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THE BROWNS BOARD

Week #6 - Power Ranking


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1. St. Edward Eagles: It is scary to think that as the season moves on the Eagles only keep getting better and better as a unit. On Saturday night at Lakewood Stadium, St. Edward throttled Tampa Jefferson 52-13 improving their undefeated record to 5-0 on the season and ran their unbeaten streak to 20 games. The defending Division I State Champions seem to be getting more comfortable with quarterback Ryan Fallon under center and it doesn’t hurt that they’ve found another weapon on offense. While Fallon accounted for 138 total yards both on the ground and through the air Saturday, rushing for one touchdown and passing for three, running back Kenny Butler rushed for 136 yards on just 12 carries for the Eagles.

 

Don’t forget junior running back Dwayne Aaron who rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries just in the first half for St Edward. Fallon, Butler and Aaron are even more dangerous behind a veteran-laden offensive line full of size and Division I recruits. On Saturday the Eagles defensive unit only allowed 184 total yards to the Dragons offense. Week 6 vs. Youngstown Ursuline 9/30.

 

 

2. Solon Comets: The highly anticipated showdown between the Comets and No. 3 Mentor is still one week away, but until then head coach Jim McQuaide’s squad continues to impress week after week. On Thursday night Solon continued their undefeated campaign with a 48-0 victory over Normandy improving their record to 5-0 on the season. The Comets defense, led by linebacker Nick Davidson posted its second shutout of the season on Thursday and might just be the best unit in Northeast Ohio only allowing seven points per game. With an experienced front seven to go along with an athletic defensive backfield full of playmakers, the Comets literally have as good a chance to score on the defensive side of the football as the offensive side.

 

Offensively Solon has missed running back Khoury Crenshaw who suffered a concussion in week one, but George Berry has done well in his place scoring two touchdowns on Thursday night at Byers Field. Similar to St. Edward’s Fallon, Comets senior quarterback Patrick Kramer is becoming more familiar with the offensive unit going 7-for-12 through the air for 138 yards and two touchdowns this past week. Week 6 vs. Medina 9/30.

 

 

 

3. Mentor Cardinals: The Cardinals still have one more week until their match up at Stewart Field with No. 2 Solon, but unlike the Comets, head coach Steve Trivisonno’s squad will have their hands full this Friday night at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium when they take on undefeated Brunswick. While Solon has a tune-up game at Ken Dukes Stadium in Medina, the Cardinals will look to stay undefeated against the Blue Devils, who seem to be the surprise team of this 2011 season. On Friday night Mentor impressed again dismantling Parma 49-0, a game they led at halftime 42-0. Cardinals junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky ran the show again going 11-of-18 through the air for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Throughout the night he never felt much pressure from the Redmen as his offensive line dominated the trenches.

 

What some people do not understand is that Mentor is way more than just Trubisky. His favorite targets, wide receivers Brandon Fritts and Conner Krizancic are playmakers and senior running back Warren Ashton is a speedy, hard runner that also returns punts. On Friday against Parma he had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Cardinals defensive unit, led by defensive lineman Tyler Koshiol boasts size and held the Redmen to just 62 yards of total offense on Friday night. Week 6 vs. Brunswick 9/30.

 

 

4. Maple Heights Mustangs: Similar to No. 1 St. Edward, the Mustangs also have quite the streak going when it comes to wins. The defending Division II State Champion, Maple Heights, continued its unbeaten streak on Friday night throttling Shaw 36-6 at Stafford Stadium. The win gave head coach Todd Filtz’ squad 20-straight wins dating back to last season. Last season it was quarterback Shaq Washington running the show for the Mustangs and guiding them to the Division II title, this season it appears running back Michael Jenkins and Da’Juan Graham are poised to do the same. During Friday night’s win over the Cardinals Jenkins rushed for 202 yards on 30 carries and four touchdowns, while Graham showed his dual-threat abilities throwing for a 29-yard touchdown and rushing for 63 yards on just seven carries.

