Lake (4-0, 2-0) @ North Canton Hoover (2-2, 0-1)
7:30 P.M. tonight at North Canton Memorial Stadium

STORYLINE: Oh No! What will Lake do without injured running back Jimmy Luther?!

How about keep on running the football behind its impressive offensive line?

The Blue Streaks proved in their 21-3 win over Boardman last week that they are more than just one player.

Jared Dougherty stepped in and ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns behind a strong offensive line and the defense kept Boardman out of the end zone.

Boardman did pass for 230 yards, which will be a good test for this week. Hoover isn’t able to run the ball much. Quarterback Austin Appleby will be the primary concern for the Lake defense. Appleby, a junior, has nine touchdown passes this season compared to just one interception.

Hoover has won the last three meetings between the teams and will look to continue that streak tonight.

Can’t make the game Friday? No worries. You can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ABJ_Varsity for up-to-date scoring throughout the contest and scores from around the area as we get them.

Sophomore Shelbi Tilton hit a three-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Perry to a 3-2 win over Boardman in a Division I regional final Saturday afternoon at the University of Akron.

Perry (25-3) advances to play Holland Springfield in a state semifinal game on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Firestone Stadium. Holland Springfield defeated defending Division I state champion Elyria 2-1 Saturday afternoon in the Clyde regional final.

The Panthers made the state tournament in 2003 and 1988.

Tilton’s bases clearing hit with one out landed in left-center field and scored sophomore Abbey Filliez, sophomore Morgan McLaughlin and senior Anna Fach.

Perry junior right-hander Casi Rohr pitched a complete game and earned the win. Rohr (22-2) allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked two.

Junior right-hander Alex DiDomenico pitched a complete game for Boardman (21-7). DiDomenico limited the Panthers to just four hits, one through six innings. She struck out nine, walked four and hit one batter.

Filliez started Perry’s rally with a leadoff single in the seventh. McLaughlin reached base on a botched pop up in the infield and Fach singled to load the bases.

Senior Sarah Samblanet had Perry’s first hit, a single to center in the fifth inning.

The Spartans scored both of their runs in the sixth inning. Junior Missy DeMarinis doubled and then scored on an RBI double by Marra Cercone. An error by the Panthers allowed Cercone to score.

This is the second consecutive game Tilton has guided the Panthers to a victory with a walk-off hit. Tilton delivered an RBI double to left in the bottom of the seventh that scored McLaughlin in Perry’s 4-3 win over Ellet in a regional semifinal on Wednesday at UA.

Boardman junior Brooke Meenachan hit three singles.

The Division I state championship game is June 5 at 1 p.m. at Firestone Stadium.

Hey everyone! This is my column that’s running in the Akron Beacon Journal Friday, but it’s posted on Ohio.com now, as you can see. Thanks to everyone who submitted votes for their favorite high school nicknames. If there are other crazy nicknames from out of state, post them so we can all get some laughs. Thanks again!

When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

Here is a preseason look at Federal League football for the 2007 season. In this post, you will find players (that received all-star recognition in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

*** Please note that the 2007 High School Football Preview Section will appear in the Wednesday Aug. 22, 2007 edition of the Akron Beacon Journal with complete analysis of every league, team and top players in the area. ***

CANTON MCKINLEY (12-2 overall, 7-0 in the Federal League last season; Federal League champions)

Top players: Senior DB-WR Brandon Mingo (first-team Federal), senior OL-DE Sean Whited (first-team), senior DL-OL Isaac Gatlin (second-team), junior DB-RB Derrick Gordon (honorable mention).

PERRY (9-2, 6-1)

Top players: Senior TB-DB Eric Magnacca (first-team Federal, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), senior QB-OLB Matt Vick (first-team Federal), senior TE-DL David Baughman (second-team), senior OT-DE Doug Elliot (honorable mention).

NORTH CANTON HOOVER (7-3, 4-3)

Top players: Senior WR-DB Matt Wakulchik (first-team Federal, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), senior LB Kevin Dahl (second-team), senior DL James Georgiades (second team), senior DE Greg Tischler (honorable mention).

JACKSON (5-5, 4-3)

Top player: Senior TB-DB Carlin Isles (first-team Federal).

LAKE (7-5, 3-4)

Top player: Senior FB-LB Matt Higginbotham (honorable mention all-Federal).

AUSTINTOWN FITCH (4-6, 2-5)

Top player: Senior RB-DB Nick Wiery (honorable mention all-Federal).

