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Chris Perez rips Tribe owners, front office: Cleveland Indians Insider

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Closer Chris Perez, speaking to FoxSports.com, criticized Indians ownership and front office for their work in trying to make the team competitive in the AL Central.

chris-perez2.jpgChris Perez is talking again.

DETROIT, Mich. -- That didn't take long.

Closer Chris Perez rejoined the Indians on Tuesday following the birth of his daughter and is already taking shots at the team's ownership and front office. In a FoxSports.com story about the success of small market teams such as Oakland, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, Perez was critical about the Indians ownership and front office.

Asked about the difference between the Indians and AL Central rival Detroit, Perez pointed to Indians owner Larry Dolan and Detroit owner Mike Ilitch.

"Different owners," Perez is quoted as saying. "It comes down to that. [The Tigers] are spending money. [Ilitch] wants to win. Even when the economy was down [in Detroit], he spent money. He's got a team to show for it. You get what you pay for in baseball. Sometimes you don't. But most of the time you do."

The Tigers opened the season with a $133.5 million payroll. The Indians opened at $65 million.

The story made the point that small-market general managers have a smaller margin for error when it comes to trading their key players. It said Oakland GM Billy Beane got more in return for Andrew Bailey, Trevor Cahill and Carlos Gonzalez than the Tribe did for CC Sabathia (2008) and Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez (2009).

"You can't miss," Perez said. "You have to be right. That's why I say it's not just ownership. They don't make the trades. It's the GMs. It goes hand in hand. The GMs can only spend the money the owners give them, but they pick who they spend it on or who they don't. They pick. The owners don't pick.

"Josh Willingham would look great in this lineup. They didn't want to [pay] for that last year. ... That's the decision they make, and this is the bed we're laying in."

The Indians pursued the right-handed hitting Willingham last winter, but he signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Twins. The Indians reportedly would only offer Willingham two years.

When asked about the comments before Wednesday's game, Perez said, "It's all online right? There you go."

Manager Manny Acta, when told of Perez's comments, said, "That's his opinion and I don't have anything to add to it."

"While we work to understand various perspectives, we strongly disagree with Chris' comments," said Tribe GM Chris Antonetti. "Nonetheless, we are not satisfied with our recent results and our entire organization remains committed to fielding winning teams and that is the standard by which we will continue to operate."

Antonetti did talk to Perez. Asked if Perez would be disciplined, Antonetti said only that the matter would be handle internally.

Earlier in the year Perez ripped fans for not coming to Progressive Field when the Indians were in first place in the Central. He also criticized Cleveland fans for their loyalty to the Browns and their refusal to forgive LeBron James for leaving the Cavaliers. On a recent trip, he became embroiled in a profanity-laced argument with a fan in Oakland that was videotaped and put on the Internet.

"We all have different DNA and we all have to live with each other and deal with each other the best way we can," said Acta, when asked if it was frustrating to manage Perez. "What really concerns is when he comes into the game in the ninth inning to save the game and gets it. The rest of the stuff we handle internally."

Not closed yet: Perez saved his 34th game Tuesday. He did it by returning to the scene of one of his biggest blown saves of the year. On Aug. 5, Perez entered the 10th inning with an 8-5 lead. He retired the first two batters and then gave up five runs in a 10-5 Tiger victory.

"When I got to two outs [Tuesday] that's what I thought about," said Perez. "You're supposed to have a short memory as a closer, but you never really forget. I used it as motivation."

Like father, like son: Michael Brantley had an RBI single Wednesday, giving him 57 RBI. It surpassed the best RBI season his father, Mickey, had in the big leagues.

Mickey Brantley, in 1988, hit .263 with 15 homers and 56 RBI in 149 games for Seattle.

Finally: Look for Travis Hafner (back) to start taking batting practice with the team when they return from this 10-game, 11-day trip on Sept. 14. ... Tuesday's victory marked the third time this season the Indians have won consecutive games decided by one run. They're 18-8 in one-run games.

On Twitter: @hoynsie


Buckeyes aren't bowl eligible, but they can win a trophy: Ohio State Football Insider

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After some clarification, Ohio State now knows despite its bowl ban it can play for a trophy this season as the potential champion of the Big Ten's Leaders Division. Watch video

evan spencer.jpgView full sizeOhio State receiver Evan Spencer is pleased the Buckeyes at least can win a division title this season.

COLUMBUS — If Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten's Leaders Division this season, the Buckeyes will be able to celebrate with an actual trophy, division title references in the record books and some T-shirts that in Urban Meyer's first season could include the words “Ohio State” and “champion.”

This was the case all along. But until Wednesday, neither the Buckeyes nor anyone else realized it.

The Buckeyes are banned from a bowl because of NCAA sanctions this season, and that means they are also banned from the Big Ten championship game. Everyone already knew that. But on Wednesday, spurred by a question from Adam Rittenberg at ESPN.com, the Big Ten spread the word that the Buckeyes can win something.

It previously was thought that the ban meant that if either Ohio State or Penn State, also under NCAA sanctions, had the best record in the Leaders Division, that school wouldn't only be kept from the title game, it wouldn't be considered the division champ either. The conference has clarified that point now, so if the Buckeyes are the best, they will win the Leaders Division Trophy – it's just that the second-place team would go to Indianapolis for the title game.

“If a team plays eight games and all eight games count and at the end of the year they're atop the division, then they are division champions,” Big Ten assistant commissioner for communications Scott Chipman told the Plain Dealer in a phone conversation.

In the end, this is all semantics. But it is championship semantics.

"Now that we actually get a chance to win a trophy it's kind of like a cherry on top,” OSU receiver Evan Spencer said Wednesday. “It's just something extra."

Meyer said it won't make the Buckeyes play harder on Saturday against Central Florida. And it's hard to imagine Ohio State really needing any extra reason to play against division rival Wisconsin or historical rival Michigan in the last two games of the regular season.

But who doesn't like trophies?

So Meyer, after admitting it was news to him, mostly brushed aside three questions about it after practice Wednesday, though he did add with a smile: “I know we can't go to the (Big Ten title) game. They didn't change that, did they?”

An average team: Meyer continued to explain why he thinks Saturday's game against Central Florida, now an 18-point underdog, will be a rest test, something he has expressed all week. He said the Knights have better players at several positions than the Buckeyes do, with about five or six future NFL players on the roster, and he said the Buckeyes must play better.

“We're not a very good team, we're average right now. We're playing a good team,” Meyer said. “Certain positions are average. Our offensive line didn't play the way I'd expect. Certainly not dominant right now. Linebacker play, and we didn't have enough pressure on the quarterback. I would probably expect more. I know there were some really cool things that happened, with Devin Smith and Braxton (Miller) and John Simon's going to play hard and all that, but I would expect some other guys to play a little better.”

Also: Meyer said starting defensive lineman Michael Bennett is doubtful after missing last week with a groin strain. And senior lineman Nathan Williams, who helped make up for Bennett's absence by playing about 30 snaps in his first game back after season-ending knee surgery last year, has been sore. He may be limited. “So we're not going to be at full strength,” Meyer said. … Ohio State reported that three more freshmen lost their black helmet stripes, signaling that they are now real Buckeyes. They were linebacker Jamal Marcus, receiver Ricquan Southward and walk-on punter Kevin Niehoff. There are 11 scholarship freshmen still with the stripes.

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

Brandon Weeden, offensive line looking to counter Eagles' strong rush: Cleveland Browns Insider

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How Weeden and the offensive line handle one of the NFL's most potent pass rushes will be a key factor in Sunday's outcome.

weeden-sack-eagles-pres-2012-cc.jpg Brandon Weeden's chances of a winning performance in Sunday's season opener depends on the Browns' offensive line doing a better job on pass-rushers like Philadelphia's Brandon Graham.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Philadelphia Eagles sacked Brandon Weeden three times and forced him to fumble twice on Aug. 24 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The good news for the rookie quarterback is the mishaps occurred in a meaningless preseason game. The bad news is the Eagles' wide-nine scheme created chaos in the Browns' backfield without its best pass rusher or any exotic blitzes. The defensive pressure will only increase Sunday as the same teams meet in the regular-season opener.

How Weeden and the offensive line handle one of the NFL's most potent pass rushes from a season ago will be a key factor in the outcome.

"Obviously their defensive line is solid," Weeden said. "You've got to get the ball out quick. But you've got to protect 'em. That's really the moral of the story. In order to be able to win you've got to be able to run the football, you've got to be able throw the ball down the field, you've got to do the small things.

"But it all starts with protecting, especially with our front five, including our backs."

The Eagles shared the NFL sack lead (50) last season with the Minnesota Vikings. In the exhibition game here they registered a combined five against Weeden and backup Colt McCoy. Sunday, the Eagles will have Jason Babin and his 18 sacks back in the lineup. The defensive end, who missed the exhibition game, likely will be pitted against rookie right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who was beaten several times in pass protection during preseason.

