It Comes Down to This

The 2008 "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year" award will soon be announced and the top three finalists are:


Tim Wetzel - Mayfield
35 carries 171 yards and 2 touchdowns in round one.


Ben Madden - Kirtland
"Wicked Sick Numbers!!"
6 of 11 passing 112 yds, 1 TD
15 carries 262 yards 5 TDS vs. South Range in round one.

Ben has led the Fighting Hornets of Kirtland to the D-5 Regional semi-finals in round two of the playoffs with great leadership. A season that began with team superstar Rossi Santo out for the first game with 3 fractured vertebrae, Madden and his teammates stepped up big time to start what would become a record setting season for the Hornets. 10-0 perfect regular season and a 63-7 win in round one over South Range, the team that beat the Hornets last year in round one. Ben had a 208.8 QB rating at the regular season's end with 18 TD passes to only 2 interceptions. He also ran for 9 touchdowns!! Consider his passing stats - 1324 yards - were short changed because he was out of the offense by halftime of a majority of the Hornets' games this season, he could have easily recorded even bigger numbers. He also was atop team tacklers on defense plus he recorded 3 interceptions and handled some of the kicking duties with 2 field goals and 11 PATs. As far as post-season goes so far this season, NOBODY IN OHIO HAS HAS COME CLOSE TO BEN MADDEN'S STATS.

All around, "Niner", as he's known to his friends and teammates, is a great leader on and off the football field. Also a very talented athlete on the gridiron as well.




Kellen Pagel - Strongsville
13 of 22 191 yds 3 TDS
Great arm...great leader...poise under pressure...

Who will come away with the "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year" award for 2008?

We'll find out in one week!!

D1 Football's "Damned Good Dozen"

While the predictability of most northeast Ohio news rag top "25" teams is very obvious, we look at football from some different angles. NO MEDIA DARLINGS HERE nor will our list be comprised exclusively of Division-I primadonna blow-hards.

We look deeper than that. We don't care about the name of your school. We want to see players with heart and passion for the game. Not a group of kids that think they deserve to be page one because they go to "St. Play Nobody." We're not aiming for the popular vote. We look into the players and coaches. We look at what they've done to get where they are. We actually watch them on and off of the field. We look at the kids that bust their asses out there and give 110%!

WE'RE GIVING YOU A REALITY CHECK! We realize not many of you can handle reality, but here it is. Not everyone can be #1 boys!

The regular season is over......in our eyes these are the "Damned Good Dozen" after 10 weeks of God's Greatest Game:

1. Strongsville Mustangs (9-1) Kellen Pagel and Eric Dworznik did their thing on the ground to aid in the Mustangs shutout of visiting Solon. In doing so they moved into the top spot in D1R1 points pending the outcome of the Ignatius/Eds game and eliminated the Comets from playoff contention. Great game...even better season. The shutout was a great exclamation mark for what was truly a special season. Time to run it deep into the post-season. It only gets tougher now boys.

2. Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish (10-0) Devil be damned, the Irish took on everybody and sent them packing. Next up, the Cuyahoga Heights Redskins in what could be a decent opener for both teams if they come to play!

3. Kirtland Hornets (10-0) We don't care what people may say about the CVC or the "so-called" small school divisions, you can't discount a 10-0 record in northeast Ohio, you just can't. Nor can you take anything away from it. These kids play with an unheard of passion and desire. DREAM MATCH-UP - vs. Ursuline! Mark these words.

4. Mayfield Wildcats (9-1) Six straight shutouts until this week. A relentless defense, probably the best around and a team with great tradition getting it all to come together this year again. A full head of steam and learning from the mistakes of last season's playoff opener should give these Cats a good advantage going into round one.

5. Mentor Cardinals (8-2) Simply put, peaking at the right time...AGAIN. What more can you say about coach Triv's gang of warriors. Bring it in round one boys!

