Tim Carroll, 27, was recently named the coach for girls track and field and girls bowling at Firestone High School.

Carroll is a graduate of Firestone and the University of Akron. He has been an assistant coach at Firestone for the past four years for the boys track and field and cross-country teams.

”I hope to improve each program and improve our performance in and outside of the City Series,” Carroll said.

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.

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.

The high school girls tennis season continues this week with district competition.

The Division I district tournament at Oberlin College features two singles players and one doubles unit from the area. Firestone’s Christine Coffman and Jackson’s Trisha Conlan are top seeds in singles, and Revere’s Natalie Robson and Brittany Miller are a top doubles tandem.

The Oberlin district will be played on Thursday and Saturday.

The Division II district tournament at Weis Park in Canton features a singles player and two doubles groups from the area. Canton South’s Morgan Murray is a top seed in singles. Walsh Jesuit’s Nancy Joyce and Cristin Reed and Canton Central Catholic’s Lauren Coggins and Hannah Lindesmith are top doubles units.

The Canton district will be played on Wednesday and Saturday.

Firestone junior tackle Tommy Brown (6-5, 300 pounds) has reportedly been offered by the University of Akron, according to ScoutingOhio.com. The Web site said it’s the first offer for Brown.

The Firestone Falcons lost to Massillon last week 42-21 but Firestone coach Tim Flossie said he couldn’t have been more happy with the way his team, led by Jeremy Mingo battled at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

“We were in it up until almost the fourth quarter,” Flossie said.

The Falcons only trailed Massillon 21-14 at halftime and in the third quarter, Firestone intercepted a pass near midfield then marched downfield to Massillon’s 4. Then, the Falcons were called for a few penalties that eventually pushed the Falcons back into their own territory forcing Firestone to punt.

Massillon returned the punt for a touchdown then added another quick score and the Falcons couldn’t recover.

“That was a 14-point swing,” Flossie said. “But our offensive line did a great job of controlling the ball. I was really proud of our guys and they are really coming along. They have a good attitude. I think Massillon was a little shocked that we came at them.”

The newly-formed Greater Akron Girl’s Golf League will hold its first league championship tournament 9 a.m. Saturday at Mud Run Golf Course.

The schools in the league include Archbishop Hoban, CVCA, Firestone, Our Lady of the Elms, Springfield and St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Stow football coach Marty Tinkler is a realist.

The Bulldogs lost Friday night to Massillon, 31-14, though they were tied at 7  in the first half.

“We were outmatched, but we played hard and fought the best we could,” Tinkler says.

Including the loss to Massillon, the Bulldogs have lost their three games to unbeaten teams. Stow lost its opener to Wadsworth (21-7) and Kent Roosevelt (21-17). Friday the Bulldogs are at Medina, which is 1-2.

Good news for Stow fans – tailback John Markulis played about a dozen plays against the Tigers and should get more playing time this week.