School's in Session

-30-

2008-12-31T01:04:00.000-08:00

If you're not used to newspaper lingo, you probably don't understand what that headline means atop this blog entry. It signifies the end of a story, and I thought it would be appropriate for my last blog entry, which you could call a going-away blog.

Tuesday night's Lorain County Holiday Classic was my last day at The Morning Journal. Next week, I will begin work with a newspaper in Southeast Pennsylvania, an hour north of Baltimore and less than two hours west of Philadelphia.

Covering the Classic was an appropriate going away for me because high school basketball is my ultimate passion between high school sports I covered at the Journal. It's weird because I played football and was only a camera guy for basketball at Oberlin, but anyone who knows me knows that's just one of the quirks that comes with me. I don't want to make this a soggy going-away commentary, so I will get into some house-cleaning opinions, but first I want to give you some final rankings from me as the boys high school basketball season begins to approach its midway point.

Yeah, it's almost here. Admiral King is 7-0, and that's where I will start:

1. Admiral King: They aren't as good as their 7-0 record, but they are head and shoulders above the competition. I don't think that will change. What's funny is this team could be better next year when comparing what they will have back (Malcolm Barnett, Anton Harris and Gary Donald) compared to other area teams. But, look at who else is here: four-year starter Chris Kimbro and three-year starter Adrian Casey, both Lorain County Mr. Basketball frontrunners. Then, role players are stepping up like Marquan Anderson with established guards Bryant Parker and Vincent Lee. This team just doesn't have a hole. Height is a weakness, but what the Admirals possess in the post is not. This team will win the Division I Midview District.

2. Vermilion: The Sailors just suffered a loss to Admiral King in the Lorain County Holiday Classic championship game, but that doesn't change their standing. Yes, they lost a West Shore Conference game to Bay, but Admiral King is the barometer. North Ridgeville, the favorite in the WSC, didn't look as good against AK like Vermilion did, pushing its lead to 10 points in the first half and just playing with a swagger and heart. Vermilion may not win the WSC, but it will beat Ridgeville at least once and make things interesting. The Sailors will also repeat in Division II as district champions in Westlake.

3. Southview: The Saints have disappointed me with losses to Warrensville and North Royalton, but North Royalton is solid. The foursome of Josh Biber, Montrell Elliott, Quincy Ezell and Quinton Ezell has gotten a lot of attention from the Journal over the years. Hype could be a good word. But, these guys have talent and it is their time. They will win 15 games and that bodes well around here.

4. North Ridgeville: Tough losses to Admiral King and Valley Forge push them behind Southview in my eyes. They have the area's best bigman in 6-foot-11 Drew McGhee and the area's best Scottie Pippen impersonator in 6-5 Keene Cockburn. The key for Ridgeville will be the use of sophomore point guard Danny Montgomery. If he gets more reigns in the Rangers' offense, the Rangers will be better off.

5. Edison: This team was overlooked at the beginning of the season. I admit it, and I want to give them some respect before I step out. They have size to go with their talent, too.

6. Perkins: I joked with someone about Sandusky at the Classic. The Blue Streaks have lost a lot of kids to Perkins, including what would have been their best basketball player in Shon Alexander. Instead, he's Perkins' best player.

7. Keystone: I was ready to put Clearview up here, but Keystone's impressive wins -- including one over Clearview -- has to push them up. Matt Herb has been playing since he was a freshman. He's undersized, but the Wildcats have solid players on the perimeter to make it work in the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division. We may have found a favorite for that division title.

8. Clearview: The Clippers will be better than Keystone by the end of the season, but you have to respect what the Wildcats did this week, beating Clearview by one at the Avon Holiday Tournament. Clearview, though, is poised for a strong run with James Washington as a senior in the post and a slew of juniors around him. Don't look ahead to next year. This is their year.

9. Amherst: John Srnis is just a perfect fit as coach at Amherst. Many coaches have had trouble with parents at that school. Please treat him well because he deserves it. Srnis has always been a great basketball mind and he seems to have found a comfort level with the Comets that he didn't have at Elyria. He will turn Amherst into a force in the Southwestern Conference. He will be the Macgyver of coaches in the area!

10. Avon Lake: The Shoremen have height, but some disappointing losses early have set them back.

tie, Norwalk: Hat's off to Steve Gray. He lost one of the area's biggest and best players in Kyle Smith, but the Truckers still have a solid team in place.

tie, New London: Tom Howell has quietly done a solid job since taking over for Dale Marschall after the program went through a "hey day," if you will, with Marschall's son Erik, now at Bowling Green. With Western Reserve down, New London has reason to believe it can retake the Firelands Conference title.

OK, I cheated a little with a three-way tie for 10th, but I felt like mentioning those teams. As for some predictions, here's a few. Chris Kimbro will be Mr. Basketball for Lorain County. Coaches can nominate only one player from their schools, and Mr. Basketball has traditionally been a guard's award. Kimbro initiates with the ball so much that it's hard to ignore him. Southview's Josh Biber and North Ridgeville's Drew McGhee will also get consideration, and I have to believe McGhee has an inside track because he has a scholarship to Miami of Ohio lined up.

As for the Journal Player of the Year, I'll go with Adrian Casey, Kimbro's teammate at Admiral King. Casey lost out to McGhee last season, Admiral King is easily the best team in the area, and Casey's double-double production has not only remained steady, but it's getting better.

Speaking of player of the year awards, I want to lobby for Miss Softball later this spring. Typically, these Lorain County awards for top senior are not split between two players, but this year it has to be a must. There's no way Elyria's Tess Sito and Keystone's Kara Dill can be separated. They're both unbelievable as pitchers, hitters and fielders. They play in the area's most productive sport, and I can't think of a season in a sport where two players were that much better than anyone else. Heck, Sito played baseball when she was younger. If the committee has to, give her Mr. Baseball and Dill Miss Softball.

It's the only fair thing to do, and if you know me, I'm all about that.

Green with envy

2008-12-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

I hear there's a possibility Elyria Catholic's football program is considering the addition of black jerseys, if the players get permission to have fundraisers. This would be nice, and I find opposition from EC traditionalists somewhat amusing.

Change is inevietable. Look at Oberlin. A majority of former students and athletes were 100 percent opposed to changing the school nickname from Indians to anything else. The reason for that change came from pressure from those outside the community -- such as Oberlin College students bringing in activists to stir change for a class project.

Changing a jersey is minor. In fact, I believe the football team uses black practice jerseys. And let's face it. Alternate jerseys have become common in sports, so it's only natural that high schools, which can make it happen, would do the same.

Entering my junior year of high school, a football coach said to me "you guys worry too much about what you look like," when there was talk of changing our home jerseys from blue to red. He was right, but pride does play a key role in high school athletics, and the jersey is a key part. When I see kids wanting to do something like change their jersey, I see school pride.

If they can make it happen by creating funds on their own -- especially at a school that requires tuition -- that is a tremendous amount of school pride. If their request to seek this endeavor is not approved by the school or shunned by alumni, then they don't deserve to have kids with this pride at their institution.

Don't forget your mouthguard

2008-12-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Think a mouthguard is overrated? Maybe you only need them for sports like football or if you're playing in the post.

Not true.

Two Friday's ago, Firelands senior guard Justin Morell lost three teeth in the Falcons' 53-52 loss at Clearview. He lost them when Clearview forward James Washington made a key block late in the fourth quarter. Morell, without hesitation, went after the loose ball after Washington's block and crashed to the floor chasing after it. So did Clearview's Kyle Baughman, whose knee crashed into the back of Morell's head and smacked it into the floor, creating a lesson for Morell and his teammates.

Firelands coach Steve Lias said mouthguards were offered before the season began. It was something they went over because a player lost a few teeth during practice last season. Morell, a first-year senior, wasn't around for that one and didn't take a mouthguard before the season.

Now, he will. And so will a few of his teammates.

Lias estimated only four players between varsity and J.V. used mouthguards before Morell's teeth came out. Now, half the players on varsity and J.V. are using them.

Every dive to the floor for Morell or any other Firelands player may not come without the thought of Morell's teeth. The hustle did earn him some glory and three new pearly whites, but at least the mouthguard will take away any hesitation -- and not the respect that comes with such hustle.

Next year's gridiron best

2008-12-13T12:39:00.001-08:00

I meant to write this sooner, but every season, and just about every sport, when all-star sections like Friday's All-Star Football Edge come out, I think about who's coming back next year. So, I'll get right to it. Here's my pre-pre-pre-preseason All-Journal Football team for 2009:

QB - Eric Schwieterman, St. Paul: He will be a senior and gets a slight nod over Elyria Catholic's Danny Reaser.
RB - Anthony Hitchens, Clearview: He will be my preseason favorite for player of the year.
RB - Mike Mansnerus, Avon Lake: With the second half he had and Christian Pace back to anchor the offensive line, who can stop the Shoremen?
WR - Josh Russ, Elyria Catholic: If Reaser can't make this team, Russ definitely will. By the way, Danny Accordi would be just as good of a selection.
WR
TE - Dan Schneider, Avon Lake: I smell a deep playoff run for Avon Lake, and a lot of big plays for Schneider, who I think may be the most underrated player in the area next season. He will tie things together for Avon Lake with his run blocking and ability to stretch the defense with his pass catching, something the Shoremen will desperately need.
OL - Christian Pace, Avon Lake: He, along with Joe Coyne, were the two guys I wish I could have gotten on the first team this year. Pace is a lock!
OL - Jared Schuster, Elyria Catholic: The offense will work because of this anchor.
OL -Isaiah Byler, Elyria: Injuries really hurt Byler this year.
OL - Kyle Cory, Edison: The Chargers are my early pick to win the Sandusky Bay Conference.
OL - Greg Knapp, Wellington: Having him back on the line will be big for the Dukes.

