Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Greenwood and Bell receive their awards

Courtesy of www.d1football.net
and THE SCOREBOARD

Lake Catholic's Randy Greenwood was presented his Northeast Ohio Player of the Year award as recognized by players and coaches from the area courtesy of D1 Football. An excellent 5 position player and true MVP, Greenwood helped lead his team to a regional championship this year as a junior. A heartbreaking loss to Licking Valley in the state semi-finals sent the Cougars of Lake Catholic home a week earlier than they would have liked, but it's a step further than last season and a learning experience for next year as Lake should be heavily favored for a return trip deep into the playoffs.

Lake Catholic junior Randy Greenwood


Randy's head coach, Mike Bell, was also voted Northeast Ohio Coach of the Year. Coach Bell, along with an excellent group of assistant coaches, orchestrated a hard fought playoff season for Lake Catholic. A season that started out with a victory over Euclid on opening day, the Panthers' only regular season loss. The rest of the schedule had it's share of ups and downs but in the end, the Cougars had a share of the 4-way conference title in the North Coast League and hosted their first round playoff game then proceeded to roll on to a regional championship.

Lake Catholic head coach Mike Bell

We congratulate these two individuals on their accomplishments even though we know they would rather be suiting up this weekend and playing for the Division III state title. However, we look forward to next season when that final step can be taken to complete the journey. The journey to a state high school football championship.

Player of the Year voting:
The voting breakdown:
1. Greenwood (40%)
2. Rossi Santo-Kirtland (30%)
3. Dan Goodrum-VASJ (15%)
4. Vinny Hokavar-Perry (9%)
5T. Bart Tanski-Mentor (3%)
5T. Devon Jennings-Euclid (3%)


Voting was based on averages, not total stats. Contributions to team both offensively and defensively and special teams.


Coach of the Year voting:
Voting breakdown:
1. Bell (44%)
2. Steve Trivisonno - Mentor (39%)
3. Byron Morgan - NDCL (7%)
4T. Matt Melle - VASJ (5%)
4T. Dave Bors - West Geauga (5%)

Monday, November 26, 2007

Mooney rides 28 game winning streak into the finals!


Youngstown Cardinal Mooney enters this weekend's match-up with Coldwater on a 28 game winning streak. The longest in the state. The Cardinals have been unstoppable the past two seasons. Their toughest game was this season against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary when they trailed 17-0 at the half then rallied to win the game 20-17 doing most of their scoring in the 4th quarter. The Cardinals offense will be led by senior running back/line backer Brandon Beachum who has carried the offense since the loss of quarterback Dan McCarthy.

Will the Cardinals up their winning streak to 29 with a second straight Division IV title? We'll find out Saturday at 3pm from Massillon. Good luck Cardinals.

North vs. South! "The Dream" vs. "The Hype"


The Division I state finals should be a familiar site to Mentor head coach Steve Trivisonno, whose team lost a heart breaker to Hilliard Davidson last season losing to the 2-point conversion. During the regular season Mentor's second loss of the season came via the 2-point conversion at the hands of playoff qualifier Euclid. That had to have seemed like deja vu to Triv, but nonetheless he kept his team focused and they have fought their way to the state finals for the second straight year.

Mentor will take on nationally ranked Cincinnati St. Xavier. They return to the finals after winning the title back in 2005 over Massillon and 4 straight playoff appearances. The Bombers come into this game with a 14-0 record, but narrowly grinding out a win over Dublin Coffman last week 10-7. It's obvious, no matter how well you play during the regular season, the playoff grind can start to wear on a team. That may have been the case with St. Xavier.

The Cardinals will look to Fisher award winner Bart Tanski to lead their talented offensive attack against the Bombers defense Saturday night. He'll have the weapons around him to be effective too. St. Xavier is battling a few key injuries that may hamper their offense, but have yet to be a factor in any games they play. The Bombers will have to live up to their hype against a very strong Mentor squad if they want to emerge victorious. It will definitely not be a cake walk for St.X.

In the end, this game may simply come down to good coaching. Both are capable. Both have had great success. Which one will come away with a ring this weekend? The hypsters will say St.X by virtue of being nationally ranked, but that means absolutely nothing to do with who wins anything in the playoffs. This year may be different. The North may have regained the edge in this one. We'll see. Good luck to both teams.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm from Canton's Fawcett Stadium this Saturday, December 1st. Yes it's December already! The season has flown by, but not before giving us some great highlights and great memories for area teams.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

I've known Sam Fikaris since he was born and D1 believed in him now see what he's doing...


Fikaris makes immediate impact

By Joe Tuscano, Staff writer

jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

Sam Fikaris might not realize it, but he could be the most amazing story on California University's football team this season.

