Tyler Crowl of Lake works for yardage against Green on Friday

RUSHING

Kyle Snyder, Walsh Jesuit, 13-249, 2 TD
Danny Beers, Northwest, 17-188, 2 TD
Erick Howard, North Canton Hoover, 22-185, 3 TD
Devin Richardson, Ellet, 26-181, 2 TD
John Battaglia, Revere, 39-179, 2 TD
Caleb Laps, Perry, 9-163, 1 TD
Bobby Brown, North, 5-152, 2 TD
Armand Dehaney, Walsh Jesuit, 6-133, 2 TD
Thad Nofsinger, Waynedale, 15-126, 3 TD
Tyler Crowl, Lake, 22-119, 3 TD
John Pettigrew, CVCA, 17-118, 1 TD
Davon Roberson, Ellet, 13-113, 1 TD
Donte Covington, North, 6-112, 1 TD
Justin James, Green 22-111, 1 TD
Brenton Semplak, Garrettsville, 14-107, 1 TD
Joe Besancon, Orrville, 16-102
Quinton Howard, Marlington, 15-102, 2 TD
Ryan Christiansen, Lake 104
Mark Guarnieri, Norton, 11-100, 1 TD
Davon Coman, North, 6-100, 2 TD

PASSING

Mike Smith, West Branch, 8-13, 253, 2 TD
Joe Besancon, Orrville, 22-38, 225, 1 TD
Kyle Snyder, Barberton, 8-21, 207, 1 INT, 2 TD
Dom McClain, Copley, 11-23, 205, 1 INT

RECEIVING

Chad Butcher, West Branch, 4-139-1 TD
Kwame Harvey, Copley, 3-107
Sam MIller, Orrville, 8-92
Cory Stryker, Waynedale, 5-90
Jeff Walker, Coventry, 6-87
Jase Uyselt, West Branch, 2-80,1 TD

Local Scoreboard
Alliance 39, Crestwood 26
Ashland 51, Willard 12
Brunswick 51, Mansfield 35
Chagrin Falls 27, Woodridge 21
Chippewa 12, Norton 7
Cloverleaf 10, Buckeye 6
Crestview 29, Northwestern 0
Dalton 42, Garaway 26
East 38, Carrollton 14
Ellet 33, Springfield 7
Field 28, Waterloo 0
Garfield Heights Trinity 19, Coventry 7
Garrettsville 21, Middlefield Cardinal 0
Highland 40, Rocky River 15
Hillsdale 43, Mapleton 28
Jackson 12, Norton 7
Jackson-Milton 30, Windham 8
Kent Roosevelt 35, Kenston 0
Lake 39, Green 30
Manchester 14, Smithville 7
Marlington 25, St. Thomas Aquinas 20
Massillon 45, Buchtel 29
Minerva 47, United Local 0
Mogadore 27, Mineral Ridge 7
New Philadelphia 28, Canton Central Catholic 7
Nordonia 28, Tallmadge 7
North 68, Rootstown 3
North Canton Hoover 41, Washington (DC) Dunbar 22
Northwest 34, Orrville 13
Norwayne 26, Wellington 7
Perry 48, Barberton 14
Revere 24, Firestone 0
Stow 31, Kenmore 0
Triway 14, West Holmes 7
Wadsworth 35, Wooster 19
Walsh Jesuit 48, Newark Licking Valley 14
Warren JFK 27, CVCA 7
Waynedale 55, Tusky Valley 7
West Branch 48, Southeast 6
 

