 2-6 with a 6.64 ERA in 12 starts. He was 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 13 appearances, including seven starts, at Class AAA Columbus.
In 2010, Talbot went 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA. The Indians acquired him from Tampa Bay for catcher Kelly Shoppach on Dec. 20, 2009.
The Cavs will open the preseason against the Pistons in Auburn Hills on Dec. 16. The two teams will play again at The Q on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
The Cavaliers will play two preseason games, including one at The Q, the team announced today.
The Cavs will open the preseason against the Pistons in Auburn Hills on Dec. 16. The two teams will play again at Quicken Loans Arena on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
The annual Wine and Gold Scrimmage will take place at The Q on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. The regular season schedule will be released next week.
MASSILLON, Ohio - Kirtland's football team owned the clock for a good part of four quarters Friday. Now, it owns its first-ever state football title thanks to a 28-7 Division V championship game victory over Coldwater inside Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
MASSILLON, Ohio - Kirtland's football team owned the clock for a good part of four quarters Friday.
Now, it owns its first-ever state football title thanks to a 28-7 Division V championship game victory over Coldwater inside Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Kirtland, making its state final debut, held a 24- to 11-minute edge in ball possession through the first three quarters. They finished with a 30-17 edge. The Hornets got an 81-yard touchdown run by junior Damon Washington and recovered a Coldwater fumble before it was all over.
Kirtland won on the ground, outgaining Coldwater, 409-71.
The Hornets' defense was outstanding and senior tailback/linebacker Christian Hauber, though hobbling on a sprained left ankle, turned in a gutsy performance in helping his team complete the season at 15-0.
For Coldwater, it's the Cavaliers' third loss in a championship game in as many years.
Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot hosts News and Notes with Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Kaluka Maiava, D'Qwell Jackson and Colt McCoy as they prepare for the game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Watch video
Bob "Bubba" Rich Jr. prowling the docks of Islamorada, Fla., this weekend with billfish on his mind.
You can find Bob "Bubba" Rich Jr. prowling the docks of Islamorada, Fla., this weekend with billfish on his mind.
The Buffalo, N.Y.businessman, author and avid angler will be on the water trying to hook up with a sleek sailfish. Monster black marlin still dominate his brain waves, though, after recently fulfilling a quest of three decades to haul in a "grander," one of the most elusive trophies in fishing.
A "grander" is a marlin that weighs more than 1,000 pounds. Few places boast billfish that big and it's the rare fisherman who has caught one.
The world record is a 1,560-pound marlin caught in 1953 off Cabo Blanco, Peru.
"It was on my bucket list," said Rich via telephone on Thursday from Islamorada, Fla.
Rich has caught big billfish, including a 750-pound blue marlin off the African Coast. The "grander" had been most elusive.
"When a fishing pal, Craig Reagor of Ponte Vedra, Fla., wanted to team up to fish the Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic in October off Australia's Great Barrier Reef, I was all in," said Rich.
"On the third day of fishing with Capt. Tim Dean on his 43-foot charter boat Calypso, I hooked up. When it came out of the water, leaping about 10 feet into the air, it took everyone's breath away."
Rich is devoted to catch and release. He wanted to quickly fight the big marlin to the boat before a big shark could take a swipe at it, a common occurrence. Dean backed the boat down on the leaping marlin and in just 15 minutes it was ready to tag and release.
"When the mate grabbed the leader, he turned the marlin's head around," said Rich. "The marlin charged the boat and speared the transom in front of me with its bill. When I looked down after the fish had been released, I saw a two-inch hole in the tuna door on the transom. The only thing I could think of was to ask Dean if I had to pay for repairs."
That night, Rich woke up in a cold sweat. He'd suddenly realized if the 1,100-pound marlin had vaulted out of the water about six inches higher, it could have landed in Rich's lap and put the crew in peril.
"Maybe the marlin could have taken something off her bucket list, too," said Rich, with a laugh.
The drama of Rich's marlin adventure is on YouTube.
Rich is more of a regular guy than an elitist angler. Chairman of the family-owned Rich Products Corporation, one of the world's largest frozen food companies, Rich relishes his southern-style nickname of "Bubba." He has a fondness for fishing guides, although many of the best are crusty, profane and quite obstinate about how to catch bonefish or big marlin. They don't pamper fishing fools, Rich said.
Rich can afford to fish just about anywhere he wants to wet a line. Docked in Islamorada are his 45-foot Gamefisherman for offshore fishing, and a 17-foot flats boat. Back in Buffalo is a bass boat, though Rich admits he is still learning about the fishing in his own back yard.