DL - Josh Pierce, Avon: Next season, the Eagles' defense will be their focal point -- just like it was in the playoffs.
DL - Eddie Wimbley, Sandusky: He could lead the area in sacks. I believe he's Francis X. Bova's favorite player.
DL - Dakota Schwann, Monroeville: The Eagles have to bounce back, right? Having him and Carl Black returing in the interior is reason to believe so.
DL - Tony Petrosky, Midview: Bill Albright got some great play from Petrosky this year as a sophomore. Knowing how good Midview's program is, you can bet Petrosky will be a beast.
LB - Jake Niece, Firelands: As you can probably tell by the recognition we've given him the last two years, I dig the way he plays linebacker. But, you got to love the way he's been playing since he was thrown into the fire at Firelands as a freshman when things were bleak.
LB - Austen Gray, Wellington: When a Wellington player is left off the first and second team for football, I feel bad. Even at 4-6. Gray should be a lock next season.
LB - Anthony Hitchens, Clearview: We don't put guys down twice, but I really thought Hitchens would get that this season until we decided not to do so. He's even better as a linebacker than a running back.
LB - Jaron Hicks, Oberlin: The Phoenix should improve yet again next season, and Hicks is a big reason why.
DB - Dan Tracht, St. Paul: Expect the Flyers to keep, well, flying. They keep plugging guys in, but Tracht will have been a three-year presence.
DB - Jake Neuschaefer, Elyria: He will be a junior next season and a reason for optimism at Elyria with its underclassmen.
DB - Zach Rogers, Elyria Catholic: Rogers played excellent this season. You will hear his name more.

K - Ryan Galik, Avon: He will be a senior and was a contender to make a team this year. Collin Owens is another top kicker next season. Owens stepped in for Lucas Wright at Clearview when the Clippers beat up on Brookside. Owens looked like a better kicker that night.
KR - Tony Williams, Clearview: In junior high, he was the one name I kept hearing among what will be the 2009 season's senior class.

There you have it. As for a player of the year ranking, how about this: 1) Hitchens, 2) Schwieterman, 3) Mansnerus, 4) Reaser, 5) Running back Josiah Holt of Midview.

O'Rourke takes Golden Helmet

2008-12-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

Avon can celebrate. Ryan O'Rourke is the Golden Helmet winner, which goes to Lorain County's top senior, and Matt Kiessling is this year's Lombardi winner, for top defensive lineman.

Coming Friday, he will be The Morning Journal's Football Player of the Year in the All-Star Football Edge, our last Edge of the year.

O'Rourke was a pretty simple choice for the Golden Helmet and the Journal award. He didn't throw an interception until his team's regional final loss 13 games into the season. Ask any coach, and a stat like that is unheard of. He broke practically every passing record at Avon and a few for the county.

Opening-night thoughts

2008-12-06T09:49:00.001-08:00

Opening night in high school basketball had a little bit of everything. First, blowouts. Second, a nice closely-contested game between Firelands and Keystone.

The Firelands victory was no surprise. Notice, despite a 2-19 finish last season, they were given a considerable boost in our preseason rankings. The reason is simple: There's considerable talent back for the Falcons, and they should mesh much better with coach Steve Lias, who has known them for years.

As for the blowouts, that's customary early in the season. Amherst's victory was not surprising. I went into the game expecting an extremely raw performance from Oberlin, although through the first quarter, in a close game, I thought Oberlin would win. The Comets looked polished. Will they have enough to compete and win in the Southwestern Conference? Yes, but my preseason pick is Avon Lake. The Shoremen have too much height with Mark Homenik and Mike Herrilko.

The Clearview-Vermilion game, which Vermilion won handily, was quite interesting. The reason for the blowout may be the difference between Division II and Division III programs. Clearview has talent, but Vermilion has numbers -- particularly with post players who move well. I have yet to look at the box score, but I'd assume James Washington was outnumbered inside by Derek Hoebing, Derek Barbato, Tim Clark ... you get the picture.

I spoke with New London coach Tom Howell last night after his team's 59-57 win over Edison. I expect both teams to be strong this season and at least get to the district semifinals this season. In the Firelands Conference, Western is down -- at least when it comes to coach Chris Sheldon's expectations -- so I wonder how much of a door that opens for New London to retake a conference championship or St. Paul to emerge? The first New London-St. Paul game ought to be quite interesting.

Boys hoops season hits climax

2008-12-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

Every sport -- basketball in particular -- seems to go in spurts. That's usually because every once in awhile, a class has a considerable number of athletes playing varsity by their freshman or sophomore years.

This trend is usually more common for programs than overall sports, but it's been commonplace in boys basketball.

Consider this season a climax season for boys basketball. Look at Admiral King and Southview, for example. The majority of both lineups will have seniors who've been playing for three or four years. Vermilion has an excellent senior class returning from last season's regional run and Clearview -- although it has mostly juniors -- will be a different team next year when post standout James Washington graduates.

A lot of programs are hitting the end of strong runs, talent wise, with graduating seniors. Because of that, boys basketball as a whole, in a sense, is hitting the end of a run. That may not be a good run, but consider two Lorain County boys teams making regionals last season a big step up. I expect that step up to continue this season, but take a big step down next season.

So, go out and enjoy some high school basketball games. The regular season starts Friday and OHSAA Foundation (scrimmage) games are going on now. EC and North Ridgeville will play a good one Tuesday night.

Consider this year's senior class much like the Class of 2004 that featured Jordan Beard, Brett Bartlett and Chad Szalay. Go out and watch players like Clearview's Washington, Oberlin's Morgan Jones, Southview's Fearsome Foursome or Admiral King's Chris Kimbro and Adrian Casey.

Enjoy it. Next year, they will be gone. And so will some good basketball.

Basketball preview hits news stands Tuesday

2008-11-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, basketball season has arrived. Our annual high school preview will be released Tuesday.

There are a few things different with this year's preview, which I want to address; two in particular:

1) Teams will be organized by Division. With all the conferences these days -- 10, plus independents, for the 29 area teams -- we decided to change the format and organize teams by the four Divisions. This is more of a direct shot at the schools, if I can be critical, because there's just way too many conferences and not enough local teams.

This year, we tie the Divisions together with a road to regionals theme. If you know me, you know I put an emphasis on conference play with many stories -- particularly in the preview. This year, it's more about how teams stack up in their postseason district. If the schools get their act together and consolidate league affiliations, we'll go back. Unless that happens, I hope everyone likes this new format. It beats having only two or three area teams grouped together because they play so many out-of-area schools.

2) Wrestling is absent from this preview. It's strictly a basketball preview. Mathematics worked in this, too, and I don't want wrestling to get pushed to the back of this special section as it usually is. The section, for the last two years, has been broken into two parts. It makes sense for those two parts to be boys and girls basketball.

Now, if you like wrestling -- and wrestling around here is as good as it gets -- keep an eye out for the daily sports section later this week. We will run a series of previews, starting with Division I on Thanksgiving, Division II Friday and Division III Saturday. I hope everyone who follows wrestling will enjoy this. More information can be included, and it can be presented in cleaner format; not being crammed with basketball.

What next for Avon?

2008-11-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

This year's Avon football team was built for a run with all the seniors it had at key positions. Now, where do the Eagles go next year?

They will have to replace their quarterback, running back, receivers, key linemen, among others. We could in fact see a team that better resembles the one we saw in three playoff games: a stout defense that can move the ball just enough to win games. Offensively, fullback Zak Wearsch could become a key feature back, and the defense looks like it has potential: especially up front.

In the West Shore Conference, Midview would be my early pick, but you have to wonder if this gives the Eagles' program momentum with the way Avon is growing.

Gyms starting to heat up

2008-11-06T21:03:00.001-08:00

November is my favorite month. Yes, it's my birthday, but the best present of all is having football and basketball playing at the same time.

This year could be one of those years football carries over into basketball season. Remember teams having to postpone their schedules because the football teams did so well in the playoffs? I'm sure Avon does, and the Eagles will likely be doing it for the first time since 1996. The '96 Eagles were so good in football, their boys basketball team picture wasn't even taken in time for the annual previews.

I'll let that be my judgment in whether the '08 Eagles are better than the '96 Eagles.

As for everyone else, it's business as usual. For a few, like North Ridgeville, Admiral King and Southview, it's business on high alert. All three teams have a ton of talent and experience back, and if they're going to make a big run at conference or postseason championships, this is their year.

Basketball seems to run in spurts with successful teams, and I think this is the end of a spurt. Last year, Elyria and Vermilion ended a long drought of big schools getting to regionals. This year, the Division I and II schools have a good chance of doing it again.

More basketball will consume my mind and many others' minds as November draws on. Until then, it's a good time to know what's coming, but, more importantly, enjoy the football runs of Avon and Norwalk St. Paul.

Dill epitome of area's softball greatness

2008-11-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, I said greatness in the headline. It's a word that shouldn't be thrown around loosely, and I don't think I've ever refered to something as great in a story or column.

But, when it comes to softball in this area, greatness is synonymous with the sport. A question Tim Alcorn brought up Monday night on a WEOL broadcast was the state of Lorain County football, and why it’s not on par with other areas in Ohio. That question could be asked in many area sports, but not softball.

In softball, Lorain County – and the Canton-Akron area – is where the talent lives. Keystone’s Kara Dill is the epitome of great softball.

She’s about to sign with Kentucky next week, adding herself to the long list of Division I college softball players from the county that keeps growing. The ironic thing is Dill isn’t just a pitcher, which is the draw about softball. Dill is a better middle infielder and hitter, two aspects that don’t get the same love as pitching.

So, congratulations go out to Dill and adding herself to the list of greatness that is Lorain County softball. And, the next time wonder about the state of Lorain County in football and basketball, allow it to produce a greater appreciation for softball – a sport the area can pound its collective chest about.

What we learned Friday

2008-11-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Lorain County football is up, but it still has a long way to go. For the first time in a long time, Lorain County was better than Erie and Huron counties -- a comparison many at the Journal draw upon. What does that really mean? Not much.

After reading a few discussion boards and sitting back and soaking in Friday's night's regional quarterfinal games, it's obvious strength of schedule is part of the problem. But, that strength of schedule also comes from within.

By that, I mean all teams need to improve, and not just the top-tier teams with their schedules. They can only do so much.