"He's got a big time motor and I think this scheme fits what he's good at," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said of Babin. "They're relentless and reckless. We know that and we've got to do a good job of blocking them."

Weeden got a sense of the Eagles' speed even though they played a vanilla defense. He's watched the tape from the 27-10 loss in which Weeden played a half and spotted mistakes that he deemed correctable. He must make quick decisions and not hold the ball too long in the pocket.

He said altering the snap count and using some motion are two ways the Browns can try to slow the rush. A healthy Trent Richardson, who missed the entire preseason after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, will also help Weeden's chances of staying upright.

"Obviously they're extremely fast off the football and their main objective is to hit me in the chin, so they're good. they're great football players," Weeden said.

"It's definitely something that's on the front of our mind, I saw it two weeks ago. We're going to try to have a way to prepare for those guys."

Still at work: Cornerback Joe Haden practiced again Wednesday, which means most likely he's not suspended for Sunday. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email that if a player is practicing on Wednesday, he's generally available for that week.

"But there is no specific timetable requirement," he wrote. "Each case is unique."

Haden is waiting for a ruling on his suspension appeal, Browns President Mike Holmgren said. He stands to miss four games for reportedly testing positive for the stimulant Adderall unless he can get the suspension overturned or reduced.

Chances dwindling? Linebacker Scott Fujita is also awaiting word on whether he'll be activated this week. It's appearing less likely by the day. A federal judge said Wednesday she doubts there are any prospects for a settlement in the case of four NFL players challenging their bounty suspensions, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan has asked for more filings pertaining to the players' request for a temporary restraining order that would allow them to return to their teams while their case against the NFL proceeds. The judge set deadlines of Thursday and Friday for various filings, but did not say when she would rule.

Fujita is among the four suspended players. The others are: Saints linebacker Jon Vilma and defensive end Will Smith and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Welcome to the lineup: Undrafted rookie free agent L.J. Fort is expected to start at strong-side linebacker against the Eagles.

How thin are the Browns at linebacker? With Fujita on the suspended list, just D'Qwell Jackson and Kaluka Maiava have played an NFL game.

"I think he'll be fine," Jackson said of Fort. "He's a calm kid. To have so much to be asked of him, he's handled it pretty well."

Forbes list: The Browns are valued by Forbes at slightly less than the $1 billion owner reportedly Jimmy Haslam has paid for them. The Browns are ranked 21st in NFL franchises values at $987 million, Forbes reported Wednesday. The Dallas Cowboys are worth a league-high $2.1 billion.

No timetable: Rookie linebacker James-Michael Johnson (oblique muscle) rode a stationary bike Wednesday at practice, and is not expected to play Sunday. He was injured in the final preseason game against Chicago.

"I'm feeling all right, not 100 percent, but just trying to go to rehab every day and stay positive," Johnson said.

A rival's appreciation: Eagles coach Andy Reid believes former Philadelphia general manager Tom Heckert has done a good job upgrading the Browns' talent in the past three seasons.

"He's gone in there and made some bold moves and made some phenomenal trades," Reid said. The longtime coach said he doesn't think Shurmur, a former Eagles assistant, is fixated on impressing Haslam.

"I don't know as a head coach if you go there," he said. "You are into the day-in and day-out grind of getting your football team right. So, you don't let yourself go in that direction. ... I have talked to Pat a couple times and that's not really where he goes."

Brownies: The team's three captains -- Joe Thomas, Jackson and Phil Dawson -- chose tight end Alex Smith as their fourth honorary captain for the week. ... Three Browns returned to practice Wednesday -- tight end Jordan Cameron (leg), running back Chris Ogbonnaya and safety Eric Hagg (stomach flu).

Ohio State football online preview: Central Florida

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After pummeling Akron a week ago, the Knights from Orlando return to the state to challenge another Ohio team.

oleary-ucf-ap.jpgView full sizeSunshine and Disney World can't keep the turbulence of the college football existence from buffeting Central Florida coach George O'Leary.

(Editor's note: Another in a weekly series looking at Ohio State's upcoming opponent.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One team scored 56 points and won by 42. The other scored 56 and won by 46. Neither did much after halftime other than empty the benches. So are there comparables between Central Florida and Ohio State entering Saturday's game?

• Central Florida's first voyage to Ohio began with a 7-0 edge in the first quarter and ended with a 56-14 tenderizing of Akron on Aug. 30. Ohio State opened the Urban Era by spotting Miami's RedHawks 15 minutes of competitiveness before cake-walking to a 56-10 romp two days later.

• Central Florida has been riddled with troubles over the last 12 months -- the death of a player in 2011 workouts and the resulting lawsuit, the pursuit and eventual receipt of an invitation to move from the hinterlands of Conference USA to the revamped (and rather bizarre) Big East football map in 2013, and the imposition of postseason bans for basketball and football violations of NCAA rules regarding third parties with ties to agents. Ohio State has ... well, the Buckeyes will be focused on basketball and hockey when bowl season rolls around.

• George O'Leary is in his ninth year coaching the Knights, and is better known for his creative resume during his brief Notre Dame employment. He's also the target of some outrage from national writers for his program's borderline outlaw status. Urban Meyer is now one week into his new role as Buckeye Icon and Guarantor of future national titles, decreed by the OSU faithful.

But on the field, there's plenty of contrasts. In thrashing the Zips, the Knights were a gold-and-white version of the old Buckeye offense, lining up repeatedly in a power-I and pounding away between the tackles. The new Bucks, of course, utilize a Floridian spread that induced waves of consternation in Ohio Stadium for 15 minutes, then considerable gridiron carnage after that.

This is not a promo made by actors. There really is Knight Fan Stan



So what to expect on Sunday? In taking a 35-0 halftime lead against the Zips, the Knights were more opportunistic than dominating -- two TD drives began inside the Akron 10 -- but they did build a 249-124 edge in offensive yards. Running back Latavious Murray had 108 yards in 14 carries but injured a shoulder before halftime and won't play this week.

The defense had three sacks and seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage, the Buckeyes had two TFL and three sacks. Finally, both teams played opponents weak enough to provide very little data for long-term analysis.

The Knights should be a stiffer test just based on their talent pool. There are 71 Floridians on the roster, and Meyer doesn't hide his admiration for Sunshine State talent. Even if the cream is taken by Florida, Miami, Florida State and the SEC, there's plenty of skill remaining.

storm-johnson-miami-ap.jpgView full sizeHe's a Knight instead of a Hurricane, but Storm Johnson still brings big-time talent to the Central Florida backfield.

The player who may have the most to say in Saturday's outcome isn't from Florida, but Georgia. Running back Storm Johnson is Murray's backup, a transfer from Miami who briefly dazzled for the Hurricanes as a freshman -- a 71-yard touchdown run among his nine carries -- but eventually decided not to wait his turn in the backfield.

The 6-1, 220-pounder -- who is the first Knight to wear uniform No. 8 since former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper in 1998 -- had two short TD runs against the Zips last week. With Murray out, he's going to have to be effective to give QB Blake Bortles time in the pocket.

Central Florida keeps its game videos behind a paywall, but this rather impressive high-school run by Johnson is entertaining.

The Buckeyes had what amounted to a defensive line bye against Miami last Saturday, as the RedHawks were the worst running team in the BCS in 2011 and appear equally feeble in 2012. Johnson and the Knights will at least provide a legitimate challenge. If UCF is able to control ball possession long enough to keep the game close entering the second half, both teams should get a chance to learn something about themselves.

Prediction that means nothing: Ohio State 26, Central Florida 13

Unintentional football humor: Unique idea by UCF sports information folks, who produce a media day video with O'Leary, but neglect to turn the microphone on.

Former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell reportedly in grave condition in Baltimore hospital

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A Cleveland TV station reports that Modell's family members have gathered at the hospital in Baltimore.

ART-MODELL-RAVENS-2007.JPG Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley shakes hands with Baltimore Ravens former owner Art Modell after practice in January 2007 in Owings Mills, Md.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Former Browns owner Art Modell is gravely ill in a Baltimore-area hospital early this morning, according to a report from WKYC Channel 3. Family members, including his two sons, have gathered at the hospital.

The 87-year-old Modell owned the Browns from 1961 to 1995, a period that saw them win their last NFL Championship in 1964. But Modell is probably best remembered by Browns fans for his controversial decision to move the team to Baltimore in 1996 and rename them the Ravens. The period remains one of the darkest chapters in the city's sports history.

Cleveland was without pro football for three seasons until the Browns returned as an expansion franchise in 1999 under the ownership of Alfred Lerner.

Modell won a Super Bowl title, which had eluded him in Cleveland, with the Ravens during the 2000 season. In 2004, he sold the majority share of the Ravens to Maryland businessman Steve Bisciotti, but remained a minority owner.

