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OHSAA football: Defensive plays are difference as Aurora defeats Kent Roosevelt

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HUDSON, Ohio — It was a game that featured one of the most prolific offensive players in Northeast Ohio and two teams capable moving the ball up and down the field with ease. But it was two big defensive plays that led to Aurora's 27-13 victory over Kent Roosevelt on Friday in a Division II regional semifinal game in...

Aurora's Zach Quinn (facing camera) celebrates with teammate Geoff Moniz after scoring the game-clinching touchdown on a 75-yard run Friday against Kent Roosevelt. - (Joshua Gunter, PD)

HUDSON, Ohio — It was a game that featured one of the most prolific offensive players in Northeast Ohio and two teams capable moving the ball up and down the field with ease.

But it was two big defensive plays that led to Aurora's 27-13 victory over Kent Roosevelt on Friday in a Division II regional semifinal game in front of about 4,300 fans in Hudson's Memorial Stadium.

Aurora's Zach Smierciak and defensive plays by Jake McVay and Frank Sivilo overshadowed the offensive show by Roosevelt quarterback Tra'Von Chapman and were highly responsible for Aurora advancing to next week's regional finals against Chardon at a site to be determined on Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Smierciak's interception return of 75 yards for a touchdown broke a 13-13 tie early in the fourth quarter, and Rinicella and McVay combined to force a Roosevelt turnover with 3:07 to play that helped put the Greenmen at ease for the first time all night.

And what jagged nerves weren't soothed by the McVay recovery of a Chapman fumble caused by Sivilo were quickly mollified on the very next play when Zach Quinn burst through an opening in the middle of the line and went 75 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

The teams combined for 747 yards of offense.

In the end the Aurora players had nothing but praise for the elusive, now-you-see-him, now-you-don't Chapman. The 6-2, 200-pound senior, who soon will sign a national letter of intent to attend Pitt, has more moves than you'll see in any episode of "Dancing with the Stars."

Chapman completed 20 of 46 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown and carried the ball 19 times for 66 yards, many time when he was scrambling for his football life.

"We had to make plays on both sides of the ball," said Smierciak, who will attend Miami (Ohio). "They had an aggressive offense, and Tra'Von Chapman is one unbelievable athlete."

As expected, Aurora threw a three-pronged running attack at Roosevelt, hoping to shorten the game by keeping the ball out of Chapman's hands. It worked. The Greenmen had 53 plays, 45 of them on the ground.

Quinn, a 6-4, 220-pound senior, gained 146 yards on 15 carries. McVay, who had carried the ball just 66 times this season, ran for 79 yards on 15 attempts. Junior quarterback George Bollas picked up 89 yards on 11 tries.

"Tonight's game was about our defense," said Aurora coach Bob Mihalik, who has a team in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. "All week long we heard about Tra'Von Chapman, and rightly so, but I think our defense played with a chip on its shoulder. To hold a player like Tra'Von Chapman to one touchdown, you've done a heck of a job."

McVay, a 6-1, 185-pound senior, gave the Greenmen an early lead when he went 51 yards for a touchdown on the seventh play of the game from scrimmage. Chapman and Trei Thomas, who caught nine passes for 97 yards, retaliated with a 16-yard scoring play, capping a nine-play, 93-yard drive that came after Aurora shot itself in the foot with back-to-back penalties deep in Roosevelt territory.

Jose Rocha kicked field goals of 43 and 34 yards for Roosevelt, the second kick coming with 19 seconds remaining in the first half and tying the game at 13-13. His first field goal was set up by a pass interception by Kardell Jackson.

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

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

 


OHSAA football: Avon uses four turnovers to get pastTiffin Columbian

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FREMONT, Ohio — The Avon defense definitely bent against 11-0 Tiffin Columbian Friday night at Fremont Ross' Harmon Field at Don Paul Stadium. But when it mattered most, the Eagles didn't break.

FREMONT, Ohio — The Avon defense definitely bent against 11-0 Tiffin Columbian Friday night at Fremont Ross' Harmon Field at Don Paul Stadium.

But when it mattered most, the Eagles didn't break.

The top-seeded Tornadoes outgained fourth-seeded Avon, 363-209, and had more first downs, 20-8.

However, four turnovers forced by the Avon defense helped it eliminate Tiffin Columbian, 24-14, to advance to the regional final next Friday against No. 2 Toledo Central Catholic.

"They say defense wins championships and offense sells tickets," Avon coach Mike Elder said. "We did just enough on offense to get by, but our defense was outstanding tonight. I thought our special teams played well, too, flipping the field a few times with our punter Logan Juhl.

"But, tonight, our defense lifted us to this victory, and my hat's off to them."

Linebacker Kevin Maloney had a hand in all four of Avon's turnovers, picking off a Mike Rohrbach pass early in the second quarter to set up Avon's first touchdown, recovering two fumbles to set up Avon's two other touchdowns and then forcing a fumble early in the second half with Tiffin Columbian in Avon territory.

"Kevin Maloney played his tail off tonight," Elder said. "He's only a junior, and I think this kid is special. If you look at his body type, he looks like an outside linebacker at the college level. A great kid who works extremely hard. It couldn't have happened to a better young man. He's just always in the right place. He's a smart football player."

Leading, 3-0, after a 27-yard field goal, Maloney picked off a pass with 9:29 remaining in the second quarter and returned it 39 yards to the Tiffin 35. Eight plays later -- on a fourth-and-6 from the 9 after an offside penalty and two timeouts -- senior quarterback David Zeh took off on a scramble, broke a tackle at the 4 and went in for the touchdown to give Avon a 10-0 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ryan Steinmetz forced a fumble by Columbian returner Jordan Dye, and Maloney pounced on the ball at the Tiffin 22. Four plays later, Michigan recruit Ross Douglas scampered in from eight yards out on third-and-goal, and just like that, it was 17-0, Avon.

"It was one of my better games, for sure," Maloney said. "[On the interception], we ran that play yesterday in practice and I had it right in my hands and dropped it. I told myself that if I see that play [Friday], I've got to get it. There were a few times tonight I was in the perfect position to make some plays, and they helped our team."

Nursing a 17-7 lead that they held through halftime, the Eagles had one more big play defensively that helped swing the game permanently in their favor.

On first-and-15 from the Avon 35, Rohrbach completed a 25-yard pass to Dye, who was guarded by Maloney. As Dye fought for more yards, Maloney got his hands on the ball and ripped it away cleanly at the 5. He ran past the stunned Columbian offense for 31 yards before he was forced out of bounds.

An illegal-block penalty put the ball back to the Avon 20. But two plays later, Zeh found sophomore tight end Chris Maxwell down the home sideline. Maxwell broke a tackle at midfield and rumbled down the sideline before being forced out at the Tiffin 2-yard line.

On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Zeh did a play-action fake to Mark Kvach, rolled out to his right and found Maxwell wide open in the end zone for the insurance touchdown with 5:15 remaining in the game.

"It's his coverage right there, and the kid makes the catch and it looks like they're going to get a first down," Elder said. "He has the presence of mind to rip at the football. Our linebackers coach, Jason Oaks, coaches that, so he reacts to it and makes a huge play for us. Then, we were fortunate to get the big play by our tight end."

