The curtain goes up tonight on the 2010 high school football season for a pair of area teams providing the opening acts, with the other eight squads providing a collective second act Friday night.
Tonight, the only game in town will be at beautiful Lakeside Stadium, where coach Bill Lipps will begin his second season at the helm against some mighty tough cats, the Howland Tigers (7, WYBL).
Meanwhile, coach Tim Willis’ Madison Blue Streaks will storm Normandy tonight in another 7 p.m. kickoff.
Both the Dragons and the Blue Streaks will be looking to avenge Game 1 defeats suffered at the hands of their respective opponents tonight.
Friday night, Jefferson will invade Grand Valley, Edgewood will host Champion, Perry will trek to Riverside, Conneaut will visit Ledgemont, Geneva will journey to Kirtland and Pymatuning Valley will play at Berkshire.
Here’s a closer look at each one of the Week 1 matchups:
Howland at Lakeside
The Dragons will celebrate their 10th birthday tonight when they welcome the Tigers in the sixth game in this series, Howland holding a 4-1 lead in these matchups, having won the last four encounters, including a 34-24 victory a year ago at Howland.
Both Lipps and veteran Howland coach Dick Angle are more than happy to be kicking off the season a night earlier than most.
“Playing the first game on a Thursday is alright with me ,” Lipps said. “There should be a huge crowd. Howland fans travel well and we are expecting a nice crowd to see this edition of the Dragons.
“It gives us coaches a chance to see a couple of our future opponents on Friday night. I don’t like having school the next morning, but oh well, such is life.”
Angle was even more adamant about enjoying the Thursday night clash.
“I was never happy playing on Friday last year,” Angle said. “Thursday is a great time to start. Any time you can start or end the season on a Thursday, you’re not losing anything. I’m sure Lakeside has been preparing for us since July, just like we have for them. Thursday is a great time. Up there, it’s an isolated game, which is great. There’s a potential for a bigger crowd. I don’t think it’s a disadvantage to go a day early. I think every team is ready to play.
“We really started to play on Thursdays way back in the ‘80s when I was at Ursuline,” Angle said. “It’s been part of every program I’ve been at, really.”
The Dragons are short on experience from the team that finished 5-5 a year ago. Lipps is fully aware his guys will be forced to grow up in a hurry in a football sense is they are to hang with a veteran, talented team such as Howland, which went 9-1 in the regular season a year ago then won a first-round playoff game against Medina Highland, 38-24, before bowing to Ashland in a second-round clash, 19-14, and finished 10-2. Howland has been to the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
“We have six seniors, three who lettered and only one who started... we are very young,” he said. “ I think all the guys seniors through the freshmen are eager to get the season started, no matter the opponent. We really enjoy playing on what we consider to be the best facilities in Northeast Ohio, no matter the opponent.
“Playing in our stadium in front of the Lakeside Community is something that they all get geared up for.”
Getting off to a better start would certainly benefit the Dragons.
“Last year, it was our slow start that cost us we were down 14-0 in the first 5 minutes of the game,” Lipps said. “ Howland is very well -oached and very talented team.
“We have been stressing to our guys since Day 1taking care of the little things. We know we are young, but feel we are extremly athletic. I guess that beats experienced and unathletic.”
The new faces will be evident right away for Lakeside, with junior Brandon Gibson taking over for the graduated Kyle George at quarterback. With feature back Derrell McCaleb also having graduated, Frankie Clayman and Bruce Cox will be looked to to carry the mail. When Gibson looks to the air, junior Brendan Hester is expected to be one of the primary targets of a receiving corps that Lipps said could number nine.
Angle isn’t buying the lack-of-experience... angle, though.
We saw them play Poland in a scrimmage,” Angle said. “I thought for a quarter and a half, they played really well. Then they got down on themselves. The defense did a great job against Poland. Poland broke their speedster free a couple times.”