An email seeking confirmation on Modell's condition from the Baltimore Ravens was not immediately returned early this morning. His wife, Patricia, died a year ago at 80.

Modell was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He also was a semifinalist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He has yet to receive the requisite votes for enshrinement.




Related coverage




Remembering the entwined NFL lives of Al Davis and Art Modell: Bill Livingston (Oct. 10, 2011)

Columbus Crew's win streak snapped at New England Revolution, 2-0 (video)

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New England Revolution ended a 10-game winless run and prevented Columbus climbing the Major League Soccer standings by beating the Crew 2-0 on Wednesday.

chad-marshall-columbus-crew-vs-revs.jpgNew England Revolution forward Dimitry Imbongo, left, and Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall vie for position as they move to the ball during an MLS soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. The Revolution defeated the Crew 2-0 to end a 10-game winless streak.

FOXBOROUGH, Massachussets — New England Revolution ended a 10-game winless run and prevented Columbus climbing the Major League Soccer standings by beating the Crew 2-0 on Wednesday.

Dimitry Imbongo, who got a rare start after Jerry Bengtson was called up with the Honduras national team, slid the ball into an empty net in the 53rd minute after a Diego Fagundez shot smacked the right post.

The Revolution was handed an insurance goal in the 74th when Crew defender Chad Marshall inadvertently nodded it into his own net.

While New England could celebrate its first win for two months, Columbus was left to rue a missed opportunity, as a victory would have lifted the Crew from fifth to third in the Eastern Conference.

In a clash of a couple of the also-rans, Colorado Rapids had a 3-0 home win over Portland Timbers. The win moved Colorado out of last place in the Western Conference, with that place taken by Portland.

Andre Akpan, Tony Cascio and Jaime Castrillon were the Rapids' scorers while the Timbers are still yet to win an away game this season in 13 attempts.

Thursday, Sept. 6 television and radio listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

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Indians have the day off. U.S. Open tennis continues.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

7 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore, MLB Network

7:05 p.m. AKRON AEROS at Bowie, AM/1350

8:05 p.m. LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS at Bowling Green, AM/1330 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

8 p.m. Bowie State at Benedict, CBSSN

8 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, ESPN 

GOLF

8:30 a.m. KLM Open, Golf Channel 

12:30 p.m. Kingsmill Championship, Golf Channel

3 p.m. BMW Championship, Golf Channel 

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

7:30 p.m. Trotwood-Madison at Huber Heights Wayne, Fox Sports Ohio

9 p.m. Sealy (Texas) vs. St. Pius X (Texas), ESPNU 

TENNIS

Noon U.S. Open, men’s quarterfinal; mixed doubles final, ESPN2

7 p.m. U.S. Open, men’s quarterfinal, ESPN2 


Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players: No. 78 -- Horace Gillom (video)

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Gillom was a great punter during the best era in Browns' history. He was also a valuable backup receiver.

horace-gillom59.jpgHorace Gillom (59, right of lineman Forrest "Chubby" Grigg [48]) during the Browns' 30-28 NFL championship game win over the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 24, 1950, at Cleveland Stadium. Gillom, an outstanding punter, may be changing shoes, as he was also a key backup receiver at the time.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.



No. 78, Horace Gillom, punter-receiver-defensive end, 1947-56



Among the many advantages the Browns owned over most opponents during the greatest era in team history was their punter, Horace Gillom.



Gillom led coach Paul Brown's Massillon High School Tigers to a 30-0 record, three Associated Press poll state championships and two national titles from 1938-40. Brown then signed on as Ohio State's coach, with Willis a prized recruit. Before Willis could play for the Buckeyes, though, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Gillom fought in World War II, including at the Battle of the Bulge, and earned three Bronze Stars.



After playing at the University of Nevada in 1946, Gillom joined the Browns -- coached by Paul Brown -- as a 26-year-old rookie in 1947. The Browns had played their first season in 1946, winning the championship of the new All-America Football Conference. Gillom would play in championship games with the Browns in the first nine of his 10 seasons. Cleveland -- following its 1946 title -- won the AAFC from 1947-49, before the league folded, and then played in the NFL championship game every year from 1950-55, winning titles in 1950, 1954 and 1955.



Gillom was the Browns' full-time punter in eight of his 10 seasons. He became known for the hang time on his kicks, one of the first punters to emphasize the skill. From 1950-54, Gillom finished third, first, first, second and second, respectively, in the NFL in yards per punt. (The league had 13 teams in 1950; 12 for the rest of Gillom's career)



Gillom's career average of 43.1 yards a punt was superb for his era, even though he gave up some distance for hang time. His punting average in playoff games was 41.4 yards.



Gillom was also a valuable backup receiver for the Browns, and played some defensive end, most prominently in 1949.



In those days, teams didn't feature as many receivers as now. Twice, Gillom finished third on the Browns in receptions, trailing all-time greats Mac Speedie and Dante Lavelli. Gillom caught 74 passes in regular season games during his career, for 1,083 yards (14.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass. Gillom caught one pass in each of three championship games, totaling 52 yards.



(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)



Video: About 4:15 into part 2 of the 1952 NFL championship game highlights, the Browns' Horace Gillom boots a 59-yard punt and makes the tackle; about 6:20 in, Gillom catches an 8-yard pass (though called a 5-yarder by announcer Harry Wismer) from Otto Graham. The Browns lost, though, to the Detroit Lions, 17-7:




Watch PD Sports Insider: Browns TE Alex Smith guests Thursday at noon

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Watch live Thursday at oon as Browns tight end Alex Smith will call into the show and talk about the upcoming season. Post your questions for Alex in the chat room during the show or now in the comment section.

browns-alex-smith.JPGAlex Smith joins The PD Sports Insider crew live Thursday at noon.

Watch live Thursday at oon as Browns tight end Alex Smith will call into PD Sports Insider. Smith, who was voted by the players to be a team captain for Sunday's game, will answer questions about the upcoming season and his role on the team.

Hosts Dennis Manoloff, Bud Shaw from The Plain Dealer along with cleveland.com's Glenn Moore will also break down the upcoming Browns-Eagles game, talk about Trent Richardson's prospects for playing and offer their predictions as well.

Remember, Alex Smith will join us at the top of the show. Ask your questions in the chat room starting at noon or post them in the comment section below.

Note: To turn off audio alerts in the chatroom, click on the round button on bottom left of the chat room, then preferences. Uncheck all audio options and save.

About the show: PD Sports Insider airs live every Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also email their video questions during the week.

Fans who miss the live show can watch the archive, available a few hours later. Stay tuned for the next episode on today at noon.


Ohio State wants Braxton Miller to pitch, but touchdown runs are OK, too

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Against Miami (Ohio), Miller ran for a school-record 161 yards for a quarterback, but coach Urban Meyer says 17 carries is too many.

braxton miller.jpgView full sizeOhio State's Braxton Miller, left, runs an option play against Miami (Ohio) last Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — That 65-yard touchdown run by Braxton Miller on Saturday, the one with the little stutterstep? Good decision to not pitch it on that one.

“Yeah,” Ohio State’s freshman quarterback said with a laugh on Wednesday. “The [Miami of Ohio defender] got outside of me, so I gave it a little flip and took it up the field.”

There were a few other times in the Buckeyes’ season-opening 56-10 victory when Miller maybe needed to let the ball go on pitches. He ran for a school-record 161 yards for a quarterback, but OSU coach Urban Meyer said 17 carries was too many for Miller.

The quarterback wound up cramping twice. And it is a long season.

Miller said Wednesday he wasn’t sore at all and his body felt fine.

Yet, he won’t expect another 17 carries against Central Florida on Saturday.

“It should be less,” Miller said. “I think it’ll be better for my body if I ran a bit less.”

In the opener, the fact Miller cramped twice in the third quarter wasn’t a big deal. The Buckeyes were up by 25, and backup Kenny Guiton got in some work. But Meyer said Ohio State has a plan to make sure the cramping doesn’t happen again, which includes making sure Miller gets extra hydration 48 hours before kickoff.

“We addressed it and we have people that that’s their job fulltime,” Meyer said. “I hope he cramps up again — that mean’s he’s got some yards. But we have addressed that.”

Now they can address Miller’s full role in the run game.

His 17 carries came on eight read plays where he chose to keep the ball instead of handing off inside or pitching the ball on the edge; five scrambles on pass plays that included a fumble that he recovered himself and a sack called on an intentional grounding call that would have been a fumble if not blown dead as Miller slung the ball backward while going down; and four plays that were called runs for Miller.

Receiver Philly Brown motioned into the backfield on multiple occasions and was there as an option, but he never got the ball.

“One of the plays I was supposed to pitch it, and the guy tricked me,” Miller said, “so I kept it to make a better play.”

Meyer said Miller is pretty good on the mechanics of making those pitches.