Added Maxwell: "I don't know how Ross does it every week. That was my first big run and I just ran out of gas toward the end. It was a huge play for us, though, and I was in the right place at the right time."

Dan Gilles is a freelance writer in Elyria.

OHSAA football: Akron Manchester no match for Brookfield in Division IV regional

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TWINSBURG, Ohio — Manchester head coach Jim France knew his fourth-seeded Panthers faced a tall order in facing No. 1 Brookfield in Friday's Division IV, Region 13 playoffs. The Panthers would have to control the ball and the clock, keeping the high-powered Warriors offense -- averaging 46 points per game -- off the field. In order to do that,...

TWINSBURG, Ohio — Manchester head coach Jim France knew his fourth-seeded Panthers faced a tall order in facing No. 1 Brookfield in Friday's Division IV, Region 13 playoffs.

The Panthers would have to control the ball and the clock, keeping the high-powered Warriors offense -- averaging 46 points per game -- off the field. In order to do that, Manchester would have to solve a tough Brookfield defense that was allowing just 12 points per game.

In the end, Brookfield's offense was too much for the Panthers to handle, as the Warriors racked up 35 first-half points and never looked back, rolling to a 55-14 victory at Twinsburg Stadium on Friday.

Brookfield (12-0) took control of the game on the first possession of the night. The Warriors, behind tailback Ryan Mosora and quarterback Jeremy Quinlan, marched down the field. The drive covered 73 yards in 14 plays and was capped by Mosora's 1-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. The drive took 5:42 off the clock.

On their second drive, the Warriors needed just three plays and one minute to drive 78 yards for their second score, a 7-yard run by Quinlan.

Mosora finished the first half with 113 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries, while Quinlan rushed 19 times for 174 yards and two scores.

"When you get behind like that, it's tough for your offense to click in," France said. "We just got our butts kicked.

"We didn't tackle very well, and we didn't get where we were supposed to be to make the tackle."

The opening touchdown kicked off a scoring explosion for Brookfield, as the Warriors scored on all five of their first-half possessions.

"We knew they had the potential to score a lot of points, but when you don't tackle, it is hard to keep them off the field," France said.

Manchester (8-4) had some success moving the ball in the first half but saw two drives stall inside the Brookfield 30-yard line and a third end in an interception just before the half. Mosora returned the interception to the Manchester 19-yard line, setting up Brookfield's final score of the first half.

Mosora finished with 20 carries for 147 yards and five touchdowns. Quinlan added 247 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries for Brookfield, which advances to play Creston Norwayne.

Manchester was led offensively by quarterback Nick Peyakov, who was 10-of-26 for 276 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Peyakov hit Chad Roberston for a 90-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then found Aaron Hoxworth behind the secondary for a 70-yard score in the fourth.

Despite the way the season ended, France said his team met a lot of their goals, including a league title.

"Our goal was to win the PAC-7, and we did that, and get into the playoffs, and we did that," he said. "We won a playoff game and wanted to go a little deeper in the playoffs."

Bill Mayville is a freelance writer in Parma Heights.

OHSAA football: Mogadore cruises past Berlin Center Western Reserve

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Mogadore running back Gary Strain rushed for three touchdowns and the Wildcats' defense forced four interceptions in a convincing 28-7 win over Berlin Center Western Reserve in a Division VI regional semifinal in Ravenna. Strain, the Wildcats' All-Ohio running back who has rushed for almost 3,000 yards the past two seasons, carried the ball 20 times for 206 yards,...

Mogadore running back Gary Strain rushed for three touchdowns and the Wildcats' defense forced four interceptions in a convincing 28-7 win over Berlin Center Western Reserve in a Division VI regional semifinal in Ravenna.

Strain, the Wildcats' All-Ohio running back who has rushed for almost 3,000 yards the past two seasons, carried the ball 20 times for 206 yards, turning a 7-7 halftime tie into a rout for Mogadore (12-0), which is in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year.

Mogadore senior defensive back Hunter VanCamp led the Wildcats with two interceptions in the second half while senior defensive back Austin Pierce and senior linebacker Evan Uhalley each had interceptions for the No. 1-seed Wildcats, who will play No. 6 Youngstown Christian (9-2) in a regional final next Friday.

Akron men's basketball team falls to Coastal Carolina in overtime

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Zeke Marshall has a double double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for the Zips.

akron basketball.JPGView full sizeCoastal Carolina guard Kierre Greenwood, left, takes a shot over Akron's Zeke Marshall.
Anthony Raffa scored 27 points and Kierre Greenwood scored 19 to lead Coastal Carolina (1-0) to an overtime win over Akron, 74-70, on Friday in Conway, S.C.

Zeke Marshall had a double double (15 points, 10 rebounds) for the Zips. Akron's Jake Kretzer scored 15 points and Alex Abreu added 14.

Akron, which led at halftime, 34-31, shot 38 percent from the field while the Chanticleers shot 45 percent.

Abreu made a free throw with 59 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 61. The Zips' Chauncey Gilliam got a steal with 35 seconds left but Akron failed to get a shot off and the teams went to overtime.

Akron men's soccer team blanks Bowling Green in Mid-American Conference semifinal

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Akron extends its conference unbeaten streak to 46 matches, which ties an NCAA record.

akron men's soccer.JPGView full sizeAkron's Robbie Derschang, left, and Bowling Green's Ryan James battle for possession during the first half Friday at First Energy Stadium in Akron.

AKRON, Ohio — Akron men's soccer coach Caleb Porter said that one way or another, the Zips are going to get to the 2012 College Cup. The Zips took another step toward that goal, beating Bowling Green, 2-0, in a Mid-American Conference semifinal Friday in Akron.

"It's a two-game season for us right now," said Porter. "If we win out, we get a top-four seed and we host all the way to the final four. We have one big step left."

The Zips, ranked No. 1 in the country, play Northern Illinois on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in Akron. The Huskies, Porter said, are a team that is motivated, has a disruptive set style and is a definite challenge. Northern Illinois doesn't have a pretty team, he said, but they are very effective.

The Zips dominated the first half Friday night with a smothering defense that held BGSU to one shot on goal.

"Our style is going after the ball," said Porter. "We are more of an attacking team. We worked the first half as a unit."

Sophomore midfielder Will Trapp scored his first goal of the season at 39:50 in the first half with a shot straight on from 30 yards.

Porter knows that his team is built to be mentally tough and to him, that matters more than having size and speed. He is proud of building a team of "soccer junkies" who will play as hard as they can to win.

Porter approaches his final postseason at the helm of the Zips. He will leave at the end of the season to be the head coach of Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. Jared Embick, currently the associate head coach, will replace Porter at season's end.

Akron (16-1-2) extended its conference unbeaten streak to 46 matches, which ties an NCAA record (Furman, 1999-2003). The Zips' are ranked second nationally for goals against.

Christopher Siders is a freelance writer in Lakewood.

Lake Erie Monsters earn shootout victory at Houston

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Sammi Aittokallio stops four shots in the shootout to secure the win for Lake Erie.

lake erie monsters logoView full size

Mike Sgarbossa had two goals and scored in the shootout as Lake Erie beat host Houston, 5-4, on Friday.