State Scoreboard
Ada 28, Dola Hardin Northern 0¶
Albany Alexander 48, Reedsville Eastern 14¶
Amherst Steele 52, Elyria 34¶
Anna 28, Sidney Lehman 21¶
Antwerp 21, Edon 13¶
Arlington 21, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 6¶
Avon Lake 38, Maple Hts. 26¶
Bainbridge Paint Valley 41, Cols. West 32¶
Baltimore Liberty Union 28, Bloom-Carroll 0¶
Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 42, Bloomdale Elmwood 7¶
Batavia Amelia 26, Batavia 23, OT¶
Beavercreek 49, Riverside Stebbins 6¶
Bellbrook 28, Miamisburg 0¶
Bellevue 27, Sandusky Perkins 16¶
Belmont Union Local 53, Byesville Meadowbrook 13¶
Berlin Center Western Reserve 28, Vienna Mathews 26¶
Bluffton 21, Cory-Rawson 10¶
Bowerston Conotton Valley 48, Sebring McKinley 34¶
Brookville 55, Day. Belmont 0¶
Bryan 13, Van Wert 10¶
Bucyrus Wynford 49, Caledonia River Valley 12¶
Burton Berkshire 40, Andover Pymatuning Valley 7¶
Cadiz Harrison Cent. 18, Uhrichsville Claymont 15¶
Camden Preble Shawnee 53, New Paris National Trail 21¶
Canfield 42, Chardon 13¶
Cardington-Lincoln 27, Howard E. Knox 7¶
Carey 27, Upper Sandusky 0¶
Carlisle 69, Arcanum 0¶
Center Grove, Ind. 41, Day. Carroll 0¶
Centerburg 28, DeGraff Riverside 7¶
Chesapeake 30, Oak Hill 29¶
Chillicothe Zane Trace 26, Ironton Rock Hill 7¶
Cin. Colerain 13, Cin. St. Xavier 8¶
Cin. Country Day 39, Batavia Clermont NE 20¶
Cin. Hills Christian Academy 21, Cin. Wyoming 13¶
Cin. Indian Hill 44, Hamilton Ross 7¶
Cin. N. College Hill 42, Reading 9¶
Cin. NW 31, Cin. Finneytown 0¶
Cin. Oak Hills 49, Harrison 28¶
Cin. Sycamore 35, Cin. Glen Este 6¶
Cin. Walnut Hills 10, Cin. Purcell Marian 7¶
Cin. Winton Woods 26, Cin. La Salle 20¶
Clarksville Clinton-Massie 49, Blanchester 0¶
Cle. Benedictine 35, Chardon NDCL 14¶
Cle. Cent. Cath. 37, Newbury 6¶
Cle. Hts. 28, Cols. Northland 19¶
Clyde 34, Pemberville Eastwood 17¶
Cols. Africentric 37, Cedarville 7¶
Cols. Brookhaven 14, Chillicothe 7¶
Cols. DeSales 28, Lima Shawnee 0¶
Cols. Eastmoor 40, Cols. East 14¶
Cols. Hartley 63, Cols. Centennial 6¶
Cols. Marion-Franklin 27, Trotwood-Madison 25¶
Cols. St. Charles 26, Cols. Walnut Ridge 20¶
Cols. Whetstone 41, Cols. Briggs 6¶
Columbiana Crestview 20, Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 19, OT¶
Cortland Lakeview 34, Painesville Harvey 20¶
Coshocton 49, Johnstown Northridge 0¶
Crestline 14, Galion Northmor 7¶
Crooksville 21, Sugar Grove Berne Union 14¶
Day. Christian 38, Ridgeway Ridgemont 16¶
Day. Dunbar 14, Franklin 7¶
Day. Northridge 33, Tipp City Bethel 13¶
Day. Oakwood 43, Versailles 21¶
Delaware Hayes 17, Delaware Buckeye Valley 14¶
Delphos Jefferson 74, Lima Perry 6¶
Dresden Tri-Valley 50, Warsaw River View 26¶
Dublin Coffman 10, Powell Olentangy Liberty 7¶
Eastlake N. 18, Lyndhurst Brush 12, OT¶
Eaton 21, Oxford Talawanda 7¶
Edgerton 46, W. Unity Hilltop 18¶
Fostoria 21, Ottawa-Glandorf 7¶
Fostoria St. Wendelin 41, Arcadia 10¶
Frankfort Adena 29, Greenfield McClain 27, 2OT¶
Fredericktown 7, Sparta Highland 6¶
Fremont Ross 52, Perrysburg 25¶
Ft. Recovery 48, Ansonia 6¶
Gahanna Cols. Academy 48, Cols. Linden McKinley 0¶
Galion 50, Mt. Gilead 13¶
Geneva 42, Wickliffe 7¶
Genoa Area 55, Sycamore Mohawk 0¶
Germantown Valley View 45, Day. Marshall 6¶
Gibsonburg 25, Tol. Ottawa Hills 3¶
Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 15, Newcomerstown 7¶
Granville 35, Johnstown-Monroe 23¶
Greenville 26, Vandalia Butler 21¶
Greenwich S. Cent. 42, New Washington Buckeye Cent. 12¶
Hamilton 30, Springfield 6¶
Hamilton New Miami 50, Southeastern 27¶
Hamler Patrick Henry 34, Leipsic 14¶
