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By David Jablonski
| Saturday, October 27, 2007, 12:23 AM
The No. 2-ranked Catholic Central Fighting Irish are 10-0 and have outscored their opponents by an average of 43.6 to 5.0 points per game. That brings up the obvious question: Have the Irish really been tested this season?
The Ohio Heritage Conference has really provided only one stern test for the mighty Irish — from playoff-bound West Liberty-Salem. The Tigers had the Irish on the ropes early, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead. From then on, it was all Central as the IRish manhalded WLS on its own field for a 27-14 win.
That was playoff-bound West Liberty’s only loss.
Irish coach Steve DeWitt isn’t concerned about his team’s 2007 competition to date.
“I look at the effort we got in the Shawnee game (when all-everything Brian Wagner went out of the game due to heat cramps),” he said. “Then being down at West Liberty was a real character call for us.
“Everything about this season has been wonderfully unusual. We’ve had a variety of challenges and circumstances that could of killed us but instead has made us stronger. And I still feel we haven’t played our best game.”
What do you think. Have the Irish been truly tested by a quality team?
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High School Football
By David Jablonski
| Friday, October 12, 2007, 11:54 PM
By now, most every team can read into the regional rankings and realize if it is a playoff team or not.
Here’s the area schools that will make the playoffs:
Catholic Central (8-0, D-VI, Region 24) is just waiting on its first round opponent at Hallinean Field.
Urbana (7-1, D-III, Region 10) needs to keep winning. Beating Greenon in Week 8 was a huge boost for its playoff points.
Kenton Ridge (6-2, D-III, Region 10) will be in good shape if it can beat Tippecanoe. The Cougars won’t gain much from beating Stebbins.
Mechanicsburg (5-3, D-VI, Region 24) is thriving with big-points wins against Fairbanks and Adena.
West Liberty-Salem (7-1, D-V, Region 20) has the misfortune of playing in an extremely competitive region. One loss might be one too many.
Tecumseh, Northeastern and Greenon (all 5-3) are stuck in playoff limbo. Those teams need to keep winning, and have lots of other points shake their way.
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High School Football
By Michael Cooper
| Saturday, October 6, 2007, 12:00 AM
WEST LIBERTY — Catholic Central senior Brian Wagner was puking after his team beat West Liberty-Salem 27-14 in an Ohio Heritage Conference showdown of unbeaten teams on Friday Night at Tiger Stadium — and he wasn’t sure why.
“I have no idea,” Wagner said.
Maybe it had something to do with his 26 carries for 218 yards and three touchdowns. He gave all the credit to his offensive line for opening up big holes, especially in the second half. The Irish improved to 7-0 and 4-0 OHC, while WLS dropped to 6-1 and 3-0 OHC.
“They gave me more room to run,” Wagner said. “The big guys wore them down.”
Wagner scored on runs of 5, 1 and 30. Central QB Brendan Kelly also ran for 108 yards.
“I give big ups to the O-line,” Kelly said. “They’re the ones doing all the work. Brian and I were just doing their job.”
WLS coach Toby Smith said he felt his team did a good job of slowing Wagner down.
“No one is going to stop him,” Smith said. “You just have to slow him down and I think we did that.”
Still, Wagner was a hoss when the Irish needed him. On the final drive, Wagner had runs of 27, 28 and a TD run from 30 yards out to seal the win.
“This season just seems special,” Wagner said.
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By David Jablonski
| Friday, October 5, 2007, 11:58 PM
After seven weeks of football, playoff contenders are starting to emerge.
Catholic Central (7-0) is solid after beating West Liberty-Salem on Friday. At this point, the Fighting Irish are playing for the Division VI, Region 24 top seed and a home game. The Tigers (6-1) are in a tough D-V, Region 20, but three more wins should get them in.
The top eight teams from each region advance to the playoffs; the top four host a playoff game. Standings are determined by wins and strength of schedule.
Urbana should be OK in D-III, Region 10 despite Friday’s loss to Indian. Kenton Ridge (5-2) will take a hit in the standings, but will be OK if it keeps winning.
Mechanicsburg (4-3) is living off a pair of non-conference wins against Fairbanks and Adena, and can make the Region 24 playoffs.
Tecumseh (5-2) is on a winning streak, but unfortunately none of its last three wins have garnered many computer points.
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High School Football
By David Jablonski
| Friday, September 28, 2007, 11:57 PM
The North football team couldn’t stop smiling as it ran off Kenton Ridge’s field with a 2-0 start to the 2007 season. High-fives were exchanged. Hugs were handed out.
Four weeks later, the team quickly moved to its gymnasium after a humbling 45-7 loss to Wayne on Friday night.
Much can change in a month. Much can change in one quarter. North held the Warriors scoreless for the first quarter Friday, then could only watch as their gameplan fell apart.
The Panthers have four more games remaining before their final season ends and they are merged into Springfield High School. Unless they change something soon, it will be a rough final month.
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High School Football
By David Jablonski
| Saturday, September 22, 2007, 12:13 AM
Northeastern had 254 of total offense in its big 21-14 Ohio Heritage Conference win over Mechanicsburg on Friday night. But all 254 of them came on the ground.
Head coach Scott Rolf knows a one-faceted team can only go so far in the tough OHC.
“We’re working on it,” he said. “Our pass protection is good. We’ve changed our practice schedule so we can spend more time on it. We had a few guys open tonight and just missed, but we’re coming along.
“We’re trying to get a little braver each week. Teams like to cheat up on us, so we want to pass more.
“But you’ve got to play to your personnel. We don’t make many turnovers and we do ball-control the best. That’s where our strengths lie, although some folks don’t like that.”
Jets fans have been screaming for years to get a passing game. But will they see it this season? Only time will tell.
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High School Football
By Michael Cooper
| Saturday, September 22, 2007, 12:00 AM
Kenton Ridge scored early and often against Northwestern at Richard L. Phillips Field on Friday.
Sophomore Kevin Johnson had 218 yards rushing and two touchdowns, his first coming on a 43-yard rush on the third play from scrimmage.
On their next possession, QB Ethan Sharpin found Byron Thompson to make it 14-0. In a blink of an eye, the Cougars added two more touchdowns before the Warriors knew what hit them. The Warriors added a quick score, but another KR touchdown made it 35-6 at the half.
“We wanted to jump on them early,” said KR coach Joel Marratta.
The Cougars (4-1), who moved from the Mad River Division to the Kenton Trail, face their first test in the Division next Friday when they travel to Shawnee.
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no THE Irish have not been tested, but that does not matter. I think that the Irish can match up and