Sammi Aittokallio stopped four shots in the shootout to secure the win for Lake Erie.

The Monsters improved their record in the American Hockey League to 8-4-0-0. Houston fell to 5-5-1-1.

The Monsters have won four of their past five.

Lake Erie was playing its fourth of seven straight road games. They play at Texas tonight at 8 p.m.

Mike Brown's firing stuns Byron Scott, Luke Walton: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider

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Scott's name was mentioned as a coaching candidate for the Lakers before he signed with the Cavs, and he says he has no interest in the Los Angeles vacancy.

mike brown.JPGView full sizeThe Lakers gave coach Mike Brown a whole five games to prove himself.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Ex-Lakers Byron Scott and Luke Walton were surprised to hear that former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was fired as coach of the Lakers on Friday after a 1-4 start.

"As one of the 30 [coaches] in this league, you always feel bad when one of your counterparts gets let go," Scott said before Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. "It's a little surprising to me just five games into the season. I was told a long time ago you get hired to get fired. That's just the NBA and the life we've chosen. Mike will definitely bounce back on his feet. Mike's a good coach and a good guy and he'll be fine."

Walton, traded from the Lakers in the Ramon Sessions deal at the trade deadline last season, said the pressure is different in Los Angeles, especially after bringing in All-Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash and with an aging Kobe Bryant running of out chances to repeat as champion.

"Five games is a little quick," Walton said. "In L.A., they expect winning. They expect it early and often. I was a little surprised by it, but not really shocked. My thing is that they're going to be OK. In my opinion, a 1-4 start, that's obviously not ideal. But Dwight's coming off back surgery, Kobe was in and out of preseason. Nash is hurt. You'd like to get off to a better start but all they have to do is make the playoffs and they'll be a dangerous team. So I think they'll be all right."

Scott's name was mentioned as a coaching candidate for the Lakers before he signed with the Cavs, and he said Friday he had no interest in the Los Angeles vacancy.

"I've made it perfectly clear that I am perfectly happy here in Cleveland," he said. "Love what we're building, love what we're doing."

Then he joked that this might be a good time to ask owner Dan Gilbert for a four-year contract extension.

"With the young guys we have and the draft picks we have coming, I want four more years after my contract is up," he said, laughing. "Might be a good time to start politicking for that."

There are many rumors about possible replacements for Brown, including Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan, Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw, Bernie Bickerstaff, Eddie Jordan and, of course, former coach Phil Jackson.

Asked whether he thought Jackson was likely to return, Walton said, "I said I didn't think so before. My gut still tells me no. I don't think he will. But if I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say it would be higher now than I thought a couple weeks ago."

Looks familiar: Scott was asked if he had any advice for coach Alvin Gentry and the Suns, rebuilding after the loss of Nash, much like the Cavs rebuilt after the loss of LeBron James.

"When you have an icon like they've had for so long in Steve Nash and he's gone, this is their first year of dealing with that," Scott said. "We're in our third year of accelerating our process and getting better as a basketball team. We're in different stages, but, yeah, I think in a way they're going through what we went through, trying to find a new identity because they've got new players and it's basically a new system.

"They're still trying to run, but not as much as they did with Steve Nash, and they don't run the pick-and-roll as much as they did with Steve Nash. So a different team in that aspect. Defensively, they're trying to put much more of an effort on that end of the floor.

"Al has been around a long time. He's been around longer than me. He has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do with this team."

Where's Walton? Walton, by the way, has dropped out of the rotation after Scott surprised observers but using him as a sort of quarterback for his second unit at the start of the season.

"It was nothing to do with Luke, it was more to do with the unit," said Scott, who has been relying mainly on Daniel Gibson, C.J. Miles and Samardo Samuels off the bench. "If you remember, I said I wasn't going to be real patient, can't afford to. I just thought at that time, that second unit wasn't working real well as far as running the offense well but not making shots. Then on the other end not getting stops. Those combinations just don't work well. So I'm making some changes as far as making sure I have a starter or two with some of the second-unit guys."

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

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider


Cleveland Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert Tweets his displeasure after team blows 26-point lead in Phoenix

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The Cavs build a 42-16 lead early in the second quarter, but can't sustain that effort for four quarters, and the determined Suns get a 107-105 win.

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PHOENIX, Ariz. — From across the country, owner Dan Gilbert made his displeasure known after his Cavaliers blew a 26-point lead en route to a 107-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at US Airways Center.

On Twitter, Gilbert wrote, "When we learn that EVERY second counts, we will emerge. All 2880 seconds. Each one of them. It's a game of inches. We are young. Painful lessons."

Indeed, after the Cavs built a 42-16 lead early in the second quarter, they stopped doing everything that got them there.

"It was easy in the first quarter," a grim coach Byron Scott said after the Cavs dropped to 2-4 overall, 1-3 on this six game trip that will continue Sunday at Oklahoma City and Tuesday at Brooklyn. "Our guys defensively were aggressive and focused. From that point on, it just seemed like the more the game went on, the less focused we got, the more mistakes we started to make. That's on both ends of the floor."

In the first quarter, the Cavs made 14 of 22 shots (63.6 percent), held the Suns to 31.6 percent shooting and forced eight turnovers. The rest of the game, the Cavs shot 42 percent and allowed the Suns to shoot 52 percent.

Not even 10 straight points by rookie Dion Waiters in the fourth quarter could save the Cavs.

He finished with 23 points, and had an X-ray on his sore right thigh after the game. It was negative. Kyrie Irving had 17 points and missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game. He admitted he was feeling fatigued after a bout of food poisoning Wednesday in California.

"No excuses," Irving said. "Dion got it going. I was trying to make shots and I just couldn't."

His teammates couldn't seem to match their first-quarter energy, either.

"I think we played the same way in the second half that we played in the first half," said Anderson Varejao, who returned from a bruised right knee that kept him out of Wednesday's game at Golden State to register 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Suns. "But the first half, to me, it looked like we attacked them more, we moved the ball more. We made them guard us. The second half, I feel like we didn't move the ball as well, we didn't play smart at all. Maybe because we had the big lead, we thought we were going to win the game. In the NBA you have to play for 48 minutes. If you don't do that, even if you have a big lead like we had, you're going to lose games. That's bad. It's bad. We had a chance to get this win here tonight."

In addition to their defensive struggles, the Cavs also have no bench. Daniel Gibson scored 19 points, and Samardo Samuels chipped in seven. But that was no match for the Suns, who got 47 points off the bench, 22 by former Cav Shannon Brown.

"Obviously we've got to get more out of our bench that what we're getting these first six games," Scott said.

C.J. Miles shot 0-for-7, including four misses from 3-point range, with five rebounds in 12:14. Asked if Miles' time is running out to remain in the rotation, Scott said, "That's something I'm thinking about."

Saturday, Nov. 10 television sports listings for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

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Highlights include Kent State at Miami (Ohio) in college football.


CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV sports listings

AUTO RACING

11:30 a.m.

Speed Channel -- NASCAR, Sprint Cup, practice for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz.