Hannibal River 35, Beverly Ft. Frye 0¶
Heath 62, Zanesville Maysville 19¶
Hilliard Davidson 35, Westerville S. 0¶
Hillsboro 28, Mt. Orab Western Brown 14¶
Holland Springfield 58, Oak Harbor 14¶
Huron 20, Vermilion 6¶
Jeromesville Hillsdale 43, Ashland Mapleton 28¶
Kansas Lakota 27, Northwood 22¶
Kettering Alter 39, Kettering Fairmont 7¶
LaGrange Keystone 37, Monroeville 7¶
Lawrenceburg, Ind. 55, N. Bend Taylor 14¶
Lebanon 39, Cin. Western Hills 13¶
Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 21, Marion Elgin 20¶
Lexington 42, Mt. Vernon 7¶
Lima Bath 42, Lafayette Allen E. 0¶
Lima Sr. 14, Celina 10¶
Lisbon Beaver 29, E. Liverpool 22¶
Lockland 22, Bethel-Tate 21¶
Logan 35, Lancaster 10¶
Lorain Admiral King 30, Tol. Start 21¶
Lorain Clearview 37, Castalia Margaretta 14¶
Lorain Southview 14, Sandusky 12¶
Loudonville 31, Ontario 14¶
Loveland 6, Cin. Turpin 2¶
Lucasville Valley 38, Chillicothe Huntington 0¶
Malvern 49, Lowellville 13¶
Maria Stein Marion Local 64, Elida 0¶
Marysville 41, Marion Harding 0¶
McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 56, Lakeside Danbury 6¶
Mechanicsburg 20, W. Jefferson 14, OT¶
Mentor 34, Youngs. Mooney 20¶
Middletown Fenwick 32, Cin. Mariemont 3¶
Milford 19, Cin. Hughes 0¶
Milton-Union 35, Casstown Miami E. 28¶
Minford 42, Cheshire River Valley 6¶
Minster 19, Ft. Loramie 6¶
Morrow Little Miami 27, Goshen 0¶
N. Baltimore 26, Holgate 14¶
New Bremen 32, Covington 10¶
New Concord John Glenn 27, Barnesville 21¶
New London 38, N. Robinson Col. Crawford 32, OT¶
New Middletown Spring. 24, Struthers 7¶
New Richmond 28, Cin. Deer Park 0¶
Norwood 14, Cin. McNicholas 13¶
Oberlin 36, Ashtabula Sts. John and Paul 14¶
Oberlin Firelands 39, Sheffield Brookside 13¶
Orwell Grand Valley 27, Jefferson Area 26, OT¶
Pandora-Gilboa 27, Columbus Grove 6¶
Parma Padua 26, Chesterland W. Geauga 19¶
Pataskala Licking Hts. 27, Philo 0¶
Paulding 56, Haviland Wayne Trace 14¶
Perry 30, Painesville Riverside 6¶
Plain City Jonathan Alder 14, Monroe 7¶
Plymouth 26, Lucas 9¶
Pomeroy Meigs 18, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant 7¶
Port Clinton 27, Elmore Woodmore 26¶
Portsmouth 28, S. Point 15¶
Rayland Buckeye 21, Martins Ferry 14¶
Richwood N. Union 47, McConnelsville Morgan 7¶
Rockford Parkway 33, Convoy Crestview 14¶
S. Charleston SE 10, Spring. NW 6¶
Shelby 26, Mansfield Madison 6¶
Southington Chalker 34, Conneaut 6¶
Spencerville 28, Lewistown Indian Lake 21¶
Spring. Cath. Cent. 12, Spring. Shawnee 0¶
Spring. Greenon 33, Jamestown Greeneview 6¶
Spring. Kenton Ridge 42, Spring. NE 28¶
St. Bernard Roger Bacon 21, Cin. Mt. Healthy 20¶
St. Clairsville 28, Richmond Edison 0¶
St. Marys Memorial 36, Piqua 32¶
Sunbury Big Walnut 31, Westerville Cent. 2¶
Thompson Ledgemont 30, Fairport Harbor Harding 26¶
Thornville Sheridan 49, Bellaire 14¶
Tiffin Columbian 28, Tol. Whitmer 20¶
Tipp City Tippecanoe 48, St. Paris Graham 14¶
Tol. Libbey 35, Tol. Christian 7¶
Tol. St. John’s 47, Findlay 34¶
Trenton Edgewood 31, Cin. Withrow 21¶
Troy 17, Day. Chaminade-Julienne 14¶
Troy Christian 27, Bradford 0¶
Urbana 27, London 25¶
Utica 35, Cols. Grandview Hts. 21¶
Warren Champion 20, Ashtabula Edgewood 17¶
Waterford 41, Crown City S. Gallia 20¶
Waynesfield-Goshen 40, Vanlue 21¶
Waynesville 14, Lees Creek E. Clinton 0¶
Wellsville 60, Strasburg-Franklin 3¶
Wheelersburg 23, Ironton 22¶
Willoughby S. 29, Cols. Watterson 23¶
Wilmington 21, W. Carrollton 7¶
Xenia 13, Fairfield 10¶
Youngs. Ursuline 48, Cle. East 6¶
Zanesville W. Muskingum 18, Hebron Lakewood 7¶¶

