DON McCORMACK
Star Beacon
August 25, 2008 04:02 am
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Paying a Monday morning visit to the variety store...
What a rush!
Only team area running backs cracked the 100-yard mark in last weekend’s opening games of the 2008 Ohio high school football season.
Geneva’s James Murray rumbled his way to an area-best 160 yards on 22 carries in the Eagles’ victory against Wickliffe at Memorial Field.
Perry’s Mike Hanhauser carried the football only 13 times, but piled up 107 yards in the Pirates 30-6 win at Riverside.
Passing fancy
On the other hand, while the area could boast only two 100-yard ballcarriers in Week 1, it can, however, crow about six area quarterbacks throwing for more than 100 yards.
They were:
n 1, 216 yards — Vinny Hokavar, Perry, vs. Riverside.
n 2, 190 yards — Tyler Erb, Geneva, vs. Wickliffe.
n 3, 154 yards — Richard Barnes, Harvey, vs. Lakeview.
n 4, 118 yards — Marc Bartone, Geneva, vs. Wickliffe.
n 5, 102 yards — Jake Phelps, SS. John and Paul, vs. Oberlin.
n 6, 100 yards — Andrew Smith, Pymatuning Valley, vs. Berkshire.
Catching on
Only two area receivers topped the century mark in yardage, though, led by Edgewood’s Ricky Kaydo, who had 113 yards on four catches against visiting Champion.
He was joined in the 100-yard club by Geneva’s Caleb Strauser, who had 106 yards on four catches against visiting Wickliffe.
That’ll do it
Geneva coach Tony Hassett had to be elated about his Eagles’ 35-point victory against Wickliffe on Friday night at Memorial Field, Geneva’s first Game 1 triumph since a 26-13 verdict against South in 1999.
Having a 100-yard rusher (Murray), a 100-yard passer (Erb) and a 100-yard receiver (Strauser) — and a stingy defense — is pretty much a perfect list of ingredients on a recipe for success.
There were 3
The Star Beacon’s coverage area — in its current state — consists of 12 Ohio High School Athletic Association member high schools.
These dozen schools — Conneaut, Edgewood, Geneva, Grand Valley, Jefferson, Lakeside, Pymatuning Valley and SS. John from Ashtabula County and Harvey, Madison, Perry and Riverside from Lake County — became 12 when Ashtabula and Harbor consolidated into Lakeside at the start of the 2001-02 school year.
Since then, the 12 football teams from those respective high schools have reached the .500
mark collectively in Week 1 games only once.
And 2008 was not an exception as area teams went a collective 3-9 (.250).
Only Geneva, Grand Valley and Perry were able to rack up opening-night victories on Friday, and two of those wins — the Mustangs’ thrilling 27-26 overtime victory against visiting Jefferson and Perry’s 30-6 triumph at Riverside — came against other area teams. Only Geneva’s 42-7 whipping of visiting Wickliffe came against a non-area squad.
Here’s how the 12 area teams have fared collectively since 13 became 12 in 2001:
n 2001 — 5-7 (.417).
n 2002 — 5-7 (.417).
n 2003 — 6-6 (.500).
n 2004 — 5-7 (.417).
n 2005 — 5-7 (.417).
n 2006 — 4-8 (.333).
n 2007 — 2-10 (.167).
n 2008 — 3-9 (.250).
All of which means the 12 area teams have gone a collective 35-61 (.365) in season-opening games since 2001.
Streaking
Coach Tom Henson’s Grand Valley Mustangs snapped a 10-game losing streak with its one-point overtime triumph against Jefferson at Grand Valley Stadium on Friday night.
On the opposite side of the coin, SS. John and Paul and Conneaut had their respective losing streaks extended to 16 and 9, respectively.
Radio waves
Yours truly will be a guest on The Sports Report, hosted by none other than Mr. Sports himself, Joe Pete, aka The King of Ashtabula County Media — today from 5-6:30 p.m. on ESPN 970 WFUN.
Readers are welcome to call (997-9797), with the only subjects being taboo are Bigfoot and my problems with riding lawnmowers.
McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
DON McCORMACK Star Beacon