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.

Garfield senior Whitney Mercilus has orally committed to continue his football and academic career at Illinois.

Mercilus, 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, filled a variety of roles for the Golden Rams football team under coach Bob Sax. Mercilus played tight end on offense, kicked, punted and played defensive end.

Mercilus had 24 receptions for 417 yards and eight touchdowns this past season. He also made 36 solo tackles and had two sacks.

Here are a few quick notes regarding City Series football, which has certainly been surprising this season.

The madness began Sept. 15 when Ellet defeated Buchtel.

With Buchtel (0-5, 0-3 City Series) struggling, the race for the title is wide open. It appears that (listed alphabetically) Firestone (3-2, 2-0), Garfield (3-2, 1-0) and North (4-1, 2-0) are the favorites to win the City Series title.

These notes were gathered via Beacon Journal records.

– The Firestone win over Ellet (27-7) on Friday (Sept. 21) was the Falcons first victory over the Orangemen (3-2, 1-1) since 1996. Ellet had won 10 in a row over Firestone from 1997-2006. The Falcons defeated the Orangemen twice in the 1995 season, once in the regular season and once in the City championship game. It should be noted that Buchtel played in the state playoffs that season and that is why Firestone and Ellet met in the title game.

– The North win over Buchtel (24-0) on Friday (Sept. 21) was the Vikings first victory over the Griffins in 23 years, according to people within the North football community.

– Firestone and North meet this Friday (Sept. 28). The Falcons won last year 21-6, but the Vikings won the previous four meetings (2002-2005). Since 1994, North has won seven times and Firestone has won six times.

– Firestone and Garfield meet next Friday (Oct. 5). The Falcons won 37-21 last year, but the Golden Rams won the previous nine meetings (1996-2005). Since 1994, Garfield is 10-2 against Firestone (wins in 1995 and 2006). They did not play each other in 2004.

– Garfield and Buchtel meet Oct. 19. The Golden Rams last beat the Griffins in 2001 and 1998. Buchtel has won the past five meetings (2002-2006).

I will look for other trends and streaks within the City Series and post them at a later date. Stay tuned.

ED SUBA JR./Akron Beacon Journal

Firestone senior wide receiver Gary Franklin tries to avoid Ellet defenders after making a catch during the Falcons’ win over the Orangemen Friday night.

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.

Football

Walsh Jesuit 42, Garfield 13

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Walsh Jesuit sophomore running back Cameron Ontko.

Ontko carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Warriors (4-0) to a 28-0 lead that buried the Golden Rams (2-2) at halftime.

“Cameron is just a special back,” Walsh Jesuit coach Gerry Rardin said. “He breaks tackles, he’s got great vision and he’s got a great future ahead of him. He’s a great young man. Not many sophomores do what he does.”

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.

The high school football season is almost here.

The first games of the 2007 season in the Beacon Journal’s coverage area are Garfield at Archbishop Hoban and Dover at Canton South. Both games are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23.

The Beacon Journal’s high school football preview section will be released on Aug. 22.
As the season approaches, I plan to post predictions each of the area leagues, players to watch and other football-related items.

If you have any questions about the upcoming football season (whether it’s about a team, player, coach, league, game or anything else), please feel free to leave a comment on this blog. I will reply.

Stay tuned for plenty of football material.

Beacon Journal sportswriter David Lee Morgan reported this item:

A familiar face will be roaming the Garfield sidelines during football games this fall.
Former longtime Rams coach Bill McGee has joined head coach Bob Sax’s staff as a volunteer assistant.

McGee retired in April 2002 after compiling a 191-83-4 record in 26 seasons and winning 16 City Series titles. His last City title was in 2001, when the Rams defeated Buchtel 7-6 and finished 8-2 overall and 7-0 in the City.

Moments after that game, McGee’s eyes filled with tears that then rolled down his face as he praised his group of ”overachievers” for playing such a great game against a formidable opponent.

McGee, the United Press International AAA Coach of the Year in 1983, when the Rams finished second in the state playoffs, taught English at Garfield before retiring. He recently had been a substitute teacher at Manchester High.

”It’s great to have a legendary coach like Coach McGee back with the program,” said Sax, who played for McGee. ”He represents so much when it comes to Garfield football and we’re privileged to have him back.”