6. St. Ignatius Wildcats (9-1) The "other" Wildcats finally put together some "quality wins" and moved their way up one more notch. Some of us still feel they are yet untested with true competition.

7. Brunswick Blue Devils (9-1) A lone loss to arch rival Strongsville their only blemish, the Devils want to make another deep run and through their region and beyond. Could we see a rematch with the Mustangs? That would be beyond a thrilling storyline.

8. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (8-2) The Cardinals took care of business and went down to the wire to get into the post-season fray knocking off Columbus DeSales in the regular season finale. Mooney knocks Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary out of 8th place in points in the OHSAA standings to make it in. Great win Cards!!

9. Perry Pirates (9-1) The only way senior fireballer Vinny "Air" Hokavar could end his career any better would be with a ring. Even though he's been logging time at wideout, the shoulder should hold up in order for the Pirates to make a deep run if they can stay healthy.

10. Willoughby South Rebels (8-2) They've been left off this list too many times this year while we "waited to see what they would do next week," but they have proven that they are a solid, playoff worthy team. The Rebels could face either Mentor or Strongsville in round one, so regardless, they'll be tested right away in a big way!

11. Padua Bruins (8-2) The Bruins have picked up major momentum heading into round one and their regular season schedule should have them prepared for almost any scenario they might face. Andrew Dziak was the consummate leader all season long and it has been a true joy for us at D1, who have worked with this fine young man, to watch him develop over the last few years. Great kid and a very nice family.

12. Walsh Jesuit Warriors (7-2) Quietly going about their business (of winning games), the Warriors secured the top spot in their region and will have to wait until Sunday to see who their round one opponent will be. These guys have always been favorites of ours and now they can get it running smooth in time for post-season head banging.

JUST MISSED:

Aurora came close, but beating up on Wickliffe then claiming to be the best in the CVC just rubbed too many people the wrong way when we spoke around the town. Euclid.....our friends in Panther country head into the post-season with a bad taste in their mouths and the memory of an unsung Boardman team coming to Euclid last year and snuffing out their dream. We have faith that Tommy Gibbons will have the cats ready to prowl next week. We put a lot of faith in St. Edward at the start of this thing because of the greater Cleveland area "glory teams" they actually played a schedule worthy of being the talk of the town. Tough way to head into the playoffs Eagles. We want to give props to the NDCL Lions who clawed their way into the playoffs as well. Great work Byron.

Kellen Pagel continues to excel!

We told you back in September that Strongsville quarterback Kellen Pagel should be highly considered when discussions for Mr. Football Ohio are brought up and he continues to be deserving of the recognition.

The son of former Browns, Colts and Rams quarterback Mike Pagel, possesses a completion percentage of 65% ( 90 of 139), 1712 yards accounting for 17 touchdowns, only 4 interceptions thus far and 4 rushing touchdowns which puts him among the top signal callers in northeast Ohio. The only QB qith a better TD to INT ratio is Kirtland's (9-0) Ben Madden who has thrown only one pick all season. His NCAA quarterback rating sits at 202.8 (134.95 in the NFL)! Not bad for his first full year as a starter. He even wears his father's number 10 (his own decision according to dad) and he's a really great kid on and off the field.


The 6'3" 190 pounder has led the Mustangs to an impressive 8-1 record heading into the finale of the regular season tonight against Solon and they have a shot to lock down a home playoff game with a win. This has been a thrilling year for Strongsville football fans including a big win against Brunswick and even despite a heart-breaking loss to St. Edward in the opener the Mustang faithful have much more football to look forward to in the post-season.

Kellen Pagel is really tearing it up his senior season and deserves to be in the running for Mr. Football Ohio by all accounts. He also has his team in contention of running away with the D1 Football "Damned Good Dozen" title for the regular season as well.

Go to the D1 SCOREBOARD for updates on Kellen Pagel and the rest of northeast Ohio high school football all weekend and on through the playoff brackets!!!...FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FORMER PLAYERS AND CURRENT COACHES WHO LIVE THE GAME.

