The Akron school board has a problem.  The school district wants to build the new Buchtel High School on the site of its practice and softball fields which allows students to stay in the current high school building until the new one is completed.

The problem is members of the community want the field saved.

School boards are beholdent to the voters. Face it – the voters gave the money for the massive rebuilding of the entire district.

This is a tough call. If the district goes ahead witth its plans, where do the kids work out and play softball?

Here’s my recommendation – both sides need to talk. They may not necessarily agree, but the district should listen and then tell those who disagree to come up with a workable plan. It is easy to criticize now that the plans have been made.

We hope both sides work it out because there is no evil intent by the district or the community. They are just good people who, at least for now, disagree.

After Week One of the five weeks of football playoffs, here are my observations looking back and moving ahead.

*The Federal League rematch of Canton McKinley and Canton GlenOak will be a different game. The Bulldogs were the eight seed going into top seeded Toledo Whitmer and demolished the Glass City bunch, which did not surprise me, McKinley has found its swagger and I expect them to beat GlenOak this time.

By the way and for what it’s worth, I don’t think Hudson, the team edged out by McKinley for that eighth and final spot, could have won that game in Toledo.

*Massillon will be favored to beat Twinsburg, but I for one think Twinsburg can pull the upset.  Twinsburg’s defense must set the tone early on and stop Massillon’s running game and force quarterback Robert Partridge to run for his life.

*Just wonder how Garfield or Buchtel might have done in the playoffs. Something has to be done to get a City Series team in the post season with smarter scheduling and more home games.

*In Division II, Louisville, another No. 1 seed, was kayoed by No. 8 Columbus Marion-Franklin. One has to wonder if quarterback Bobby Swigert had stayed healthy how deep into the playoffs the Leopards go.

*Division III, Archbishop Hoban’s offense is killing them. They could surprise Poland Seminary at Uniontown Lake’s Blue Streak Stadium Friday night, but not if the offense is as bad as its been in big games.

Don’t be shocked if Northwest, a sixth seed, knocks off No. 2 seed Dover. I have Indian fever!

*One of the coolest stories of the year is Woodridge in Division IV. The Bulldogs put a whipping at Martins Ferry in their first playoff appearance in school history (49-28) and winning their first ever league title.  This team can light up scoreboards on on given night.

*Lest we not forget Mogadore. The Wildcats lone loss was to Woodridge and Saturday night I look for them to knock off Norwalk St. Paul at Medina’s Kenneth Dukes Stadium.

Buchtel defeated Garfield 14-8 Friday night to win the City Series football championship at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on the campus of the University of Akron.

The Buchtel and Garfield football teams meet tonight at 7 p.m. on the campus of the University of Akron.

The winner of tonight’s matchup on Summa Field within InfoCision Stadium will finish the season with a perfect record within the City Series and earn the City Series title.

Garfield is seeking its second consecutive City Series title. Garfield defeated Buchtel 49-20 on Oct. 24, 2008 to win the City Series championship. That game was the final City game played at the Rubber Bowl, UA’s former football home.

Garfield and Buchtel each have a 6-3 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the City Series this season. The Golden Rams, under the direction of coach Bob Sax, rely on the rushing brother tandem of senior Tyson Gulley and sophomore Toneo Gulley.

The Griffins also feature a solid rushing attack that includes John Coleman.

Buchtel coach Ricky Powers said that every senior starting defender has scored a touchdown this season. They are: defensive tackles Brandon Henderson, Jibir Hadi and Devonte Blackwell, outside linebacker Garnett Thompson and defensive backs John Coleman and Desmond McCoy.

Buchtel won City Series titles from 2002-2006, and then Firestone won the City Series title in 2007. Garfield won the City in 2001 and prior to that Buchtel was the premier team in the City for several seasons.

Garfield plays Buchtel in a highly-anticipated football showdown for the City Series title at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Akron.

The Rams (6-3, 5-0 City Series) are coming off a 37-12 over Kenmore last week. Garfield coach Bob Sax said senior running back Tyson Gulley missed last week’s game with flu-like symptoms. Sax said other running backs stepped up last week in his absence.

“Toneo (Gulley) and Bud (Brown) both did a good job of blocking and took advantage of the few carries they got,” Sax said. “We really spread it around last week. I think they both led the team with seven carries apiece.”

Sax also credited the offensive line and he’s been pleased with the defense and how it has created turnovers.

Buchtel (6-3, 5-0) is coming off a 37-13 win over Firestone. Senior Desmond McCoy had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown. Senior John Coleman had a 40-yard touchdown.

“Buchtel is a very good team with a lot of speed,” Sax said. “They have a lot of good players and I think Coach Powers has them playing with a lot of confidence. You can tell that the kids have bought into Coach Powers’ program.”

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!

Firestone and Garfield will meet tonight for a key City Series game at InfoCision Stadium on the campus of the University of Akron.

Both teams feature impressive rushing attacks. The Golden Rams (4-3, 3-0) boast the Gulley brothers, senior Tyson Gulley and sophomore Toneo Gulley. The Falcons (3-4, 2-1) counter with junior Cody Grice.

Garfield defeated host Ellet 35-14 this past Friday. Tyson Gulley rushed for three touchdowns and gained 82 yards on nine carries. Toneo Gulley rushed for two touchdowns and accumulated 124 yards on 13 carries.

