Maple Heights-Lake Catholic II offers Northeast Ohio's two most dynamic teams whose names don't begin with Saint and end in Edward.
View full sizeA year ago, Maple Heights' DeVonte Ransom tumbled into the end zone for the deciding points in a Div. II state semifinal victory over Lake Catholic. This year's showdown is worth far more than the price of admission, says Tim Warsinskey.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is the week. This is the game. This is what I've been waiting for since Aug. 27.
This is it: Maple Heights-Lake Catholic II. It's Northeast Ohio's two most dynamic teams whose names don't begin with Saint and end in Edward.
This is Shaq Washington versus Richie Sanders.
This is DeVonte Ransom versus, well, Richie Sanders.
The rematch of last year's memorable Division II state semifinal will be Friday in Solon's Stewart Field. Maple Heights is 13-0 and aiming to get back to the state final and finish this time, after losing to Winton Woods last year. Lake Catholic is 12-1 and has had this date circled a very long time after losing, 21-17, to Maple Heights in 2009.
What sets this game apart is the intriguing matchup of its gifted skill players and a truckload of talent in the trenches and on defense. The styles are similar and the potential for something wonderful to happen exists on every play. They're fast, disciplined and they're such a joy to watch.
Washington (5-9, 170), Ransom (5-10, 180) and Sanders (5-10, 180) share much in common.
Washington and Ransom are Maple Heights' senior backfield duo who can, and often do, score from any spot on the field. Between them, they have more than 50 TDs. Last week against Olmsted Falls, Ransom had a 50-yard run and a 78-yard kickoff return for touchdowns. He's the guy who carried Maple Heights while Washington missed three starts early in the season with a knee injury.
Ransom reminds me of Sanders. Identical in size, both make big plays out of nothing. Given what they've meant to their teams, both should receive serious consideration for Mr. Football.
Sanders is so good he turned normally pass-happy Lake Catholic into a running team, but in his case, that doesn't mean the Cougars are boring. The twin brother of state hurdles champion Jerica Sanders, Richie has sprinter's speed and is relentless even after he's hit. He has scored 31 touchdowns.
Sanders has an electricity also clearly visible in Washington.
With a bounce in his step and a confident voice, Washington has been saying since the start of last season, when virtually no one was listening, Maple Heights would win a state championship. Before this season, he committed to Cincinnati. He's scored on a lot of big plays this year, but the most impressive play I've seen him make was a 90-yard run last week in which he, incredibly, did not score (kudos to Olmsted Falls Zach Ferster for sticking with the play and making the tackle). Shaq zigged and zagged through a picket fence of defenders and twice stopped on a dime to avoid tackles.
The talent in this game goes way beyond those headline grabbers. It's the other guys who really make this a fascinating semifinal. Lake Catholic offensive and defensive tackle Chase Hounshell quite possibly is the area's best two-way lineman. Lake Catholic tackle Bobby Zappitelli and Maple Heights defensive end Claybourne Miller and center Donovan Garner are unheralded players who could have a huge impact Friday.
Lake Catholic linebacker Jimmy King and defensive backs Marty Gibbons and Tommy Michals fly to the ball. Can they keep up with Maple Heights wideouts Dana Day and Andre Stubbs, who have 74 catches and 17 TDs? The Cougars, who have allowed just 14 touchdowns in 13 games, remind me of Winton Woods, which gave up yards in big chunks, but held Maple Heights to two touchdowns in last year's state final.
If it comes down to a kick, Maple Heights is in trouble. It has made just 66 percent of its point-after attempts while Lake Catholic's Kresimir Ivkovic is 61-for-61, and has made seven field goals.
My prediction? Maple Heights 19, Lake Catholic 17.
Let the fun begin.