"I fished with (TV fishing star) Bill Dance in one of Gary Ellis's Redbone tournaments in Florida," said Rich. "Dance told me in no uncertain terms that Lake Erie - including the Buffalo and Cleveland areas - is the best place in the world for trophy smallmouth bass."
Fishing and public service now consume Rich's life.
"Cleveland Clinic President Dr. Toby Cosgrove and I are fraternity brothers, and he asked me to head up a development campaign to raise $1.25 billion. I had been a trustee with the Cleveland Clinic since 2002, but didn't know if I really wanted to be asking people for money. When I heard myself say, 'Sure, I'll do it.' I wondered where that voice came from."
Last December, Rich wrapped up the Cleveland Clinic campaign, which raised $1.4 billion. In February, he was named chairman of the board.
"It may sound corny, but taking youngsters fishing is most important to me," said Rich. "Think about who you were with when you learned to fish. It's usually grandparents, because parents are too busy earning a living. I want to take my grandchildren fishing, and show them how to catch that first fish.
"Teach someone to fish and you're the someone they will remember for the rest of their lives."
Bob Rich's
'The Right Angle'
entertaining
look at fishing
Clevelanders should find it easy to connect with Bob Rich Jr., other than the fact that's he's wealthy, charismatic and hung up on salt water fishing with a fly rod.
Rich, 70, is from Buffalo, N.Y., a similar rust belt city also on Lake Erie. Chairman of the family-owned Rich Products Corporation, Rich enjoys professional baseball, having owned the Buffalo Bisons, for a time the Cleveland Indians farm team. Hockey has long been in his blood. A goalie in college, Rich fondly remembers booing "bad guys" like Fred Glover when the Cleveland Barons played his beloved Buffalo Bisons in the American Hockey League.
NONFICTION: "The Right Angle: Tales from a Sporting Life"
By Bob Rich Jr.
Prometheus Books, 370 pp., $27
An all-around athlete, Rich owned a string of polo ponies and flirted with team handball. In 1974, Rich discovered salt water fishing. He has not been the same since.
"I did things a little backward when it came to fishing," said Rich. "I fished a little as a youngster around Buffalo in a 14-foot boat with my grandfather. I really fell in love with the sport on my first fishing trip to the Florida Keys. I've fished all over the world since, but Islamorada, Fla., still my favorite destination."
Rich has also become an accomplished author. His fourth book, "The Right Angle: Tales from a Sporting Life," chronicles his life as a die-hard athlete and sports fan, his battles to bring pro sports to Buffalo and even his infatuation with playing polo. Anglers will especially enjoy the last half of the book, which focuses on Rich's love of fishing and famous fishing friends.
Bonefish triggered Rich's infatuation.
One of Rich's pals, an aging hippie named Robert Buck who'd moved from Buffalo to Orlando, Fla., invited Rich to fish with crusty Islamorada guide Jim Brewer, who would die soon after in an airplane crash. Brewer goaded Rich into correctly casting a hook baited with a lively shrimp in front of a pair of large bonefish cruising the flats. One of the bonefish snared the shrimp and both Rich and bonefish were firmly hooked.
The bonefish took off like a freight train, peeling off most of the fishing line from Rich's spinning reel. The spectacular fight completely answered Rich's own early-morning question: "Why would I want to go fishing?"
The sophomore played through the spasms against Duke on Tuesday.
COLUMBUS - Ohio State sophomore star Jared Sullinger will miss Saturday's game against Texas-Pan American with back spasms.
Ohio State, in a release, said Sullinger dealt with back spasms during Tuesday's win over Duke, and he'll be re-evaluated further next week.
A source close to Sullinger said he's fine and questioned the idea that the big man could miss any significant length of time. Another team source said only that the plan is to rest Sullinger for now and see how he does.
Sullinger's older brother J.J., a former Buckeye, wrote in Twitter Friday evening, "Minor setback ... Just hope, pray and most importantly ... PREPARE for the best!!!"
Sullinger, named the national preseason player of the year by many outlets, is averaging 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, both team highs, during the Buckeyes' 8-0 start. Last season, Sullinger played in all 37 games of his freshman season and averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Forward William Buford missed one game with back spasms a year ago and was fine the rest of the season.
With a bigger player, back spasms could always be a bigger problem. But Sullinger lost 20 pounds and lowered his body fat percentage from 16.7 percent to 12.1 percent in the offseason.