“He’s better toward the right,” Meyer said. “On his left, he brings it up from down here a little bit. He’s got to bring it [higher], but very good. He’s kind of a natural guy at that. He’s an athlete.”

And he should get more comfortable in making decisions.

“He pulled it a couple of times when he should have gave it,” Meyer said. “But that’s one thing about this style of offense, every play the quarterback has to make a read. Some offenses you take the snap, hand the ball to the tailback and hope things work out well. We don’t have too many of those plays. He has to make a read on every play, so he’s going to make a few mistakes.”

The two biggest were losing control of the ball once and almost losing it a second time.

“He’s got a little ball security issue, not near as bad as I saw a year ago,” Meyer said, noting Miller doesn’t tuck the ball away enough when he runs. “But we worked hard to keep his hands on the ball and lock his elbows. Those are concerns of a young quarterback. Old quarterbacks do the same thing, especially competitors.”

When it comes to competing, Miller certainly did that. So the plan is more pitches and fewer cramps — and he should probably keep that 65-yard run in the playbook.

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

Detroit gets to Ubaldo Jimenez early and late in 7-1 victory over Cleveland Indians

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Ubaldo Jimenez reached the eighth inning Wednesday night, but couldn't finish the task at hand as Detroit avoided an Indians sweep.




prince-fielder-vs-tribe-090612.jpgDetroit Tigers' Prince Fielder watches his solo home run against the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.

DETROIT, Mich. — The first inning ruined Ubaldo Jimenez again. The five-run eighth didn’t help either, but in between the Big U was OK.

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning Wednesday night to lead the Tigers to a 7-1 victory over the Indians at Comerica Park. The Tigers, hunting Chicago in the American League Central, needed the win to avoid a sweep and stay within one game of the division lead.

Right-hander Doug Fister (8-8, 3.54) held the Indians to one run in seven innings for the win. In his last two starts against the Tribe, Fister is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (two runs, 16 innings), two walks and 12 strikeouts.

Jimenez (9-15, 5.58), in his second longest start of the season, allowed four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He started the eighth with Detroit clinging to a 2-1 lead before things grew messy.

“That’s the way this season has gone for me,” said Jimenez. “When I pitch bad, I lose. When I pitch good, I still lose.”

Austin Jackson opened the first with a bloop single. Andy Dirks grounded out as Jackson moved to second. Cabrera followed with a two-run homer to right for his 35th homer and second in as many games.

The Indians must have a special place of honor in Cabrera’s trophy room. Since the start of the 2008 season, he’s hitting .336 (111-for-330) with 15 doubles, 22 homers and 75 RBI in 85 games against them.

Gallery preview

“The first inning has bothered Ubaldo all year,” said manager Manny Acta. “We’ve tried a lot of things and they’ve all gone away, but I can’t blame him for that home run. Cabrera could have hit it against anybody.”

The opposition is hitting .325 (38-for-117) with three homers and 19 runs against Jimenez in the first inning.

Jimenez followed the first with five scoreless innings. He usually doesn’t make it through the sixth because of a flurry of runs and a high pitch count, but he came out for the seventh with only 75 pitches.

“This was a good series for us and I’m not saying that because we won the series,” said Acta. “It was a good series because we pitched well. We only had one bad inning the whole series.”

The Indians, 3-2 in September after a 5-24 August, are 9-6 against the powerful Tigers.

Jimenez started the eighth with a quick out, but walked Jackson and gave up a triple to Dirks to make it 3-1. Cody Allen relieved and the Tigers added four more runs, including a Prince Fielder homer and a two-run double by Jhonny Peralta.

The Indians scored their only run on Michael Brantley’s RBI single in the fourth. It gave Brantley 57 RBI and family bragging rights. Brantley’s RBI gave him one more than his father Mickey had in his best season in the big leagues. Mickey Brantley hit .263 with 15 homers and 56 RBI for Seattle in 1988.

“It’s something I’ll think about after the season, but not now,” said Brantley.

The night offered irony as Jason Donald and umpire Jim Joyce shared the same field. Joyce, with Detroit’s Armando Galarraga one out away a perfect game, called Donald safe at first base for what should have been the 27th and final out on June 2, 2010. Afterward, Joyce admitted he blew the call.

There was no such drama Wednesday, although it appeared Donald beat out a grounder to short in the fifth only to have Joyce call him out.

“I said, ‘What’s that a makeup?’” said Donald with a grin. “Two years later, is this how you’re going to get me? He told me, ‘You’re going to give me a heart attack if you keep making plays close like that.’ I said ‘I was more safe there than I was two years ago.’”

Defensively, Donald shined at third base at the expense of right fielder Brennan Boesch. In the second, Donald stole extra bases from Boesch with a lunging catch of his liner to start the inning.

Donald ended the fourth by diving into the stands to catch Boesch’s foul pop. He landed on top of a girl in a back brace. The girl’s father yelled at Donald as he showed the umpire the ball and was pulled out of the seats by Asdrubal Cabrera.

“She was crying and I was trying to make sure the umpires saw the ball,” said Donald. “The reason it took me so long to get out of there is that I wanted to see if she was OK. Her father was mad at me and kept saying, ‘She’s OK! She’s got a back brace on!’

“She took all my weight. I really hope she’s OK.”

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie


Only two Cleveland linebackers have NFL game experience: Browns Insider

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Only two Browns linebackers have NFL game experience in a position defensive coordinator Dick Jauron says is difficult to play as a rookie.

L.J. Fort.JPG Rookie linebacker L.J. Fort will be in the Browns' starting lineup on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

BEREA, Ohio — Dick Jauron has been coaching in the NFL for 28 years, and while the Browns defensive coordinator doesn't remember every detail about every player in every season, he's pretty sure this linebacking corps with the Browns might be a first.

The first time he's gone into a season opener with only two players -- D'Qwell Jackson and Kaluka Maiava -- who have played in a regular-season NFL game.

"I would say probably," said the 61-year-old Jauron, "but it would take too long for me to think through it all."

With no apparent moves for the NFL to repeal Scott Fujita's three-game suspension for his role in a bounty scandal while with the New Orleans Saints, the Browns are preparing for Week 1 against Philadelphia as if they will be without the veteran linebacker.

And with rookie James-Michael Johnson continuing to sit out this week with a ribs/oblique injury, that means another rookie will step in to fill Fujita's spot. L.J. Fort, a sturdy 6-feet, 230 pounds, will be tabbed to start, and the Northern Iowa product can barely contain his excitement.

"I have to say, this is the most excited I've been in my life," Fort said Thursday. "I mean, this has been my dream since I was like 8 years old. And it's finally become a reality. It's awesome."

Except for the minor detail that Fort will attempt to contain Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in his first game. And except for the fact Jauron acknowledges the learning curve is steep for rookie linebackers, in particular.

"There's so many different things they have to do, so many different formations they have to adjust to," Jauron said. "The run schemes are different, things change from week to week. It's difficult. You've just got to believe they're ready. But it's tough."

Fort expects jitters in his first regular-season game but said he also learned from four preseason games in which he had 21 tackles. He learned he needs to calm down before he can focus and play well. And he learned he needs to listen to everything Jackson tells him to do, most of all.

"We have to have some of the best veterans in the league just from how they take care of us," Fort said. "We're all a unit and all trying to get better. We're like a little tight family. We're all trying to get better. Whenever we mess up or have questions or need help on something, they're the first ones right there to help us out."

A thin line: While the Browns' linebackers are suffering from a lack of experience, the offensive line is suffering from a lack of depth. Oniel Cousins (ankle) and John Greco (calf) sat out practice again Thursday, leaving rookie Ryan Miller as the only healthy backup.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur acknowledged roster moves might be necessary before Sunday's game against Philadelphia, though Cousins and Greco are likely game-day decisions.

"It's no secret there are some guys who are nicked, but I don't think that's foreign to 30 teams out of the NFL," offensive coordinator Brad Childress said. "You are never where you want to be from a depth chart standpoint, and you hate to think about what the disaster plan may be."

Richardson update: Running back Trent Richardson was limited in practice Thursday -- the Browns' only day of practice in full pads and helmets -- though he still hopes to play in Sunday's game. Richardson returned to practice this week after having knee surgery Aug. 9 to remove torn cartilage.

"I feel pretty good," Richardson reported after practice. When a reporter noted he limped into the locker room, he said, "I always walk that way."

Childress said no one has yet seen the full impact Richardson might make on the Browns since he missed the entire preseason.

"I don't think you get an appreciation for him until you really see him in full pads," Childress said. "I don't think you can get the full measure of him until you see him shrug a couple people off and be physical. Those are all things that, for you guys, remain to be seen."

However, Childress also admitted he is unsure what Richardson's fitness level will be if he does play Sunday.