12:30 p.m.

Speed Channel -- NASCAR, Nationwide Series, pole qualifying for Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Speed Channel -- NASCAR, Sprint Cup, "Happy Hour Series," final practice for AdvoCare 500, at Avondale, Ariz.

4 p.m.

ESPN -- NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Great Clips 200, at Avondale, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Speed Channel -- NASCAR, K&N Pro Series, at Avondale, Ariz.

BOXING

9:45 p.m.

HBO -- Featherweights, Mikey Garcia (29-0-0) vs. Jonathan Barros (34-3-1); super welterweights, Vanes Martirosyan (32-0-0) vs. Erislandy Lara (17-1-1), at Las Vegas

10 p.m.

SHO -- Junior middleweights, Alfredo Angulo (20-2-0) vs. Raul Casarez (19-2-0); champion Leo Santa Cruz (21-0-1) vs. Victor Zaleta (20-2-1), for IBF bantamweight title; champion Abner Mares (24-0-1) vs. Anselmo Moreno (33-1-1), for WBC super bantamweight title, at Los Angeles

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon

ABC -- Regional coverage, Iowa St. at Texas or teams TBA

CBS -- Teams TBA

ESPN -- Northwestern at Michigan or Wisconsin at Indiana

ESPN2 -- Wisconsin at Indiana or Northwestern at Michigan

FSN -- Kansas at Texas Tech

NBCSN -- Harvard at Penn

1 p.m.

KENT STATE at Miami (Ohio), SportsTime Ohio; AM/640

OBERLIN vs. Wittenberg AM/1320

1:30 p.m.

LAKE ERIE at Tiffin AM/970

FX -- Colorado at Arizona

2 p.m.

AKRON vs. Massachusetts, AM/1350, AM/1420, AM/1440

3 p.m.

FOX -- Teams TBA

3:30 p.m.

ABC -- Regional coverage, Penn St. at Nebraska or teams TBA

WOIO -- Texas A&M at Alabama  FM/92.3

ESPN2 -- Regional coverage, Penn St. at Nebraska or teams TBA

FSN -- Teams TBA

NBCSN -- Air Force at San Diego St.

7 p.m.

ESPN -- Mississippi State at LSU  FM/92.3

ESPN2 -- Georgia at Auburn

FOX -- Teams TBA

FSN -- Southern Miss. at SMU

NBCSN -- Boise St. at Hawaii

8:07 p.m.

ABC -- Teams TBA

10:30 p.m.

ESPN2 -- UCLA at Washington St. or Utah at Washington

NBCSN -- Fresno St. at Nevada

GOLF

1 p.m.

TGC -- PGA Tour, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, third round, at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

10 p.m.

TGC -- European PGA Tour, Singapore Open, final round

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

7 p.m. Columbia vs. Hamler Patrick Henry AM/1320

7 p.m. North Royalton vs. St. Ignatius AM/1420

HOCKEY

8 p.m. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS  at Texas AM/1220

NBA BASKETBALL

8 p.m.

WGN -- Minnesota at Chicago

SOCCER

9:55 a.m.

ESPN2 -- Premier League, teams TBA

3:30 p.m.

NBC -- MLS, playoffs, Eastern Conference championship, leg 1, teams TBD


Football books a nice option during bye week for Browns, Buckeyes

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Ohio State and the Browns have byes, but that doesn't mean you to take a weekend off from football. We look at four gridiron-themed novels over the years that are worth revisiting.


browns reading.JPG Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron reads to kids in September during a "Reading Rally" assembly in Cleveland in September. Cameron and his teammates will have more time to read this weekend; the Browns have a bye week.
With a game off for Ohio State and the Browns enjoying (?) a bye this weekend, what is a football fan to do? How about reading? Here are four novels with football as a central theme:

"Mr. Fullback" -- William Campbell Gault made a career out of writing pulp stories and young-adult novels. Despite being set in an almost-forgotten era, when players were named Scooter and Gus and an innocence crept over their field of play, this book details high-school pals and the college choices they make. One wants to play big-time college football. The other wants academics and football. Through the use of roman a clef, it touches on illicit recruiting dealings of one fictitious school (Michigan?) while touting the merits of another (Northwestern?). The buddies go their separate ways, then reunite to play together for the love of the game. Sappy, and worth every page. (E.P. Dutton and Co., 1953.)

end-zone.JPG "End Zone" is an early novel from Don DeLillo. 

"End Zone" -- A maverick running back whose career is marked by the number of colleges he has attended lands at a West Texas school. What grips Gary Harkness off the field is more important than anything that happens on it: fear, primarily of nuclear war. Don DeLillo's novel uses football as an important backdrop, a lone sense of order in Harkness' life as his world quietly crumbles. It's an early novel from the author, who weaves a dark, comedic path through the story. (Penguin Books, 1972.)

"The Franchise" -- Peter Gent became more famous for his off-the-field writing than his career on the field (he played for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s). His 1973 novel, "North Dallas Forty," injected a healthy shot of cynicism into a professional player's life and coping skills. It became possibly the best football movie ever made. But this 1983 book remains an under-the-radar gem. All quarterback Taylor Rusk wants to do is play football. But money and drugs and gangsters and painkillers and lots of diversions get in his way in this sports thriller. Like a scrambling quarterback, Gent shifts on the page from laugh-aloud humorous dialogue to tragic, poignant moments. (Villard Books, 1983.)

the prophet.JPG Michael Koryta's "The Prophet." 

"The Prophet" -- Former Clevelander Michael Koryta's latest thriller follows two brothers in an Ohio town who don't get along but who find themselves simultaneously facing two kinds of foes -- a killer on the loose and demons from the past. One brother is a heralded high school coach; the other is a burned-out former star player. The novel moves well and has great character development, but it's Koryta's descriptions of football that shine. One scene between coach and star player watching film of a 20-year-old game stands as some of the best football writing ever. It should be noted that the author spent a good deal of time embedded with an Indiana high school team, and that reporting pays off in his writing. (Little, Brown and Company, 2012.)

Preview capsules for today's Northeast Ohio women's college basketball games

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Akron opens its season at home today against Division III Hiram.

akron zips logoView full sizeWomen

Women

Akron vs. Hiram

Tipoff: Noon at Rhodes Arena, Akron.

Notable: Zips coach Jodi Kest opens her seventh season at Akron. Hiram coach Andrea Preston is in her sixth season. Akron won its only exhibition, stopping Malone, 85-54. Akron returns six letter winners from a team that went 14-18 overall and 7-9 in the Mid-American Conference. Forward Rachel Tecca (Hoban), a two-time All-MAC selection, was named to the Preseason All-MAC squad for the second straight year. The Zips were picked to finish third in the MAC East behind Miami and Bowling Green. Division III Hiram was picked to finish seventh in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Next for Akron: Tuesday at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m.

-- From staff reports

Ursuline College vs. Malone

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at the Matthew J. O'Brien Athletic Center, Pepper Pike.

