Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Family found dead in Ohio home
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Blogs:
Pets:
Officials: NYer Had 20 Dead Dogs Buried in Yard
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
First and 10: Some ideas for a better second half
Akron Zips:
MAC Roundtable
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Bye week coming at good time for Flashes
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Hoban, Hoover, Aurora play this weekend in semifinals
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
POSTED: 01:44 p.m. EST, Nov 20, 2008
Three area football teams enter this weekend just two wins shy of winning a 2008 state championship.
The trio — Archbishop Hoban, Aurora and North Canton Hoover — have made it to the state semifinals and are the envy of 23 other area teams that lost in the playoffs during the previous three weeks.
Here are notes about the three area teams in a state semifinal game this weekend.
Division I
North Canton Hoover (12-1) vs. Cleveland St. Ignatius (12-1), 7 p.m. Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
• Hoover has won 11 games in a row and has allowed 10 or fewer points in each of the past five games under coach Don Hertler Jr. The Vikings defeated GlenOak 14-0 last week.
• Vikings junior running back/defensive back Erick Howard has rushed for 2,304 yards and 30 touchdowns on 390 carries. He also has three receiving touchdowns, 81 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
• ''It gives our offense a personality,'' Hertler said of Howard's rushing. ''That is what we hang our hat on and other things come off of that. Erick elevates other players around him. That is the best compliment I can give him. His energy and competiveness elevate the play of others.''
• Junior quarterback Brett Tulodzieski has been effective behind a quality group of linemen: seniors Dom Boyle and Nate Dodds and juniors Mark Wiley, Jake Berkshire, Alex Steenrod and Pat McCoy.
• Seniors Mike Kohler and Chaz Hopkins are other key players on offense along with junior A.J. Sarbaugh (kicker, punter and tight end).
• Seniors Tim Hartzell, Jeff Meek, Joe Cerreta, Jake Mann and Boyle lead the defense with juniors Dan Leek, Tyler Mann, Dan Nettleton and Howard.
• Hoover was the Division I state runner-up in 1984 and a Division IIstate semifinalist in 1986.
• Coach Chuck Kyle has led St. Ignatius on a 12-game winning streak since a Week 1 loss to Glenville. The Wildcats have won nine state titles.
• The Wildcats defeated Lakewood St. Edward twice this season and also beat Glenville and Strongsville in the playoffs.
• Quarterback Andrew Holland, running backs Mike Anter and Kevin Johnson, and receivers Frankie DeSico, Connor Ryan and Joey Parris are the Wildcats key playmakers. Seamus Siefring, Scott McVey, Kolin Sullivan, Tommy Hunt and Patrick Hinkel are vital defenders and Seamus Hennessey is a dependable kicker.
Division II
Archbishop Hoban (9-4) vs. Sylvania Southview (13-0), 7:30 p.m Friday at Fremont Ross Don Paul Stadium at Harmon Field.
• Hoban defeated Tallmadge 17-14 last week to advance to its second state semifinal game (2002 was its first).
• The Knights have 32 seniors.
• Seniors Laymon Carter III and Dominic Williams are Hoban's primary running backs and returners on kickoffs and punts. Senior quarterback Josh Masters has been effective behind a line that includes seniors Anthony Frisone, Tracy Denholm and Chris Sarkis and junior David Sutter.
• Seniors Brian Slack, Justin Gordon, Andrew Volcheck, Ethan Scott, Zach Buzzelli-Andes and Rahsheed Moore lead Hoban's defense, that also features junior Norm Jesser and freshman Greg McMullen. Senior punter Pat Kramer has been consistent all season according to Knights coach Ralph Orsini.
• ''They are excited,'' Orsini said about his players. ''I think it is a team that might not be the most talented we have had here, but it is a team that has worked hard from the beginning of the season to the end and is deserving of eveything they get. We are peaking at the right time.''
• Southview beat Highland 28-21 last week. The Cougars have scored at least 28 points in every game this season under coach Jim Mayzes.
Division III
Aurora (11-2) vs. Sunbury Big Walnut (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at Ashland Community Stadium.
• Aurora beat Walsh Jesuit 28-7 last week to advance to its second state semifinal (2006 was the first) and extend its winning streak to 10 games under coach Bob Mihalik.
• Greenmen senior Steven Yung rushed for four touchdowns last week against Walsh behind linmene Ben Jubell, Nick DePompei, Jake Rose, Adam Bellamy, Rob Kirk, Mitchell Knapp and Tim Gardner.
• Seniors Brendan Gallagher (quarterback), Dee Brizzolara (receiver) and Danny Myers (linebacker) are also key players.