"I don't think there's any way to speed up the conditioning," Childress said. "Certainly some of his rehab has probably been conditioning-oriented, but we always talk about being in 'football shape' and 'carrying your pads.' At a point in time, he was pretty good there, but that kind of wanes after a while of inactivity."

Haden update: Cornerback Joe Haden practiced Thursday, another sign that he is clear to play Sunday against Philadelphia. Haden is awaiting a ruling on a suspension appeal after a reported four-game ban after testing positive for the stimulant Adderall.

"I'm just going about the week like I'm going to play," he said.

The NFL typically alerts teams early in the week if a player is not eligible for a game.

"We have not been instructed to prepare any announcements," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email Thursday. "Other than that, there is nothing else for us to report on this."

Extra points: Childress said he is impressed with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's demeanor. "I think he's come along about like you'd expect a quarterback to," Childress said. "He's come along very methodically. He's a flat-line guy. You don't like to see those big spikes up and down." . . . Owner-in-waiting Jimmy Haslam watched Browns practice with team President Mike Holmgren from the sidelines Thursday. . . . While offensive linemen Cousins and Greco sat out practice to nurse injuries, they rode stationary bikes. Childress claimed neither really was hurting too badly. "The Tour de France is finished, and those guys are trying to get a jump on next year," he joked. "It takes a long time to try to get through the Alps."

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

Cleveland Browns fans should welcome regular season, no matter what lies ahead: Terry Pluto

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What comes next may be ugly, but it's still a relief for Browns fans to watch games that matter.

browns fans.JPGView full sizeBrowns fans, as usual, will be out in force on Sunday as a new NFL season gets under way at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

At least the games finally count.

There should be a certain relief in that for Browns fans.

Yes, that could be bad.

I picked the Browns to go 6-10 only because I've picked them to go 6-10 in each of the past four years . . .

And I fear they won't reach 6-10.

But I'm ready for football where you don't have to ask the coach, "Will Brandon Weeden play one quarter or the entire first half?"

In the preseason, asking if a quarterback will play "the entire first half" sounds as if Weeden would be on the field for every snap with every unit, including the punt coverage and blocking as Phil Dawson kicks extra points.

Then there's the preseason mentality of, "We don't want to use our best plays that actually may work because the other teams will see them."

OK, coaches never say that, but it's what most of them think -- and how they call the meaningless games.

Here's what might be a good play for the Browns: Weeden handing the ball to Trent Richardson.

We never saw Richardson on the field in the preseason because of his second knee surgery this calendar year, but Browns fans should want to watch Richardson running and the Eagles trying to tackle him. For the Browns to have any chance of being an interesting team this season, they need Richardson resembling the big-time back who helped carry Alabama to the national title.

If that happens, Weeden instantly becomes a better quarterback than the sometimes shaky rookie we saw in the preseason.

By the way, he played a grand total of five preseason quarters -- because the Browns feared he'd be injured. He didn't play at all in the final preseason game for that reason.

Part of me wants to rip the Browns for that decision. The guy needs more work.

But the coaches used only one starter in that Game 4 -- James-Michael Johnson. Guess what? He got hurt and will miss the opener.

So it's hard to fault their caution.

But not Sunday when Philadelphia comes to town.

Weeden's gotta play, and he's gonna play.

The guy whose arm has impressed in practice will be throwing it for real to receivers such as Greg Little, Mohamed Massaquoi, Travis Benjamin and Josh Gordon.

We might have a hint if any of them are for real, too.

I know, it's one game.

And I know, it could be a very ugly game after what the Eagles did to the Browns in preseason Game 3, which supposedly was a "dress rehearsal" for the opener.

But that didn't count.

And as Browns coach Pat Shurmur said: "I cannot wait to see [the players] compete . . . we'll see where we're better."

After losing 9 of 10 to finish the season at 4-12 and finishing 30th in scoring, it has to be better, right?

They were 31st in rushing, and Richardson should change that. They were 24th in passing with no running game and leading the league in dropped passes.

Can it get any worse?

Please, don't answer that question.

But I want to watch Weeden. And Richardson. And Gordon, Benjamin and the other young players on offense. I want to see if Dick Jauron can have his defense overachieve again this season.

I want to watch a game where the score matters.

I want to see if the Browns look more organized than they were in the 2011 opener. Remember the 11 penalties and the defense sleeping when A.J. Green caught a 41-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the Bengals beat the Browns, 27-17?

I want to see if the Browns can actually win their opener for the second time since 1999 . . . and with their 11th different starting quarterback.

"This is the time of year when we put our reputations on the line and we go out and we compete," said Shurmur. "At the end of the game and at the end of the season, we'll see where we are at."

And please, make that someplace better than last year.

To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674

Cleveland Indians' 'Zombie Baseball' turns them into a dead team walkin'

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The stretch of 33 games from July 27 through Aug. 31 that wrecked the Indians season featured long losing streaks, terrible pitching, equally bad hitting and the birth of Zombie Baseball.

Brent Lillibridge.JPGView full sizeBrent Lillibridge had that dead-team-walkin’ stare down pat after yet another strikeout in yet another loss in yet another dull game during the Indians’ free fall in August.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Could it have moved to a different team? The Yankees, perhaps.

The Indians just won a three-game series against the Tigers and are 3-2 in September. The Yankees, meanwhile, have been run down and cornered in the American League East.

Or is Zombie Baseball strictly an Indians curse? And has it disappeared into the mist and darkness with its mission accomplished?

Hard to say, but for 33 games in 36 days, it lived and festered in Chief Wahoo's soul. When it fled -- and no one really knows if it's gone for good -- it left a season in ruin and a franchise in as vulnerable a state as when Dick and Dave Jacobs purchased it in 1986.

"It's over with," catcher Lou Marson said of the stretch of terrible baseball. "We have to put it in the past, but it definitely wrecked our season."

On July 26, Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner hit consecutive home runs off Detroit's Justin Verlander to erase a 3-1 deficit on the way to a 5-3 victory. The Indians were 50-49 and 3 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central.

Then the trap door opened and the Indians dropped through it. Zombie Baseball -- mindless in the field, on the mound and at the plate -- took over.

The Indians lost 28 of the next 33 games through Aug. 31. Immediately after the big win against Verlander and the Tigers, they lost 11 straight, one short of the club record. After going 5-24 in August, in which they tied a franchise record for the most defeats in a month, including additional losing streaks of nine and six games, they were 55-77 and 17 1/2 games out of first place.

The speed of the fall was shocking.

"I've never been through a month like this anywhere . . . minor leagues, winter ball or in the big leagues as a coach or as a manager," Tribe manager Manny Acta said.

Maybe more surprising than the swiftness of the descent was that there was still one team below the Tribe in the division when the free fall finally slowed. From July 26 through Wednesday, Kansas City went 20-18 to climb past the Indians into third place. But Minnesota went 16-23 to keep a death grip on the basement.

The Indians open a four-game series tonight at Target Field holding a 2 1/2 game "lead" over the Twins.

"No one wants to finish last," Acta said.

The fall damaged the Indians so dramatically because they had no equity in their won-loss record. The 2011 Indians knew about equity. On May 23, they were 30-15 with a seven-game lead in the Central. Their subsequent fall wasn't complete until September and they still managed to finish second because of their strong start.

This year, however, the skid hit when the Tribe was 50-49.

"Unfortunately, the month dictated our season," Acta said. "We were close, but it wasn't like we were 10 games ahead. When you're playing just around .500, you just can't afford to have a month like we did."

During those 33 games, the Indians managed to win consecutive games once. Why couldn't someone apply the breaks?

"Why is the sky blue?" closer Chris Perez said. "There is stuff you can't answer. It was bad baseball. That's the easiest way to say it."

A scout from another big-league team, who saw Zombie Baseball at its height, said: "When you start losing games in bunches, players overextend themselves. Position players start trying to hit five-run homers and pitchers try to strike out everybody instead of just playing the game. That's what I saw with the Indians.

"I think they also have to make major changes in their pitching program. I didn't see any adjustments being made. They brought Ubaldo [Jimenez] over there to be an ace and now he's a No. 5. What's going on with that?"

Pitching coach Scott Radinsky was fired on Aug. 9 after the losing had been temporarily stalled with a victory over the Twins a day earlier. Ruben Niebla, pitching coach at Class AAA Columbus, replaced him on an interim basis.

Radinsky wasn't the only victim. Derek Lowe was designated for assignment Aug. 2 and Josh Tomlin was placed on the disabled list with a sore right elbow Aug. 13, then had Tommy John surgery nine days later. That ended the line for two of the five starters who opened the season.

When the season ends, there could be more casualties -- with Acta, General Manager Chris Antonetti and President Mark Shapiro being reviewed by ownership.

During the stretch of Zombie Baseball, the starters went 5-21 with a 7.58 ERA (134 earned runs in 159 innings). No. 1 starter Justin Masterson went 4-4 with a 7.00 ERA (35 earned runs in 45 innings). No. 2 starter Ubaldo Jimenez went 1-7 with a 7.48 ERA (36 earned runs in 431/3 innings).