Our Tribute to Great High School Football Movies

The weather is changing and you can really feel autumn in the air. The regular season is fast drawing to it's end. The post-season is fast approaching. THIS is high school football. Nothing can trump it this time of year.

D1 Football realizes the deep love of this great sport in all of the fans, players and coaches here in northeast Ohio. Our passion for the game, we believe, is unrivaled anywhere in the country. We all go back and forth about which teams are better. Who beat who and which teams will or won't make the playoffs, etc. As much as we all may disagree on issues, as we all have our own favorite teams and programs that we cheer for and support, WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON AND IT IS THE UNDYING APPRECIATION OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Hollywood has made several movies about high school football and we are all truly fans of these. We picked 5 of the most common that we want to salute for the part they play in the true fabric of America.


"Friday Night Lights"

is the 2004 movie that documents the coach and players of a high school football team and the Texas city of Odessa that supports and is obsessed with them. The book on which it was based, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, was authored by H. G. Bissinger and follows the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team as they made a run towards the state championship. A television series inspired by the movie — also called Friday Night Lights — premiered on October 3, 2006 on NBC. This movie ranked number 37 on Entertainment Weekly's list of the 50 Best High School Movies


"Remember the Titans"

is a 2000 American sports drama based on true events and takes place in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, at brand new desegregated T.C. Williams High School. Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) is hired as head coach for the school's football team, taking the place promised to former head coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Yoast at first refuses Boone's offer of a position as assistant head coach, but then changes his mind. The black and white members of the football team clash in racially-motivated conflicts on a few occasions throughout their time at football camp, but after forceful coaxing and team building efforts by Coach Boone, the team manages to achieve some form of unity, as well as success.

The main conflict is taken to a personal level by the portrayal of the conflict between Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) and Julius Campbell (Wood Harris), two players of equally outstanding athletic ability, but different ethnic backgrounds, who at first can't stand one another but eventually become sworn brothers (the turning point of their relationship becomes a focal point for the team in its racially divided ways giving way to true unity). Upon return from camp to school, the team runs through its regular season competition undefeated while battling the racial prejudice that was then typical of, though not exclusive to, the American South.

All American player Gerry Bertier is paralyzed in an automobile accident while celebrating one of the later team's victories. Although Bertier is no longer able to play, the team goes on to win the championship, setting an example for the town in the process. The football team wins the AAA State championship game in Roanoke, and is first runner up in the national championship. Bertier later goes on to win a gold medal in the shotput event at the Paralympic Games. Ten years later, the team reunites at the end of the film to attend Bertier's funeral, after he was killed in another auto accident.


"Varsity Blues"

is a 1999 film that follows a small-town high school football team and their focused coach through a tumultuous season. The players must deal with the pressures of adolescence and their football obsessed community while having their hard coach on their back constantly. In the small town of West Canaan, Texas, football is a way of life, and losing is not an option.

Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of $53 million. Its budget was estimated at $16 million.


"Wildcats"

is a 1986 motion picture starring Goldie Hawn and costarring Jan Hooks and Swoosie Kurtz. It also features LL Cool J and is the first film to feature Wesley Snipes & Woody Harrelson. They also appeared together in White Men Can't Jump and Money Train.

Molly (Goldie Hawn), is the daughter of a famed football coach who's dying to head her own team. When her wish is finally granted, Molly leaves her job coaching girl's track at an affluent junior high to take over a football team at an inner-city high school (Central High School)--the kind of place where guard dogs are needed to patrol the campus. At first the new coach’s idealism and optimism are suffocated with racial and gender prejudice, but eventually her overriding spirit begins to whip her unruly team into shape. At the same time, she must also struggle to win a battle for the custody of her two young daughters.


OUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MOVIE:

"All the Right Moves"

is a 1983 drama/romance film directed by Michael Chapman and starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson, Chris Penn, and Gary Graham. It was filmed entirely on location during WPIAL football season in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh. It joins Slap Shot as another sports film classic filmed in both locales.