Notable: The Arrows begin a new era under coach Shannon Sword. Ursuline returns 10 letter winners from last year's team, including two of the top-10 scorers in program history in senior Laura Campbell (fourth, 1,057 career points) and junior Katie Cappello (eighth, 579). Sophomore guard Brianna Woods -- eighth in school history in career assists -- also returns to solidify the Arrows' backcourt. Malone went 12-15 last year and the Pioneers are entering their first season as a full-time member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Next for Ursuline: Wednesday at Findlay, 5:30 p.m.

-- Information compiled by the Ursuline sports-information department.

College football kickoff: Upstart Aggies visit Alabama, Top 25 buzz, matchups and picks

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Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football.









Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we near kickoff on another Saturday of college football:




The Big Buzz: Johnny vs. Goliath

No. 15 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. EST

Eddie LacyAlabama running back Eddie Lacy (42) celebrates his touchdown in the first half of their NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

No. 1 Alabama didn't lose to LSU last Saturday, eking out a 21-17 victory, but the Tide's too-close-for-comfort win did tarnish their reputation as college football's unbeatable juggernaut.

Now Nick Saban's crew must find a way to thwart a challenge from Johnny Football and the SEC's top offense.

Freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M's frenetic attack pose a viable threat - even for Alabama's acclaimed defense. The young Aggies are jacked up for the opportunity to topple the nation's top team, Texas A&M defensive tackle Spencer Nealy tells ESPN.com blogger Sam Khan Jr.:

"We talked about it; we haven't played a No. 1 team ever [in our careers]," Nealy said. "Oklahoma State last year, we played them and they were No. [7], but it didn't feel like that. This is the No. 1 team. We've played the No. 5 team, which was cool. But this is big-time, and we need to come out there and shock the world."

Grantland's John Brandon writes that Alabama is ripe for a letdown after last week's emotional win - bad timing considering they'll be facing the "scariest offensive college football player in the nation" in Manziel:

Johnny ManzielTexas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel celebrates after his team scored a touchdown against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

He's not just a good runner "for a quarterback" — he looks like a damn punt returner when he breaks out of the pocket. He's not just a good passer "for a running quarterback" — he's got touch and arm strength and timing to burn. You can call him Johnny Football. The SEC will call him Johnny Headache.

But Charles Hollis of AL.com doesn't give Manziel quite so much credit, despite Alabama Coach Nick Saban comparing the Aggies' signal-caller to College Football Hall of Famer Doug Flutie:

Manziel, or Johnny Football, is no Flutie. He's a redshirt freshman running head coach Kevin Sumlin's spread offense that goes no-huddle and frustrates defensive coordinators with its warp speed.

Who's Johnny Football beaten? Mississippi State? A bad Arkansas team?

An even worse Auburn team?

And Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin certainly isn't counting on a letdown from the Crimson Tide: (via AL.com)

"I don’t see that as anything. They’re experienced at it. They’ve won. They’re trying to win their third national championship in four years. They know what they’re doing."

Top games

Here's a look at some of Saturday's other don't-miss matchups involving teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25:

• Arkansas at No. 12 South Carolina, 12 p.m. EST

• No. 13 Oregon State at No. 16 Stanford, 3 p.m. EST

• No. 3 Kansas State at TCU, 7 p.m. EST

• No. 21 Mississippi State at No. 9 LSU, 7 p.m. EST

• No. 4 Notre Dame at Boston College, 8 p.m. EST

• No. 2 Oregon at California, 10:30 p.m. EST

Headlines

• No. 23 Toledo fell to Ball State on Tuesday night, 34-27. (via USAToday.com)

• No. 8 Florida State scored in the final minute to pull out a 28-22 win over Virginia Tech on Thursday night. (via FoxSports.com)

• Former Texas head coach Darrell Royal, who led the Longhorns to the national championship in 1963 and 1969, died this week at the age of 88. (via SI.com)

• A USC student manager was fired for intentionally deflating game balls used in the Trojans' game against Oregon last week. (via College Football Talk)

• South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore had successful surgery to repair ligaments in his right knee. (via Yahoo! Sports)

Who they're picking

CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd picks Syracuse to upset No. 11 Louisville and Arizona State to knock off No. 21 USC. Fellow panel member Jerry Hinnen also backs a pair of underdogs, taking Penn State over No. 18 Nebraska and TCU over No. 3 Kansas State.

USA Today's experts unanimously expect wins for Alabama, Oregon and Notre Dame this week, but two of the eight panelists foresee Kansas State falling to unranked TCU.

ESPN.com SEC bloggers Edward Aschoff and Chris Low both take LSU to bounce back with a win over Mississippi State and Alabama to comfortably beat Texas A&M. Pac-12 bloggers Kevin Gemmell and Ted Miller agree that Oregon will smash Cal but are divided on the outcome of the Oregon State-Stanford matchup. Over in the Big Ten, Brian Bennett likes Penn State to upset Nebraska.

College Football Talk has Alabama topping Texas A&M by a score of 35-14, Stanford pulling out a 24-20 win over Oregon State, and LSU beating Mississippi State 26-14.

Stewart Mandel of SI.com takes Syracuse to edge Louisville in his upset special but expects favorites Alabama, LSU and Kansas State to take care of business this week.

What they're saying

Lane KiffinSouthern California head coach Lane Kiffin takes off his headset during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Colorado, Saturday, Oct.20, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

• Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com isn't letting USC's Lane Kiffin off the hook despite the coach's claims that he had no involvement in last week's ball deflating incident against Oregon. Kiffin bears responsibility for all of the embarrassing episodes that have plagued the Trojans during his tenure, writes Doyel:

He's cheating, is my point. Or his program is. And since the chain of command at USC football starts with Lane Kiffin, he's responsible. He's using ignorance as his defense on some of this stuff, but that's a life raft that won't float on these seas.

• Oregon coach Chip Kelly, on the other hand, wasn't particularly fazed by "Deflategate": (via OregonLive.com)

"My thought on that is real simple: It's got nothing to do with us," Kelly said. "We worry about what we can control. ... What another team does or doesn't do, I don't really know. But it doesn't affect us. They can do whatever they want. It's not a big deal to us."

• Like Alabama, LSU faces a challenge in putting last week's epic battle in the bayou behind them. With another tough matchup against No. 21 Mississippi State on deck this week, LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry tells the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the Tigers are focused on moving forward following their heartbreaking loss to the Tide:

"We may get a BCS bid, we may not. We have to control the things we can control and win out hopefully, make a statement so that we have a chance at the best bowl we can get.

"It's just bitter. But it makes no sense to dwell on it or it affects you the next week."

• John Canzano of The Oregonian suggests that Oregon State should consider canceling its season finale against Southland Conference school Nicholls State in order to avoid a potential hit to their strength of schedule ranking and their position in the BCS standings:

We've heard of coaches scheduling strategically in the offseason. But what Oregon State has is a rare opportunity to schedule wisely during the season itself. An opportunity like this shouldn't be wasted.

• After some recent near misses, No. 24 Rutgers has another chance to win the school's first Big East title this season. The Scarlet Knights are intent on getting the job done this time around, senior linebacker Khaseem Greene tells the Newark Star-Ledger:

“I just know this team is going to be different,” said Greene. “There’s something special about this team that I feel this year that I haven’t felt any other year.”

