Chagrin Valley Sports

The Greenmen hung on to win their first state football championship this past week, edging Columbus Eastmoor Academy 21-10.

Three weeks into the season few would have predicted the Greenmen would have made it this far, but they steadily improved as the season went on. After a slow 1-2 start, Aurora found its stride and never lost again. Despite going 7-0 over the last seven weeks of the season, the Greenmen entered the state tournament unranked, but that didn’t stop Aurora from knocking off favored opponent after favored opponent. 

Many observers will note that Eastmoor outplayed Aurora in three out of the four quarters. But, in what will go down in Aurora lore as “The Quarter,” the Greenmen dominated the second quarter. They scored all of their 21 points then and put the game away before halftime.

If there is a hero of The Quarter, it’s Dee Brizzolara. He intercepted an Alex Coleman pass in the waning moments of the first half. One play later, he scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brendan Gallagher. Aurora might not have been the fastest or strongest team on the field this past weekend, but they played the best football.

Eastmoor had promising drives stalled by mistakes and had turnovers haunt them. Aurora played more sound team football, and it’s ultimately what guided them to their Division III state football championship.

The Quarter allowed the Greenmen to build a 21-3 halftime lead, and that’s when I knew the game was over. Few high school teams can come back from such a demoralizing deficit. Eastmoor came out strong in the second half and outplayed Aurora. But the Greenmen were able to weather the storm and keep the athletic school from down south from making too many big plays.

The Pirateshad a good run this season, but ultimately were over matched against undefeated Steubenville.

Steubenville (13-0) prevailed 35-17 and never once trailed in the game. Perry (11-2) kept the game close for most of three quarters, but eventually wore down and gave up too many big plays. The game was 7-7 after the first and 14-7 at the half.

Perry pulled the game to 14-10 in the third quarter on a Braden Farrell field goal. The Pirates were in prime position with first and goal on that series, but were unable to punch it in. Steubenville then took over and never looked back.

The Pirates prolific rushing attack was shut down, and that was the story of the game. Mike entered the game with about 1,600 yards on the ground and an astounding 40 touchdowns. Hanhauser was unable to find the endzone and had just 23 yards rushing.

Perry also gave up several big plays, including touchdown passes of 33 and 23 yards. The Pirates also surrendered an 82-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that broke up a close game.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available. If you have any photos from the game, please send them in to connect [at] patthorntonfiles [dot] com.

The PD has some preview capsules of this weekend’s football games:

Aurora vs. Walsh Jesuit

What, when, where: Regional title game, 7 p.m., Solon’s Stewart Field, 33600 Inwood Road, Solon. Call 440-349-6244.

Records: Aurora, 10-2; Walsh Jesuit, 9-2.

What to watch: Top-seeded Walsh Jesuit has been living on the edge in the playoffs - some would say all season - but keeps finding ways to win. The Warriors, making the school’s 15th appearance in the playoffs, have won twice by a combined seven points. The trio of Armand Dehaney, Cameron Ontko and Kyle Snyder have carried the Warriors offensively, and Dehaney had a game-saving interception in last week’s victory over stubborn Chagrin Falls. Aurora, in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, was pushed to the limit last week against Hubbard, winning, 14-7, when quarterback Brendan Gallagher threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dee Brizzolara in the final minute.

PD pick: Aurora.

Perry vs. Steubenville

What, when, where: Regional title game, 7:30 p.m., Mollenkopf Stadium, Harding High School, 860 Elm Road N.E., Warren. Call 330-395-3291.

Records: Perry, 11-1; Steubenville, 12-0.

What to watch: Pirates lean on an aggressive, ball-hawking defense led by ends John Phelps and Anthony Kukwa, linebacker Vinny Hokavar and safety Mitchell Hokavar, and the uncanny scoring ability of tailback Mike Hanhauser (1,830 yards offense, 40 touchdowns). The key for Perry is the health of guard Adam Crow (illness). Agile quarterback Hokavar will need time to find receiver Anthony Skinner and tight end Anthony Kukwa. Steubenville, coming off its first-ever victory over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, counters with run-first quarterback Dwight Macon and fullback / linebacker Branko Busick, a West Virginia recruit.

PD pick: Steubenville.

Kirtland vs. Youngstown Ursuline

What, when, where: Regional title game, 7 p.m., Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren Harding High School, 860 Elm Road N.E., Warren. Call 330-395-3291.

Records: Both teams are 12-0.

What to watch: Can the Hornets pull the upset of the year? It will require the same kind of play it has excelled at against lesser opponents - zero turnovers and few mistakes while preventing big plays on defense, a tall order against talented and deep Ursuline. Kirtland’s offensive strength is versatility with run-and-pass threat quarterback Ben Madden, running back Rossi Santo and a fleet of receivers led by Dominic Samf and tight end Anthony Ritossa, who will match up against one of the nation’s top ends in junior Jamel Turner. Ursuline’s offense is not overwhelming, but it is relentless with a bevy of tailbacks running behind a huge line. Its real strength is a defense allowing just nine points per game against a brutal schedule. Kirtland will need two-way lineman Schyler Chappell, who injured his shoulder last week.