He has everything at stake - He can't afford to lose - He's got to make all the right moves.

Tom Cruise's character, Steffen "Stef" Djordjevic, is a high school defensive back seeking a college football scholarship to escape an economically depressed small Pennsylvania town

Most of the film takes place after the big football game against undefeated Walnut Heights High School. Ampipe appears headed to win the game, when a fumbled handoff in the closing seconds leads to a Walnut Heights victory.

Following the game Coach Nickerson (Craig T. Nelson) lambastes the fumbler in the locker room, telling him he "quit". When Stef (Tom Cruise) retorts that the coach himself quit, the coach kicks him off the team. In the immediate aftermath of the game disgruntled Ampipe fans vandalize Coach Nickerson's home/yard. Stef is present and is a reluctant participant but is nonetheless seen by Coach Nickerson as the vandals flee. From there, Stef deals with personal battles, including dealing with the coach blacklisting him among colleges because of his attitude and participation in the desecration of Coach Nickerson's yard.

Meanwhile, Stef's teammates deal with personal battles as well, including one who decides to marry his pregnant girlfriend, and another arrested for armed robbery.

Later, Stef frustrated by what Nickerson did, angrily confronts his former coach. In the end, Nickerson realizes he was wrong for blacklisting Stef, and informs him that he's accepted a coaching position at Cal Poly. He also offers Stef a full scholarship in engineering.

These are some of our favorites and we pay them tribute for being part of the tradition that is high school football in America.

Give us your feedback if you have a favorite by responding to this post with your own comments below. We'd love to hear of other movies we may have missed.

To all of the teams in Northeast Ohio that will complete their regular seasons this weekend, thank you for another great season. To those teams that will move on into the post-season, Play hard, give 110% on the field for YOUR teams, schools, coaches and fans, but more importantly give 110% for yourselves gentlemen.

Good luck to all of you!

2008 Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year award

Last year we trademarked this great award and it went to Randy Greenwood from Lake Catholic. Randy began this season in the running until an injury forced him to miss the entire 2008 season.

This season we've been looking at several worthy candidates, some of which include, but are not limited to: Tim Wetzel (Mayfield), Kellen Pagel (Strongsville), Ben Madden (Kirtland), Rossi Santo (Kirtland), Mike Hanhauser (Perry), Derrell McCaleb (Lakewood) and Andrew Holland (St. Ignatius) to name a handful.

This year's title sponsor of the award is Global Intermed. Our sponsor Oakley has also provided us with some gear for the package too. The winner will receive the trophy, a t-shirt, a performance football shield and a premium pair of sunglasses(with hard case) and a "Planet Pack" backpack to carry it home in. All from Oakley! (plus more to be added).


The Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year trophy


Oakley "Flak Jacket XLJ" sunglasses


Oakley Performance Football Shield


"Planet Pack 2.0" backpack from Oakley

The winner will be determined like last year, through random surveys of coaches, players and fans at various games we attend as well as e-mail voting, website polls, etc. It is unique in that NO MEDIA sources vote for this award. Rather we have YOU do the voting and we make the announcement after the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES making it also the first award of the year to be handed out.

Go to the website and vote, E-MAIL US at ufc@d1football.net or catch us at a game this year and tell us who YOU think should be on the list.

D1 Football's "Damned Good Dozen"

While the predictability of most northeast Ohio news rag top "25" teams is very obvious, we look at football from some different angles. NO MEDIA DARLINGS HERE nor will our list be comprised exclusively of Division-I primadonna blow-hards.

We look deeper than that. We don't care about the name of your school. We want to see players with heart and passion for the game. Not a group of kids that think they deserve to be page one because they go to "St. Play Nobody." We're not aiming for the popular vote. We look into the players and coaches. We look at what they've done to get where they are. We actually watch them on and off of the field. We look at the kids that bust their asses out there and give 110%!