Take Avon, which plays Defiance Saturday night, for example. If the Eagles win, you can look at their Week 1 game at Aurora and say you saw then this team had the poise to win in the playoffs. If they lose, you can look at their West Shore Conference schedule, in which they scored more than 40 points every game, and say that conference was a detriment to their chances.

Schools like Ottawa-Glandorf, which beat up on Clearview Friday, don't just go out and schedule the best competition for the first three weeks. Their competition within the conference, from the teams they know and see every year, is strong.

In the office, we had this discussion one time with schools around Lima and basketball. In areas like that, the kids just seem to be more dedicated to the sport. I'd argue it's the more rural areas, or perhaps less distractions. Another is stability.

Avon Lake is the class of the area, and Dave Dlugosz has been there for a few decades. St. Paul makes the playoffs consistently, as does Huron. Both of their coaches have long-standing tenures. Amherst, which has a strong program, has gone through three coaches this decade. Avon is on its third coach since the last time it went 10-0 12 years ago.

The coaching situations aren't neccessarily the fault of the coaches. Take Clearview, for example. The Clippers' last two coaches, Matt Wilson and Mike Collier, have taken their teams to the playoffs. But, the Clippers went through three other coaches after Tom Hoch died in 1997 and before Wilson became coach.

The inconsistency isn't the coaches' faults. It sure isn't the athletes' faults, and believe me, they're just as talented as the kids in Lima or at Ottawa-Glandorf. The fault is with the administration. Oberlin's fall to multiple winless seasons came because a school board member wanted a new coach, and that set the program back by what seemed like light years before Dave McFarland took over.

Many of these coaching changes have come because of agendas with school board members. Look how much better Admiral King has been in the last three years -- it's because Mark Campo has been able to stay. Let the athletic directors do their jobs and oversee the athletic programs. If other administrators worry about what they need to -- which is putting their school systems in a position to succeed academically -- then athletics will take care of themselves.

This year is different

2008-10-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

I always find myself ready for basketball season once Week 10 of high school football conlcludes. That is not the case this year.

We have six area teams -- Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Huron and St. Paul -- in the football playoffs. All six could win this weekend, although I think Huron has the toughest chore at undefeated Genoa Area. Then again, I'd never bet against a Tony Legando-coached team.

I could argue back and forth with myself on this forever.

The point is football playoffs are actually more exciting than the prospects of basketball season this year. The reason being the chances area teams have, and that's saying something with considerable talent returning to the basketball court in Lorain County.

Like I've said, St. Paul, Avon and Clearview could make considerable runs (in that order). I'm confident Avon Lake will win a slugfest Friday night at Medina Highland. I will be there and can't wait for that one.

As for Amherst and Huron, I'm 50-50. I just get this feeling the last two weeks have taken too much out of the Comets, but the defense isn't going down without the fight. If Amherst loses at Twinsburg, it will be something like 14-13. But, if you put me to it and say "MAKE A PICK GOUL!" then I'm going with Amherst, 27-18.

On a side note, rumor has it Amherst is changing helmets next year. The yellow helmet will be replaced with a green one. Although, it sounds unlikely that Comet with the face, reminiscent of Meat Wad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, will make a return.

Playoff outlook

2008-10-24T23:48:00.001-07:00

Well, here we are. After all that, Amherst still gets into the playoffs -- which is more than deserved after the Comets' start and overcoming an ankle injury to Brandon Kish.

As I look over the playoff projections on JoeEitel.com, I wonder a few things. Here they are:

* If Amherst and Admiral King had swapped schedules, would King be in and Amherst be out? After seeing the two teams play a half of football in August, the Admirals looked like the better team. I will grant you Amherst's defense is much better than then, but Admiral King's big offense would still be too much for the Comets to handle.

* How about this matchup: Huron wins its first-round game, as a fifth seed, and plays Clearview in the second round. I'm hoping for this matchup. For the Journal's sake, matchups between eastern coverage area schools and western area schools are great. Plus, Dan Gilles, a former Journal reporter who recently became the Sandusky Register's sports editor, made a recent claim that sports, teams, whatever, are superior in Erie and Huron counties. A Clearview-Huron matchup would do wonders in making Gilles back his words.

* Avon Lake at Highland should be awesome. Highland has one of its best teams ever, while Avon Lake is on some kind of high the way it's been playing since the Brecksville loss (by the way, I got a kick out of the Avon Lake bias comments I read on MorningJournal.com from a few Amherst fans).

* Home games! Avon, Clearview and St. Paul will be at home. At the Oberlin-Wellington game Friday night, I was asked if this is a down year for teams making the playoffs. It's quite the opposite. I think this might be one of the best playoff years in recent memory. The difference is having area teams playing at home. Think about recent playoff teams. Other than Avon Lake, most had to play on the road in the opening round. Clearview and Midview had to travel to places like Defiance and Macedonia in recent years. Elyria Catholic had to go to Coldwater back in 2005, while Elyria had to play at Toledo. Three area teams, including TWO in Lorain County, playing at home in the first round is big.

It should be fun, and I'd like to make a few quick predictions. St. Paul will win state. Not to put any pressure on the Flyers, but I'm that impressed with the way they play. Watching them is like playing NCAA Football 09 with the difficulty set to J.V. Also, don't be surprised if Clearview makes a deep run. The Clippers could go 9-1 or 10-0 again next year, but this is the team built for a tournament run. They can stretch teams with the pass and have hard-nosed leaders on defense.

Ready for a long postseason?

2008-10-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

If anything has been missing the last few years, it's a long playoff run from any team not named Norwalk St. Paul.

The Flyers have made a habit of producing in the playoffs, and that should continue this season the way things are going. But, what about everyone else? There should be a steady diet of area teams in the playoffs, and not just that, but many of them are looking at first-round home games.

Avon will be at home, as will Clearview. The winner of the Amherst-Avon Lake game may play at home in the first round. Typically, when area teams make the playoffs, specifically anyone other than Avon Lake or St. Paul, these teams have needed to win their first game on the road.

That won't be the case this year.

I read a discussion board topic the other day asking if Clearview is for real and if it will be able to do anything in the playoffs. I say yes, and the reason the why is the defense. This defense has speed and is aggressive. The Clippers won their big games, against Vermilion, Buckeye and Lutheran West, with defense. They can create turnovers and control the tempo of the game, which will be critical after Week 10.

With this reasoning, don't be surprised if Clearview lasts the longest among Lorain County teams in the playoffs. No one may be able to match what St. Paul can do in Division VI, but that's another topic for another time.

Be sure to thank Matt Wilson and the Braves

2008-10-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Amherst-Avon Lake rivalry hasn't had so much riding on it in the last few years. Not since both teams made the playoffs in 2004, when Avon Lake handed Amherst both of its losses, have these two teams played with the Southwestern Conference title on the line.

But, it's still not the same.

The reason I say this is Brecksville. If it wasn't for former Clearview coach Matt Wilson and his Berea Braves' upset of the Bees on their homecoming night, this game would mean nothing when it comes to the SWC title. Brecksville beat both Amherst and Avon Lake this season, giving the Bees a moral tiebreaker with the winner of next week's Amherst-Avon Lake game, when the two teams will likely share the SWC title.

Even if Brecksville would have beat Berea this season, Amherst vs. Avon Lake would still have great significance. It's still what I would argue is the more important aspect of this game, which is playoff standing. Avon Lake is playing for a chance at a first-round home game. Amherst is playing just to make sure it doesn't get shut out of the playoffs -- and a second loss would likely spell the end of the Comets' chances to make the Division I playoffs.

So, Friday night, a lot will be on the line when Amherst visits Avon Lake. Most importantly, playoff implications. But, the winner of this game ought to send a nice gift and a big thank you to Berea if it plans to celebrate sharing the SWC title with a team that beat it this season.

Good-bye to a friend

2008-10-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

If you weren't at George Daniel Field last Friday or read Tuesday's page 2 of The Morning Journal sports section, then you probably don't know 14-year sports reporter Dan Gilles is leaving to become sports editor at The Sandusky Register (I'm unsure if the "The" is capitalized, but Gilles claims it is).

As I'm writing this, Gilles is going through some papers, taking some handshakes from co-workers and finishing up his last night at the Journal.

Gilles' departure is especially a big blow to the Lorain County wrestling community, but a definite boost for anyone who loves their wrestling coverage around Sandusky. Gilles has been a hard-nosed worker since I met him back in August 2000. We'll definitely miss him around here, especially after everyone has left and there is Gilles typing up the high school football scorebook and updating standings.

When almost everyone -- coaches, players and fans -- is asleep, resting up for their next day at school or on the job, Gilles was hard at work, trying to produce something they'd enjoy.

Can Comets survive final two weeks?

2008-10-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

So, it comes down to this.

Brecksville and Avon Lake.

The two teams trailing Amherst by a game in the Southwestern Conference standings play the Comets in the final two weeks. First, Amherst gets Brecksville at home and then Avon Lake on the road.

Can they win both? Sure. Can they lose both? Yeah. Anything can happen in these final two weeks of the regular season.

A few weeks ago, I would have predicted a loss to Brecksville and a win against Avon Lake. Now, I'm not so sure about that; not with the way Avon Lake has been running the football with Mike Mansnerus getting most of the carries.

I'll leave my predictions at this: Avon Lake wins out. As for the Amherst-Brecksville game, my opinion will change all the way up to Friday.

Eye-opening numbers

2008-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

A quick glance at the area passing leaders shows something quite interesting.

Yeah, Ryan O'Rourke is up there with 1,338 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and no interceptions -- yes, NO interceptions -- but someone else is up there, too. He has thrown a few picks, which is to be expected from a sophomore, but Elyria Catholic's Danny Reaser has matched O'Rourke's passing yards through seven weeks.

What makes this impressive is Reaser wasn't even the clear-cut starter at the beginning of the season. Still, Reaser has 1,340 yards passing and 11 touchdowns.

Why do I bring this up? Well, we're getting to a point in the season where some teams have their eyes on Week 11. Others might as well have their eyes on Week 1 of 2009. EC, with its recent losses in the stiff North Coast League, has become one of those teams that has to look ahead past Week 11.