“Last year, they struggled (in the preseason) then they came here and put 24 points on the board,” he said. “So we take (the preseason) tongue-in-cheek. We’re going ot be ready because that offense scored 24 points last year.
“Coach Lipps has been around the program for four years,” Angle, who is 73-51 (.589) in 13 seasons at Howland and 235-163-3 (.591) overall, said. “He’s got them honed in on what they’re trying to do with the offense. He’s got them going. It’s a chance to step the program up now. He’s got good numbers and good size. Any time a team has skill, you always have to worry.”
Howland will also have a much different look about it, most notably, at quarterback. Matt Preston, who graduated last spring, was a four-year starter for Angle under center, posting a 33-12 record (.733), a career that included five playoff games.
Senior Tim Parana (6-foot, 165 pounds) will be the starting QB for the Tigers tonight.
“He had a real good July and a better August,” Angle said. “Right now, he’s the guy. He brings a lot to the table. He’s got the respect of the team and he gets us where we need to go.
“In Friday’s scrimmage, he did very well. He was 8 for 11 throwing the ball. He converted three big third downs and he had two good drives. Any time you can do that against a team like Boardman, you have to get excited.”
In Preston, running back Mike Mangiarelli and offensive lineman Evan Parker, Howland lost three All-Ohio players to graduation.
Deveon Smith, who ran for 987 yards a year ago as a freshman, will be front and center for Howland’s ground attack, as will senior fullback Brandon Neilan, who gained 565 yards and scored 10 touchdowns a year ago.
“Any team coached by Dick Angle will try to run the ball down your throat,” Lipps said. “We first need to be good on first and second down to force them into throwing situations.
“Offensivley, we know once our offensive line comes together... and it will... we will be a dominant offense. Ia m not a patient man and I hope it is sooner rather than later with this group. Our skill is some of the best around. Once our linemen get it — and I have seen glimpses during the scrimmages — we will have one of the top offenses in the area once again.”
Lakeside led the area in total yardage a year ago.
The Dragons are 5-4 in their nine opening-game contests and will take a 53-38 (.582) all-time record into tonight’s game.
By the way, Angle, who will be coaching game 402 of his storied career tonight, loves making the journey to Saybrook Township to play at Lakeside Stadium.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” he said. “Lakeside, being somewhat new, has the best of everything. The only downfall is the visiting locker room. But the stadium, the press box and the playing surface are the best. The school looks like it belongs in North Carolina.
“It’s a great atmosphere. I think it sets the mood. It’s a nice facility and we like playing there. We like our own stadium, we think it’s a cool little den. But if we’re going to play on the road, the place to go is Lakeside. They did a great job with the facility.”
Madison at Normandy
Willis made a point of saying the 2009 edition of the Blue Streaks had difficulties putting four solid quarters of football together, which played a big part in Madison posting an unfamiliar losing record (4-6).
Case in point, Game 1 a year ago against Normandy. The Blue Streaks stormed to a 14-3 first-quarter lead, only to see it evaporate by the end of that opening quarter (17-14) and a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Invaders accounted for the final totals of 24-14.
However, while Madison returns a boatload of starters as well as experienced players, Normandy, which finished 5-5 in Rich Turner’s seventh and final season at the helm in 2009, does not.
In fact, the Invaders must replace their entire offensive backfield from a year ago as Casey Pierce, Mike Travagliante and Jake Squirek all were lost to graduation.
Willis, for one, won’t miss seeing Squirek, the son of former Oakland Raider Jack Squirek, lining up across the line of scrimmage from his guys.
“The biggest difference this year is the graduation of Jake Squirek,” he said. “He personally beat us the last three years.
“They use a pro-style offense and a stack defense. They are a well-coached team and have a very good kicking game.”
The Blue Streaks coach knows where the impetus toward victory tonight is placed.
“We must be able to start fast and score touchdowns in the red zone,” he said. “Our big offensive line must produce.”
