Walsh Jesuit plays host to Hoban at 7 p.m. Friday and Warriors coach Gerry Rardin said his squad must continue to play sound defense and do its best to limit penalties that were a problem last week.

Walsh (1-0) defeated Louisville 28-14 in Week 1. Rardin said he was proud of how his squad didn't quit when it trailed in the fourth quarter.

Archbishop Hoban junior football player Greg McMullen suffered a hairline fracture on his foot during the summer, but his play this past Thursday against Garfield indicated he is ready to play.

McMullen, a defensive end and tight end, helped host Hoban defeat Garfield 30-13 in Week 1.

Green girls basketball coach Tony Whitmer was not retained for the upcoming season, according to Green principal Cindy Brown.

``We had some concerns with the program and we looked into it and decided it warranted a coaching change,’’ Brown told the Beacon Journal.

Barberton (0-0) vs. Cuyahoga Falls (0-0).

When and Where: 7 p.m. at Cuyahoga Falls.

Garfield vs. Archbishop Hoban
Records: Garfield (0-0), Hoban (0-0)
When/Where: 7 p.m. at Monsignor Richard A. Dowed Field.
Storyline: Defense is where fans will want to focus attention for tonight’s game. Both Garfield and Hoban feature standout defensive ends. In numbers, Hoban gets the best of it with LaTroy Lewis and Greg McMullen; both have serious D-I prospects. For the Rams, Kevin Brewton, a 6-foot-4 inch terror plays end and serves as a substantial target at tight end on offense. Their playoff push begins today with this game.

JJHuddle.com 's Ohio High Magazine reporter Kurt Stubbs II is reporting that St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball standout Jakarr Sampson has withdrawn from the school and is considering a plan to enroll at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.

UPDATE: George Thomas confirmed the report. Here is his story.

Our special section for high school football is out, featuring Marla Ridenour's look at top Ohio prep star, Doran Grant of St. Vincent-St. Mary. There are five more player features, a coach feature, five of our major league previews and 47 scouting reports of the core schools in the Akron Beacon Journal's coverage area.

Here is link to all of the coverage. 2010 football preview

Buchtel vs. Massillon
7:30 p.m. tonight at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Storyline: The Massillon Tigers are loaded with athleticism and will look to show off off its Division I receivers, Ohio State's Devin Smith and Pitt's Justin Olack, early and often. How well sophomore quarterback Brody Tonn performs in his first varsity game will make a huge difference. Buchtel has the athleticism to to stop the Tiger attack, but must play disciplined football in order to actually stop it.

Here are some highlights on high school action played on Wednesday:

Girls Tennis

Highland High School has chosen Mike Marcinko to lead the varsity basketball team beginning in the upcoming season.

He arrives at Highland after serving four years as an assistant coach at Hiram College. He's also had coaching stints at Case Western Reserve University and Orange High School.

Walsh Jesuit football coach Gerry Rardin said his team must play fast and efficiently if it is to succeed in its season opener against visiting Louisville at 7 p.m. Friday.

"Field position is important versus an opponent like Louisville," Rardin said. "Try to take them out of what they like to do. We need to handle their defensive speed. Stop the big play (and) limit mistakes."

Garfield QB Darius Hoisten will get the start on Thursday night during the season opener at Hoban, according to Garfield coach Bob Sax.

"He is our returning starter and has shown a lot of improvement from his sophomore year," Sax said. "Deon Lewis is also doing a great job and could see some time as well. I have been impressed with both of them so far this year. I feel like they both have competed well and understand what we want to do on offense."

The 2010 tennis season has started and their are some names and schools to keep in mind starting with the Federal League.

North Canton Hoover won the league and was 20-2 overall and 7-0 in winning the Federal League. The Vikings lost five seniors, won two straight league championships with a 41-3 record.

MaxPreps.com recently posted its Top 100 watch list for the 2012 class of the nation's top boys' basketball players.

Medina small forward Kenny Kaminski is rated No. 75 on the list. According to the website, Kaminski is verbally committed to Michigan State.

Day Date Time AWAY @ HOME
Thurs. August 26 7:00 PM STRONGSVILLE @ EUCLID
Thurs. September 2 7:00 PM MASSILLON/WASHINGTON @ GLEN OAK
Thurs. September 9 7:00 PM ELYRIA CATHOLIC @ ELYRIA
Thurs. September 16 7:00 PM MAPLE HEIGHTS @ CLEVELAND HEIGHTS
Thurs. September 23 7:00 PM KIRTLAND @ CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS
Thurs. September 30 7:00 PM SOLON @ MAYFIELD
Thurs. October 7 7:00 PM COPLEY @ WADSWORTH
Thurs. October 14 7:00 PM WILLOUGHBY SOUTH @ EASTLAKE NORTH
Thurs. October 21 7:00 PM CANTON MCKINLEY @ BOARDMAN
Thurs. October 28 7:00 PM URSULINE @ AKRON ST. VINCENT / ST. MARY
*Schedule Subject to Change

St. Vincent-St. Mary senior cornerback Doran Grant reportedly will take official visits that will include Ohio State and Michigan State this fall, according to Bucknuts.com and Scout.com.