The No. 2 team in the country, the Buckeyes shouldn't have any problems with Texas-Pan American (2-6) on Saturday. But the Buckeyes' next game, after a week of no games during finals, is Dec. 10 at Kansas, where Sullinger certainly would be needed. After that game, the Buckeyes play four more nonconference games before starting Big Ten play against Northwestern on Dec. 28.
Canton, Ohio -- Marcus McWilson set up one score with an interception and Ryan Farragher tipped away a potential tying pass with 1:11 left as Youngstown Cardinal Mooney won its eighth state championship Friday, 21-14, over Springfield Shawnee in the Division III title game. Shawnee (14-1) came in averaging 41 points but got only two TD runs by quarterback...
Canton, Ohio -- Marcus McWilson set up one score with an interception and Ryan Farragher tipped away a potential tying pass with 1:11 left as Youngstown Cardinal Mooney won its eighth state championship Friday, 21-14, over Springfield Shawnee in the Division III title game.
Shawnee (14-1) came in averaging 41 points but got only two TD runs by quarterback Brad Jarzab in its first title game. Jarzab scored from 15 and 7 yards and totaled 139 yards rushing.
The Cardinals (11-3) took command after McWilson's 36-yard return with a picked pass put the ball on the Braves' 18 in the second quarter. Three plays later, quarterback P.J. Quinn scored from 1 yard for a 21-7 lead. Quinn also scored on a 2-yard run, and Roosevelt Griff opened the scoring with an 18-yard burst.
MASSILLON, Ohio - It was too much Green, too soon and too often, for Avon's football team Friday night inside Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Isreal Green, that is.
MASSILLON, Ohio - It was too much Green, too soon and too often, for Avon's football team Friday night inside Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Isreal Green, that is.
Trotwood-Madison's 5-9, 200-pound junior tailback rushed for 230 first half yards on 21 carries and scored in bunches on two, one-yard runs, while adding scoring scampers of 74 and four yards.
It helped the speedy and athletic Rams build a 28-14 lead by intermission and they never let up, scoring on their first second half possession en route to a 42-28 Division II state championship game victory.
The win gives Trotwood (15-0) its first championship in seven postseason appearances and wipes out the bitter memories of its runner-up endings in 2010 and 1996.
Avon (13-2), in the postseason for the fifth time, dug itself too big a hole by falling behind, 28-7.
Not even a 17-yard touchdown pass from Justin O'Rourke to Jacob Mullins right before the half could help the Eagles.
Green finished with 327 yards and six touchdowns.
See a photo gallery from the game here. GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Anticipation was in the air as two of the state's top boys basketball programs -- Garfield Heights and visiting Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary -- opened the season in front of a packed house Friday night.
See a photo gallery from the game here.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Anticipation was in the air as two of the state's top boys basketball programs -- Garfield Heights and visiting Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary -- opened the season in front of a packed house Friday night.
SVSM, the defending state champs in Division II, might not have been anticipating the pressure cooker it was about to encounter, though.
The Bulldogs, keyed by their relentless defensive pressure, sprinted to a 20-point lead before the end of the first quarter and were never threatened in a 77-61 victory.
Senior guard Terrill Byrd started the defensive onslaught with two steals and also forced a five-second violation in the opening minutes.
"We just wanted to jump on them early," Byrd said. "I remembered my sophomore year. They beat us by like 35, so we wanted to jump on them. I'm a defensive guy. I like to stop people."
Byrd finished with four steals.
The Irish had more turnovers than shots for most of the first quarter. A steal and slam dunk by Mike Davis (22 points) gave Garfield Heights an 8-0 lead less than three minutes in.
"We've got some great guys that love to defend, the whole team," Garfield Heights coach Sonny Johnson said. "That's what we preach and that's what we want to do. Keep the pressure on and play hard."
Marquis Jackson came off the bench to swish two consecutive 3-point shots to increase the Bulldogs' lead to 23-5 with 2:03 left. A driving layup by Byrd made it 27-7 with 30 seconds left.
Even famous alumnus LeBron James could not help. James, who watched the game from the last row behind the Irish bench, walked out to a brief chorus of boos midway through the fourth quarter.
"We got our butts whipped," SVSM coach Dru Joyce said. "We graduated four senior guards from last year and you saw the difference. It was baptism by fire. My guys will grow from this. It's one of those games that I'd love to play them later."