And, if you look ahead, things look good. Not only will Reaser be back as a junior, but leading rusher Alex Alicea, key linemen like Jared Schuster and receivers like Josh Russ will be back. The biggest loss will likely be linebacker Zach Drews, but Drews missed the first few games because of injury. The Panthers showed then they could win without the preseason All-Journal selection, although the schedule has gotten much tougher.

Next year, the Panthers should be the reason those teams have a tough schedule. In fact, it's reasonable to believe they'll be a preseson No. 1.

Lackluster week?

2008-10-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

Usually, by this time of the year, we're talking about the conference title and playoff implications of big games. I don't see that this week -- at least in Lorain County.
Now, don't get me wrong: this week's games have playoff implications, but it's not like any of them are going to decide a conference title.
When Amherst and Brecksville play, of course, that will change. But, Avon already has the West Shore Conference in hand, while Admiral King is on the outside looking in for the Lake Erie League Erie Division title.
The two most intriguing games this week in Lorain County are Lutheran West at Oberlin and North Ridgeville at Vermilion.
If Oberlin wins, next week's Clearview-Oberlin game will be huge. North Ridgeville-Vermilion is interesting just because it's two strong defenses and will likely determine who's second in the WSC. Although, North Ridgeville still has a say in the matter.
Out west, in Erie and Huron counties, it's the exact opposite, though.
St. Paul-Western Reserve will decide the Firelands Conference, while Perkins puts its unbeaten Sandusky Bay Conference record on the line at Huron. Perkins has yet to play Clyde, also unbeaten in the SBC with a win over Huron, which makes this week very interesting.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Lorain County guy, but this week definitely takes a bow to Erie and Huron counties on Friday night.

No Kish, don't panic

2008-10-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

Don't feel sorry for Amherst now that it will play without Brandon Kish for the rest of the season. Feel sorry for Kish himself.
The Comets have plenty of pieces to take on the personnel loss. They can play on without him. Kish can't.
For the second straight year, a leg injury has spelled the demise of Kish's season. Last year, it was a hamstring injury. This year, it's a broken bone around his ankle. That's the first broken bone of his career, which means the injuries are unrelated. Fortunately for Kish, he already committed to Ball State before the season.
The question for Amherst is can it withstand the loss? I think so. The Comets match up better against Brecksville, which was a frontrunner for the Southwestern Conference title before a loss last week to Berea. Coincidentally, Amherst plays the same Berea team Friday night.
That will go a long way in telling how the Comets will fare.

Eagles in a class of their own

2008-09-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

As I watched Avon dismantle Vermilion Friday night, I thought to myself, "Was this believable before the season started?" It was realistic to expect Avon to win the West Shore Conference and have a banner season. I don't think anyone expected was a team that could be put in the class of its 1996 team that went undefeated.

If you remember that team, the '96 Eagles won with Zach Mitchell and Tim Nelson running the football, a stout defense, and sophomore Christian Wimmer as the quarterback.

This year's team is much different in that the quarterback is a senior, and the team revolves around his play -- vs. a young quarterback being cushioned by veterans around him. Either way, it's an exciting time in Avon. I stand by my prediction that would have Vermilion second in the WSC. Sure, the Sailors have some tough games with Rocky River and North Ridgeville left, but I'm believing Avon is 41-18 better than the rest of the WSC.

Here's some conference-by-conference items I'll be thinking about Saturday morning:

SWC: I still can't believe I heard on the radio Berea shut out Brecksville. I'll have to see that one in print. Brecksville's loss and an apparent injury to Brandon Kish has me thinking Avon Lake looks like a good pick to win the Southwestern Conference again. If Kish is out for a long period of time, I think Amherst can get to the Avon Lake game without him. But, they won't have much of a chance against a smart defense that won't falter by keying on Kish and allowing Brandon Morgan speed by them the other way on a misdirection run.

LEL: Shaw's win over Admiral King was no surprise, but the magnitude of the beating was eye opening. I'll be interested to see where the Admirals fall in the computer ratings. Even if they win out, it's going to be tough for them to make it. I fear their non-conference schedule is just too light. They needed this one.

PAC: Oberlin has guaranteed itself of not having a losing season for the first time since 1997. Next up is Brooklyn and a chance at a 6-1 start, the first of its kind at Oberlin since defensive coordinator Jehu Anderson was a senior there. Then, Oberlin has Lutheran West, which plays Clearview in a Stripes Division showdown next week. If Lutheran West and Oberlin win, it will be ironic. The last time Oberlin was 6-1, it played for the Lorain County Conference title against Wellington in Week 8.

NOC: Another tough loss for Elyria, but last week's defeat to Parma has me thinking 1-9 - or 2-8 if Elyria can beat Lakewood - is that team's fate.

NCL: Like Admiral King, losses like Friday's are going to cost Elyria Catholic a shot at the playoffs.

SBC: Huron vs. Clyde looked to be the difference maker in the Sandusky Bay Conference. With Clyde's win, the Fliers look to have a hold on the conference like Avon does with the WSC.

FC: St. Paul plays Saturday, and I doubt the Flyers will lose before the playoffs, but The Swami said it's time to take New London seriously. With the seniors and experience New London had back, I expected a breakout season. Still, I would be surprised if New London won more than twice in the last four weeks.

NOL: Every week Bellevue shows there's reason to believe it's back.

Shoremen make SportsCenter

2008-09-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Mansnerus' halfback pass to Kevin Morisette made No. 6 on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays Thursday night.
In case you missed the highlight or the game, Avon Lake beat Olmsted Falls, 34-7. Mansnerus, a lefty, rolled to his left on the pitch and hit Morisette for a deep touchdown pass. The win was big enough for Avon Lake, overcoming an 11-6 loss last weeek at Brecksville. Add the highlight getting a push nationally, this could give Avon Lake quite a boost for the second half of the season.

Midseason is here

2008-09-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

If I didn't have to stay in the office Friday night (the Journal is implementing a new system, and I must help ease the transition), I'm sure I would hear WEOL's Tim Alcorn mention how he can't believe we're coming to the midway point of the season.

Each year, he says it and I know a lot of people are thinking it.

So, with the midway point upon us after Friday night's games, what will the second half have in store for the area?

I'm sticking by a few of my predictions, like Vermilion winning five or six of its last seven games and the Southwestern Conference prediction that I rattled off last week.

There are a few surprises:
- I'm still in shock Wellington is 0-4. Like Vermilion, this is another team capable of turning its season around. The Dukes' fate will depend on their psyche after some tough losses in the fourth quarter.
- Edison and Western Reserve are 3-1. Maybe this was lack of respect on my part, but I didn't think either would be much better than 5-5 or 6-4. They're both looking like they'll win at least seven.
- Monroeville is also 0-4, but then again, the Eagles have been plagued by injuries.
- Avon Lake lost two games in the first four weeks. I still scratch my eyes at this because the Shoremen still have what any team would dream to possess -- uncanny talent up front.
- Anthony Harrison has back-to-back 200-plus yard performances. I know he's good, but I wouldn't have thought Admiral King's offense would allow a back to get enough carries to reach that point. Then again, Harrison is averaging about 10 yards per carry.

Sportsmanship starts with the pros

2008-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

As I'm watching the Monday Night Football game between Dallas and Philadelphia, I notice Terrell Owens flapping his arms, immitating the Eagles' dance that he once flaunted so frequently.
Obviously, this is Owens at his finest. The sad part of it is the pros are there for everyone to see, making what guys like Owens do a direct impact the kids who watch them.
Now, don't let me have you think Owens' actions are going to make a high school senior replicate him.
A seventh- or eighth-grade football player may, though.
That's what makes the flaunting and showboating bad. Personally, I don't mind it, but seeing Owens flap his arms Monday night got me thinking about the impact it could have on that seventh grader.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association goes out of its way to promote sportsmanship, requiring public address announcers to read its message before games, and by other avenues.
That could get lost when someone flaps his arms like an eagle this week during his team's seventh-grade football game.

SWC race already intriguing

2008-09-13T09:12:00.001-07:00

I get that feeling we're going to see a Southwestern Conference race similar to the last few times Avon Lake wasn't the sole champion. You remember, like two years ago when Brecksville emerged with Olmsted Falls closely behind.
If you remember the last time before that, the 2000 season and around that time -- when the SWC had three-way shares for the conference title between Amherst, Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls -- then you really know what I'm talking about.
Avon Lake already has a loss to Brecksville, but Amherst looks poised and Olmsted Falls could bounce back to be a player with the Comets, Bees and Shoremen.
Who do I like? Amherst, naturally, with what I see as the conference's best and most balanced offense, plus a defense that has shown it has arrived in the last two weeks.
But, here's my prediction and reason why I think the SWC is so intriguing:
It starts Thursday at Avon Lake. My pick is Avon Lake beats Olmsted Falls in overtime, 20-14, on the FSN Ohio showdown.
With that loss, Olmsted Falls falls to 1-4, but then goes on to win its last five games, including a home win over Brecksville.
Brecksville will suffer just one loss, that one at Olmsted Falls, but beat Amherst for its only loss.
In Week 10, a 5-1 Amherst will meet a 5-1 Avon Lake for a chance to share the SWC with Brecksville. In that game, Amherst wins and shares the SWC with Brecksville at 6-1. Falls and Avon Lake end up at 5-2.
There you have it; my prediction. It's something I thought about last night while driving home and wanted to share.