The bullpen, meanwhile, has pitched the second-most innings in the big leagues since the All-Star break.

"This game is all about pitching," Acta said.

Meanwhile, the Indians' hitters offered no comfort to their pitchers. They were outscored, 215-105, barely averaging 3.2 runs per game over the 33 games. They hit .222 (242-for-1,089) as a team and .195 (45-for-231) with runners in scoring position.

The four hitters who have carried the Indians much of the season were mostly silent during the skid: Jason Kipnis .170 (17-for-100), two homers, eight RBI; Asdrubal Cabrera .240 (29-for-121), two homers, nine RBI; Shin-Soo Choo .223 (27-for-121), three homers, 13 RBI; and Michael Brantley .257 (29-for-113), two homers, nine RBI.

"No one thought it would last that long," Kipnis said. "I doubt anyone on this team has ever dealt with a streak like that.

"But it absolutely builds character. When you can say you've gone through that, some of the lows don't seem as low anymore."

That's a good thing because who knows when Zombie Baseball will strike again?

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Adam Griffin eager to make a name of his own for Ohio State Buckeyes

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Called 'Young Arch,' Ohio State's Adam Griffin is the son of Buckeye legend Archie Griffin, and he finally made his mark on the field Saturday after two frustrating seasons.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — His Ohio State teammates call him "Young Arch," and for two years the son of a Buckeyes legend went home filled with frustration.

Not because Arch isn't his name. Rather, it was what he was not doing on the field while buried on the Ohio State depth chart.

"I was just mad at the world every day after practice," Adam Griffin said.

It was just as his father had warned him.

Archie Griffin hit the field as a freshman under Woody Hayes in 1972 and, after rushing for 239 yards in his second game, never looked back on his way to earning two Heisman Trophies -- the only player to do so -- and iconic status in his game and at his university. He still serves Ohio State as its alumni association president and one of its most recognizable spokesmen and success stories.

No other player has done what Archie Griffin has done. But by asking to walk on at Ohio State in 2010, then eagerly accepting a surprise scholarship offer from Jim Tressel, Adam Griffin -- Young Arch -- made the decision to take his shot.

"When you play with the very best, there may be a chance that you won't get the playing time you want," Archie Griffin told The Plain Dealer this week, remembering his advice to his youngest child. "But that's what I admired about him."

''He was willing to take that chance to reach that dream."

Players across the country do it every year. But rarely do any do it like this -- at one of the nation's most popular college football programs as the son of its greatest player.

"You would think it's almost impossible," OSU coach Urban Meyer said, "until you get to know Archie and his wife and this young guy."

The family had lived it before, when older son Andre played with the Buckeyes as a walk-on running back between 1998 and 2001. But Adam had to experience it himself. And the young guy hasn't run from his name. In fact, he's embraced it.

"He loves his last name," OSU teammate Christian Bryant said with a laugh. "He talks about it every day. He knows what his dad did."

Talking about Adam Griffin, Bryant was incapable of calling him anything but "Young Arch" or "Arch." But he explained how Adam, known only by his bloodlines when he arrived, made plays in the last month, grabbing what Bryant guessed were four interceptions during preseason camp.

After two years on the bench, Griffin looked forward to a reset with a new staff. But while Meyer saw him work hard, Griffin didn't show much on the field in the spring. By the preseason, "he got in my face a little bit about getting on some special teams," Meyer said, "and he did well."

Adam Griffin won't win a Heisman like his dad. But when Archie Griffin sat in Ohio Stadium for last Saturday's 2012 opener against Miami (Ohio), he saw a Griffin making plays, enough plays that Adam was named the Buckeyes' special-teams player of the week.

Archie focused in as Adam stayed in his lanes on kick coverage and made two tackles, the old running back knowing that his son had done what was asked of him. "I was able to tell," Archie said.

In the NFL, Archie covered some kicks, so he could offer a few special-teams words of wisdom for his youngest.

"Keep your head on a swivel," he said.

Adam did that, and did his job. Playing on the punt coverage, kick coverage and kick return teams, he earned what matters more than an award. No matter what he is called, Griffin finally had earned his place.

"They call him 'Young Arch' all the time, but he's strong in who he is," Archie said. "He doesn't let that stuff bother him. Somebody else might let that bother them. Adam is a very confident young man, and he knows who he is, and he doesn't try to be like his dad or anything like that."

The redshirt sophomore said he plans to start at cornerback someday, but in all honesty, that's unlikely. He's listed as a backup corner, but the coaches had said they're still waiting for a true fourth cornerback to emerge. And there's young secondary talent on the roster now and more on the way.

Of the 19 Buckeyes who signed in the 2010 class, seven are now starters. But another six are no longer on the team. Griffin was the last man in the class, recruited primarily by the service academies and offered a scholarship by Tressel only after other high-profile recruits turned down Ohio State. When it comes to production from the 2010 class, he's solidly in the middle of the pack.

"I feel like I've earned it," Griffin said of his scholarship. "Once [Tressel] offered me a scholarship, that validated that I was good enough to play here. Once I got here, I wanted to go out and prove that."

Prove it to himself. Not to his father, or to anyone else.

Adam said his father never yelled during high school games, and Meyer said one of the biggest names on campus never asks for extra words on his son. Meyer has to volunteer them, telling Archie, "You would be proud of him, he's a good dude.

"Because he is. He's a good kid," Meyer said. "He's Archie's son, but he's also got his own world."

In fact, Archie Griffin said he needs to swing by practice a little more often. But as a legend and a dad, he doesn't want to crowd his son.

"I just want him to be who he is," Archie said.

But in that, he should have do doubt. And although it was acknowledged with a T-shirt handed out at the front of the team room, not with a bronze statue, another Griffin in scarlet and gray won an award.

The name on the back of the jersey was the same -- a name Adam doesn't carry as a burden.

"It seems to me that he's proud of that," Archie Griffin said. "And I'm proud that he's proud."

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


Preview capsules for this weekend's college football games

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Akron, Kent State, Lake Erie College and Case Western Reserve are among the schools playing this weekend.

akron zips logoView full size

Akron at Florida International

Kickoff: 6 p.m. at FIU Stadium, Miami.

Radio: WARF AM/1350.

Notable: Akron (0-1) looks to pull a surprise after losing its opener to Central Florida. FIU (0-1) is coming off a disappointing loss at Duke. The Zips' defense will have to contain TB Kendrick Rhodes (130 yards, two TDs last week). Look for Akron QB Dalton Williams (245 yards, two TDs) to deliver a better performance in his second game as the Zips' starting QB.

Next for Akron: Sept. 15 vs. Morgan State.

Kent State at Kentucky

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington Ky.

Radio: WHLO AM/640.

Notable: KSU (1-0) goes against an 0-1 Kentucky squad coming off a loss at rival Louisville. The KSU secondary will have its hands full keeping QB Maxwell Smith (280 yards, two TDs) in check. Kent QB Spencer Keith (82 yards, no TDs) will have to strike with his few limited chances, as it is likely Kentucky will not allow speedster Dri Archer (240 all-purpose yards, three TDs) to have two big weeks in a row.

Next for KSU: Sept. 19 at Buffalo.

Miami (Ohio) vs. Southern Illinois

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio.

Notable: Miami (0-1) will look to put four quarters together against SIU (0-1) after playing one solid quarter in a humbling season-opening loss at Ohio State. Look for RedHawks QB Zac Dysert (303 yards, one TD) and his receivers to cut down on the dropped passes that haunted them against the Buckeyes.

Next for Miami: Sept. 15 at Boise State.

Toledo at Wyoming

Kickoff: 4 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.

Notable: Scoring has not been much of a problem for Toledo (0-1) or for either of its senior QBs -- Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens. A team usually makes its most improvement between the first and second games, and UT hopes that shows defensively, as the Rockets allowed 624 yards of offense in its 24-17 overtime loss at Arizona. Wyoming is 0-1 after losing at Texas last week, 37-17.

Next: Sept. 15 vs. Bowling Green.

Bowling Green vs. Idaho

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Doyt-Perry Stadium, Bowling Green, Ohio.

Notable: Idaho (0-1) failed to score a touchdown against Eastern Washington. BG (0-1) was competitive against Florida before losing, 27-14, primarily because of turnovers. Look for the Falcons to unleash RB Anthon Samuel (39 yards, one TD) to try to balance their passing game.

Next for BG: Sept. 15 at Toledo.

Ohio vs. New Mexico State

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio.

Notable: New Mexico State (1-0) opened its season with an impressive 49-19 win over Sacramento State as QB Andrew Manley passed for 367 yards and three TDs. The Bobcats (1-0) look to be among the MAC's best after winning at Penn State behind equally impressive QB Tyler Tettleton (324 yards, two TDs). Look for a shootout.