• Big Walnut is the defending Division III state champion under the direction of coach Scott Wetzel. The Golden Eagles feature Will Studlien, Colton Griffis and Kaelvin on defense and quarterback Johnny Cannall is a threat to pass or rush the ball.
'Gridlocks' playoffs edition:
Three area football teams enter this weekend just two wins shy of winning a 2008 state championship.
The trio — Archbishop Hoban, Aurora and North Canton Hoover — have made it to the state semifinals and are the envy of 23 other area teams that lost in the playoffs during the previous three weeks.
Here are notes about the three area teams in a state semifinal game this weekend.
Division I
North Canton Hoover (12-1) vs. Cleveland St. Ignatius (12-1), 7 p.m. Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
• Hoover has won 11 games in a row and has allowed 10 or fewer points in each of the past five games under coach Don Hertler Jr. The Vikings defeated GlenOak 14-0 last week.
• Vikings junior running back/defensive back Erick Howard has rushed for 2,304 yards and 30 touchdowns on 390 carries. He also has three receiving touchdowns, 81 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
• ''It gives our offense a personality,'' Hertler said of Howard's rushing. ''That is what we hang our hat on and other things come off of that. Erick elevates other players around him. That is the best compliment I can give him. His energy and competiveness elevate the play of others.''
• Junior quarterback Brett Tulodzieski has been effective behind a quality group of linemen: seniors Dom Boyle and Nate Dodds and juniors Mark Wiley, Jake Berkshire, Alex Steenrod and Pat McCoy.
• Seniors Mike Kohler and Chaz Hopkins are other key players on offense along with junior A.J. Sarbaugh (kicker, punter and tight end).
• Seniors Tim Hartzell, Jeff Meek, Joe Cerreta, Jake Mann and Boyle lead the defense with juniors Dan Leek, Tyler Mann, Dan Nettleton and Howard.
• Hoover was the Division I state runner-up in 1984 and a Division IIstate semifinalist in 1986.
• Coach Chuck Kyle has led St. Ignatius on a 12-game winning streak since a Week 1 loss to Glenville. The Wildcats have won nine state titles.
• The Wildcats defeated Lakewood St. Edward twice this season and also beat Glenville and Strongsville in the playoffs.
• Quarterback Andrew Holland, running backs Mike Anter and Kevin Johnson, and receivers Frankie DeSico, Connor Ryan and Joey Parris are the Wildcats key playmakers. Seamus Siefring, Scott McVey, Kolin Sullivan, Tommy Hunt and Patrick Hinkel are vital defenders and Seamus Hennessey is a dependable kicker.
Division II
Archbishop Hoban (9-4) vs. Sylvania Southview (13-0), 7:30 p.m Friday at Fremont Ross Don Paul Stadium at Harmon Field.
• Hoban defeated Tallmadge 17-14 last week to advance to its second state semifinal game (2002 was its first).
• The Knights have 32 seniors.
• Seniors Laymon Carter III and Dominic Williams are Hoban's primary running backs and returners on kickoffs and punts. Senior quarterback Josh Masters has been effective behind a line that includes seniors Anthony Frisone, Tracy Denholm and Chris Sarkis and junior David Sutter.
• Seniors Brian Slack, Justin Gordon, Andrew Volcheck, Ethan Scott, Zach Buzzelli-Andes and Rahsheed Moore lead Hoban's defense, that also features junior Norm Jesser and freshman Greg McMullen. Senior punter Pat Kramer has been consistent all season according to Knights coach Ralph Orsini.
• ''They are excited,'' Orsini said about his players. ''I think it is a team that might not be the most talented we have had here, but it is a team that has worked hard from the beginning of the season to the end and is deserving of eveything they get. We are peaking at the right time.''
• Southview beat Highland 28-21 last week. The Cougars have scored at least 28 points in every game this season under coach Jim Mayzes.
Division III
Aurora (11-2) vs. Sunbury Big Walnut (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at Ashland Community Stadium.
• Aurora beat Walsh Jesuit 28-7 last week to advance to its second state semifinal (2006 was the first) and extend its winning streak to 10 games under coach Bob Mihalik.
• Greenmen senior Steven Yung rushed for four touchdowns last week against Walsh behind linmene Ben Jubell, Nick DePompei, Jake Rose, Adam Bellamy, Rob Kirk, Mitchell Knapp and Tim Gardner.
• Seniors Brendan Gallagher (quarterback), Dee Brizzolara (receiver) and Danny Myers (linebacker) are also key players.
• Big Walnut is the defending Division III state champion under the direction of coach Scott Wetzel. The Golden Eagles feature Will Studlien, Colton Griffis and Kaelvin on defense and quarterback Johnny Cannall is a threat to pass or rush the ball.
'Gridlocks' playoffs edition:
Comments
Click here to post your comments