PD pick: Kirtland.

I’m high on Aurora too. I expect them to win, and perhaps win big. Perry will be in for a tough game. It will come down to whether or not they can create big plays.

It’s hard to pick against Kirtland because they haven’t lost all season. This weekend, however, they are playing by far the best team they will have seen in years. Can they pull off the upset?

The Chagrin Valley Times looks back at Chagrin Falls loss to Walsh Jesuit:

Statistics don’t win games. But when the Chagrin Falls football team puts some time and distance between itself and last Saturday’s Division III playoff loss to Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, the Tigers will remember that they largely dominated the game they ultimately lost.

In Chagrin Falls’ 21-17 loss to Walsh at Stewart Field in Solon, the Tigers led their opponents in time of possession, first downs, total plays from scrimmage and total yards gained.

The Tigers could have (and probably should have) beat Walsh, but they made several critical mistakes in the fourth quarter that allowed Walsh to steal the win. The Tigers will be a force next season, no doubt.

The News-Herald has a story about how Kirtland has found success running up the middle, even on designed quarterback sneaks:

With versatile center Kyle Smith and bulldozer guards Schyler and Spensir Chappell making up the heart of the offensive line, the Hornets don’t have to be sneaky at all when it comes to the QB or any other member of the backfield running right up the middle.

Over and over again in some instances.

“In a game early in the season we were basically telling the other team what we were going to run before the play happened, but the refs yelled at us so we had to stop,” Smith said. “It’s so much fun when the other team knows what’s coming but you can still runs the exact same play the whole way down the field.”

It’s good to be able to run, but eventually the Hornets may run into a team with a dominant defensive line that won’t allow Kirtland to run the same plays over and over again.

Of course, sometimes, your offensive line is so good, it doesn’t matter who the other team is. We’ll find out tomorrow what the truth is.

• Harold Crane: 7-1 (54-14)
• Stephanie Greenlaw: 8-0 (52-16)
• Jack Hanhauser: 7-1 (50-18)
• John McGrurer: 8-0  (48-19-1)
• Joe Edelstein: 8-0 (48-20)
• Sandra Klepach: 7-1 (42-26)

As you see from last week’s scores, it was an easy week. Half the people went undefeated while the other half missed just one game. This week will be much tougher. There are three complete toss ups this week:

• Solon vs. Strongsville
• Chagrin Falls vs. Perry
• Orange vs. Kenston

It is these games that will decide the fate of our CVC predictors.

Post your predictions below and see how yous stack up against our predictors tomorrow.

The Comets have played a very rugged schedule this season, and they face one of their toughest tests yet this Friday night.

Strongsville comes in with just one loss. Unfortunately, they stand between Solon and the playoffs. Oh, and so does St. Eds.

Yes, it is true, a win this Friday night does not guarantee a playoff berth for the Comets. St. Eds is currently ahead of the Comets in Region 1 at No. 8, while Solon is No. 9. St. Eds will be playing St. Ignatius in the Holy War this Friday night.

St. Ignatius has an identical record to Strongsville. Meaning that both teams are worth the same amount of playoff points. The good news for Solon is this: St. Edwards is the underdog against a very talented St. Ignatius team.

The bad news is that Solon is an underdog against a very good Strongsville team. If there is a silver lining for Solon it’s this: Strongsville has already clinched a playoff spot, and Strongsville is guaranteed at least a share of the Northeast Ohio Conference league crown. They don’t need this game the way Solon does.

It’s always possible that the coaches and players till take things a little bit lighter. But I doubt that Strongsville would want to enter the playoffs on a down note.

There are two link opponents I want to highlight:

• Solon lost to Brunswick, 20-17. It was a very winnable game for the Comets, but they could not seal the deal. Strongsville on the other hand beat Brunswick 25-20 — Brunswick’s only loss of the season.
• Solon lost to Mentor 26-24. Again, a game in which the Comets had opportunities to win. Strongsville was again able to seal the deal in a close game over Mentor, 30-27.

The Comets have struggled this season in close games against top opponents, especially late in games. Solon will have to be able to play four quarters of quality football this Friday night to win.

The Comets are good enough, but can they put together their best game of the season?

Aurora has not only clinched a playoff berth, but they will also have a home playoff game no matter what happens this Friday night against Wickliffe.

The Greenmen are currently No. 2 in Region 9. An Aurora win and a Walsh Jesuit loss (they play Warren G Harding this Friday night) should give Aurora the top spot in Region 9.

Kirtland has also clinched a playoff spot but needs a win over Grand Valley this Friday night to clinch an important home playoff game. The Hornets should get that victory on their way to an undefeated regular season. Very impressive.

Chagrin Falls has also clinched a playoff berth in Region 9. They are currently No. 4. A victory over Perry will give the Tigers a home playoff game.

Perry needs to beat Chagrin Falls to secure a playoff spot. Yes, Perry could still make the playoffs if they lose to Chagrin, but a victory guarantees the Pirates a playoff berth and most likely a home playoff game.