If the name seems unfamiliar, you are not alone.

Fikaris entered fall camp third on the depth chart at nose tackle. But Avery Goode, the projected starter, left to take a job and his backup Andre Williams was forced out of football because of a back injury.

Fikaris beat out three others to gain the starting position and will be there today when the Vulcans battle Southern Connecticut State in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Adamson Stadium. Kickoff is noon.

Fikaris has 24 tackles, including seven for losses, and two quarterback sacks for the 11-0 Vulcans. Not bad for someone lining up for Mayfield Heights (Ohio) football team last season.

"I knew I might have a chance to rotate in," said Fikaris, a 6-2, 270-pound freshman. "I didn't expect to start. I had no idea there would be an opening."

There is a good reason for that. Head coach John Luckhardt rarely allows freshmen to start.

"He's had a tremendous year for us," Luckhardt said. "Sam came ready to play."

Fikaris is part of the best defense in Division II but still had to convince his teammates that he could play his position.

"In my first scrimmage, the first time we went full go, I got by Tim McCutcheon and batted a ball down," Fikaris said of Cal's three-time All-America lineman. "I felt that if I could go against the best lineman in the nation, I can go against anyone."

Like the rest of the Vulcans, Fikaris is eager to play in the school's first playoff game. Last season, Mayfield made the playoffs for the first time since Fikaris arrived and won its first-round game.

"I felt we were in after the ninth game," said Fikaris of the 22-13 victory over Slippery Rock. "(Southern Connecticut) is a sold offensive team. They had 550 yards last week. They have big guys on their offensive line but the coaches tell us they are not the most athletic. If we can stop their running game, I feel we can shut them down."

Now that's power

Power rankings normally capture the interest of bettors and fans. So take the following for what it's worth.

The Born Power Index provides power ratings for New Jersey and Pennsylvania high schools and most college football teams.

The system uses a mathematical equation to figure out spreads. In today's game, California is listed as 20.7 points stronger than Southern Connecticut.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Congratulations to VASJ's All-District players

VASJ senior LB/RB Nick Viola was named Division IV Defensive Player of the Year as well as North Coast League 1st Team All-Conference on defense. Nick's defensive contributions included a team leading 95 tackles (26 solo), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and a sack. On the offensive side he helped spell Toney Foster and Dan Goodrum by rushing for over 300 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns, not to mention his vicious blocking that helped Foster to a near-1,000 yard season.


VASJ's Nick Viola

Other Vikings to receive Division IV All-District honors included:
1st Team
Running back- sophomore Toney Foster, Jr.; Tight End- senior Jeff Rossman; Lineman- junior Antonio Tate; Defensive- end senior Dan Goodrum Viking kicker Scott Szczepinski received Honorable mention.

Vikings represented the North Coast Conference well too. The following Vikings were also All-Conference in the NCL.
1st Team Offense:
Rashon Caronchi (JR) OT; Rossman (SR) TE; Foster, Jr (SOPH) TB; Tate (JR) OT
1st Team Defense:
Viola (SR) LB; Goodrum (SR) DE

2nd Team Offense:

Andre Wells (JR) QB; Ken Brately (JR) OG; Darius Petraitus (SR) LB; Ra'Mone Billings (SR) SS; Szczepinski (JR) K. Senior LB John Pokorny received Honorable Mention.

We've watched these kids work very hard during the off-season and we were there to see them in action during the season. It is very special seeing them take all they have learned and watching them develop throughout the course of the season. VASJ seems to be headed in the right direction under the guidance of new Athletic Director Duane Carter and new Head Coach Matt Melle, both VASJ graduates.

Duane Carter VASJ Head Coach Matt Melle



Wells Billings Foster
Goodrum Caronchi
Rossman Brately


Szczepinski Tate

These Vikings have got all of the potential to return to the forefront of northeast Ohio high school football prominence. Something it hasn't enjoyed steadily since the 80's. They did get to the championship game in 2003 only to be shutout and since then it's been a struggle, but it appears consistency may be on the rise. A foundation of former Vikings make-up the administration and the athletic department which will hopefully mark a return to tradition and the winning atmosphere that made St. Joes/VASJ a feared opponent throughout the state of Ohio.

D1 Football is very proud of your accomplishments and is very honored to be part or have been part of your football experience. You have all represented your families, schools and your teammates with class and character. We are committed to you and to the advancement of your football experience.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

A Night to Remember for Lake Catholic

"The Return of the GameDay MVP!"