Heisman talk

Kenjon Barner, Rahsaan Vaughn, Nickell RobeyOregon running back Kenjon Barner scores one of his five touchdowns against Southern California on Saturday. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

• The race for the Heisman trophy is tightening up. Yahoo! Sports has Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron and Oregon running back Kenjon Barner right on the heels of frontrunner Collin Klein of Kansas State.

• CBSSports.com Heisman expert Chris Huston has Oregon's Barner jumping all the way up to the No. 2 position behind Klein in his latest rankings, with McCarron and Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller close behind.

• And SI.com's Zac Ellis has more praise for Barner, ranking the Ducks' running back at No. 3 on his Heisman watch list after a five-touchdown performance against USC.

• Andy Staples of SI.com provides some perspective on Barner's Heisman candidacy in the video below:






The Blitz: Division I, Region 2 playoff matchup, Massillon Washington vs. Canton McKinley

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The 2012 High School Football Playoffs are here and we're covering it better than ever with The Blitz! Each week at cleveland.com/blitz, you'll find: • Live audio webcast from our Big Game of the Week • Live interactive chat with updates from all the big games across Northeast Ohio • Live audio post-game show with scores, highlights and analysis...

Massillon Washington and Canton McKinley square off at Dix Stadium at Kent State.

The 2012 High School Football Playoffs are here and we're covering it better than ever with The Blitz! Each week at cleveland.com/blitz, you'll find:

• Live audio webcast from our Big Game of the Week

• Live interactive chat with updates from all the big games across Northeast Ohio

• Live audio post-game show with scores, highlights and analysis

Join cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Dan Labbe and Daryl Ruiter from 92.3 The Fan for second round playoff action on Saturday as No. 5 seed Canton McKinley takes on rival No. 1 seed Massillon Washington in a Division I, Region 2 matchup. Get live box score here.

"audio"   Live audio controls: Pre-game is Saturday at 6:30 p.m., kickoff at 7 p.m., post-game immediately at end of fourth quarter

  

   Live chat: Log in to chat with the broadcast team and other fans

Related links:

HS football scoreboard | News from The Plain Dealer and Sun News

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter

 

Beaumont defeats Norwalk in 5 sets to win state volleyball title

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Fans were on their feet in the stands and adrenaline was pumping on the court - after more than 90 minutes of hard-fought volleyball, the first team to 15 was going home with its first Division II state volleyball title. Beaumont made history Saturday with a 25-18, 18-25, 25-15, 16-25, 15-8 win over Norwalk at the 38th Annual State...

Fans were on their feet in the stands and adrenaline was pumping on the court - after more than 90 minutes of hard-fought volleyball, the first team to 15 was going home with its first Division II state volleyball title.

Beaumont made history Saturday with a 25-18, 18-25, 25-15, 16-25, 15-8 win over Norwalk at the 38th Annual State Volleyball Tournament at the Wright State University Nutter Center.

The Blue Streaks came out firing in the opening set. Sparked by outside hitter Courtney Bowman, Beaumont translated a 5-7 deficit into a 14-9 lead and never looked back. But the Truckers weren't about to back down and Norwalk quickly evened the match at one set apiece.

Beaumont reclaimed the momentum early in the third set with strong serving and a balanced offensive attack but Norwalk responded in a must-win fourth set to tie the match.


OHSAA Boys Soccer: Cincinnati Summit Country Day defeats Hawken, 2-0, in Division III boys soccer title game

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 Columbus - Cincinnati Summit Country Day won the Division III boys soccer championship as the Silver Knights bested Hawken, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium.  It was the was the second state title for Country Day (19-2-1), which also won in 1999.

(OHSAA)

 Columbus - Cincinnati Summit Country Day won the Division III boys soccer championship as the Silver Knights bested Hawken, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium.

 It was the was the second state title for Country Day (19-2-1), which also won in 1999.

 For the Hawks (17-2-4), it marked the second straight runnerup finish, having lost last year in the title game to Worthington Christian, 2-0. It was also Hawken's eighth runnerup finish in nine trips to the championship game, the Hawks winning their lone championship in 2000.

 Country Day scored 18 minutes into the game when senior Caelen Hueber converted after controlling a crossing pass from teammate Mosi Clark-Cobbs in front of the Hawken net.

Hueber scored again with 1:10 remaining in the game . 

Ranked No. 3 in the state poll, Country Day did not allow a goal in seven playoff games, outscoring opponents, 17-0. Hawken was ranked No. 4.

Kent State beats Miami (Ohio), 48-32, to set up title showdown with Bowling Green

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OXFORD, OHIO -- A bone-crushing performance surrounding intermittent lightning strikes in the opening half running the football by Kent State paved the way for an easy 48-32 victory over the Miami RedHawks Saturday afternoon in Yager Stadium. Kent State (9-1, 6-0) has now weathered a season-long barrage of high-powered offenses and stellar quarterbacks, including Miami's Zac Dysert who passed...

kent-durham.JPGView full sizeTrayion Durham, shown here in a file photo from Oct. 13, gained 172 yards on Saturday in Kent State's win over Miami (Ohio).

OXFORD, OHIO -- A bone-crushing performance surrounding intermittent lightning strikes in the opening half running the football by Kent State paved the way for an easy 48-32 victory over the Miami RedHawks Saturday afternoon in Yager Stadium.

Kent State (9-1, 6-0) has now weathered a season-long barrage of high-powered offenses and stellar quarterbacks, including Miami's Zac Dysert who passed for 455 yards and four touchdowns. But to win its first MAC East Division title, next week at Bowling Green (7-3, 5-1), the Golden Flashes will have to prove themselves against the most dominant defense in the league, owned by the Falcons.

Kent tailbacks Trayion Durham and Dri Archer put on a rushing show against Miami (4-6, 3-3) as Durham gained a career-high 172 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns to Archer's 151 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns, plus another 54 yards receiving and a score. Dysert's two first-half interceptions helped fuel Kent's 35-10 halftime lead, which Durham and Archer took full advantage of.

"That's a true 1-2 punch," Miami head coach Don Treadwell said. "When you see it up close . . ."

Up close it was both bruising and fast. Durham gained 14 yards the first time he touched the ball, then 10 more the second time for a touchdown. "My first run, when I bounced it to the outside, I knew I'd have a field day, today. . . . I felt like a train, just going, nothing could stop me."

Consider it lesson learned, finally, by Kent head coach Darrell Hazell and the KSU brain trust.

An infatuation with the forward pass cost the Golden Flashes early in the season with a loss at Kentucky, then nearly led to an upset loss to rival Akron last week, before a second-half comeback saved the day.

Kent QB Spencer Keith, who had played flawlessly for weeks, was less than stellar (10-of-16, for 147 yards, one TDs, two INTs) against the RedHawks. But it didn't matter.

Thunder and Lightning struck three times for Kent in the opening quarter as Durham and Archer combined to score on runs of 10, 35 and 43 yards to lead the Golden Flashes to a 21-0 lead. Archer had 90 yards rushing on four carries and the two long TD scores while Durham checked in with 62 yards on five carries and one TD.

"The offensive line was moving the pile forward, big seams," Archer said. "And me and Trayion were hitting the holes."

