Three Firestone football players will be continuing their careers in college next season, and two at the same school.
Trevor Kennedy, who was a first-team All-City performer at quarterback, will play at Mercyhurst (Pa.) College, along with receiver Jeffery Brantley. Meanwhile, Ross Davis, a running back for the Falcons, will be a preferred walk-on at the University of Akron.

The three players helped the Falcons (7-2, overall and 6-0 in the City Series) win the outright City championship for the first time since the school opened in 1963 and started playing in 1964.

The City Series baseball teams will not have a four-team playoff at the end of the regular season. One veteran City coach said there may have been the perception on the outside that the reason the league did away with the playoff system several years ago was because the district was going through financial difficulty, which forced cuts in extracurricular activities.

The district passed a levy which helped bring back those extracurricular activities that were cut. But Ellet coach John Sarver said the levy had nothing to do with the elimination of the playoff system.

Sarver said it all started a few years back when the basketball teams decided to drop the four-team playoff system and instead just play the championship game between the top two teams. That change was implemented because the basketball teams, in putting together schedules each season, had to factor in the possibility of playing in the semifinal and/or championship games. That meant coaches could only schedule 18 games (OHSAA rules allow for 20 regular season games) in case they made it to the City playoffs. But if a team didn’t make the playoffs, they would have only played 18 or 19 games during the regular season.

So the baseball teams decided to follow suit and drop the playoff system, allowing the coaches to schedule two additional games in place of the two dates they would have reserved for the playoffs.

Incidently, OHSAA rules allow 27 regular season baseball games.

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.

Football

Garfield 49, East 27

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Garfield senior quarterback Lorenzo Sanchez completed 12-of-13 passes for 225 yards and five touchdowns to lead Garfield (3-2, 1-0) over East (0-5, 0-2) in a City Series game.

“Lorenzo has been throwing good passes and making good decisions,” Garfield coach Bob Sax said of Sanchez.

Two East High School graduates have made decisions about their college basketball careers.

Eric Howell, a 2007 graduate, has committed to play at Cuyahoga Community College. Ramsey Gavin, a 2006 graduate, has committed to play for Clark State Community College.

Howell, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 20.7 points per game last season and was a first-team All-City Series selection. He also earned second-team all-district and honorable mention all-state honors in Division II.

Gavin, a 6-foot-6 forward, will transfer from Ohio Dominican University to Clark State. He averaged 12 points and nine rebounds and was a first-team All-City Series selection in 2006.

I went to the City Series football media day to gather information, get answers to some of your questions and most importantly, eat lasagna. Here are some items I have in my notebook:

—All the coaches agreed that the 2007 season might be the most wide open the City Series has been in years.

“I think this could be one of the most balanced years that we’ve seen in the City Series in a long, long time,” said Ellet coach Joe Yost, who is entering his 29th season with the Orangemen.

Yost will be inducted into the Summit County Hall of Fame on October 2.

—Firestone coach Tim Flossie was entertaining as usual. After Joe Howard, the Akron Schools director of athletics, introduced Flossie as the coach who is celebrating the 20th anniversary of winning his first state championship with Buchtel, Flossie joked about it.

“I’m so old I can’t even remember the damn thing,” said Flossie, who won back-to-back state titles as the Griffins head coach in 1987 and 1988.

Flossie went on to talk about the value of the City Series and how its underrated.

“I get sick and tired of hearing about the suburbs,” he said. “It enrages me. … We have a 3.0 student here and they have an 8.9 student there.”

—I talked to Buchtel senior Johnny Adams about making the switch from wide receiver to quarterback this season.

“I feel like it’s my senior year, and I’m ready to take charge of the offense,” Adams said.

Adams, who has a 2.7 grade-point average and scored a 22 on the ACT, said he feels comfortable in his new position because the Griffins offensive line looks solid. “Our line is bigger, stronger and smarter than any line we’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said.

Adams, who earned special-mention all-state honors as a defensive back/receiver/kick return specialist last season, said he has received offers from the following colleges: University of Akron, Michigan State, Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Iowa, Marshall and Toledo. Adams said he hasn’t narrowed down his choices yet.

—Garfield defensive end/tight end Whitney Mercilous said he has narrowed down his colleges of choice to Purdue and Illinois. Whitney, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, was a second-team all-district pick in Division II last season, when he had 23 tackles (eight for a loss).

—North senior running back Larry Dawson said he’s received offers from the University of Akron, Bowling Green State University and Army. Dawson said he hasn’t made a decision where he will go, but he knows what he wants.

“I want to be comfortable,” said Dawson, who has a 3.8 grade-point average. “I want to be on a team where I at least know one person. I want to be somewhere we can compete.”

At BG, Dawson said he knows former Walsh Jesuit standout running back Mark Wooldridge. At UA, Dawson said he knows former Buchtel standout running back Bryan Williams.

—East coach Damon Beasley said East senior linebacker Shomari Akhdar, a first-team All-City selection last season, is receiving interest from Villanueva, Holy Cross and Miami of Ohio. Beasley also said Bowling Green has shown interest in senior fullback/linebacker Demetrius Bentley, a second-team All-City selection in 2006.