WE'RE GIVING YOU A REALITY CHECK! We realize not many of you can handle reality, but here it is. Not everyone can be #1 boys!

9 weeks of God's greatest game have brought us this far:

1. Mayfield (8-1) Yes they lost to Olmstead Falls early in the season and this was a very hard decision to place them in the top spot, but you simply cannot argue with 6 straight shutouts by the defense run by coach Ricky Finotti. Simply the best around thus far. Talk about "shutdown defense." WOW. Oh yeah, did we mention Tim Wetzel scored again.....

2. Strongsville (8-1) You'd have to show me serious proof of a better quarterback in northeast Ohio than Kellen Pagel for us to believe you. He currently has an NCAA QB rating of 202.8! Not bad for his first full year as a starter. This kid is a winner and a true "player." Solid, poised and far too under-rated. Give him his credit and give coach Jacques the credit for putting together a terrific squad worthy and ready for a deep playoff run.

3. Youngstown Ursuline (9-0) You can say they struggled against Mooney, but we see it as if they battled the Cardinals in the very hard fought game of defense. Outstanding group of well coached, disciplined young athletes.

4. Kirtland (9-0) Not very hard to keep the Hornets near the top as they are worthy of the recognition and respect, BUT this team needs no accolades. They are hungry and focused. A one game playoff run simply isn't enough for them. They want it all and they may get their shot.

5. Mentor (7-2) For the last month the Cardinals have been playing at playoff intensity. Coach Triv (and yes WE can call him that) needs to keep the boys locked in and allow no slip ups. It's full steam now men.

6. Brunswick (8-1) The Blue Devils rebounded after their loss to Strongsville, but Mentor has the nod based on their intensity level this week. Brunswick will be a big horse in the home stretch we know that for a fact.

7. St. Ignatius (8-1) Iggy struggled to get to overtime with St. X this week, but pulled it out. They finally survived a worthy opponent this season and are gearing up for the playoffs.

8. Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary (7-2) Playoff fever has struck THESE Irish too! An exclamation mark put on their big win this week is proof of that. Next week it's just another game for these guys....BUT it's against Ursuline. Good luck.

9. Euclid (7-2) Staying put at the 9 spot, but screaming like a heat-seeking missile into the playoffs are the Panthers. Our buddy Tommy Gibbons has the defense pumped and our guy Donald Bell leads the fierce attack at linebacker for Euclid!

10. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (7-2) The Cardinals slip quite a bit, but in all honesty they just got caught in a surge of wins over their tough loss to Ursuline. They'll be a force in the playoffs.

11. Aurora (7-2) The Greenmen make a small move up as they continue to surge their way to the post-season. Although easily bragged about regular season wins are nice, the Greenmen will see a whole new ballgame come playoff time.

12. Padua (7-2) The Bruins are back! Andy Dziak has led that team through thick and thin this year and against very tough opposition. They locked into conference play and it was all said and done for the NCL teams...Padua reigns supreme as the class of the North Coast League.

OH SO CLOSE:

St. Edward players and fans can put this one on the coaching. There comes a time when to kickoff deep and when to squib it. This was the time for the squib guys. Hell, you had the game won!

Just Missed:

NDCL is very close to jumping onto this list as they are peaking at a critical time. A 31-14 knockout and second straight win over rival Lake Catholic is not a fluke. Willoughby South keeps on burying teams on their way to the post-season. Perry, Walsh and Streetsboro all continue to play well in the home stretch!

Stay locked in to the website SCOREBOARD and the FORUMS for updates and football talk all the way to championship weekend.

Kirtland's Mini-Hornets Wrap up Outstanding Season!

The Kirtland Middle School Hornet football teams (7th and 8th grade) completed their 2008 campaigns this week as the 7th graders took it to Aurora's 7th grade team to the tune of 38-12. The combined records of both middle school teams are 13-1. The 7th graders went a magnificent 7-0 this year!