BOARDMAN (3-7, 1-6)

Top players: Senior HB-CB Tyler Amdendola (second-team Federal), senior FB-OLB Eric Polen (honorable mention).

GLENOAK (3-7, 1-6)

Top player: Senior RB-S Anthony Smith (honorable mention all-Federal).

Here is my predicted finish for the Federal League (which is the same as the Federal League coaches predictions at media day):

1. Canton McKinley

2. Perry

3. North Canton Hoover

4. Boardman

5. Lake

6. Austintown Fitch

7. Jackson

8. GlenOak

Here is an explanation for my predictions:

I think tradition and talent will again lift Canton McKinley to another Federal League championship under coach Brian Cross. The Bulldogs will be seeking their third consecutive league title after reaching the Division I state final four last season.

The “Pups” will have a solid defensive secondary with Mingo, Gordon and senior Tremaine O’Neal. Whited will lead a young offensive line. Inexperienced players will line up on both lines, and also at running back, quarterback, receiver and linebacker. McKinley must replace tailback Morgan Williams, linebackers Disi Alexander and George Tabron, kicker Zack Campbell, center Drew McIntyre and quarterback Dan Grimsley. Replacing that collection of graduated stars could prove to be too much, opening the door for Perry or Hoover.

Perry, which was runner-up last season in the league, returns a solid tailback and quarterback combination in Magnacca and Vick. Magnacca is powerful and fast, two attributes that will strike fear in any defense. The Panthers have 24 lettermen back from a season ago and are poised to challenge for the title under coach John “Spider” Miller.

Hoover’s defense should be excellent with Dahl, Georgiades, Tischler and senior Mitch Rose under the tutelage coach Don Hertler Jr. The Vikings offense could be explosive with Wakulchik catching passes from senior quarterback Jared Wackerly.

Boardman should rise up the Federal standings with 22 lettermen returning. Spartans coach D.J. Ogilvie is very high on Amendola, Polen and seniors Evan Klepec and Nick Tuminello.

Lake could surprise with seven starters back on offense and six back on defense. Higginbotham and senior Gene Onabiyi should lead under coach Jeff Durbin.

Fitch, Jackson and GlenOak will each have new coaches. The Falcons will be guided by Phil Annarella, the Polar Bears have Thom McDaniels in charge and the Golden Eagles hired GlenOak alumnus Scott Garcia. Annarella and McDaniels are experienced leaders, and Garcia is entering his first season as a head coach.

Isles gives Jackson a game-breaking running back with tremendous speed. Add in McDaniels success as coach at Canton McKinley and Warren Harding, and the Polar Bears could challenge the top three teams in the league — McKinley, Perry and Hoover.

Let me know what do you think of these predictions?

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Federal League held its track and field championships Friday night at Austintown Fitch and the Isles siblings from Jackson showed their sprinting ability is among the best in the area.

Carlin Isles, a junior, won the 100 meters in 11.07 seconds, the 200 in 22.36 and the 400 in 49.12. He also placed second in the long jump (21-feet-5.25-inches). Tambra Isles won the 100 (12.77) and the 200 (25.96).

Boardman won the boys title and GlenOak won the girls crown.

The GlenOak girls received individual first places from freshman Emily Mazzaferri (800) and senior Dejaa Shearer (300 hurdles). Mazzaferri was also the anchor for the 1,600 relay and the 3,200 relay. Jessica Dunkle, Jasmyn Hawkin and Stephanie Noussias were on the 1,600 relay and Jillian Black, Noussias and Stacie Clagg were on the 3,200 relay.

Perry was second on the boys side, with Josh Tormasi (1,600) and Andrew Klecan (pole vault) taking titles. The Panthers 3,200 relay, comprised of Corwin Swint, J.D. Horton, Tormasi and Tyler Griffin.

Canton McKinley and GlenOak rounded out the top four boys teams.

McKinley’s Andy Moore (300 hurdles) and Monterea Williams (long jump) won titles. The Bulldogs had three winning sprint relay units; the 400 (Tremaine O’Neal, Williams, Derick Graham, Alaun Morrow), the 800 (O’Neal, Moore, Graham, Morrow) and the 1,600 (Pierre Cheek, Moore, Morrow, Dermaine Hinton).

The Jackson girls were second, with Courtney Armsey (100 hurdles), Emily Pritt (1,600) and Hallie Busta (3,200) winning titles.

North Canton Hoover and Boardman were third and fourth respectively in the girls meet.