Hoebing back at tight end, still like Sailors' chances

2008-09-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

Friday night, Derek Hoebing put on the jersey he wanted to be wearing all along: No. 89.
For the first two games of the season, he was wearing No. 65, his old jersey from his freshman season when he played on the offensive line. That was his job once again for the first two games this season, but the return of left guard Logan Wright allowed Hoebing to return to tight end.
The Sailors still lost to Amherst, 28-7, their offense sputtered despite Hoebing's return to the position he will play next year at Michigan State, and they're 0-3.
It couldn't get any more disappointing at Vermilion, right?
Not so fast.
Like coach Frank Horvath said after the loss, Vermilion's opponents are a combined 8-0. In fact, all three teams Vermilion lost to in non-conference play could be undefeated next week if Huron beats St. Paul Saturday in a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 in The Morning Journal Power Poll.
Let's see. On top of Huron, which was No. 2 this week, I voted Amherst No. 1 and Clearview will be in the top five after this week.
That's a pretty brutal schedule for this area's standards.
Before the season, I thought Vermilion would finish 6-1 or 5-2 in the conference and go 1-2 in non-conference.
Guess what Vermilion? I'm sticking by my conference prediction: The Sailors will go 6-1 in the West Shore Conference. At worst, they'll be 5-2.
The offense struggled mightily against Amherst, which has a defense that looked lack-luster in the first two games. In Week 3, it was more of Amherst's defense showing up than Vermilion's offense not showing up. Granted, they didn't look good, but there's still plenty of talent on that team to support a defense that is in the upper echelon of the WSC.
I thought to myself, "maybe they need to just go with one quarterback. Platooning Tim Clark and Mike Virgin is too predictable."
With Clark, teams know Vermilion will pass. With Virgin, the Sailors are more apt to running.
Then again, it worked for Ohio State with Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson one year. Plus, Horvath knows much more about his guys than me or any other run-of-the-mill observer.
The bottom line is the WSC schedule is here, and that bodes well for a Vermilion team that had the toughest non-conference schedule in that conference. Yes, even tougher than Midview's lineup of Warrensville Heights, Amherst and Buckeye.
Because of that, I stick by my prediction. Vermilion will still win six games. Avon's looking like the class of the conference, but Vermilion has been conditioned the best by what its faced.
The realist in me says five, but I'm sticking with six. And I'll argue with anyone on that.

Clearview's Iron Man

2008-09-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Clearview junior Anthony Hitchens was among the Week 2 nominees for the Army Iron Man Award, which honors Ohio's best two-way high school football players.
Hitchens had 197 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 18 carries in Clearview's 34-12 win over Vermilion. He also returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown from his linebacking spot.
The performance was an eye-opening one.
Everyone already knew about Hitchens' ability as a running back. His play as a linebacker has gotten less notoriety (I plead guilty on that one), but after his play last week, I'm ready to argue he's as good, if not better, as a linebacker. Numerous times, Clearview coach Mike Collier gave Hitchens the green light to blitz, and Hitchens was in the Vermilion backfield causing havoc all game long. It didn't matter if Vermilion had dropback passer Tim Clark or the more mobile Mike Virgin taking snaps. Hitchens was in both of their faces.
As for the interception, he was in the right place at the right time. Hitchens sat in zone coverage when he pulled in the interception, but he weaved and dodged would-be tacklers on his way back to the end zone.
On offense, he already knows he's getting the ball. But, on the interception, he had to react quickly. It showed just how good he is and, maybe more importantly, how much he's improved since his freshman year.

Who's No. 1?

2008-08-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

Now that Avon Lake has lost a game early in the season, I can't help but think how The Morning Journal power poll will shake out. Should Avon Lake remain No. 1? I would still pick the Shoremen over any other area team in a head-to-head matchup, but I also think someone else deserves to move up to No. 1. The question is who?

St. Paul may be my choice when I file my vote in our rankings. The Flyers looked great against St. Mary and performed against playoff contender Tiffin Calvert. Granted, the Flyers are Division VI.

If you factor current ranking and size, you could argue Avon should make the jump to No. 1. But, after an impressive victory over Midview and my opinion they are the team best equipped to beat Avon Lake, my vote would have to go to the Amherst Comets. Then again, Admiral King looked to be the better team in its scrimmage with Amherst.

See where this is going?

It really doesn't matter who's No. 1. In actuality, it doesn't matter who's No. 1 in the poll by the end of the season (Avon Lake was No. 1 last year, but St. Paul went deeper than anyone in the playoffs). What is great, though, is the talking points the poll creates, and this upcoming poll should create more debating than any we've had in awhile.

That gets me excited.

Wow, what was that?

2008-08-30T00:18:00.000-07:00

That blur at Clearview High School Friday night was Anthony Hitchens. See it? Then, it went by again. Again, it was Hitchens. Then ... again ... this time, it was James Washington.
The Clippers got the ball to their skill guys, mainly Hitchens and Washington, which is where Vermilion was no match. What's left for Clearview? A schedule in the Patriot Athletic Conference that favors the Clippers and should build to a playoff appearance; a home playoff game at that.
Meanwhile, it's an awfully tough start for Vermilion.
The Sailors already had Huron in Week 1 and have Amherst next week. Clearview looked to be the most winable on paper, but the Clippers showed that paper is tougher to rip than a thick phone book. The good news for Vermilion is, with the exception of Avon, the Sailors may not have a West Shore Conference game tougher than these first three.

Don't be surprised if ...

2008-08-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

... Wellington comes out and smacks Avon in the face Friday night.
On the morning of Week 2 of the high school football season, I opened up the paper and saw an overwhelming number of sportswriters picking Avon to beat Wellington. Our competition had Avon an 11-0 favorite, and the Journal's Sideline Swami predicted the Eagles to win as well.
Well, the Dukes have had their ups and downs with Norwayne to open the season. That didn't surprise me. I also picked Avon to beat Wellington this week, which I'm not wavering from. But, I want to make clear Wellington isn't a team that should be a huge underdog to anyone.
Avon is that good, so here's my prediction for a Wellington team not getting much love this week: The Dukes fall to 0-2, but win seven of their last eight games. They'll win the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division, which is a change from my original pick of Black River, and I'll also go on record saying this game against Avon will decide whether or not Wellington can make the playoffs.

Vermilion pass rush will be key

2008-08-28T15:25:00.001-07:00

If you're still trying to figure out what high school game to attend Friday -- that is if you don't have your own school -- one game stands out: Vermilion at Clearview.
Both teams are title contenders in Lorain County's two most-local conferences, Vermilion in the West Shore and Clearview in the PAC Stripes.
What makes this game so intriguing is Vermilion has controlled the series, yet the Clippers are poised. What I'm most interested in seeing is Vermilion's pass rush against one of the area's most explosive offenses. To be honest, watching the Vermilion offense vs. the Clearview defense could be a yawn fest -- although I'll give the edge to Vermilion's offense, which could be the difference maker.
Keeping the Sailors out of the Clearview backfield will be priority No. 1 if the Clippers have any chance of winning this game. Talent-wise, it's not even close. Clearview is the better team and has been for awhile. Vermilion, though, wins these football games and it's because of what the Sailors have up front. If Derek Hoebing, Derek Barbato, Justin Turner and the rest of that front seven gets to Clippers QB Zach Anderson, Vermilion will win.
If not, I can't think of anyone who could contain James Washington or Jordan Celestino.

Stacey to be 'interim' coach

2008-08-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

The players get what they want. Al Stacey will be Admiral King's boys basketball coach for the 2008-09 season.
Stacey will be an interim coach for the upcoming season, replacing Michael Scott, who left to become the assistant principal at Southview.
Stacey's experience speaks for itself. He had been Scott's most-trusted assistant since he took the Admirals job in 2003. Before that, Stacey was with Scott and Lorain Schools Athletic Director Bryan Koury at Southview.
Stacey's involvement doesn't end with boys basketball either. He assists Admiral King softball coach Pam Jackson and has been involved with Midview's football program for years.
With the timing of Scott's resignation this summer, Koury had said he wanted to conduct a full search. The current timetable didn't allow for that with the school year approaching. Stacey was more than qualified, the players wanted him as coach, and Stacey has always talked about moving south for his retirement.
That makes the interim tag best for both parties.

Watch for the linemen

2008-08-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

I know it's like an echo with me, but it's Friday and the start of Week 1 in the high school football season. What am I looking for? The linemen!
That's right, the linemen.
Tonight at Elyria, I'm not looking to see Brandon Kish or Brandon Morgan cut through holes on their way downfield. No. I'm looking for those guys opening the holes.
One player in particular is Greg Davison. For the last two years, Davison has been a fullback. But, Elyria coach Steve Hamilton is asking him to play guard because of an injury. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds with a 4.6 40-yard dash, Davison was already intriguing to watch as a fullback.
Now, I can't wait to see him pull on an unsuspecting D-lineman.

I see a lot of points ...

2008-08-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

If you open up our high school football preview section Thursday, you'll notice a new character to the Journal staff. His or her name is The Swami.
I say his or her because I am forbidden to say who this person is. I can't deny or admit it is myself, new sports editor Erik Pupillo, staffers Dan Gilles or Francis X. Bova III, or even former Morning Journal sports reporter Theresa Neuhoff, who's at our sister paper in Willoughby. Who is it? A mystery more foggy than that crystal ball The Swami uses.
But, enough with that. I want to make a quick prediction and address the early season opener -- Avon at Aurora Thursday night.
I was looking forward to attending this game, but a quick staff change will have me in the office. Fortunately, the game will be on STO, which has me -- and I'm sure many fans -- extremely thankful.
When these opener takes place, expect a lot of points to be put up on the scoreboard. Both teams have excellent quarterbacks and both teams are favorites in their conferences. (I at least think Avon will win the West Shore Conference.)
I see a lot of points being scored in not just Avon's opener, but the Elyria-Amherst game and others will likely see touchdowns come in the bunches, in my opinion. Why? Well, in my last post, I noted what I observed from Amherst's defense at Admiral King. Across the board, you look at Clearview and other teams, and offenses should be excellent this year.
The telling tale will be when Vermilion, with a superb defense, travels to play Huron and it's high-octane offense.

Scrimmage says a lot about Comets

2008-08-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ready for some touchdowns? At Amherst, be prepared to see many.
Admiral King scored on its first offensive play, as first-year quarterback Chad Hall hit Anthony Harrison on a big pass play during the Admirals’ 13-7 win in their half of football with the Comets.
Amherst showed what its offense could do, as Brandon Kish and Brandon Morgan ran all over the field. The question, though, is the defense.
After Admiral King scored so quickly, its running game controlled the clock and the rest of the half. Granted, Amherst’s biggest linemen are on offense and the defense was undersized against Admiral King’s big offensive line, but King has never been much of a prolific-scoring offense. Amherst won’t play easy teams in the Southwestern Conference, which makes me think: How many touchdowns will be scored in most of Amherst’s games?
My guess is a lot.
For the Elyria game in Week 1, I’m predicting the Pioneers and Comets combine for at least seven touchdowns. Elyria’s offense could use some momentum and high-scoring games are looking like a trend this year in Amherst.