Next for OU: Sept. 15 at Marshall.

-- Elton Alexander

Division II

Lake Erie vs. Ferris State

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium, Painesville.

Radio: WFUN AM/970.

Notable: Lake Erie (0-1) and Ferris State (1-0) will play their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference openers. The Storm lost a heartbreaker at Gannon last Thursday, yielding a score with 1:05 left in a 36-33 loss. In the defeat, LEC set school single-game records with eight sacks, 16 tackles for loss and holding Gannon to minus-18 yards rushing. LEC freshman RB Brandon Phenix rushed for 130 yards and two TDs; and sophomore WB Aaron Lindgren (Willoughby South) caught six passes for 127 yards and a TD. Ferris State defeated NAIA opponent St. Francis (Ill.), 35-24. The Bulldogs ran for 364 yards in the game, getting 100-yard efforts from RB Skyler Stoker (129) and QB Jason Vander Laan (103).

Next for LEC: Sept. 15 at Wayne State.

Notre Dame College at No. 4 Grand Valley Street

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium, Allendale, Mich.

Radio: KNR2/1540.

Notable: The Falcons (1-0) square off against GVSU, marking their first game as an affiliate member of the GLIAC. Notre Dame is coming off a 59-42 win over Mercyhurst (Pa.). NDC junior Pedro Powell set a program record with 243 rushing yards and found the end zone three times last week (two rushing, one receiving). He is the first RB in program history to surpass the 2,000-yard rushing mark. Sophomore QB Ray Russ (Willoughby South) threw for five TDs in the win. The Lakers opened with a 48-20 win over Western Oregon. GVSU has won four national titles since 2000, and Saturday's contest also marks its conference opener.

Next for NDC: Sept. 15 vs. Northwood (Mich.).

Division III

No. 19 Baldwin Wallace vs. Bluffton

Kickoff: 3 p.m. at Finnie Stadium, Berea.

Notable: B-W is playing its opener. Bluffton's Beavers opened by shutting out Kenyon, 20-0, last week. They have won six of their past seven games dating back to last season. It is Community and Family Day at B-W, and the pregame picnic begins at noon in the North Quad. B-W was 8-2 a year ago and will be led on offense by senior QB Ryan O'Rourke (Avon), who passed for 1,611 yards and 12 TDs; senior first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference RB Tyler Lohr (Kent Roosevelt), who ran for 924 yards and 7 TDs; and the return trio of juniors Josiah Holt (Midview), Kevin Johnson (St. Ignatius) and Kory Gillissie (St. Ignatius), which has combined for five return TDs the past two years. The defense is led by senior All-OAC DT Max Wagner (Mentor), junior DT Addison Carbone (Hudson) and CB Brandon Russo (Olmsted Falls). Bluffton had 422 yards of offense vs. Kenyon and allowed just 145.

Next for B-W: Sept. 15 at John Carroll.

Case Western Reserve at Hiram

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Charles A. Henry Field, Hiram.

Notable: The Spartans (1-0) have won 25 of 26 road games dating to the beginning of the 2007 season and have a 49-6 overall record during that span. CWRU senior nose guard Michael Harris (Shaker Heights) recorded nine tackles and a career-high two sacks in last week's win at Marietta. Junior RB Kenny Riordan rushed for a career-best 155 yards in the game as the Spartans outgained the Pioneers, 219 to minus-3 on the ground. CWRU ranks third in the nation in rush defense. The Terriers (0-1) lost their opener at Westminster despite a 15-tackle performance by junior linebacker Tyler Williams (Rootstown). Senior CB Dominick Harper (Kenmore) recorded eight tackles and an INT in the game. Hiram leads the all-time series, 11-10-1, but CWRU has won the past five meetings.

Next for CWRU: Sept. 15 vs. Frostburg State.

Next for Hiram: Sept. 15 at Kenyon.

-- Compiled using information from the colleges' sports-information departments

Weekend fishing report for Northeast Ohio

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Low water continues to plague boaters and fishermen on many inlake lakes, but the Lake Erie yellow perch fishing continues to sparkle around Cleveland Harbor and much of the Ohio shoreline along Lake Erie.

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Low water has hampered boating and fishing in many Northeast Ohio lakes and reservoirs, especially Berlin, West Branch, Mosquito and Pymatuning reservoirs. Lake Erie yellow perch fishing has been very good, while walleye catches have been fair, but spotty.

Cleveland area

Lake Erie yellow perch fishing is in the spotlight all along the Ohio shoreline, with Cleveland Harbor anglers catching very good numbers of perch in 32 feet of water. The best area has been outside the east lighthouse of Cleveland Harbor off East 72nd Street. Small schools of perch can be found off Rocky River, around the Cleveland Crib and off Edgewater Park.

Walleye fishing has been very slow. A few steelhead trout are hanging around the river mouths and the lower stretches of the Rocky and Chagrin rivers and Euclid Creek.

Lake Erie

West of Cleveland, yellow perch fishing has been good off Avon Point, Sheffield Lake and Lorain in 36 to 40 feet of water. Some walleye are being caught from Lorain to Vermilion around the Lorain Sand Bar, including the inside edges in 28 to 31 feet of water. Tandem-bladed spinner rigs tipped with night crawlers and diving plugs have been best.

Yellow perch fishing has been good from Huron to Vermilion in 30 to 32 feet of water, while the walleye bite has been fair in 13 to 19 feet of water. Walleye have been caught trolling spinner rigs and plugs, as well as casting small spinner rigs tipped with night crawlers. Both perch and walleye are being caught around the weather buoy on the Ohio-Ontario border north of Vermilion, but the action has slowed a bit.

Perch fishing around the Bass Islands has been good west of Green Island, around Ballast Island and off the airport runway on the east side of Kelleys Island. Walleye are being caught from the shallow-water reefs around the Niagara Reef complex, American Eagle Shoal and from the drop-offs along the west side of the Bass Islands on weight-forward spinners and mayfly rigs tipped with night crawlers. Some walleye are being caught on spoons trolled north of the Niagara Reef area.

To the east, trollers are still catching good numbers of walleye in 68 to 75 feet of water off Geneva, Conneaut and Ashtabula. Yellow perch are being caught around the hump northwest of the mouth of the Grand River, and in 50 to 60 feet of water off Ashtabula and Conneaut.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good around shoreline humps, bumps, drop-offs and rock piles in 15 to 23 feet of water all along the Ohio shorelines. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good around Pelee Island, big perch are being caught northeast of Pelee, but the walleye fishing has been just fair.

Inland lakes, reservoirs

Recent rain didn't boost low-water levels in Northeastern Ohio lakes very much, with low-water conditions hampering boating and fishing. The water level at Berlin Reservoir is down about 11 feet, and launching a boat can be a challenge at West Branch, Mosquito and Pymatuning reservoirs. Some crappie, walleye and catfish have been caught while casting from the causeways at Mosquito and Pymatuning, but fishing has generally been slow.

Nimisila Lake in the Portage Lakes chain has been somewhat of a bright spot, with a few crappie, bass, bluegill and saugeye reported caught.

-- D'Arcy Egan

Dog trials

All-Breed Hunter's Trial

Pine Crest Shooting Preserve, New London

All-Age -- Flushing: Tim Reznik, Labrador retriever (Lab), Amber; Eric Lingler, Lab, Duke; Justin Reznik, Lab, Lily. Pointing: No awards.

Open -- Flushing: Dave Rydzinski, Lab, Ambur; Dave Miller, Lab, Rumble; Dave Miller, Lab, Rayne. Pointing: Russ Hartman, German shorthaired pointer (GSP), Brutus; Chris Jaeger, GSP, Sadie; Doug Evans, Brittany, Austin.

Derby -- Flushing: Dave White, Lab, Joules; Fred Wright, Lab, Bars; Ashford Hawley, Lab, Belle. Pointing: John Zutavern, wire-haired pointing griffon, Lilly; Jason Bowers, GSP, Cooper.

Puppy -- Flushing: Fred Wright, Boykin spaniel, Savannah; Chuck Fashing, Labrador retriever (Lab), Choc. Pointing: Jack Nutter, English setter (ES), Patch; Rich Gombach, ES, London; Chris Jaeger, GSP, Bentley Boop.

Lake County PerchFest opens today in Painesville: Northeast Ohio Outdoors Notebook

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Lake County Speedway owner Randy Holbrooks is keeping the annual PerchFest alive after it was canceled by the Lake County Visitors Bureau.

perchfest.JPGView full sizePerch is on the menu at the Lake County PerchFest.

The Lake County PerchFest is alive and well at a new location today through Sunday, but you'll have to wait until next year for a Lake Erie perch fishing contest to be a part of the celebration.