When the second quarter began, Kent put together a 12-play, 72-yard drive capped by a 9-yard Durham touchdown run with 9:51 to go before halftime for a 28-0 lead. Dysert, victim of two Kent interceptions early, then put together a five-play, 65-yard drive, ending with a 12-yard pass to receiver Nick Harwell for a touchdown that made it 28-7 with 7:23 to play before the half.

No sweat.

A four-play, 72-yard drive followed for the Flashes that included a 31-yard run by Archer to get Kent past midfield, then a 28-yard run by Keith on a keeper for a touchdown and 35-7 lead. After another defensive stop, Keith threw his second interception of the game. The RedHawks converted, getting a 33-yard field goal with 15 seconds to go in the opening half to make it 35-10.

The Flashes had 361 of their 546 yards of offense at the break with 301 of it coming on the ground. Both Archer (129 yards) and Durham (111) were over the century mark. Archer also was already over 1,000 yards for the season and Durham was just 2 yards shy of joining him. By the end of the game, the Flashes had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in school history.

"When you get it rolling like that, you know everything was going to open up for us," Hazell said of Kent's running game.

Miami closed within 35-18 in the third quarter, but Kent answered with 10 straight points. The last coming on a 33-yard Archer TD reception from Keith in the fourth quarter, set up by a 14-yard run on third-and-12 from Kent's 10 by Durham.

"They are pretty dynamic," Miami linebacker Chris Wade said of Kent's backfield duo. "When you have a 250-pound back it's hard to stop him. And when you have a guy who is as fast as the other guy, and you have to guard both, it's hard. They are the most dynamic backs we have faced."

But to win a division title, Durham and Archer will have to prove themselves against a Bowling Green defense holding teams to 3.3 yards per carry and 103.7 yards rushing per game.

OHSAA Boys Soccer: Dayton Carroll defeats CVCA, 2-0, to win its third straight Division III championship

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 Columbus - Dayton Carroll made it a three-peat.  The Patriots won their third straight Division II boys soccer championship as they defeated Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 2-0, late Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium.

OHSAA - (OHSAA)

 Columbus - Dayton Carroll made it a three-peat.

 The Patriots won their third straight Division II boys soccer championship as they defeated Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 2-0, late Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium.

 With the win, Carroll extended its unbeaten streak to 60 games. It was also their fourth title in the past five seasons, having defeated CVCA in this game in 2008 on a shootout.

 The Patriots (19-0-4) broke through early when junior John Rutan scored after less than two minutes of play. They added a goal 11 minutes before halftime when senior Vonne Byrd broke through and beat CVCA senior goalkeeper Chad Prtenjak from inside the box.

 It was the fifth title for Carroll, which also won in 1980.

 CVCA wound up 15-7. The Royals were going for their fourth championship, having won titles in 2010, 2007 and 2004. It was their fourth runnerup finish.

The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins linked by decisions on Robert Griffin III

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The decision by outgoing team President Mike Holmgren and General Manager Tom Heckert not to sweeten their trade offer in an attempt to get Griffin and draft instead Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden and second-rounder Mitchell Schwarz ranks among the most important in recent years.

browns-robertgriffin.JPG Robert Griffin III is off to a great start with the Washington Redskins.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The rookie quarterback who could have been a Brown stood on the practice field at the organization's training facility in June and indulged the media in a friendly game of What If.

"Once I declared for the draft, Cleveland was a place I thought I would be just because they had the most firepower when it came to draft picks and tradeability," the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III told reporters gathered for the NFL rookie symposium.

The Browns made a bid for the most dynamic, multi-talented and marketable player in the draft, offering the St. Louis Rams their two 2012 first-round picks (Nos. 4, 22) and their 2013 first-round selection for the right to move up to take Griffin with the second overall choice. Ultimately, the Rams accepted Washington's package that included its 2012, 2013 and 2014 first-rounders, plus a 2012 second-rounder -- a stunning exchange of future currency for the potential to immediately alter the course of a rudderless franchise.

Sometimes, the best trades are the ones you don't make. Whether that proves true for the Browns cannot be said with any degree of certainty for another season or two. But the decision by outgoing team President Mike Holmgren and General Manager Tom Heckert not to sweeten their offer will rank among the most intriguing in recent memory. The Browns used their selections on halfback Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden plus right tackle Mitchell Schwarz in the second round with a pick that could have been dangled enticingly in front of the Rams.

With the Browns in transition under new owner Jimmy Haslam and both Cleveland and Washington on their bye weeks, we take a closer look at a deal that will have long-term implication for both franchises, ones who meet Dec. 16 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The case for RG3

As Weeden was throwing four interceptions in his NFL debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, Griffin spent a memorable afternoon in New Orleans legitimizing his hype. He threw for two touchdowns and 320 yards against the Saints while also rushing for 42 yards. His 139.9 passer rating was a mere 134.8 points higher than Weeden's

Griffin has showcased his bevy of skills in the season's first nine weeks: strong arm, sprinter's speed and football acumen. His 65.6 completion percentage is eighth-best in the NFL and tops in an impressive rookie class. He's accounted for 14 touchdowns -- eight passing, six rushing -- while throwing just three interceptions.

To ease his transition the Redskins employ lots of read-zone option offense, one familiar to Griffin from his days at Baylor. The quarterback has averaged 76 yards rushing per game and is on pace to break the rookie mark (706 yards) set by Cam Newton a season ago.

It's easy to see why the Redskins and Browns were so enamored with Griffin and so willing to part with significant assets to get him. Neither organization has been good since 1999. Each plays in arguably the toughest division in their conference. Both are more than a decade removed from having a franchise quarterback. The Redskins have three winning seasons in the past 13 years, the Browns two.

The Redskins are 3-6 with Griffin. The Browns are 2-7 without him. Both teams drafted a running back from Pensacola, Fla., but the Redskins found Alfred Morris in the sixth round -- or, 170 picks lower than Richardson. Morris entered the weekend as the league's fourth-leading rusher with 793 yards and five TDs. The production of Morris and Tampa Bay's Doug Martin (794 yards) only emboldens critics who believe in a quarterback-driven league teams shouldn't invest a high draft pick on a halfback.

The Redskins won't be using a high pick on anybody in the next two years when the salary cap dips before rising again in 2015. They have lost three straight to sink to the bottom of the NFC East and unless they turn it around down the stretch Washington fans could see a very high draft pick belong to the Rams next season.

Many think the Redskins have their quarterback for the next decade in Griffin, an assumption nobody in Cleveland is making. But Griffin must remain healthy. Listed at 6-feet-2, 217 pounds, the Heisman Trophy winner plays an electrifying, high-risk game. He's already been concussed this season and last week in a loss to Carolina was sent spinning like a helicopter blade while trying to run for extra yards.

It will be interesting to see if Griffin settles into a more conventional offense as he matures. One worries about the punishment he will absorb if he continues to run.

Is it possible a 22-year-old quarterback in an option attack has a shorter career span than an 29-year-old rookie in a more traditional NFL offense?