This year will be telling for Ben Malbasa

2008-08-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

A visit to Elyria Catholic during picture day allowed me to talk with coach Ben Malbasa.
The second-year coach will have plenty of new faces on offense with many familiar ones on the line. Zach Drews returns at linebacker, which also makes EC an intriguing team to watch this season.
The thing with EC, though, is this team will be much different, personnel wise, than the one Malbasa inherited from former coach Dave McFarland. No more Cody Schuster at quarterback, Jacob Schuster at running back, Jayson Graham at running back or Richie Baker at receiver.
Malbasa is high on Alex Alicea, one of his junior running backs, and this season will be telling for Malbasa. How will he do with players he has had a greater chance to mold.
My guess is just fine.

Lee addition gives King episode of 24

2008-08-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to post this sooner, but on Monday Admiral King welcomed back a familiar face: Vincent Lee.
Lee, who played varsity basketball as a sophomore at the school, moved to Kansas City last year. He returned Monday after a year at Center High School, where he earned honorable mention all-conference in the Suburban Small 6. Don't let the Small 6 name fool you. Center is Class 4A, which is the biggest division in Missouri.
So, Lee, who returns to Admiral King, gives an already strong secondary an added kick. Now, it's important to mention the Admirals cornerbacks and safeties didn't fare too well in their scrimmage against North Ridgeville, but Rangers coach Jeff Riesen is high on his receivers this season. And, in my opinion, what happened shows how much better the receiving corps are than the secondaries this year.
Lee's addition gives King the best secondary in the area, in my opinion. Keystone's is also solid. So is North Ridgeville, Huron and few others. Amherst, which will scrimmage Admiral King Thursday night, also has potential in the secondary, but it's unproven talent.
With Lee, Chris Kimbro, NaJerron Clipper and a few others, I feel much better than a few people I spoke with who think the unit needs work. If King's secondary is the furthest behind right now, that's a good thing for the Admirals.

Shoremen have a lake of talent on line

2008-08-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Take your pick: the offensive side or the defensive side.
Either way, Avon Lake probably has you beat.
The Shoremen have a load of experience -- and talent -- on the offensive line. Whether it’s junior Christian Pace, Central Michigan-bound Adam Schneid or Joe Coyne, Avon Lake has the bulls up front as usual. What’s scary is they have coach Dave Dlugosz smiling more than usual.
Perhaps it’s because he’s a former linemen?
Perhaps it’s what he takes pride in as a coach?
Maybe they’re just that good this year, even for his standards. If that’s the case, that’s pretty scary.
Now, on the defensive line, Zach Murray and Sean McCann return. Both were All-Journal performers last season, and Joe Gaydosh is no slouch, either. After talking with Gaydosh at Saturday’s scrimmage against Midview, I got the feel he’s a product of the Avon Lake program.
Many of the things he said has been said before by seniors who waited their turn to shine.
Now, Gaydosh has his turn.
That should present a whole line of problems for the rest of the Southwestern Conference.

... As for the Middies

2008-08-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

Midview coach Bill Albright didn’t seem to happy to see me Saturday. Then again, he’s never seen me approaching him with a video camera.
I wouldn’t want to see me either in that case.
But, my guess Albright was more upset at what he saw on the field at Avon Lake, the sight of their final game of the 2007 season. In that playoff meeting, Avon Lake would have beaten Midview via mercy rule if there was one. Saturday in the scrimmage, it didn’t look that bad. Two touchdowns through the air were the scoring highlights, and both went to Avon Lake.
Up front, Midview hung with the Shoremen for the most part. Some of the mistakes in the secondary had Albright less than pleased, but the toughest part for Midview this season is simple.
How will the Middies rush the quarterback?
They lose Drew Ebersole and Ross Moore from last season’s team. Those two combined for more than 30 sacks in each of the last two seasons. Whenever I’d look at the area statistical leaders, Moore and Ebersole were both atop the sack leaders on a consistent basis.
I expect Midview to be tough. Afterall, this is Midview.
If Albright wasn’t upset about anything Saturday, then it’d be time to be worried.

Sizing up the Dukes

2008-08-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

New quarterback? No problem. New receivers? No problem.
Not when you return all five starting offensive linemen like coach Matt Stoll and the Wellington Dukes. Last year, the Dukes had a three-year starter in Kull McClurg at quarterback. The team finished 6-4 and has had its share of three-year players at the position -- Gary Edwards and Dave Haswell over the last eight years come to mind.
This year's team will rely on Steve Simonson at quarterback. Simonson has some size and athleticism, which will be needed when the Dukes go to a spread offense.
Yes, I said spread.
Stoll said the team will still incorporate some of its wing-T offense, but will use plenty of spread. Again, yes, I said spread. Even with all five linemen back.
The Dukes traditionally have had strong lines on both sides of the ball, regardless of how many were coming back from the previous year. This year, with all five and running back Austen Gray, you'd think they'd be a power running team. Stoll said the changes are a sign of the times, but don't be surprised if Wellington sticks to its roots. This is Wellington, you know.

Hugh gives Oberlin high hopes

2008-08-05T16:52:00.001-07:00

Bill Groomes, an assistant coach at Oberlin who’s been with head coach Dave McFarland for years, calls out Hugh Thornton’s name dozens of times within a few minutes.
Practice is winding down and all that is left is conditioning.
Thornton leads the way.
The 35 players present at Oberlin’s two-a-day session break down and pop back up during one drill. Thornton is the first down and the first back up. They break 5 yards downfield for bear crawls and crab walk back. Again, Thornton is the first down and back.
His hustle and talent is unmatched, and Groomes uses him as an example.
Groomes and McFarland hope Thornton’s presence is contagious. He has Division I scholarship offers lined up and has returned to Oberlin, a town he once called home while in elementary school. Still, he doesn’t break in his effort, an effort that could have Oberlin do big things if continued by the entire team in 2008.
That’s Thornton’s mindset.
He played high school football last year in Idaho at the Class 5A level, which is the equivalent to Division I in Ohio. Oberlin is a Division V school, much smaller than anything he has been around since playing football.
With Thornton leading the way, a second wave of optimism has hit Oberlin. The first one was McFarland’s arrival from Elyria Catholic last year.
McFarland, though, hopes Thornton isn’t it. With an offseason weight lifting program that attracted up to 40 players at once, McFarland hopes his Oberlin team can go from having no offensive line to at least an average one. Without one last year, they were 4-6.
Just imagine how good they could be with one.

Sense of urgency for Admiral King

2008-08-04T13:00:00.001-07:00

So, you’re a Division I school with talent all around and, most importantly, some size and experience on the offensive line. Sounds like a good situation, right?
Welcome to Admiral King.
The previous two seasons looked good, too. One turned into a share of the Lake Erie League Erie Division title and the other was good until a second-half struggle left the playoff-hungry Admirals at 6-4 for the season.
Now comes a big senior class -- with 23 being the most Mark Campo has had in his five years as head coach -- and the expectations now is their year at Admiral King.
It will come with talented Erie Division teams from Bedford and Warrensville Heights, but that only means more playoff points will be on the line when they meet. Last year, heading into the season, the sentiments among players was to take the next step and make the playoffs. This season will be their best chance to do that.

Youth being served at Brookside

2008-08-02T17:18:00.001-07:00

First-year Brookside coach Keith Grabowski is back in Lorain County, and his new job is certainly a hefty one. He takes over a Brookside program with few returning starters, only a handful of seniors and plenty of sophomores suiting up this season.
Grabowski, though, is eager, as he should be. Those few seniors he has aren’t crying or complaining about their situation. They’re embracing it.
Take lineman Paul Grattan, for example.
His senior year hinges on the fact Brookside will start at least eight sophomores. In the world of high school football, that can spell doom to a senior’s season. Grattan isn’t looking at it that way.
“I believe in a lot of these younger kids,” he said. “I saw them on J.V. They’re hard workers.”
Not only were the J.V. players solid, but the freshmen -- many of whom will start -- played on a freshman team that won the Patriot Athletic Conference.
Two of those sophomores are Jason Bodenski and Art Howell. Bodenski will lead a line backing crew with no starters back, while Howell will play in the secondary and serve as a running back. Howell also has some experience playing quarterback, but junior Rocky Radeff will be the starter.
For Grabowski, his new job at Brookside marks a return to Lorain County after one year with Brush. He left Amherst for the head coaching job at Ashtabula Lakeside, but teacher cutbacks forced Grabowski to look elsewhere. Before he was at Amherst, Grabowski coached at Fairview. That makes Brookside the smallest school he has coached.
Grabowski doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. He just intends to have his Cardinals play bigger than many expect.

Keystone will be good, but 8-2 good?

2008-08-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

The No. 1 question centered around Keystone is can it reproduce last year’s 8-2 season? Coach Rob Clarico said any school can have a banner season once every 20 years like Keystone did in 2007. The question is can that team build on it? That’s what Keystone faces.
And, it’s possible the Wildcats could do just that.
Mainly because of their defensive line, which includes seniors Forrest Smith and Matt Herb, the Wildcats could be sniffing a Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division title. They nearly won it last season, and again the likes of Wellington, Buckeye and Black River will be in their way.
One thing that works in Keystone’s favor is who it plays in the Stripes Division. The Wildcats don’t have to face Stripes favorite Clearview. Instead, they get Columbia, Oberlin and Lutheran West. All three games should be tough, but what this year’s Wildcats team has in its favor is the defense.
Especially with Smith and Herb up front, they will be tough -- even for those big Stars Division teams -- to run against. The secondary is also experienced and the linebackers have some athleticism.
The question is will be on offense. Keystone lost running back Shane Robinson to graduation and starts a first-year senior at quarterback in Tyler Minnich. Kyle Smith takes Robinson’s spot in the backfield. All the pieces Clarico has are good enough to get the job done. Are they good enough to go 8-2 again?
We’ll know by Week 1 when they face Monroeville.