Owner Randy Holbrooks is holding the Lake County PerchFest at his Lake County Speedway, which is located at 500 Fairport Nursery Road in Painesville. Lake Erie yellow perch and the festival are such a tradition, said Holbrooks, that he couldn't allow it to disappear after the Lake County Visitors Bureau canceled this year's event.

"We only received the rights to the PerchFest name about two weeks ago," Holbrooks said. "It wasn't enough time to put together all of the ingredients that made it so popular, but we are planning a perch fishing competition for 2013."

This year's PerchFest is open today from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Tickets are $5, $2 for seniors and free for kids 12 and under. There will be live music, games, go-kart rides and the signature perch dinners. This time around, Mitchell's Fish Market Seafood Restaurant and Bar in Woodmere will do the cooking.

Bring ear plugs: With Zink Calls of Port Clinton providing the duck calls and T-shirts, there will be a lot of quacking at the Youth Waterfowl Tune-Up at Erie Outfitters in Sheffield Lake on Sept. 22 from 4-7 p.m. There is a Youth Duck Calling Contest, food and refreshments and duck-blind construction, and Zink staffers will be tuning duck calls for hunters. Kids must pre-register before Sept. 12. Contact Brandon Baker (brandonb@zinkcallsstaff.com or 440-541-8448).

Steelheading sessions: Chagrin River Outfitters in Chagrin Falls has a September series of trout fishing classes, including a Steelhead Trout/Salmon Seminar with Michigan fishing guide Kevin Feenstra on Saturday and a how-to seminar on steelhead fishing Sept. 22. Both are free. There are spey and switch casting lessons with Will Turek on Sept. 15 and Sept. 29, with a $125 fee. For more information, call 440-247-7110 or visit chagrinriveroutfitters.com

Bow season opener: Ohio's four-month archery deer hunting season begins Sept. 29, not this Sunday as incorrectly listed recently. There is ample time to work on archery accuracy with crossbows and longbows at the many archery shoots open to the public at local sportsmen's clubs. Check the outdoor calendar at cleveland.com/outdoors

A couple of dedicated squirrel hunters complained their season wasn't mentioned among the Sept. 1 openers. Squirrel hunters might be hard to find, but it's still a tradition for many. Some like to trade squirrel tails for Mepps fishing lures. For details, visit mepps.com

Steelhead tactics: There is still time to sign up for this year's second annual Steelhead Trout Fishing Seminar at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village on Sunday, with $15 tickers available at the center or by calling 440-871-2900. Hosted by The Backpackers Shop, fly fishing experts will be on hand to provide a wealth of insider knowledge to benefit amateurs and pros.

Jay Reda honored: The Natural Resources Area of the 190th Great Geauga County Fair was dedicated last week to longtime Ohio wildlife officer Reno "Jay" Reda, who died recently of cancer. Reda helped develop the special area and was proud that hundreds of kids first shot bow-and-arrow there, and thousands more had the chance to go fishing at the fair. Reda's wife, Michelle Reda, maintained the tradition of retrieving-dog demonstrations the couple had established at the fair.

Blue on yellow perch: Blue-colored Lake Erie yellow perch are rare, but after posting a photo of one recently, Charlie Rhodes of Parma reported he also caught one this week while fishing off Rocky River. . . . The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance pulled a few strings and has vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, the congressman from Wisconsin, headlining its 16th annual Save Our Heritage Rally in Columbus on Sept. 29. . . . A few anglers returning to West Harbor docks were cited for not signing and dating their one-day charter fishing licenses before going Lake Erie fishing, sometimes a ploy to use the license for more than one day. . . . The new Fin, Feather and Fur Outfitters outlet in Canton has fly fishing seminars Saturday from 10 a.m.-3p.m. featuring John Rochus, Jerry Darkes and Jeff Liskay.

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

Lake County Captains advance in Midwest League playoffs: Minor League Report

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Meanwhile, the Akron Aeros are now 0-2 in their best-of-five playoff Eastern League series against Bowie, Md.

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AA Akron Aeros

Baysox 7, Aeros 5 Bowie scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five opening-round series of the Eastern League Western Division playoffs in Bowie, Md.

Both runs -- against Aeros left-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong (0-1, 0.00) -- were unearned. Akron's two errors on the night proved costly, as three Baysox runs were unearned.

Akron SS Ryan Rohlinger (.375) had two hits, including a homer, and drove in three runs. RF Jordan Henry (.250), 2B Matt Lawson (.429) and C Robert Perez (.375) added two hits each.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (.167), on a rehabilitation assignment with Akron, was 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while serving as the designated hitter.

Game 3 is tonight at 7:05 at Canal Park in Akron.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 5, Hot Rods 4 (10) LF Bryson Myles scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning as Lake County defeated the Hot Rods in Bowling Green, Ky., to sweep the Midwest League best-of-three quarterfinal playoff series.

Myles (.833), who had four hits, led off the 10th with a single, stole second and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Naquin (.600), the Cleveland Indians' No. 1 pick in the June draft.

Catcher and St. Edward grad Alex Lavisky then struck out, but went to first on the wild pitch by Hot Rods reliever Austin Hubbard as Myles scampered across the plate with the go-ahead run.

The Captains move on to play at Fort Wayne (Ind.) on Saturday night. Game 2 of the best-of-three semifinals is Sunday in Eastlake at 6 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will be played Monday in Eastlake at a time to be announced.

Elyria Catholic volleyball team topples Lakewood: High School Roundup

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Elyria Catholic's volleyball team is only a second-year member of the West Shore Conference but is quickly making its presence felt. The unbeaten Panthers (6-0, 4-0) stand alone atop the conference after Thursday's 25-17, 15-25, 25-16, 25-20 road win over previously unbeaten Lakewood behind Kit O'Shaughnessy's stellar outing. The 5-9 senior outside hitter/setter finished with 20 service points, including...

Elyria Catholic's volleyball team is only a second-year member of the West Shore Conference but is quickly making its presence felt.

The unbeaten Panthers (6-0, 4-0) stand alone atop the conference after Thursday's 25-17, 15-25, 25-16, 25-20 road win over previously unbeaten Lakewood behind Kit O'Shaughnessy's stellar outing. The 5-9 senior outside hitter/setter finished with 20 service points, including five aces, nine kills, 14 assists and eight digs. Karissa McGrath had a team-best 13 kills along with four blocks, and Marie Vasitas added 25 assists.

Gilmour Academy 3, Willoughby South 1 The Lancers (5-0) benefited from Megan Polak's all-around effort that resulted in 33 assists, 18 digs, seven kills and three blocks.

Wadsworth 3, Copley 0 The Grizzlies (7-1, 4-0) kept their grasp of first place in the Suburban League as Peyton Booth totaled 11 kills, Rachel Goddard added 26 digs and Haley Beavers contributed 29 assists.

Cuyahoga Heights 3, Independence 0 The Redskins (4-1, 1-0) swept a Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division match as Veronica Gehring had 18 kills and three blocks, Tina Horvath's 23 digs and Corinne Zielinski's 31 assists were too much for Independence.

North Royalton 3, Brunswick 1 Kendra Sanelli's 12 kills, Natasha Medic's six blocks and Nicole Fortuna's 36 assists paced the Bears (7-1, 1-0) in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division win, the 200th career victory for coach Kristin Hubbell.

Brookside 3, Black River 0 The Cardinals (5-0, 4-0) got 19 digs and 20 assists from Kady Whitsel and 13 kills from Shelby Kerstetter for a Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division win.

Padua 3, Walsh Jesuit 2 The Bruins (3-0, 1-0) came up big in a North Coast League Blue Division match as Gina Kilner teamed up with Mary Djukic for 73 assists. Maci Budzik, Katie Stansbury and Sarah Peterson totaled 37 kills.

Clearview 3, Brooklyn 0 Heather Younkin was a force at the net for the Clippers (3-1, 3-1), mustering 12 kills and five blocks in the PAC Stripes Division match. Field 3, Norton 0 The Falcons (3-2, 2-2) bumped Norton from the unbeaten ranks as Courtney Brake had nine kills and 14 digs. Aubrey Polasky added seven kills and three blocks in the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division upset.

St. Vincent-St. Mary 3, Louisville Aquinas 2 Jordan Korinek's 19 kills and 14 service points, including two aces, lifted the Fighting Irish (4-4) to the victory.

Football

John Hay 20, John Adams 8 The Hornets (2-1) won their Senate Athletic League opener as quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 13 of 19 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Carlin Ray had eight catches for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Boys golf

Gilmour Academy 151, Kirtland 158 Reigning Division III state champion/Duke recruit Andrew Bieber shot a 2-under 36 on St. Denis' back nine to spark the Lancers to the nonleague win.

Boys soccer

Copley 2, North Royalton 1 Alan Du and Ryan Mattei each tallied a goal for the Indians (5-0).

Field hockey

WRA 3, Magnificat 1 Cristen Barnett's two goals paced the Pioneers (3-1).

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