The case for the Browns' approach

In assessing the quarterback Class of 2013, ESPN analyst Todd McShay tempered his praise for Griffin with a caveat. He said the Redskins quarterback and Seattle's Russell Wilson have superior supporting casts compared with those of Indianapolis' Andrew Luck, Miami's Ryan Tannehill and Weeden.

Holmgren and Heckert have been attempting to fill holes throughout the depth chart. Was surrendering three first-round draft picks on a roster that needed so much rebuilding worth the risk?

ESPN included Richardson, Schwartz and supplemental draft pick Josh Gordon on its all-rookie midseason team. Weeden was an honorable mention. The Browns appear headed toward another top-five draft pick next April, which they wouldn't have owned had they anted up for Griffin.

Will they use it on another quarterback? New Browns CEO Joe Banner left that door open in an interview with The Plain Dealer on Thursday. Weeden has had an up-and-down rookie year and his overall statistics aren't inspiring. His passer rating (67.9), completion percentage (55.1) and interception total (12) are among the league's worst.

However, he's also playing on one the league's youngest teams and has had more passes dropped (31) than any quarterback in the league. If Gordon catches a perfectly thrown ball in Indianapolis and Chris Ogbonnaya lines up properly last week against the Ravens on Weeden's strike to Gordon, the Browns might be sitting 4-5.

As former quarterback turned broadcaster Rich Gannon told The Plain Dealer this week, Weeden needs to make quicker reads and stop missing open receivers. But there have been enough good throws -- particularly the deep balls to Gordon -- in Weeks 2-8 to give some reason to think Weeden can provide stability at the most critical position.

The Browns have had 17 starting quarterbacks since their return to Cleveland and fans are worried they might only get five or six good years out of Weeden due to his age? Given the sorry state of quarterbacking here such longevity would be worthy of a statue on Lou Groza Boulevard.

While the Browns will use the final seven weeks to evaluate the futures of everyone from Weeden to Heckert, the club has found its running back. If Richardson can stay healthy he looks like an excellent addition, a halfback capable of running over defenders and creating havoc as a pass catcher. His draft rights acquired from Minnesota for fourth-, fifth-, and seventh-round picks in April, the Alabama product has rushed for 575 yards, including back-to-back 100-yard performances despite tender rib cartilage. On a franchise desperate for stability, Richardson looks like a strong-willed step in that direction.

Same for Schwartz, who is part of an offensive line affording Weeden good pass protection. The rookie has essentially stuck one of his size-18 cleats in the revolving door that was right tackle for the Browns. Weeden has been sacked just 14 times, which is on pace for one of the club's lowest totals since 1999.

If Banner believes the Browns need to make a change at quarterback in the next two years he has first-round picks available to him. As for the Redskins, they had better be right with Griffin. The second-year struggles of Newton and Cincinnati's Andy Dalton are a reminder there's no such thing as a natural progression at quarterback.

It will take several seasons to fully analyze the Griffin deal. In the end, both franchises might be happy with the decisions they made -- even if the people making them are no longer around.

It will be hard for any running back, even the Cleveland Browns' Trent Richardson, to carry a team in today's NFL: Bill Livingston

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A 3.8-yard average after nine games is not what was expected of Browns' running back Trent Richardson, their top draft pick. But even if Richardson is healthy for the rest of the season, the chances that he can carry a team in today's NFL are small.

bill-richardson.JPGView full sizeAsking any back to carry an NFL team in these pass-happy times, even one with the potential of Trent Richardson, might be asking too much.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On any given Sunday, Brandon Weeden looks like the Browns' quarterback of the future. Except when he doesn't.

Fans fret about the inconsistency of the 29-year-old rookie, the talk shows are a-buzz, and his clock is ticking.

Little is said, by comparison, about running back Trent Richardson. Optimism is the prevalent mood here, especially since Richardson didn't hit the ground in life, presumably running, until 1990. He is 22 years old and stands only 5-9, meaning he can hunker down behind his offensive linemen and then spring an unpleasant surprise on the defense.

"When I coached," said Mike Holmgren during his tenure as Browns president, "I never saw [5-8 Hall of Famer] Barry Sanders until he was through the hole."

Sanders weighed only 203 pounds in his playing days, however, so he wasn't as punishing as Richardson. Once in the hole, Richardson, who weighs 230 pounds, can batter his way past whatever is in his path.

Heavy musculature comes at a price, though. Former Brown Peyton Hillis, who looked like Popeye after eating the spinach, suffered from muscle pulls.

For his part, Richardson had arthroscopic surgery to clean up a "hang-nail of loose cartilage" that was irritating his left knee. The hang nail caused him to miss much of training camp. He also was slowed by a rib injury after he returned.

The drawback to drafting running backs so high (third overall for Richardson, higher than Jim Brown by three spots) is simply that they get hurt so often. Even one with high leadership intangibles, like Richardson. Even one who looks indestructible, like Richardson.

Despite those problems, Richardson entered the bye week looking more like the runner he was projected to be than a potential flop. He has gained over 100 yards in his past two games, against San Diego and Baltimore. He had 49 carries in those two games, gaining 4.6 yards per try.

That is important. A big, pounding back like Richardson or Hillis, at least while he still cared, can act as a hammer, raining blows down until the defense cracks. Such a back would seem to be the perfect guy to move the yardage stakes on third- or fourth-down and short, although the Browns used short passes instead in the Baltimore loss.

After nine games, just over half the season, Richardson has gained 575 yards on 152 attempts -- a very pedestrian 3.8-yard average. He has five touchdowns. It is nowhere near what he did at Alabama in 2011, his final (junior) season, when he gained 1,679 yards at a superb 5.9 yards per pop and scored 21 touchdowns.

Going inside the numbers, however, Richardson, while demonstrably a very good back, did not dominate in the Crimson Tide's biggest games against LSU, the Southeastern Conference rival it faced in the BCS Championship Game. In two games against LSU, he carried 48 times for 185 yards (4.0 average). He did not have a 100-yard game against the Tigers. He got into the end zone just once. It was a big one, though, 34 yards for the only touchdown scored in Alabama's 21-0 shutout in the national championship game.

The reason the LSU games command attention is that they were the showcase games of Richardson's only 1,000-yard season. In them, he posted workmanlike numbers. For a feature back who openly courts comparisons to Jim Brown, those figures were, to use Brown's term, "ordinary."

When I talked to Brown after Richardson erupted against the Bengals in his second game for 109 yards and a highlight-film run with one of Weeden's short passes, Brown admitted he was impressed. Richardson had not shown much in a struggling opener against Philadelphia.

Coming soon, there might be more reasons to be impressed.

The bye week, with its chance to heal, cannot be a bad thing.

Some observers think Richardson pressed after missing so much preparation time before the season began and was not patient enough with his blockers. Improvement is already noticeable there.

His field vision seems better.

However, the Browns' offensive line might be more proficient at pass blocking than run blocking. The fact that Weeden has been sacked only 14 times in nine games, despite averaging more than 37 passes per game, argues that this is the case.

"The running back will make the quarterback better," Holmgren promised after the draft.

It might be the other way around. In a quarterback's league, it might all be up to Weeden. In today's NFL, a feature back, able to carry a team, might be an anachronism.

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