—East High School students will go to school in the old Central-Hower buidling in downtown Akron because their building is being renovated. Beasley said the move has had a positive affect on the football team.

“It was a tough process at first, but it turned out to be a blessing,” Beasley said. “It’s a nice facility. The kids like it a lot.”

—Flossie said Firestone running back Darshawn Thomas is the real deal. Thomas ran for 1,126 yards and eight touchdowns on 211 carries for the Falcons (4-6, 3-2).

“He runs a 4.3 40 (yard dash), Flossie said. “He’s fast and he’s tough. He could go to a Division I school. I think he’s as good as Antonio Pittman.”

Pittman was a standout running back at Buchtel and Ohio State University. He’s now an NFL rookie with the New Orleans Saints.

—Kenmore coach Tony Grimes said Cardinals senior running back/linebacker Thomas Cheairs gaining interest from colleges because of his speed and size (6-foot-2, 195 pounds).

“He’s probably our best athlete,” Grimes said of Cheairs. “He’s got some schools looking at him at the low-Division I level.”

—Buchtel first-year coach and legendary area running back Ricky Powers talked about the importance of emphasizing academics among his players.

“We’ve got to get our kids to understand that school is first,” said Powers, who was a star player on the Griffins team that won state titles under Flossie. “That’s they only way they’re going to get to play at the next level.”

Powers knows about playing at the next level. He played for the University of Michigan, then went on to play for the Detroit Lions and Browns.

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

ELLET (8-2 overall, 5-0 in the City Series last season; City Series co-champs).

Top players: senior OL Tyler Dunagin (first-team All-City and honorable-mention all-district in Division III), senior RB Paris Wicks (first-team offense), senior LB-QB Chad Keppler (first-team defense), senior DL Branson Price (first-team defense), senior LB Aaron Byard (second-team defense), junior LB Travis Hamad.

BUCHTEL (6-4, 5-0; City Series co-champs)

Top players: sophomore DB-RB Solomon Griffin (first-team defense), senior DB-WR (now QB) Johnny Adams (second-team defense, special-mention All-Ohio in Division III).

FIRESTONE (4-6, 3-2)

Top players: senior RB Darshawn Thomas (first-team offense), senior DL-OL DeAndre Tucker (first-team defense), senior QB Trevor Kennedy (second-team offense), junior OL-DL Richard Barucci (second-team offense), senior LB-TE Alex Paul (second-team defense).

GARFIELD (3-7, 3-3)

Top players: senior DL Whitney Mercilous (first-team defense and second team all-district in Division II), senior DB-WR Jerome Beasley (first-team defense), senior Garrick Twitty (first-team defense), sophomore DB-RB Tyson Gulley (second-team defense), junior OL-LB Laimere Latson (second-team offense).

EAST (5-5, 2-3)

Top players: senior LB Shomari Akhdar (first-team defense), senior LB-FB Demetrius Bentley (second-team defense), senior DL-OL Mark Humphrey (second-team defense).

NORTH (1-9, 5-0)

Top player: senior RB-DB Larry Dawson (second-team defense).

KENMORE (0-10, 0-5)

Top player: senior LB-RB Thomas Cheairs.

Now that you have a feel for which players are returning this year, here are my predictions for how the City Series standings will look at the end of the 2007 season.

1. Buchtel

2. Firestone

3. Ellet

4. Garfield

5. East

6. North

7. Kenmore

Here is my explanation for my picks: Buchtel is always a force to be reckoned with in the City Series, and I think the Griffins’ excitement to play for legendary running back Ricky Powers in his first year as head coach will translate to success. Also, I think Soloman Griffin is a special player. He earned accolades for his defense last season, but he’s also an excellent running back with big-play potential.

I think Firestone will continue to improve in coach Tim Flossie’s second year with the Falcons. After the Falcons failed to win a game for two consecutive seasons, Flossie led them to a 4-6 record last year (and they had a winning record in league play: 3-2). Senior Darshawn Thomas had the best 2006 season of any of the City Series running backs. Thomas rushed for 1,126 yards and eight touchdowns on 211 carries.

I think Ellet will be very good, too. The Orangemen should have a dynamic offense with senior quarterback Chad Keppler and senior running back Paris Wicks returning. Travis Hamad and Aaron Byard should bring stability to the defense as inside linebackers in a 4-4 system. However, I think Firestone has a legitimate shot to beat Ellet. The Orangemen beat the Falcons 16-7 last season.

Garfield will have a tough defense, but its offense seems questionable. After a .500 record last year, East will need younger players to step up because it graduated several key seniors, including last year’s City Series Player of the Year - quarterback Kenny Hicks. I think North will improve because senior running back Larry Dawson is good enough to carry the Vikings if he stays healthy. Kenmore has a lot to prove after going winless last season.

What do you think of these predictions? If you agree let me know. If you disagree let me know and give me your predicted finish … and hurry because the season begins next Thursday.