Saints' row good enough?

2008-07-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

OK, a year ago I was convinced Southview would win some games. Not just one game, but some games. If I remember right, I thought they'd win at least four.
Instead, they went 0-10 for a third straight year and I'm faced with the question of if Southview will win this year. Of course, I think the Saints will get some wins. Lorain has too much talent for either of its schools to go winless or not even flirt with a .500 record.
What I'm anxious to see is Ricky Earl at quarterback. He played his eighth grade year at Whittier as the quarterback and got four games in last year on the J.V. team at the position.
But, and this is a big but, the team isn't going to win or lose because Earl is at quarterback, running back or playing the tuba for the marching band.
Southview will win or lose because of what happens on the offensive line. Last year against Bedford, quarterback Matt Andujar was planted into the field at George Daniel Field so often that I'm sure his imprint is still in the ground. The Saints went through as many changes at quarterback last year as they did coaching changes going into that season.
Now, there's a little more stability and a little bit of an established presence.
That will help, but most importantly, so will the line.

Clippers should cut through PAC

2008-07-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

Which area team could go the furthest this season? Take a second to think about it because there's a lot of teams to consider.
My pick: The Clearview Clippers.
That's why they were my first visit during two-a-days. There's a lot to like about this team. OK, offensively, there's a lot to like about this team.
Defensively, I'm not sure. We'll see, but the Clippers have the coaching and personnel to have a formidable defense. Plus, when your head coach is the defensive coordinator, defense will be the point of emphasis.
For coach Mike Collier, that's a good thing when he has running backs Anthony Hitchens and Tony Williams to run the ball, receivers James Washington and Jordan Celestino to catch the ball and a seasoned quarterback in Zach Anderson to throw them the ball. On top of that, they have a strong line to make it all together.
Early in the season, don't be surprised if they have some scores in which the teams combine for 50 to 60 points. If I was a swami, that'd be my prophecy. But, I'm not a swami. I'm more like Johnny Carson's character, Carnac The Magnificent.
Yeah, I'm reaching on that reference even for a 26-year-old.

Home away from home

2008-07-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, Avon and Brookside were neighborhood rivals. Now, they're just neighborly.
Renovations to Brookside's Sevits Stadium has forced the Cardinals to play their home opener against Firelands at Avon. The Eagles play at Aurora for a Thursday night game to open their season, making Avon's stadium -- which is pretty much the class of Lorain County -- Brookside's home for a night.
Brookside Athletic Director Dick Kerschbaum said the plan is subject for approval, but he and Avon Athletic Director have discussed the arrangement and don't forsee any problems.
As Kerschbaum said, there's a lot of red tape that must be sorted out to make it happen, such as who will be the site manager and if Avon has anyone available. Kerschbaum runs the stadium at Brookside, but he likely will not have access to everything that would need to be accessible during the course of a high school football game.
The last time Avon and Brookside were accociated in a high school football game came during the final week of the 2004 season. Avon beat Brookside at Sevits Stadium for the final Lorain County Conference title. Firelands was also in that conference and left with Avon for the West Shore Conference. Brookside vs. Firelands has been a consistent matchup since the LCC split apart, but the rivalry between Avon and Brookside has not lived past 2004.
In a way, it could be renewed. Just in a neighborly twist.

Football season lined up for the hogs

2008-07-24T12:03:00.001-07:00

Training camp has already arrived for the NFL. In less than a week, high school football begins its version of training camp with two-a-day practices July 31.
And this year, it’s all about the lines.
Think about it. Who’s back? Linemen.
Elyria Catholic has junior Jared Schuster, the younger brother of graduated quarterback Cody Schuster and running back Jacob Schuster. Avon Lake returns junior Christian Pace and senior Joe Coyne. Shawn Hemenway and Chris Doughty also return for Norwalk St. Paul.
Then, there’s the defensive side of the ball. The Shoremen have their guys with end Zach Murray and Sean McCann. Keystone’s got talent with Matt Herb and Forrest Smith. I didn’t even mention all the experience Wellington and Monroeville have on the offensive and defensive lines.
Oh, and don’t let me forget Michigan State-recruit Derek Hoebing. Sure, he’s a tight end, but he can count as a lineman. He practically was a blocking tight end the last two years anyway.
The stars are aligned for many teams along the line. With that, new star players will emerge at other positions.
St. Paul coach John Livengood may say there’s no way you can replace a running back like Joe Graziani, but the presence of guys like Hemenway and Doughty will make such a feat that much easier for fullback Matt Wilde. Mike Haddad and his Golden Helmet may have graduated from Avon Lake, but Steve Mares and anyone else coming up will probably look just like Haddad, Bobby Doyle and any other former Avon Lake running back marching down the field. That’s all because of the line.
This fall, when a star quarterback or running back says all the credit goes to his offensive line, that may be more true than ever.

Jones stands tall with big boys

2008-07-21T19:20:00.001-07:00

Imagine being the little kid playing in the park with the older kids. Sound familiar?
Morgan Jones practically relived that setting during last weekend's Oberlin Outdoor Basketball Festival. Jones was the only high school player on a team of guys at least 10 years older, some with experience playing overseas and one with Division I college experience.
Jones still held his own, and he delivered on a team that included recent Sandusky graduate Cole Prophet.
Prophet was exceptional with his ballhandling and shooting on the blacktop in Oberlin, but Jones thrived with his defense. A few times, he picked apart an opposing point guard and created scoring chances for his teammates.
This just lets your mind wonder about next season.
Jones returns for Oberlin and will be one of the only experienced players back on that team.
How good can they be? How good can Jones be?
One of the best players in the area could go on a scoring binge and carry the Phoenix, or we may not see just how good he is. That will be up to the guys around him who are his age.

Saints picking up without Crum

2008-07-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

This winter was poised to be a promising one for Southview’s boys basketball team. It still could be, but without junior forward Marshall Crum.
The Saints are slated to return a lineup loaded with players experienced since their freshman years. Of course, it starts with four seniors who will be four-year players. Then, there was Crum, who made varsity as a freshman a year after the arrival of Josh Biber, Montrell Elliott, Quincy and Quinton Ezell.
Multiple coaches confirmed Crum moved to the Orange School District.
With Crum playing in summer leagues with Orange and Biber playing in out-of-area tournaments, the Saints still played well in their summer league games. What makes that interesting is not just the fact Biber and Crum were two of Southview’s top players coming back, but the fact they’re Southview’s two best options in the post.
Crum’s absence will change what Southview coach Andy Bastock is able to do with his lineup. For example, the versatile Biber will likely have to play more in the post.
Two coaches said they think the Saints will be just fine because the talent they return. Not only do they have the four seniors with four years experience, but they also have a catalyst in Mike Anderson.
Anderson will be a junior and a big reason Southview won’t be just the four Saints.
My question to anyone reading is which change will have a bigger impact: Crum’s departure from Southview or Michael Scott’s departure as Admiral King coach?

New faces in new places ...

2008-07-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

For the last few years, it hasn’t been as prevalent.
This year, though, the rumblings of transfers have crept back into high school football in Lorain County. Internet discussion boards have brought the topic up, one of which centers around a few Elyria players heading to Oberlin.
Who is it and why? We should find out when practices officially begin.
Earlier this week, Morgan Jones mentioned he also heard of a few players transferring to Oberlin for football, but the big new face in Oberlin that we know about isn’t from Elyria. He’s Hugh Thornton, who moved to the area from Idaho.
The 6-foot-5 Thornton was a state champion at 285 pounds last year in wrestling at Meridian Mountain View, and Oberlin basketball coach Kurt Russell was working him out last spring after school.
As for the local movers and shakers, this is something we haven’t seen much of since OHSAA rules tightened up and included a rule that forces transfers to sit out a year. Of course, there’s ways around that, such as moving into the district or getting the former school’s permission to play. An example of that last season was Admiral King’s Antwaun Carlton playing at Clearview.
Clearview typically received transfers from schools like Admiral King and Southview because, frankly, Clearview is practically a Lorain school. Oberlin once had an influx of Elyria talent when Elyria West closed in 1996. Since then, the school has lost more players than it has gained, whether it was via open enrollment or to Elyria Catholic.
This could be just a coincidence, but Oberlin coach Dave McFarland was already building momentum with the players in school who were attending weight-lifting sessions.

SBC scene should be an interesting one

2008-07-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

In less than two weeks, the coaches of the Sandusky Bay Conference meet for their annual media day. When that happens, two-a-days will be upon us.
Excited? If you’re in the SBC, you should be.
If you’re Rock Farlow, you should be excited.
Farlow returns to the SBC after spending last season breathing life into the Firelands program. Farlow left when he got the chance to return closer to home and his family, which you can’t blame anyone for doing. With Farlow, though, it’s a little extra enticing because he won a state championship at Perkins and built the program into a powerhouse.
Coincidentally, Farlow’s first SBC game in Week 4 will be at home against Perkins.
The game probably won’t have extra meaning to the players. This year’s senior class was in eighth grade during Farlow’s final season at Perkins, but the matchup should still be a must-see.
Also, if you’re Gary Quisno, you should be excited.
Quisno will oppose Farlow on the sidelines in Week 4. Like Farlow, he’s a familiar SBC face in a new place. The difference with Quisno is he left an Oak Harbor program that he was building momentum with and is now at Perkins. So maybe I should make a correction there: If you’re Perkins, you should be excited.
Finally, if you’re a Huron player, you also should be excited.
The Tigers return Matt Lehrer at receiver and in the secondary, along with running back Craig Thorne and a talented nucleus. Of course, saying Huron has talent is like saying a pen has ink. This year should be exceptional, though, and these Tigers will be fun to watch -- even for Huron standards.