My observations from Archbishop Hoban’s 27-26 overtime win against Garfield in the season-opener for both teams:

* MORGAN’S MVP: No question, my pick is 5-foot-9, 175-pound Garfield junior running back Tyson Gulley. He rushed for a game-high 225 yards on 25 carries. Gulley rushed for over 130 yards- just in the first quarter, with touchdown runs of 60 and 58 yards.

What I like about Gulley is the explosiveness he has once he hits the line of scrimmage. His quickness allows him to get to the hole, then, his speed and ability to change directions and cutback without losing much speed is the key to his impressive running style.

* OTHER MVP CONTENDERS: There were several, including Garfield freshman running back and defensive back Toneo Gulley, Tyson’s little brother. Playing in his first varsity game, Toneo (5-7, 170) was impressive. He showed flashes of speed and quickness equal to his brother.

But what impressed me the most was his skills defensively. He registered eight tackles but he deflected several passes intended for Hoban senior receiver/tight end Chris Sarkis, that could have been big plays.

On two occasions, Sarkis was open and waiting to catch both passes on stride. But at the last moment, Toneo’s speed enabled him to make up ground and get to the ball to knock it away. For a freshman, playing in a pretty overwhelming atmosphere for a youngster, he handled himself like a veteran.

For Hoban, there were two MVP contenders, in my opinion. The first was junior punter Paul Kramer. His play actually changed the entire complexity of the game and allowed the Knights to get back in the game.

For instance, Hoban had the ball to start the third quarter, after trailing 14-3 at halftime. The Knights opened the second half with an impressive drive, with nice runs from Laymon Carter III, who finished with 94 yards, and Dominic Williams, who had 74 yards.