A loss could knock the Pirates all the way out of the playoffs. Not a lot separates No. 4 from No. 9 in Region 13. The Pirates have 18.5 points, while No. 9 Labrae has 17.6.

The Pirates have to approach this game as a must win. Several realistic scenarios could see the Pirates miss the playoffs if they lose this week. Even No. 12 Girard has realistic hopes of a playoff berth if they can beat 8-1 Division III Liberty this week.

West Geauga, while not mathematically eliminated, needs a ton of help to vault from No. 13 in Region 9 up to even the 8th spot.

The Plain Dealer kept both Aurora and Perry fairly steady in its rankings.

Aurora appears at No. 20, up two spots from a week ago, while Perry appears at No. 25. No other Chagrin Valley Conference teams appear in the poll.

One could make a case for Chagrin Falls, but they were handled pretty easily by Aurora. West G has been okay this season.

Aurora, however, should probably be ranked higher. The Greenmen have won seven straight games. In fact, they would probably have a better record if they were healthier in the beginning of the season.

Consider this: Aurora barely lost to undefeated Avon by a 27-24 score in the first week of the season. The Eagles are No. 13 in the PD poll. If those two teams played 10 times, I’m not sure Avon would win the majority of the contests.

Aurora’s other loss came to 7-2 Twinsburg, 27-6 in the third week of the season. Division I Twinsburg is ranked No. 14 in the PD poll, and Aurora is a better team now than they were then.

But newspaper polls are meaningless. The Greenmen are No. 2 in Region 9 and have clinched a home playoff game. They should make a deep run this year.

That’s what some are wondering in an article today in the PD:

In the early morning hours Friday before the Wolverines’ homecoming game, nearly 70 people close to or on the football team, including dozens of players, became ill in what is being investigated as a case of possible poisoning.

The common factor appears to be a team meal the victims shared Thursday night prepared by a local restaurant.

Brothers and teammates Anthony and Joey Pinto both woke up at 3 a.m. Friday and were sick all morning.

“I thought it was something we ate as a family,” said Anthony, a senior. “Then in the morning I found out all the football players were sick, and I’m like, wow, this is really fishy.”

But it wasn’t fish. The team shared a meal of prime rib, potatoes, vegetables and cookies. Rumors have floated around the school that the food was tainted, but no one has said it was poisoned.

“There’s a twofold investigation,” Chester police chief Mark Purchase said. “The Geauga County Health Department is taking a look at it in terms of bacteria, and we’re tracking down rumors to see how things may have started.”

West Geauga Superintendent Anthony Podojil said health department officials discussed with him Tuesday the possibility of a virus spread by someone who handled the food or was near the food, “like what happens on cruise ships, and there’s nothing that could be done about it.”

The idea that someone would intentionally poison a high school sports team is pretty far fetched. This isn’t Saved by the Bell. What’s much more likely is that this is a case of food poisoning.

It happens every day. I’ve had food poisoning twice. It’s terrible, but it’s rarely intentional. Now, if it is intentional, that’s pretty dispecable.

Your thoughts?

What a difference one week can make.

Chagrin Falls was sitting on top of Region 9 last week. Now they are No. 4. Last week Aurora was No. 4. Now they are No. 1.

This change happened because of Aurora’s big 49-27 victory over the Tigers. What a turn around for the Greenmen.

They started the season 1-2 and have gone 5-0 since that slow start. They should win their last two games against Orange and Wickliffe.

Aurora will make the playoffs and secure a top 4 seed (and a home playoff game in the process) if they just take care of business. Things are a bit cloudier for the Tigers. Chagrin controls its own destiny as well, but faces a much tougher road than the Greenmen.

They face Kenston this week. The Tigers’ arch-rival has looked better in recent weeks, and would benefit if the game was cold and in bad weather. The Bombers can run the ball, but have struggled mightily with the passing game.

Chagrin Falls should beat the Bombers, but still face 7-1 Perry in the final week of the season. Both teams  need a victory. Beating Perry and Kenston should secure a top 4 finish for the Tigers, but a loss to either would drop them lower, and a loss to Perry may not clinch a playoff spot for the Tigers.

Perry is No. 6 in Region 13, and faces two tough games with West Geauga and Chagrin Falls coming up. Beating West G would raise Perry’s position, possibly into the top 4. Beating Chagrin Falls and West G would give Perry that coveted home playoff game. Losing to both would knock the Pirates out of the playoffs.

Speaking of West G, the Wolverines are No. 10 in Region 9. West G can overtake some of the teams in front of them by just beating Perry this week. If the Wolverines beat Perry and Beachwood the following week, they might sneak into the bottom part of the playoffs.

The Comets have dropped to No. 9 in Region 1 and will have to win out to make the playoffs.

The Comets also have to hope that No. 8 Brecksville-Broadview Heights loses to Steele this weekend. Steele is undefeated and would be worth a ton of playoff points for Brecksville-Broadview Heights. The Comets have on remaining game against a team worth a lot of points, 7-1 Strongsville.

Steele should probably beat Brecksville-Broadview Heights, but the Comets will be underdogs against Strongsville.