Tonight it was host to on of the Division 3 Region 9 semi-final games of the 2007 playoffs between Lake Catholic and Rocky River.Lakewood Stadium, normally home to the Lakewood Rangers and occasionally St. Edward. Talking with head coach Mike Bell, Randy Greenwood and Chad Hounshell before the opening kick-off I could sense the conviction to winning. These men were "confident" tonight, not cocky. You knew you were about to see something special tonight and we truly did.
Essentially a home game for the Pirates the crowd was out in force for Rocky River early, but the east-siders closed the gap and by the end of the first quarter the place was packed nearly to capacity.

Cool and calm to start out, the game got underway and Lake Catholic scored first with a touchdown run by Pat Sweigert, who soon followed up with the second score of the game to push the Cougars out to a 14-0 lead. Rocky River did get on the board to make it 14-7 through the first quarter.
In the second quarter the Pirates scored again, but Lake blocked the ensuing point after try and the score at halftime was 14-13 in favor of Lake Catholic. As the second half got under way, you could see Cougar head coach Mike Bell's game plan go to work.Junior running back Randy Greenwood would be the major weapon from here on out. Running with fluid movement and power like a young Marcus Allen, playing defensive back and punting, the kid was nails! A drive down deep into Pirate territory saw Greenwood explode on defenders breaking 3 tackles to score from 6 yards out. Being right on the sidelines and "hearing" the collision made me long to return to the gridiron. The sound only a player could appreciate fully! These Cougars found themselves leading the game 21-13 in the third quarter when the Pirates of Rocky River put together a couple good drives and forged ahead to lead 25-21. The latter drive was made possible by a fumbled punt return by Lake Catholic, however two failed two-point conversions left Rocky River only ahead by 4 points.
Late fourth quarter, here comes the wind and a chilling rain. That didn't put a chill on Lake's attack who put the ball in the hands of the kid with "No Quit", Randy Greenwood and with just over 3 minutes to go, Greenwood scored from 14 yards out after it seemed he'd be tackled for a loss of a yard. Now the Cougars were back on top 28-25 as the rain picked up as did the wind. The Pirates drove deep into Lake territory, but an attempted pass into the endzone was picked off by Lake Catholic's Matt Lender with just over a minute to go securing the win and sending the Cougars into next weeks regional final against Cortland Lakeview who upset top seed Walsh Jesuit earlier in the evening.

Enjoy this night because next week it doesn't get easier, it never does in the playoffs. Practice hard, listen to your coaches and play your hearts out next week once again. We'll be there watching you. Good luck.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

PLAYOFFS 2007 - ROUND 2

Week one offered us some thrilling games, some blowouts and some unforeseen upsets.

In D-I, Mentor made it look easy ousting Painesville Riverside 38-14. The Cardinals look like they are determined to return to the state title game where they came oh so close to winning last year. Solon used balance and solid defense to defeat North Royalton. These two teams will meet in round two. Although Glenville did get by St. Ignatius 23-20, the week's biggest upset was clearly Boardman knocking off the highly touted Euclid Panthers 14-7. The Spartans used really effective ball control to keep Euclid's high powered offense off of the field for most of the game. Boardman and Glenville will clash in round two. Brunswick continued it's dominance with a 48-25 win over Canton Glenoak, but now they face a bigger test in Toledo Whitmer. A team that isn't shy about scoring. We'll have to see how Brunswick's defense can do against this type of power they haven't seen yet this season.

D-II saw Mayfield engage in battle against a gritty Padua team and pull out a hard fought 12-10 win. The Wilcats advance to take on Warren Howland who annihilated Madison 49-7. Bedford Stadium will play host for the other round two match-up between Tallmadge and Normandy.

D-III action will see Lake Catholic taking on Rocky River. Lake cam from behind to defeat Ravenna 21-20 in round one despite not having all-purpose runner Randy Greenwood in uniform. He's back this week but Coach Mike Bell will need everything to work to bring home a win. Region 9's other game features powerful Walsh Jesuit and Cortland Lakeview who beat 9-1 Aurora to advance.

D-IV has a marquee game that all eyes will be on when defending D-IV state champion Youngstown Mooney collides with Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary for the second time this season. The first meeting saw Mooney play badly in the first half and fall behind 17-0 to the Irish. They got it together in the second half and rallied for a 20-17 win with high powered offense and shut down defense after the half. Nobody has been able to stop the Cardinals this year. Can you say repeat. The other big Region 13 match-up is Steubenville's Big Red taking on Canton Central Catholic. Should the Big Red win it could set the stage for a game that could be more anticipated than even the D-I title game. Steubenville vs. Mooney???

D-V features Gilmour Academy taking on South Range and Youngstown Ursuline takes it's monster-sized team up against Apple Creek.