Thoughts on week 10

I know it hurts right now, Jefferson fans. You're thinking, coach Damon Ulm should have kicked the field goal, right? Something about "You never take points off the board" that you heard some TV analyst say. Less than a minute left, kick the easy field goal and go to overtime.
But you're dead wrong.
You don't kick the field goal. You go for the win. The footing was shaky at best, so even an 18-yard try is no guarantee. Even if the kick is good, OT isn't a sure proposition, either. This was the best shot the Wildcats would get.
Don't second guess the coach. He knows more than you ... it's why he's on the sidelines and you're sitting under an umbrella and blanket in the stands, sipping on coffee.
Also in week 10:
I wish I could tell you I saw the O-G win coming ... but I would be lying. I thought Shawnee had the better defense and Brandon Stephenson is a star. Whoops. Congrats to O-G on the big win, the WBL title and the playoff spot. (Stephenson is flat-out money, by the way).
Win No. 2 probably couldn't feel better than Bath's 3-0 win over Wapakoneta. Well, unless it was in week two. Matt Louden nailed a 20-yard field goal with six ticks left. How far has Wapak fallen from its WBL title one year ago?
I really wish injuries wouldn't have taken Heath Nickles' first three seasons away from us. The Columbus Grove back rushed for 170 yards against Bluffton. Along with Stephenson and Blaine Schmitt, he is my favorite back to watch.
Speaking of Schmitt, I feel bad for the kid. He rushes for 175 yards on 31 carries ... and cannot get any help from his teammates. He's only like 5-foot-8 and maybe 170 pounds, but he's a fighter. He deserved better than 3-7 senior year.
Marion Local wins the MAC title by holding New Bremen to minus-41 yards rushing. Good luck to the rest of the Division V teams in Ohio. Nobody's stopping the Flyers.
It's getting close at Lima Senior, I really believe that. The Spartans drive down the field on their first possession and score. Good. They don't score again until 3:29 is left in the game. Bad. But fans, just give it time. (Shameless plug alert! Read my column on Wednesday for a good turnaround story. This coach and team have proven it can happen!)
And finally, there's Elida. I won't bang on the Bulldogs too much (I don't want any Letters to the Editor about my black heart), but come on. Elida gave up exactly 10 times as many points as they scored. 0-10 is bad enough, but when you score less than 50 points in 10 games and give up nearly 500, something is wrong.

Best. Quote. EVER.

"I know (Washington Redskins linebacker) London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That’s the closest thing I know to London. He’s black, so I’m sure he’s not from London. I’m sure that’s a coincidental name."

This quote came from Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder, in preparation for the Fins' game in London, England. He might not know where London is located, but he knows Italy, "looks like a boot." And he just found out this week that they speak English in London, so he won't need a translator.
This might be the dumbest person alive, right up there in the Paris Hilton league. How in the world do you get through a few decades on the Earth on not know where London is?
My initital reaction was fits of laughter, but now I'm angry and scared. Mad as heck that this dumb*ss will make more money this year than I will in my life. And I fear for our future if this is what our society produces. Ever wonder why the world hates us? Because we put idiots on pedestals and lap up every stupid, moronic and mindless thing that comes tumbling out of their mouth.
It's yet another example why mom and dad need to worry more about their kids hitting the books than hitting a tackling dummy. At this point, I'd take a tackling dummy in a match of wits with Channing Crowder. What a dumb jock.

Welcome to the Kewpee Bowl at Lima Stadium

I just read an Associated Press report on how Northwestern is one win away from being bowl eligible. Quiz Bowl, sure. But they have no business in a real, honest football bowl game.
Granted, that doesn't mean the Wildcats will get picked, but COME ON! How in the world is this possible? Isn't this the team that got beat by Duke??
Just another example why we don't need all of these bowl games. Really, who wants to see that Northwestern-Fresno State matchup in classy Mobile, Ala.? I say, any bowl game that takes place before Christmas gets axed.
Northwestern. Whatever.

Top perfomances from week 9

Let's start out with the game I covered, Shawnee-Van Wert. The Indians defense might be the best in the area, with only LCC coming close. The Cougars had three first downs. Wow.
I also saw the best player in the area, Shawnee RB Brandon Stephenson. When Zac Dysert went down with a broken finger, it all but wrapped up Stephenson's spot as our Dream Team POY. The kid is strong, has great vision and is flat-out fast. Loved watching him perform. I still can't believe he's only a junior.
Cannot wait for that O-G v. Shawnee matchup.
Other players/teams of note:
*If you're a Delphos Jefferson fan, you had to love Tim Sanders' 3 TDs in the win over Ada. His 113 yards on the TD runs were more than Ada mustered as a team! He totaled 153 rushing yards on six carries, or over 25 yards every time he touched the ball. He's my choice for Athlete of the Week.
*Korey Lane had four TDs in Perry's win over USV.
*Yawn. Another week, another Marion Local win. QB Chris Stucke had 206 total yards and a TD. The Flyers won't be tested until they get to eastern Ohio.
*Bluffton's Jesse Herr had 170 yards rushing with a TD in the Pirates' win.
*Waynesfield RB Blake Knowlton went over the 1,600-yard mark against Ridgemont. He also scored two times.
*Man, football doesn't get any better than St. Marys. The Roughriders went to Kenton and didn't even attempt a pass! Isn't that some sort of sin?! Anyway, Koby Frye led the St. Marys charge with 235 yards and one TD.
*This is the kid I'm telling everyone to watch out for -- O-G sophomore Logan Kaufman. All he did against Celina was rush 13 times for 207 yards (almost 16 yards per tote!) and score twice.
*Congrats to LCC on its NWC title. Nothing tougher than everyone gunning for you and still pulling it off. Does next Saturday's game against Ada really mean anything now?

*Lima Senior rushed for 149 yards in its loss at Findlay. Ryan Nathan had 127 yards. That means the rest of the Spartans managed only 22 rushing yards. Ugh.

The wonderful world of the Big 10 Network

While I was at the Division II and III state golf championships Saturday at the Ohio State University golf courses, I wanted to check out the score of the Buckeye football game. Except for one, small detail -- the golf course doesn't get the Big 10 Network.
How does that happen? The golf course, owned and operated by the University, can't even show the school's football game on T.V. Just another example of why the Big 10 Network is a joke.

Why is he in there?

Zac Dysert broke the thumb on his throwing hand against Crestview, ending the senior's season at QB. He was making a tackle in the first half of Ada's 23-14 loss to the Knights.
I don't want to second guess coach Mike Fell, because it's not his fault and I think he's a quality coach, but why have Dysert in the game at DB? I can understand Dysert is a premier athlete, but the Bulldogs are done without Dysert at QB. No questions asked, DONE. (Fell pretty much agreed when Dysert broke the pinkie on his non-throwing hand in the preseason)
Why risk it?

LeBron wore a Yankees hat ... The world is over!

I'm sure everyone saw that LeBron James wore a Yankees hat to game one of the Indians-Yankees game Thursday night. Sure, I thought it was weird, but I didn't make much of it.
It seems people are making a big deal of this. It's not. LeBron wearing a Yankees hat to a Tribe game might be poor taste, but it has nothing to do with his commitment to the Cavaliers or the city of Cleveland. It doesn't mean he's going to jump ship.
Quit your whining Tribe fans. Fans are allowed to root for the team they choose. And that's all LeBron was ... a fan.