Grant is one of the nation's top players in the 2011 class. He has several high-profile scholarship offers.

Ricky Powers' Buchtel Griffins are favored to repeat as City Series Champions.

Within the past several days all the City Series football teams have had a chance to hit someone other than their own teammates.

Here's a rundown on some of those I got to see:

The Walsh Jesuit football team scrimmaged GlenOak Saturday and the Warriors held the scoring advantage, according to Walsh coach Gerry Rardin.

Walsh senior QB Connor Cook (Michigan State commit) has been impressive in the preseason.

MaxPreps.com recently posted a Top 100 list of football players in the 2013 class.

Two area sophomores made the list, including Massillon QB Kyle Kempt and Marlington RB Dymonte Thomas.

Garfield football coach Bob Sax said he is seeing progress every day with his team and he is encouraged by the preseason workouts.

Garfield will scrimmage Barberton on Saturday and Northwest on Aug. 19.

It goes without saying Buchtel junior WR Corey Smith (6 foot, 170 pounds) is one of the state's most recruited players in the 2012 class.

With scholarship offers from Akron, North Carolina, Michigan State, Toledo and Miami (Ohio), Smith said he's glad to have the early offers but he is keeping everything in perspective.

Rumors have been circulating throughout the area that Akron North wouldn't be able to field a football team due to lack of participation.

North fans can take heart in knowing that those are exactly that - just rumors, Coach Mike Laktash said.  those hoping for an easy ''W'' can stop planning.

In the organization's first ever pre-season All-America team, the Catholic Sports Net has selected two members of the St. Vincent-St. Mary football team as members.

Cornerback Doran Grant, a senior, makes the list on the first team at his position. The organization said about the 5-foot-10 cornerback, who is considering offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia Tech and Michigan.

Medina has reportedly named Jessica Toocheck as its new head softball coach, according to Cleveland.com.

Toocheck played at Kent State and the Akron Racers, according to the website.

Stow has named Miguel Ramirez as its new girls' volleyball coach, according to Cleveland.com.

The website also said Stow has hired Kelly Given as its new field hockey coach.

First up:

Representatives of the Barberton High School athletic department were on hand to check out the Akron Public Schools' football media day.

High school football fans can once again enjoy a season of games televised exclusively on Time Warner Cable’s Northeast Ohio Network (NEON) channel 23. In addition to Friday – Sunday airtimes, this year viewers will also be able to access an additional Monday night showing.
 
2010 NEON High School Football Schedule
 
8/27     Avon @ Avon Lake
               Green @ Lake
9/3       St. Ignatius @ Bedford
               Louisville @ Hoover
9/10     Solon @ Mentor
               Stow @ Massillon
9/11     Lake @ Canton McKinley
9/17     Garfield Heights @ Brunswick
               Canton South @ Louisville
9/18     Ellet @ East
9/24     Shaker Heights @ Maple Heights
               Lake @ Hoover
9/25     Akron North @ Garfield
10/1     West Geauga @ Aurora
               McKinley @ GlenOak
10/8     Walsh Jesuit @ St. Vincent-St. Mary
               Steubenville @ Massillon
10/15   Hudson @ Twinsburg
               Hoover @ Canton McKinley
10/16   Buchtel @ Kenmore
10/22   Lake Catholic @ Archbishop Hoban
                GlenOak @ Hoover
10/29   Chagrin Falls @ Perry
                St. Thomas Aquinas @ Canton Central Catholic
                Canton McKinley @ Massillon
11/5     Playoff Coverage Begins
 
Games air on NEON on the following days/times:
Fridays – 11 p.m.
Saturdays – 10 a.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Sundays – 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Mondays – 7 p.m.
 
Games will also appear on Local On Demand channel 411 the week following each game. To watch, Time Warner Cable Digital Cable customers can tune to channel 411, locate the SPORTS category and select FOOTBALL.

Sit down for a few minutes with the Ellet Orangmen's head coach, Joe Yost, and you feel as if you're visiting a sage uncle who loves imparting wisdom but, more importantly, loves talking football more and is direct.

His starting quarterback this year, senior Rennick Dutton, a three-year starter who was first tiem All-City last year. 

Began making the rounds of area high schools starting with the members of the City Series.  There wasn't a lot of actual football going on, but it was interesting to see what happens the first day those players can put on a helmet.

The good news for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary?

There will be no shortage of eyes on their football program or basketball programs in the coming months.