 

However, on Friday night it took the Mustangs offensive unit a while to get going as they had two early turnovers. But because the maroon and white boasts one of the fastest more athletic defensive units in the state of Ohio, they were able to keep Shaw in check despite good field position for head coach Rodney Brown’s Cardinals. After a bye this upcoming week, three of Maple Heights final four games will be loaded with OHSAA computer points and if they are to win those games, finishing atop Division II Region VI is a realistic possibility. The Mustangs still have meetings with the top team in Division I Region I Cleveland Heights, upstart Lorain and Bedford. Week 6 vs. Idle 9/30.

 

 

 

5. Glenville Tarblooders: The top eight teams in Division I Region I will qualify for the 2011 OHSAA Playoffs, but right now the Tarblooders are not one of them. In fact, head coach Ted Ginn’s team is currently ranked No. 19 in Division I Region I with a record of 1-2. The postseason has been seemingly automatic for Glenville over the past 12 seasons, but two close losses to quality opponents the first two weeks of the season, a cancelled game with Rhodes and a weak Senate Athletic League schedule that does not provide many points may have already cost the talented Tarblooders a spot in the postseason. If Glenville does still have an outside shot at making the 2011 OHSAA Playoffs, they must win this weekend at Byers Field when they take on No. 6 St. Ignatius.

 

A win does not guarantee the Tarblooders a spot in the postseason, but a loss would almost guarantee them a spot on the couch when playoff football begins the first week of November. Similar to No. 4 Maple Heights, the Tarblooders are athletic, fast and physical on the defensive side of the football. During Saturday’s 69-0 win over Collinwood, Glenville returned two interceptions for touchdowns and used a Justin Hardee 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to put the Railroaders away. The Tarblooders understand their playoff hopes are already at stake this weekend at Byers Field, but No. 6 St. Ignatius is looking to secure a first round home game for the postseason, which might just make this the best game in the state of Ohio this week. Week 6 vs. # 6 St. Ignatius 10/1.

 

 

 

6. St. Ignatius Wildcats: This Saturday the Wildcats take on No. 5 Glenville at Byers Field in Parma, and while their playoff hopes are not at stake like the Tarblooders, the showdown will serve as a good measuring stick to see just how tough head coach Chuck Kyle’s squad really is. St. Ignatius has rebounded nicely following a week three loss at No. 3 Mentor by beating Centerville 27-8 the following week and John Adams 49-19 this past Saturday. It appeared the Wildcats took the pedal off the metal after they jumped out to a 49-7 lead after the third quarter on Saturday night against the Rebels, but they were still impressive on both sides of the football.

 

Wildcats senior quarterback Eric Williams threw for three touchdown passes, while running back Dan Grace scored two touchdowns on the ground and had one touchdown reception. Defensively St. Ignatius is fundamentally sound, but sometimes they tend to give up the big play; that’s something that will need to be fixed this Saturday night against Glenville. A Wildcats win this weekend could lock up a first round home game for Chuck Kyle’s squad come playoff time, and it would definitely knock No. 5 Glenville out of the postseason conversation. Week 6 vs. # 5 Glenville 10/1.

 

 

7. St. Vincent – St. Mary Fighting Irish: At first glance, Friday night’s 17-14 win over winless Archbishop Hoban at InfoCision Stadium does not look too impressive. However, anybody that follows high school football in Northeast Ohio understands the historic rivalry between the Fighting Irish and the Knights and also realizes records have to be tossed out when these two squads meet. St. Vincent – St. Mary trailed Archbishop Hoban 7-3 at halftime, but in the second half head coach Dan Boarman’s squad got their act together scoring 14 unanswered points to take an 18-17 lead in the all-time series between the two Akron parochial high schools. With their attack through the air struggling, the Fighting Irish turned to the 1-2 punch of senior running backs Sae’Von Fitzgerald and Matt Matuksa who combined to rush for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

 

The St. Vincent – St. Mary defensive unit was the story of the night though, holding the Knights to just 109 yards. Although the Fighting Irish tend to give up the big play at times, their defensive unit gives the offense time to get situated holding opposing offenses in check. If the OHSAA Playoffs began today in Division III Region IX, St. Vincent – St. Mary would host a first round home game. That seems to be the goal for every high school program in Northeast Ohio, but with the Fighting Irish it is becoming the norm. Week 6 vs. Akron Garfield 9/30.