It didn't help SVSM that starter Treyvon Crater sat out the first quarter and reserves Satchel Pierce and Chaz Brantley had their minutes cut because of disciplinary action.
"No excuses," Joyce said. "They did some dumb stuff in school and I want them to understand every decision they make affects more than just them."
The final score would not have been as close, if not for a garbage-time frenzy by SVSM. Tony Farmer (16 points, nine rebounds) gave Garfield Heights a 66-33 lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a foul shot. The Bulldogs' largest lead was 74-36 on a layup by David Bell.
SVSM then went on a 25-3 run against Garfield's reserves. D.J. Blanks led the Irish with 20 points. Crater had 17.
-- Bob Migra is a freelance writer in Westlake.
See a photo gallery from the game here. MASSILLON, Ohio — If Christian Hauber was feeling the pain, he wasn't about to let any of his Kirtland teammates, coaches or fans in on it.
See a photo gallery from the game here.
MASSILLON, Ohio — If Christian Hauber was feeling the pain, he wasn't about to let any of his Kirtland teammates, coaches or fans in on it.
The only ones feeling it Friday were wearing Coldwater uniforms.
Time and again, the Kirtland senior running back was either plowing through tacklers or coming up to make stops from his middle linebacker position. A left ankle injury, suffered late in the second quarter, couldn't keep him off the field for long.
Even at the finish of Kirtland's 28-7 Division V state championship victory, Hauber was on the turf at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium as the final seconds ticked off.
"The more I run, the more I want to pound it," said Hauber, who carried 30 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns. "That's how we do it. The defense winds down in the fourth quarter."
Right out of the Kirtland playbook, the Hornets kept running the ball, totaling 410 yards on the ground, and winding down the clock for a little more than 30 minutes of possession. It was football machinery.
But there was a moment of angst when Hauber didn't get up after fumbling at the Coldwater 10 just before halftime. Credit junior left tackle Bob Matthews for recovering the ball to keep the scoring drive alive.
Hauber had to be helped off the field, with his left ankle hurting.
"A kid got under me and rolled it," said Hauber, whose club led, 14-0, at the half. "It was painful, but I got it taped up and I was ready to go. I didn't do much. It was the O-line. I just ran up field."
Spoken like a true team player. But the feeling was mutual from the corps of Kirtland blockers.
"We know [Hauber] is a tough kid," said Matthews, whose recovery set up a 7-yard touchdown by Damon Washington 10 seconds before the break. "He was going to come back and play it out. He's motivated us to go harder and is always there for us."
With a noticeable limp, Hauber was back on both sides of the ball to start the second half. However, he did come out after centering on a punt late in the third quarter.
"It was hurting," said Hauber, sidelined for two plays on defense in the second half. "It was just to get a rest. I fought through it."
He especially fought through it after Coldwater cut the Kirtland lead to 14-7 to start the fourth quarter.
With his line giving him the openings, Hauber had runs up the middle of 22, 39, 5 and 5 yards, the latter capping an 80-yard drive.
"I'm not surprised because I see it every day," said Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde, obviously pleased with his running back's toughness. "I've seen it every day . . . every day for four years."
Hauber has some time to heal the ankle before attending the Air Force Academy next year. He finished his high school career the way he wanted and hoped more good things are in store for the Hornets.
"This has been big," he said. "They have a lot to look up to. We could not have done it without the community supporting us."
Kirtland supporters will miss this tough guy.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168
On Twitter:@JoeMaxse
The Bobcats jump to a 20-0 lead and have chances to add to it, but they then watch the Huskies take over in the fourth quarter.
DETROIT — Northern Illinois survived a disastrous first half and a bumbling second before pulling out a 23-20 victory over Ohio University on Friday night for its first Mid-American Conference title in its past three tries.
After struggling to gain 92 yards of offense in the opening half and just 210 by the end of the third quarter, the MAC West Champion Huskies (10-3) were able to generate three fourth-quarter scores in the final 7:36 to earn the victory in front of 13,052 at Ford Field.
It spoiled what initially looked like a stellar night for the MAC East Champion Bobcats, who jumped to a 20-0 halftime lead behind the play of sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton and receiver LaVon Brazill, plus a defense that forced the Huskies into three first-half fumbles and an interception.
But the Bobcats (9-4) failed to take advantage of second-half scoring opportunities, the biggest being a missed 36-yard field goal by Twinsburg's Matt Weller early in the fourth quarter. Tettleton, who passed for 179 yards in the first half, passed for just 39 in the second.
Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, the MAC's Vern Smith Award winner indicative of the league MVP, could not run against the Bobcats defense. But in the end he passed for 250 yards and three TDs
The Bobcats got the ball first and immediately went on the attack, with Tettleton connecting with Brazill on a 44-yard pass deep into Northern Illinois territory. But the good came with the bad as Tettleton would later throw into double coverage and have his pass picked off in the end zone.
The Huskies were clearly the more rattled team early. Harnish had his second pass go off the hands of receiver Da'Ron Brown and intercepted by OU linebacker Noah Keller and returned to the 19. NIU's defense held, leading to a 30-yard field goal by Weller for a 3-0 lead.
The potent Huskies offense stalled again. The Bobcats went back to the air, 23 yards to Brazill, to get into NIU territory. Moments later the Bobcats used a double-reverse pass from receiver Phil Bates to receiver Donte Foster for a 23-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
The Bobcats already had 119 passing yards and 150 total yards of offense at the end of the first quarter. Equally impressive was OU's defense, which held the MAC's No. 2 offense, averaging 488.2 yards per game, to 33 first-quarter yards.
An early second-quarter field goal gave the Bobcats a 13-0 lead, then a golden opportunity presented itself for OU when it recovered the fumbled kickoff. But Tettleton, in the grasp of a NIU defender, threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted to keep OU from perhaps putting an early nail in the Huskies' coffin.
Harnish gave the ball back just when it looked like NIU was about to score. On second-and-goal at the 3, he fumbled attempting to pass and the Bobcats recovered.
Tettleton led the Bobcats 87 yards in nine plays, scoring on a scramble from 18 yards out for a 20-0 lead with 2:35 to play in the half.
The Huskies got on the board midway through the third quarter with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Harnish to Nathan Palmer to make it 20-7.
Early in the fourth quarter the Bobcats had a first-and-10 at NIU's 17, but it resulted in a missed 36-yard field-goal attempt by Weller.
There was still 13:22 left to play. The Huskies needed only 7:36 of it to get their title.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253
See a photo gallery from the game here. MASSILLON, Ohio — Trotwood-Madison tailback Isreal Green never saw red. He just kept going and going.
See a photo gallery from the game here.
MASSILLON, Ohio — Trotwood-Madison tailback Isreal Green never saw red. He just kept going and going.
Avon quarterback Justin O'Rourke never gave up. He kept chasing and chasing.
Separately, they put on a quite a show in the Division II state championship game.
Together, they will be remembered for being part of a thriller in the chiller as Trotwood-Madison held off Avon, 42-28, in frosty Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Friday.
Green rushed for six touchdowns and 326 yards, both Division II title game records.
O'Rourke completed 27 of 50 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns, tying a record for most attempts and falling 8 yards shy of the yardage mark. He did not throw an interception.
"We had some great chemistry. The receivers played very well. The offensive line played very well," O'Rourke said. "They just had a better game. You're going to win those types of games, and you're going to lose a few. It was close. They played better than us. They just wanted it more."
Avon entered the game averaging 135 yards rushing allowed per game. Green immediately set about smashing that barrier.
Green had 230 of Madison's 294 yards rushing at half, and four touchdowns, as Madison built a 28-14 lead.
Avon had minus-1 yard rushing at the half. The Eagles finished the game with 1 yard rushing on eight attempts.
Every time Avon threatened to launch a comeback, Green and the Rams' offense just saw more daylight.
"When I saw an opening, I just ran," Green said. "It was all about my bigs. When I saw an opening, that's where I went. I had to keep running hard because it was the state championship game."
His 38-yard touchdown run closed Madison's first drive of the second half, and he scored the final TD of the game on a 1-yard dive with 6:35 to play.
"It was a power running game. He ran hard. It's his legs. He never stops," said tackle Lance Mosley, a 6-4, 328-pound senior.
In the end, the difference was the guys for whom there are no records -- Trotwood-Madison's offensive line, which ranged from 267 to 328 pounds, not to mention a 258-pound fullback and a 311-pound defensive lineman who frequently came in as extra backfield bulldozer.
"We're not the biggest defensive line up front," said Avon's Tyler Lance, a 210-pound defensive lineman. "We rely on heart and technique. I think they wanted to set the tone on the line of scrimmage and when you've got guys coming at you that are 110 pounds heavier, it's not going to be an easy thing to do. We fought our hardest, but unfortunately, we fell short."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661
On Twitter:@TimsTakePD
