Mon Feb 13 2012
Week 1 is in the record books.
Fortunately for me, so is my annual golf and poker weekend.
My pockets are a lot lighter, which signifies my shift in concentration to Portage Trail Conference football.
BABY STEPS
Both Waterloo head coach Mike Bohley and rookie Windham mentor Ryan Slone took some major steps last Friday in turning around their programs with Week 1 victories.
Bohley maybe said it best following the win when he stated, “We look at it as baby steps. One win will only get you so far.”
These two schools have long been thought of as basketball schools. The Bombers have to build a new trophy case every couple years to maintain the hardware won on the hardwood, with Waterloo not far behind.
The Vikings have won only one game in each of the last two years — both of those wins are victories over the Bombers. Windham has won only one game in the last two years, suffering through a winless season in 2009.
Both football programs have been successful in the past and have always been known as blue-collar programs, with kids that like to hit and hit hard. Both have always been short on numbers, so injuries are always a major concern — Windham finished the season last year with less than 20 players.
Windham sophomore quarterback Matt Knight, who started last year as a freshman, was 10-of-18 passing for 105 yards. He threw for a touchdown, 2-point conversion and also scored a rushing TD.
Slone was quick to point to the leadership of senior running back Jake Higgenbotham in the second half as the difference maker Friday night.
“Jake wanted the ball and he proved to me that he deserved it,” Slone said. “I think 55 of his 66 yards rushing came in the second half, he really stepped up.”
Slone was more excited about his team than the fact he won his first game as a varsity coach.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team, they have really worked hard and deserved the win,” Slone said.
Windham will travel to Vienna Mathews on Friday seeking win No. 2. Mathews was a 28-0 loser to Berlin Western Reserve in Week 1. Western Reserve was a playoff team last year and finished the season 9-1 before losing to the eventual state champ Norwalk St. Paul in the first round of the playoffs.
In Waterloo last Friday, quarterback Klay McBroom ran for three touchdowns and passed for another in leading the Vikings to a 47-0 rout of visiting Southington Chalker.
The Vikings have a trio of running backs that share the ball coming out of the backfield: Junior Robbie Vicen, sophomore Kristen Youngblood and senior Tylin Fairchild.
The Vikings could be on the verge of a breakout season, however, the big test could be this week when they host always-tough Malvern.
The Green Hornets were 11-2 last season, winning a pair of playoff games before losing in the regional final.
Malvern graduated 19 seniors from that team, but picked up several transfers thanks to open enrollment for the Division VI power. Malvern lost 40-25 in Week 1 against a very tough United Local team that is expected to make a playoff run this year.
Bohley has labored for two seasons with young players and now has what he thinks is a very strong junior and senior class of veterans.
“Our team knows the significance of this game,” he said. “We know the team coming into our stadium on Friday is a very quality opponent. As I said last Friday night, one win doesn’t turn around a program. We look forward to this matchup.”
TOUGH NON-LEAGUE
Waterloo and Windham have both lightened up the non-league portion of its schedule. The Vikings have removed Field and Springfield from the schedule, while Windham replaced McDonald and Newton Falls.
On the other hand, Streetsboro continues to meet tough opponents in the non-league portion of its season.
The Rockets suffered a 13-7 setback in Week 1 against Independence, a Division V powerhouse. This week Streetsboro will host Ravenna and then face Crestwood the following week.
Streetsboro gave the ball away three times in the first half against Independence that cost the Rockets a win. The back-breaker was a 58-yard interception return at the end of the first half.
HEARTBREAKER
The news coming out of Garrettsville was heartbreaking Friday night when a couple controversial calls made a big difference when the G-Men fell to Middlefield Cardinal 15-10.
Many observers at the game could not believe that Garfield quarterback Sebastian Neikirk did not get in the end zone in the dying seconds of the game.
Garfield head coach Steve Wyllie, despite feeling sick for his kids, wants to make sure his team puts the game behind them.
We have nine games remaining, and we’re going to have to forget about this one quickly,” Wyllie said following the loss Friday.
DUNN DEDICATION
Rootstown’s defense stepped up last week and carried the Rovers to a 17-7 win over Sebring.
Friday night the Rovers will host Jackson-Milton in an attempt to put together a win streak, as the school will honor longtime educator and coach Robert C. Dunn, who died on June 30.
A halftime ceremony will honor Dunn by re-naming the field in his honor. With family members on hand, the field will become known as Robert C. Dunn Field at Rover Stadium.
COUNTY DIVISION FOOTBALL STANDINGS
Team Overall Division
Mogadore 1-0 0-0
Rootstown 1-0 0-0
Waterloo 1-0 0-0
Windham 1-0 0-0
Woodridge 1-0 0-0
East Canton 0-1 0-0
Garfield 0-1 0-0
Streetsboro 0-1 0-0
Last Week’s Results
Cardinal 15, Garfield 10
CVCA 26, East Canton 7
Independence 13, Streetsboro 7
Mogadore 21, Linsly (WV) 7
Rootstown 17, Sebring 7
Waterloo 47, Chalker 0
Windham 21, Jackson-Milton 7
Woodridge 38, Fairless 13
Friday’s Games
East Canton at Sandy Valley
Garfield at Champion
Gilmour Academy at Woodridge
Jackson-Milton at Rootstown
Malvern at Waterloo
Ravenna at Streetsboro
Smithville at Mogadore
Windham at Mathews
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