 

 

8. Avon Eagles: If the OHSAA Playoffs began today the Eagles would have the No. 1 overall seed in Division II Region VI, the same place they finished last season before being stunned in the first round of the postseason by eighth-seeded Sandusky. This year head coach Mike Elder’s squad will probably finish the regular season with that top overall seed again, but it does not seem like the Eagles will be making any early exit again. On Friday night Avon remained undefeated with a record of 5-0 after a 27-16 win over Elyria Catholic. The Eagles played sloppy early on, but their defensive unit that is only allowing 13 points per game held the Panthers in check while Avon’s offense figured out a scrappy Elyria Catholic defense. Yes, it was only a 7-3 Avon lead at halftime, but the defense is what allowed the Eagles to settle in offensively.

 

Eagles running back Ross Douglas is quickly becoming one of the better tailbacks in Northeast Ohio, and he turned in quite the effort again rushing for 181 yards on 35 carries and one touchdown behind a veteran laden offensive line. As soon as the Panthers began cheating up on the run, the Eagles aired it out with senior quarterback Justin O’Rourke who went 14-of-31 through the air for 184 yards. Until the final two weeks of the season when Avon meets up with Midview and Lake Catholic, the rest of their schedule hardly poses any threats and a perfect record of 10-0 for the second consecutive year is not far-fetched. Week 6 vs. Rocky River 9/30.

 

 

9. Walsh Jesuit Warriors: After a heartbreaking 48-46 loss in the second week of the season to St. Vincent – St. Mary, the Warriors had the option of either feeling bad for themselves and losing the rest of the way or bouncing back with authority, luckily for head coach Gerry Rardin his squad chose the second option. Ever since their close home loss to the Fighting Irish, Walsh Jesuit has edged out Columbus Bishop Watterson 26-24 and stunned former WTAM Power 11 member Lake Catholic 14-12. Defensively the Warriors had serious concerns as they allowed an average of 32.6 points per game through their first three contests, but on Saturday night at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium they held on to a two-point lead throughout the second half to surprise Lake Catholic 14-12. For the past several weeks Walsh Jesuit was desperate to find a playmaker besides quarterback Nick Wargo on the offensive side of the football. Wargo is a dual-threat to both pass and run the football, but one player can’t do it all.

 

In their recent victory over the Cougars senior wideout Doug Lewis did it all rushing in for a 19-yard touchdown out of the “WildDawg” formation in which Lewis was the acting quarterback and he caught a six-yard pass from Wargo to keep the Warriors out front. Unlike some teams in this WTAM Power 11 poll, Walsh Jesuit does not play a cupcake schedule the rest of the way, so even if they happen to drop out of these rankings, it does not mean they will not make some noise come the first week of November. Week 6 vs. Canisius (NY) 10/1.

 

 

 

10. Chagrin Falls Tigers: Sometimes after a big win teams can have a let down, especially in high school football. That could have been the case Friday night when the Tigers took on rival Kenston after a big overtime win the previous week over Aurora. However, head coach Mark Iammarino’s squad continued their undefeated season improving their record to 5-0 with an impressive 48-28 win over the Bombers. The game really was not as close as the final score might indicate as Chagrin Falls jumped out to an early 35-7 lead, converting points off of turnovers, including a fumble returned for a touchdown by senior Brad Munday. Munday was big on both sides of the football for the Tigers also catching a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tommy Iammarino.

 

The Tigers do lack size, they have many different players playing important minutes on both sides of the football and they have moved up to Division III. However, if the OHSAA Playoffs began today Chagrin Falls would be the top-seeded team in Division III Region IX and they’ve important victories over bigger schools like Kenston this past week and Aurora the week before. The rest of the way does not seem to pose many threats besides a match up in week eight with undefeated West Geauga. Week 6 vs. Wickliffe 9/30.