However, Hoban’s drive stalled and the Knights had to punt. Kramer’s kicked was downed at Garfield’s 2-yard-line by Chris Bernardo, who played a tremendous game on special teams. A few plays later, Hoban registered a safety to cut the lead to 14-5.

The Knights got the ball on Garfield’s free kick and quickly scored cutting the lead to 14-12.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Kramer had another quality punt that was downed by Bernardo at Garfield’s 5-yard line. The Rams couldn’t move the ball and had to punt, and once again, Hoban scored and took the lead for the first time at 20-14 with 7:29 left in the game.

When Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was the head coach at Youngstown State, he never failed to emphasis the importance of special teams. In fact, he always contended, and still does, that the punt is the most important play in football, because of the potential for some many things- good or bad- that can happen.

Hoban coach Ralph Orsini saw the punt work in his team’s favor.
“”We went into the game thinking that special teams would be a key for us because we have two pretty good kickers,” Orsini said. “”He was referring to Kramer, of course, and also junior kicker Zack Christensen, who booted a 30-yard field goal and also had several deep kickoffs, helping the kickoff coverage limit Garfield’s big returns.

Hoban’s other MVP contender was senior quarterback Josh Masters. He couldn’t establish a passing game in the first half, so he got things going with his running ability. Masters finished with two touchdown runs and converted on two rushing two-point conversions.

And finally, a special mention goes to Garfield junior offensive lineman Kenny Blevins. This young man is 6-0, 300 pounds and playing under hot and humid conditions, he played the entire game, both ways. His jersey was soaked after the game and although he was disappointed in the loss, he left it all on the field and that’s all you can ask from the young man.

Even longtime Hoban team physician Joseph Congeni took notice of Blevins’ performance. “”That young man played a heck of a game, especially given the conditions,” Congeni said.

* QUESTIONABLE CALL SHOULDN’T BE QUESTIONED: Garfield coach Bob Sax opted to try to pass for a two-point conversion and win in overtime instead of running the ball. Some Garfield fans, as they left the stadium, thought the Rams should have run the ball as well.

But looking back, Sax’s call made sense. First off, Tyson Gulley left the field a few plays before his little brother Toneo scored the game-tying touchdown in OT. Tyson left because of severe cramps.

Second, with the way Rams quarterback Darius Martin was playing- rolling out and making plays happen out of the pocket- Sax’s idea was to let Martin do the same, thinking that Hoban would be expecting one of the Gully’s to get the ball.

But Hoban defensive back Rahsheed Moore just did what good players do, he came up with a big play, stepping in front of Garfield wide receiver James Barnett at the goal line to intercept the two-point conversion ending the game.

* NICE TURNOUT: The Hoban-Garfield game always draws a health crowd because the game is on Thursday and everyone is ready to watch the first game of the season, especially players from area teams who don’t open the season until the following day.

The players who are spectators crack me up because they wear their jerseys. That’s not what cracks me up. It’s the fact that they roll up their sleeves really high so they can let their biceps breath. I understand, after all that offseason weightlifting, they have to get those puppies some air.