Firestone defeated North 48-14 this past Friday on homecoming night for both schools at InfoCision Stadium. Firestone led 41-14 at halftime.

Grice rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead the offense. He gained 154 yards on 21 carries.

Falcons sophomore Darren McGinnis rushed for one touchdown and returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. Senior Jeremy Mingo intercepted three passes and also scored on Grice’s passing touchdown. Sophomore Timonte Anderson rushed for a touchdown for Firestone, and junior kicker Alana Gaither made six extra points.

Ellet (2-5, 2-2) hosts North (3-4, 1-3) tonight and East (0-7, 0-3) plays at Kenmore (0-7, 0-3) on Saturday afternoon.

Ellet is led by Devin Richardson and Chadd Clifford and Rayshawn Stevens guide North.

Buchtel and Garfield currently sit atop the City Series standings with 3-0 records.

Garfield won the City Series title in 2008 and Firestone won in 2007. Buchtel controlled the City for a majority of the past two decades.

It’s been a few years since a City Series football team qualified for the state playoffs. In 2004, both Buchtel and Garfield made the playoffs and Garfield, led by former Ohio State star running back Chris “Beanie” Wells, played (and lost) to Copley in the first round of the Division II playoffs.

Copley was led by running back Delone Carter, now a running back at Syracuse University.

In 2005, Buchtel made the playoffs once again but lost to Archbishop Hoban in a wild finish at Barberton.

One of the biggest reasons why the City can’t get a team in the playoffs is that teams like Buchtel and Garfield can’t get enough computer playoff points with wins against league opponents. The top eight teams in each computer playoff region qualifies for the playoffs.

Buchtel has the best chance among the seven City teams to make the playoffs. The Griffins (5-2) are ranked No. 10 in Division 3, Region 9 with 8.1082 points and Medina Buckeye currently holds the last playoff spot at No. 8 with 11.1857 points.

Buchtel has a chance to make the playoffs if it can beat Youngstown Ursuline Thursday. The Irish (4-2) are ranked No. 6 in Division V, Region 17.

“We look at it like this, if we can win one of those (non-conference) games and then win out in the City, we should make the playoffs,” said Buchtel coach Ricky Powers. “But we have to just concentrate on winning games and getting better each week. If we can do that, then let’s see what happens. But if it doesn’t work out, then it is what it is.”

Buchtel’s non-conference schedule was brutal. The Griffins lost to Massillon on the road, defeated Wheeling (WV) Central Catholic on the road and lost to Warren Harding on the road.

Here’s my thoughts on high school football now that we are at the halfway point of the season.

*I was disappointed that only 2,500 people came out to the first City Series game at InfoCision Stadium at Summa Field, though North and Kenmore aren’t big schools. Still, I would bet that crowd was two or three times bigger than it might have been at the Rubber Bowl.

*I will say this after seeing North, Kenmore, Buchtel and Ellet – there is a lot of talent in the City Series. The key for the future of the football in Akron is to get more kids to come out for these teams. The other thing coaches need is for the players to get into better shape, though with a bad economy and kids from poorer families it is sometimes impossible for them to have the time to get to the weight room in the off-season. 

*Ricky Powers is doing a nice job rebuilding the Buchtel program, which was nearly destroyed by former Claude Brown because of his conviction involving a Buchtel female student. Powers, an alumni and former Michigan star running back, is trying to bring discipline to the program, teach younger volunteer coaches what needs to be done and get the community more involved.

*Circle the Week 8 game Oct. 16 in the River Division of the NOC with Twinsburg at Hudson will be for all the marbles – a division title and tons of computer points. Both schools are in Division I, Region 2; the Tigers are fifth and Hudson seventh, according to the JoeEitel.com website.

*Who would have thought Springfield would have four wins in five games and Green would be 0-5?  Bulldog coach Tom Stacy  is drawing a lot of fire both for having too tough a schedule and, obviously, the team’s record.

*It seems that the most balanced conference this year is the Suburban League, which few fans realize has for 20 years been putting as many, if not more, teams in the playoffs each season.

Besides the red hot Wadsworth team, Barberton, Cloverleaf, Copley, Revere and Highland have comparable talent, which makes this league so hard to predict. Only Tallmadge and Green seems out of both the league title and playoff contender.

Suddenly Friday’s gane with Wadsworth (5-0) at Copley (4-1) has a lot riding on it.

*How much will Walsh Jesuit be hurt by have this week off? Yes, the Warriors will get an average of their weekly points for this week, but they will lose their playing edge going into the Oct. 9 rivalry game witth visiting St. Vincent-St. Mary. Walsh is 3-2 and 1oth in Division II, Region 5.

The first City Series football game between North and Kenmore played the University of Akron’s  InfoCision Stadium at Summa Field drew an estimated crowd of 2,500, according Joe Howard, program manager of interscholastic sports for Akron Public Schools.

Some fans groused about gates at the facilities not being open underneath the scoreboard by the parking lot on Exchange Street. Gates are open on the north side next to the Louis and Frieda Stile Athletic Field House. There is also parking available next to the field house. 

“We told the schools that those gates would not be open. It costs us more to do that,” Howard said.

Howard said that if there are indications that there would be a big crowd, such as at a big game like Garfield and Buchtel, APS might be willing to open the gates.