It has been a special season indeed for the entire "Hornet's Nest." The varsity team is 8-0 thus far, the JV is 7-1, 8th grade finished 6-1 and the 7th graders finished perfect at 7-0. OVERALL HORNET RECORDS TO DATE 28-2! WOW.


The Kirtland Mini-Hornets got to take part in the pre-game run-in with the Varsity before the Hornets dismantled Berkshire 56-6 in front of a standing room only crowd at The Hornets' Nest as the varsity rolled to 8-0 and maintained it's second place points standing behind powerhouse Youngstown Ursuline.


More fun from the pre-game at Kirtland.

Remember these names: Mitchell Allen, Sam Kukura, Hunter McGonnell, Anthony Veneri, Ryan Loncar, Erik Guhde, Sammy Smith, Mike "The Warrior" Cymbol, Canon Schroeder, Domenic Camino, Aaron "Baby Niner" Madden, Brad Blankenship, Dan "The Rabid Chihuahua" Thomas, Shane Campbell, Jon McCollister "Mr. Reliable", Anthony DeCarlo, Angelo Luciano, Ian Cosgrove, Jon Schnur, Kevin Neibecker, Bernie Hupp, Christian Saban, Tudor Donca, Jacob "It's not Delivery" DiDonato, David Warren and Chase Frazee . These 7th graders are going to hit the scene in a big way. They are all friends and have grown together as a team and they have each other's backs.

Some notables:

Defensive Co-MVPs - Canon Schroeder (6 sacks, 1 blocked punt), Mike Cymbol (3 sacks, 2 INT)

Offensive MVP - Ryan Loncar


As for the 8th graders...these names may be getting some mention next year in the JV and maybe...varsity ranks. Bob Matthews, Sam Welborn, Damon Washington, Josh Imarino, Mitchell Yarborough, Mitchell Ayres, Mitch Seelinger, Scott Eilerman, Joey Schenosky, Rocky Calvert, PJ Miller, Alex Skiljan, Jeremy O'Brien, Evan "The Freight Train" Brettrager and the Hamilton brothers, Zack and Dylan.

For their coaches, it was a great honor and privilege to share this season with each and every one of you.

Hang on Hornet Nation. The Hive is Alive!!! The current team is tearing it up and the future isn't far behind.

"Kirtland Hornet Football....Catch The Buzz!"

D1 Football's "Damned Good Dozen"

While the predictability of most northeast Ohio news rag top "25" teams is very obvious, we look at football from some different angles. NO MEDIA DARLINGS HERE nor will our list be comprised exclusively of Division-I primadonna blow-hards.

We look deeper than that. We don't care about the name of your school. We want to see players with heart and passion for the game. Not a group of kids that think they deserve to be page one because they go to "St. Play Nobody." We're not aiming for the popular vote. We look into the players and coaches. We look at what they've done to get where they are. We actually watch them on and off of the field. We look at the kids that bust their asses out there and give 110%!

WE'RE GIVING YOU A REALITY CHECK! We realize not many of you can handle reality, but here it is. Not everyone can be #1 boys!

God this is a great game!!! After week 8 here's how we see it with two weeks of regular season chaos to go:

1.Strongsville (7-1) The very big, solid, hard-earned win over Brunswick catapults the Mustangs past Ursuline this week to the top spot. Kellen Pagel has got to be a solid contender for the Mr. Football Ohio Award. This kid has poise, a great arm and leadership. They need to keep it all rolling into the playoffs and keep their focus.

2. Youngstown Ursuline (8-0) Bottom line is that this team FEARS NO ONE. They never complain. They are disciplined, tremendous athletes that are well coached and they go out each week and take on WHOEVER STANDS IN THE WAY. You can say, "oh they're Division-5", but right now, this team could wipe Ohio with any team from any division, no questions asked! Prove us wrong.