The Beacon Journal’s ‘‘Power Poll’’ ranks teams based on expectations for the 2008 season within their OHSAA division relative to other area teams. It is not a predictor of head-to-head strength. Here are the first rankings with division and 2007 record.
1. Walsh Jesuit (III, 9-2)
Quarterback Kyle Snyder and running backs Cameron Ontko and Armand Dehaney give the Warriors plenty of offensive firepower. Big Ten recruits Pat McShane (Indiana) and Brian Smith (Northwestern) will anchor the lines. If the Warriors’ defense holds up, this could be a big season on Wyoga Lake Road.
2. Louisville (II, 12-3)
Quarterback Neal Seaman and receiver-defensive back Brandon Mathie are back for a Leopards team that was the 2007 Division II state runner-up.
3. Northwest (III, 12-1)
The Division III poll champion has some holes to fill, but lineman Nate Klatt (Michigan State) and running back Danny Beers head an impressive list of returnees.
4. St. Vincent-St. Mary (IV, 9-3)
Coach Dan Boarman’s second Irish team, which will be led by receiver Todd Culver and linebacker Harvie Tuck IV, is primed for another season to remember for the Green Street faithful.
5. Massillon (I, 4-6)
Jason Hall is seeking to make an impressive debut as the Tigers’ head coach, just as he did in 2007 with an inexperienced Nordonia team. Running back J.T. Turner and linebacker Matt Rose are the leaders
6. Highland (III, 6-4)
The Hornets’ fans have been waiting for this senior class to arrive, and that time is now. Back Chris Snook and linebacker Tyler Houska anchor strong offensive and defensive units.
7. Nordonia (I, 10-2)
The Knights, one of the surprise teams in the area last season, will sneak up on no one this season. Tailback John Hamilton and linebacker Luke Batton are potent offensive and defensive leaders.
8. Aurora (III, 9-2)
Lineman Adam Bellamy, an Ohio State recruit, and defensive back-wide receiver Dee Brizzolara will lead the Greenmen’s quest for a fourth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs.
9. Wadsworth (I, 9-2)
Dru Jones, the leading all-time rusher in Medina County history, is gone, but the Grizzlies have a deep and talented junior class ready to fill the void.
10. Brunswick (I, 13-1)
Ricky Manco, who takes over at quarterback for Beacon Journal player of the year Sean Bedevelsky, leads a solid Blue Devils team looking for a seventh consecutive trip to the state playoffs.
11. Tallmadge (II, 10-2)
The Blue Devils’ attempt to win another Suburban League championship will rest on a core of seniors led by tailback Tyler Fortner and linebacker Nick Thompson.
12. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (IV, 9-2)
Running back John Pettigrew, who just missed rushing for 2,000 yards in 2007, returns for a Royals team trying for a fourth consecutive trip to the state playoffs.
13. Firestone (II, 7-4)
Coach Tim Flossie has quickly rebuilt the Falcons and has them poised to follow up the first playoff season in school history with another one.
14. Archbishop Hoban (II, 3-7)
The Knights’ defense will be strong, and quarterback Josh Masters and tight end Brian Slack are back to lead a potentially strong offense.
15. Garfield (I, 7-3)
The Rams will contend for honors in the City Series behind a core group of seniors led by running back-safety Tyson Gulley.
16. Ravenna (III, 8-3)
The Ravens, who will be led by running back Blayre Davis, will be seeking their second consecutive appearance in the state playoffs.
17. GlenOak (I, 6-5)
The Golden Eagles, who qualified for the state playoffs for the fourth time in school history last season, return eight starters on defense, led by lineman Aaron Williams.
18. Waynedale (V, 9-3)
Optimism is high among the Golden Bears’ faithful that tailback Thad Nofsinger and his teammates will have a long run in the state playoffs.
19. Mogadore (VI, 10-2)
The Wildcats always seem to face heavy graduation losses and then find able replacements. A 22nd appearance in the state playoffs is likely.
20. Orrville (IV, 6-4)
The Red Riders, who missed the state playoffs by one spot in 2007, have plenty of offensive talent back, led by quarterback Joe Besancon and running back Josh Graber.
Others to watch: Alliance, Buckeye, Canton Central Catholic, Canton McKinley, Canton South, Cloverleaf, Ellet, Garrettsville, Green, Hudson, Jackson, Kent Roosevelt, Lake, Manchester, North Canton Hoover, Northwestern, Norwayne, Perry, Revere, Stow, Streetsboro, Tuslaw, Twinsburg.

American swimmer Mark Gangloff won his second career gold medal Sunday following the 400-meter medley relay in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Gangloff, a 2000 Firestone High School graduate and former Stow resident, swam in a 400-meter medley relay prelim and thus was eligible for the medal even though he did not swim in the final. He placed eighth in the 100-meter breast stroke earlier in the 2008 Olympics.