OGSO commitment is a deep one

2008-07-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

Walking toward the softball fields Wednesday at LaGrange Community Park, there was Keystone softball coach Jim Piazza.
He was obviously tired, carrying a pack of soda after a tough day of
maintaining the fields. The OGSO games were just beginning, but later I heard Piazza wasn’t feeling great. Still, he took time to make sure the fields were ready to play for the 11- and 12-year-old softball players participating in district tournament play that day.
That says something about the commitment many softball coaches have to their sport, and it’s a big reason why Lorain County teams consistently contend for state championships every year.
Rain or shine, Piazza made sure the fields were ready for his team during the high school season, and that didn¹t change for the teams he didn’t coach -- and also in this case, regardless if he was feeling good or bad.
Piazza wasn’t the only coach present. Midview’s Mike Ives and Oberlin’s Rick Twining are constant presences with their community¹s teams prevalent at the district tournaments. The same goes for Wellington and North Ridgeville, which both had multiple teams playing for a shot at the state tournament to be held next weekend.
Any teams that advance won¹t have to travel far. Wellington is the host for the OGSO state tournament, which means you¹ll see many of these area coaches working behind the scenes.
Rain or shine, sick or well.

***

If high school softball draws any interest for you, be sure and check out this weekend’s district games and next week’s state games.
A big reason for Lorain County’s success in high school softball starts with these teams, which play girls as young as 9 all the way to 18 years old.
Much of the area’s softball talent got its start with OGSO, especially around Grafton, LaGrange and Wellington. All three of those community’s high school teams at least advanced to district championship games this spring.
District games at LaGrange Community Park conclude today at 6 p.m. and tomorrow at 1 p.m. State play begins July 19 in Wellington.

***

Congratulations go out to Amherst’s Brandon Kish, who will attend Ball State on a football scholarship next year. Kish will join former Amherst teammate Alex Knipp at the school, and the reunion should definitely be one to watch.
When Kish was a freshman and Knipp was a senior, heralded for his speed, Kish was said to have beaten Knipp in 40-yard dashes on the track at Amherst.
Kish took over at running back as a sophomore after Knipp graduated. Last season, as a junior, Kish was bothered by injuries.
Here’s to a healthy senior season and, next year, a rematch on the track when Kish and Knipp are reunited.
mgoul@MorningJournal.com

Top of football mountain could be shaken

2008-07-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

IT’S hot and it’s July. You know what that means:
One more month of freedom until two-a-day high school football practice begins.
For each and every player, perspectives differ. Some hate it, some love it. Everyone recognizes the importance of it.
This year is no different with a heightened level of uncertainty this season. Who’s going to be good? No one really knows.
Obviously, you can expect the usual suspects to win, like Avon Lake, and then Avon Lake’s J.V. team in the second half and ensuing Saturday morning. Oh, and there’s Avon Lake’s freshman team and junior high teams.
But who else?
Clearview is poised for another run at the Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division title. They return running back Anthony Hitchens for his junior year, plus senior receiver James Washington and junior quarterback Zach Anderson. The line was young, too, which should bode well for the Clippers in 2008.
Speaking of the PAC, Oberlin looks like a team ready to build from its 4-6 season a year ago. Coach Dave McFarland has dramatically improved turnout for the offseason weight-lifting program (he said they had about 40 around February’s Super Bowl), and that should only help a team that has some pieces in place at the skill positions.
The theme of this season could very well be teams that haven’t had much success now experiencing a renaissance.
Oberlin is one of them, and so is Clearview. Don’t get me wrong, the Clippers have been strong the last two seasons, but I can’t help but get the feeling this team is poised to be one of those special Clearview teams. You know, like the 1998 Clippers that went 8-2 with Jason Ammons at running back, or the ones from the Tom Hoch era in the early-to-mid-90s.
Vermilion is also one of those teams I expect to have more success than it’s been used to in recent years. Part of the reasoning behind that thought is the shift of balance in the West Shore Conference, plus the stability the Sailors are experiencing under fourth-year coach Frank Horvath. This year’s Vermilion team returns linebacker Justin Turner, Mike Virgin in the secondary and at running back, plus receiver Derek Barbato. All three are key members of the basketball team, so the Sailors have some proven athleticism, which should allow them to compete with the likes of Avon and Midview.
That’s just a fraction of who could break out this season.
A trend that could keep some of the typical giants atop the football landscape is teams with veteran offensive lines. Avon Lake has one, as do Wellington and Monroeville. All three of these teams are looking mostly inexperienced everywhere else, but their lines are strong. They usually are, but this season they will have as much experience as a coach could ask for.
That should make a coach grind headset earpiece to earpiece, whether it’s Avon Lake’s Dave Dlugosz, Wellington’s Matt Stoll or Monroeville’s Steve Ringholz.

***

The reason behind all the football talk is simple. Planning for next month’s football preview has began around the office.
Look for some noticeable changes this year. I can’t say what they are, as I neither don’t want to spoil it nor have everything decided. I’ll say this, though. The goal for this year is to get everyone fired up for football season more than ever before.

***

Had a conversation with former Amherst boys basketball coach Phil Schmook last week.
Schmook resigned earlier this month from his positions as basketball coach and social studies teacher at Amherst. The former Richmond Heights basketball coach is returning to that area, where he will be both boys basketball coach and a career-based intervention teacher at Maple Heights.
Schmook had nothing but positive remarks for Amherst athletic director Bill Miller and former coach Mitch Gillam Jr., whom Schmook succeeded.
Schmook doesn’t have the easiest job ahead of him at Maple Heights -- the team loses star guard Marcus Pearl -- but he will be closer to home. With gas prices more than $4 per gallon, that means something.

***

Gas prices makes for one more transition this week, and it’s more of a rant.
It’s time area high schools, particularly in Lorain County, get together and realign. The new conferences that have formed over the last few years are a bad idea, and the cost of fuel is the main reason why.
Sure, realignment has helped competitive balance, but it’s also a bigger hit on the wallets of everyone involved. Parents and fans have to spend more gas money if they want to go see their schools’ road games, and so do the schools to transport the athletes.
Pretty soon, everyone will realize enough is enough and it’s time to think close to home.
A super conference like the 18-team Northeast Ohio Conference, which Elyria calls home, isn’t a bad idea. The fact many of the schools are so far away doesn’t help, but such a format could bring all the Lorain County schools, big and small, together.
Mgoul@morningjournal.com

Drafting from high school to ... high school

2008-06-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

(NOTE: Summer school is to keep the upcoming high school season on your mind with issues, trends and ideas related to the high school sports scene around Lorain County.)

Thursday's NBA Draft got me thinking: What if I could draft a team of the best high school players?

Well, I'm not going to do a draft from one through whatever, but here's what I think would make the perfect team based on who¹s back next season:

First, let's start with a point guard, and no one fits the prototypical point guard role better than Morgan Jones. It's been awhile since the area has scene a better on-ball defender at the point than Jones. A few come to mind, like Avon's Steve Vega and Oberlin's Jeff Chambers -- who had the classic of classic head-to-head battles -- 10 years ago, but I'll take Jones and his defense over them or anyone since then at the point.

Finding a shooting guard may be the toughest position to fill.

Chris Kimbro comes to mind. Admiral King coach Michael Scott made an effort to move him to shooting guard, but that plan got nixed when sophomore point guard Malcolm Barnett was hurt. There's also Wellington's Brandon Schmidt, another would-be converted point guard, and Western Reserve's Brett Pickens, who had to come back from a broken femur in football. But, I'll go with Kimbro. Besides, it can't hurt to have two point guards on the floor.

At small forward, it's a no-brainer. We go with Josh Biber. He's normally a four or five in Southview's lineup, but this setup is essentially an all-star team -- an all-star team that allows these guys to play a position that may best serve their needs. Don;t get me wrong, I think Biber is most productive at power forward because of his rebounding ability and the presence of junior Marshall Crum at Southview. If I'm coach Andy Bastock, I'm grinning at the thoughts of this winter and having those two to anchor my frontcourt.

The power forward is Admiral King's Adrian Casey. He's come along way from a J.V. standout as a freshman to what will be his third year starting on varsity this year. No one has made a bigger jump, and the way he handles himself is also second to none.

The center is Drew McGhee, last season's Morning Journal Player of the Year. Our player of the year came down to McGhee and Casey last season, but leading North Ridgeville to its first conference title in 31 years was too much to ignore. Even in this lineup, McGhee -- at 6-foot-10 -- is too big to ignore.

Now, of course, we should probably find a coach. I don't think these guys would listen to me on the bench. So, I'm going with Western Reserve's Chris Sheldon. He's the only non-Lorain County representative on this list, but the job he's done earns him a distinct recognition. His teams are in contention every year, and that comes with mind-boggling preparation and attention to detail.

There you have it. Try and beat that lineup.

***

School is no longer in session, but Duane Sunagel gets to practically coach the Elyria Pioneers with some added punch.

Fresh off their Division I state championship loss to North Canton Hoover, most of the Pioneers from that softball team got a little revenge by beating Hoover's Jessica Simpson and her Grand Slam travel team, 4-3, last weekend. Tess Sito got the win after suffering a 1-0 loss to Simpson in the state championship game.

Also on that Elyria SunDogs team with Sito is Megan Bashak, Jen Bower and Jessica Bellottie. Take that core, plus a few more from Elyria, and add Lorain County Miss Softball Jillian Van Wagnen and North Ridgeville shortstop Jaime Frindt.

It's Lorain County's Ulimate Softball Alliance.

***

Finally, the decision to go with male and female athletes of the year is a new thing here. It's a big part of this week's Edge, and is one final chance to recognize the area's high school talents.

A little debating went into the decisions to select Cory Leslie as Male Athlete of the Year and Van Wagnen as Female Athlete of the Year.

A few others were in consideration, like Midview¹s Drew Ebersole, who was a sack master in football on top of what he did in track. Kull McClurg from Wellington was also considered, as was Sito.

The criteria broke down this way: Who is the best all-around athlete? The two main factors, which can easily become debating points are how many sports does an athlete participate vs. how good is an athlete in a given sport.

Leslie was a state champion in two sports, which made him the standout choice. The number of sports which Van Wagnen earned letters is mind boggling. She not only played just about every sport she could, she was also good in them.
mgoul@MorningJournal.com