3. Mayfield (7-1) It's simple. 5 straight shutouts for the Wildcats, the latest a 35-0 route of Cuyahoga Falls on Friday. Tim Wetzel has established himself among the elite on offense and defense and is the current front-runner for the "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year".

4. Kirtland (8-0) We've caught a little flack for this one, but prove us wrong! Prove them wrong! The Hive is Alive and the Hornets are stinging the competition enroute to the post-season and, like Ursuline, is D-5 and they don't care who they line up against. Rossi Santo sky rocketed himself back onto the scene of the elite with a tremendous 6 touchdown performance Friday as the Hornets tore through Berkshire 56-6 to remain the ONLY unbeaten team in Lake County.

5. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (7-1) "Not in our house!" was the cry heard when the Irish of St. Vincent/St. Mary came in Saturday night. The Cardinals imposed their will from the outset and should climb past SVSM in points as they did in this list. Great win and 2 more big ones to go including the big match-up with Ursuline next week.

6. Brunswick (7-1) You had to wonder who, let alone when this team would lose to and Friday night we watched as Kellen Pagel and the Strongsville Mustangs dismantled the Blue Devil defense in a thriller 25-20. We don't expect them to be down for long though.

7. St. Ignatius (7-1) Well here they come. The other Wildcats got a little revenge for the north by stomping Cincinnati LaSalle 50-0 in a blowout of epic proportions. They need to keep momentum now headed into the playoffs.

8. Mentor (6-2) Steve Trivisonno does not let his team give up. An up and down season until a couple weeks ago has turned into a repeat of the last two with the Cardinals steam rolling teams enroute to the post-season. The road seems a bit tougher this year.

9. Euclid (6-2) This was a tough call for us to make, but considering the way the Irish lost to Mooney it took a little pressure off. Great defense has been getting it done for the Panthers and head coach Tom Gibbons. Great, great overall team play. They may yet get another shot at Mentor.

10. Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary (6-2) What should have been a great game to watch turned into a bore-fest in the first half as Mooney exploded early and never looked back. The Irish were just off and they need to shape up quick because their schedule doesn't get too much lighter with University and the finale with Ursuline.

11. St. Edward (6-2) Tumbling all the way to number 11 is rough, but the utter letdown they allowed against St. X is just sad. C'mon Eagles!!! You're a better team than this and you better start proving it.

12. Aurora (6-2) Looky looky here at who bumped Perry out of the rankings, for this week at least. The Greenmen might have gotten it together in time for a late run to the top of OHSAA points in time for the playoffs as they trounced Chagrin Falls in what SOME people may have categorized as a big game in the CVC......we'll give you props just the same...for now.

OH SO CLOSE....

Perry remains in the thick of it at 7-1 and will still have to finish strong and stay healthy for the post-season. Padua is close to a return to the list too after destroying VASJ 35-7 Saturday night. Bruin QB Andrew Dziak did everything he could to make the Vikings defense look "lost." Streetsboro got back in the win column and hold solid at 6-2. Our boys at Walsh took it to another favorite of ours when they topple Benedictine this week. It look like playoffs might be an afterthought now for the Bengals. NDCL...WOW...the Lions are in the very think of the playoff hunt and despite their record, could garner a spot on our list based on work ethic alone. Speaking of work ethic...Willoughby South has been among those making waves this season quietly hitting their playoff stride too.

All in all we are totally jacked up to see the end of the regular season unfold. It's also about time area media get their heads on straight and give up the media darling crap and give Strongsville QB Kellen Pagel some credit in his bid for Mr. Football Ohio. Get over the crap guys and watch REAL football!

D1 Football will be watching!

Don't forget to jump on the SCOREBOARD for the latest, most accurate updates and give us your opinion in the FORUMS.

It's coming down to the wire for the "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year"(in it's second trademarked year) too and Mayfield's Tim Wetzel, Pagel and Kirtland's Ben Madden lead in the field surveys, e-mails and polls thus far.