 

 

11. Wadsworth Grizzlies: Many people have forgotten when last season started, the Grizzlies were ranked No. 10 in the first WTAM Power 11 poll of the 2010 season. However, numerous injuries to key players led to a disappointing 3-7 season for Wadsworth just one year ago. This season though virtually everybody has returned on both sides of the football for the Grizzlies and it appears they are coming back to what we expected to see last year. On Friday night Wadsworth throttled Revere 42-0 improving their undefeated record to 5-0. If the OHSAA Playoffs began today, the Grizzlies would own the second-seed in Division II Region V just behind top seeded Canton GlenOak.

 

When you think of Wadsworth you think of old fashioned football: running the football and defense. The Grizzlies have mastered both of those facets. Defensively the Wadsworth defensive unit is only allowing 14.8 points per game and senior running back Jack Snowball is one of the better tailbacks in the state of Ohio. During Friday night’s win over the Minutemen Snowball rushed for three touchdowns on the ground and even threw one touchdown pass, a 42-yarder on a halfback pass. The Grizzlies are a solid squad with very few question marks, but their remaining regular season schedule will not be easy with scheduled showdowns with Green, Copley, Tallmadge and Medina Highland. Week 6 vs. Green 9/30.

 

 

 

Other teams to watch for: Benedictine Bengals, Brunswick Blue Devils, Eastlake North Rangers, Cleveland Heights Tigers, Lake Catholic Cougars, Kirtland Hornets and Aurora Greenmen.

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Within six days, you can catch #5 Glenville vs #6 St. Ignatius on Saturday Oct. 1st at Byers Field, then Thursday Oct. 6th catch #3 Mentor @ #2 Solon .... and both combined for less than 1/4 the cost of a Browns games cheapest seat.

 

But first tonight I travel out to Mentor (5-0) to hopefully see them not looking past the #14 (5-0) Brunswick Blue Devils.

 

pinch me!

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why?

 

A few reasons- 1)I felt that Gibbons got a raw deal a few years ago 2)the old, tireless argument about public vs. private schools in athletics 3)they are supposed to win anyhow, especially with all the beefy linemen they have

 

That being said, I think it would suck to not be able to schedule any area schools, and have to do all that traveling to play for your HS team. That's not how it's supposed to be, but unfortunately, that's where we're headed in this day & age.

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St. Edward is 1 time state champ, not a perennial powerhouse.

 

Finotti runs an unbeleivable program. They won't always have the huge lineman, and it's not as easy as you think being a private school.

 

Let the kids enjoy it, beleive it, if they win it they've earned it.

 

Besides they represent Ohio highschool football in all the ways you want a program to.

 

Be proud of them. Win or lose.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Wow, St. Ed's lost to St. X ... that's gonna shake things up even more in the State poll.

 

the Mentor @ Twinsburg game in the last week is shaping up to be a good contest. Twinsburg had Solon this past weekend and let it get away, after killing Brunswick the week prior. Twinsburg looks fast and well coached.

 

NOTE: Teams such as Brunswick & Solon have seemed to be beaten up after coming off a week facing Mentor. Twinsburg got their ass handed to them by Twinsburg and Solon appeared flat until the fourth quarter at Twinsburg. Twinsburg ought to happy cleaning up on sloppy seconds after Mentor, but the should see a fresh Mentor team in week #10.

 

St. Ignatius is looking good after only one loss (@ Mentor). They are 7-1, but face St. X here at home and then travel to Lakewood for St. Ed's ... it should all shake-out in the end.

 

It doesn't get any easier for St. Ed's who after coming off back-to-back losses to the Nations #1 ranked team (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) and St. Xavier, now face previously Ohio's #1 ranked team in Cincinnatti Moeller (who just lost on Saturday to Indianapolis Cathedral, IN) before the Holy War with St. Iggy ... both are at Home.

 

It will be intertesting how Moeller travels to Cleveland after the defeat to an Indiana team.

 

Mentor (8-0) travels to Strongsville (1-7), who are just having an absolutly horrible season. Then Mentor travels to Twinsburg (5-3). I was the first to tell all that Mentor has a weak schedule (for once). Hope it doesn't effect their playoff preparation. Mentor had already clinched a playoff spot after the 7th week.

 

I will be traveling to the Mentor/Strongsville game and hopefully to the St. Iggy/St. X game on Saturday.

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