Gangloff won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece as a member of the 400-meter medley relay and placed fourth in the 100-meter breast stroke.

Gangloff graduated from Auburn University in 2005 and resides in Charlotte, N.C.

American swimmer Michael Phelps was the biggest story in Beijing after winning a record eight gold medals in one Olympics. Phelps, who has 14 career gold medals, set seven world records and surpassed American swimmer Mark Spitz record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics.

Archbishop Hoban senior Brian Slack has orally committed to continue his academic and football careers at Miami (Ohio) University, Hoban coach Ralph Orsini said.

Slack, a 6-foot-5 and 230-pound athlete who played tight end and defensive end for the Knights, was a Division II All-Ohio Special Mention this past fall. He also earned first-team honors in the Northeast Inland district and in the North Coast League.

“They like to throw the ball and utilize their tight end’s,” Orsini said of the RedHawks. “Miami is one of top programs in the Mid-American Conference. Brian is probably one of the best tight end’s in the state. He catches the ball really well and he blocks really well.”

Slack had 25 receptions, 320 yards and had one touchdown last season. He also recorded 52 total tackles and had 4.5 sacks.

Orsini said Slack also considered Toledo, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, North Carolina State, Michigan State and Illinois.

“When he visited the school, he fell in love with it,” Orsini said. “I think it will be a real good fit for him.”

A good Division I football prospect can help carry a high school football team through a season. Medina Highland is lucky enough to have at least three.

Running back/linebacker Chris Snook, linebacker Tyler Houska and kicker Eric Duale have all created plenty of buzz by college recruiters as they head into their senior season.

Snook brings the most notoriety of the group. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound linebacker has already committed to West Virginia. Last year Snook carried the ball 253 times for 1,409 yards and 14 touchdowns. he also recorded 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year as a safety. He projects as an outside linebacker at the next level.

Snook also had offers from plenty of Mid-American Conference schools including Bowling Green, Akron, Miami and Ohio as well as a slew of Big Ten schools. Wake Forest, of the AAC, were also strongly pursuing Snook.

Duale is beginning to pick up recruiting steam after performing well throughout summer camps. He was an All-Suburban league and All-County pick last year after he made 19-22 extra point attempts and hit 4-7 field goals. Duale also recorded 20 touchbacks.

He is currently ranked as the 26 best kicker available in the 2009 class by Chrissailerkicking.com and has drawn interest from Kent State, Indiana so far. He even has a recruiting video up on Youtube.

Teammate Tyler Houska is also beginning to generate some recruiting buzz as mostly Mid-American Conference schools are looking him at. Houska is also a standout heavyweight wrestler in the state and could take that route in college.

One could definitely make an argument that the Colts are one of the smarter teams in the conference. Senior Linebacker Kyle Juszczyk (31) and wide receiver Keegan Conry (32) both scored over 30 on their ACT test.

Juszczyk is a legitimate Division I prospect who is being pursued heavily by the Ivy League schools. Harvard Princeton and Penn have all inquired about the six-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker with some already scheduling official visits. Mid-American Conference schools have also shown interest.

Colts quarterback, Cody Roberts, is also drawing interest from plenty of Division I colleges. The 6-foot-2 215-pound senior also plays defensive back, but projects as a linebacker at the next level.

Kentucky, Lousiville, Cincinnati, Northwestern and a slew of MAC schools, including Akron, have shown interest.

The Akron area will have three athletes competing for the United States of America in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The athletes are: basketball player LeBron James, swimmer Mark Gangloff and javelin thrower Kim Kreiner. The trio all competed and represented USA in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Gangloff won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics as a member of the 400-meter medley relay and placed fourth in the 100-meter breast stroke. James won a bronze medal on the basketball team.

James graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in 2003 and currently stars for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association.

Gangloff graduated from Firestone High School in 2000 and Auburn University in 2005.

Kreiner graduated from Mogadore High School in 1995 and earned a degree from Kent State.

The Akron Beacon Journal wishes the trio good luck in Beijing!!!