Willis doesn’t see much of a difference in playing the season opener on a Thursday night as opposed to Friday.
“Being the first game of the year, it doesn't really matter,” he said. “We have been preparing all summer.
“(Playing on Thursday), we will be able to see (Week 2 opponent) Geneva.”
In the last 50 years, Madison and Normandy have played only three times in football — to open the last three seasons — and all have been Invader victories. Normandy won at Madison in 2007, 34-17, and at home in 2008, 14-10, before securing the 24-14 victory at Blue Streak Memorial Stadium last fall.
Madison is 29-20-1 (.592) in its last 50 openers and 367-279-24 (.568) on the gridiron since the 1940 season.
Jefferson at Grand Valley
This is the only matchup between Ashtabula County squads in Week 1, with the Mustangs looking to turn the tables on the Falcons, who won this matchup in the debut of their new Falcon Pride Stadium last season, 32-14.
This matchup of two former Grand River Conference rivals has traditionally been one of the headline acts of Week 1 in recent years and this season is no exception as the lush new playing surface at Grand Valley Stadium is expected to be a perfect stage for one of the most anticipated games of Week 1.
Jefferson, which went 3-7 a year ago, losing its final five games, has moved to the spread offense this season from the two-back power attack of recent vintage. Quarterback Colin Cicon (771 yards passing in 2009) will be at the controls, with junior Jacob Dengg taking over as feature back for the graduated Josh Simon. Classmate Connor Cleveland (754 total yards in 2009) is a definite home-run threat, as evidenced by 27.4 kickoff-return average a year ago.
“I am confident in our system because our staff and kids believe in it,” Falcons coach Jimmy Henson said. “We feel it puts our athletes in the best position to be successful.”
But there is more to it than that, Henson admits.
“On offense, we must control the line of scrimmage, eliminate penalties and turnovers, and when we get a chance make a play,” he said. “On defense, again, we must control the line of scrimmage, create turnovers and stop the big play (we must make them earn everything they get).
“I also think that a major key will be special teams. If you look at the past five games, special teams has played a major part in every game.”
Henson’s uncle, Tom, is back as coach of the Mustangs, looking to build on a solid 6-4 mark last season.
“(We have to) slow down Jefferson's speed, keep Cicon in the pocket (and) make tackles,” Henson said. “(And) play solid up front on both offense and defense, make plays on offense and eliminate turnovers and penalities.”
Jimmy Henson’s nephew, A.J. Henson, also Tom Henson’s grandson, is back at quarterback for the Mustangs after throwing for 1,218 yards a year ago as a sophomore.
It should be noted, those 1,218 yards came after a summer when Henson spent almost no time preparing to play under center — or in the shotgun. This summer, A.J. Henson made sure that would not be the case this fall.
“A lot of throwing. A lot of throwing,” he said. “I didn’t really do any throwing last year. So, this year, I’ve been doing a lot of throwing with my guys.”
And when he fires passes tonight, you can bet fellow junior Mitchell Lake will be his main man. Lake led Ashtabula County with 38 receptions and 690 yards a year ago. However, he was held to just two catches for 29 yards by Jefferson in the opener last season.
“The whole team has responded well to the new style of offense,” Tom Henson said of the wide-open GV attack. “The coaches have learned as well as the players and this style seems to fit our players.”
A year ago, the Mustangs led this matchup, 14-7, after a quarter. However, Jefferson’s size and strength then took over and the Falcons won a war of attrition.
“We’re not as young as last year,” Tom Henson said. “They dominated us with size up front, but we are closer in size this year.
“Our size is better, as well as our experience. I think we will be better up front.”
Then, there is the family affair tonight, featuring the Hensons, including former Mustangs coach Jim Henson — an Ashtabula County Hall of Famer. Jim Henson is Jimmy Henson’s father, Tom Henson’s brother and A.J. Henson’s grandfather. Oh, by the way, Jimmy Henson was a star quarterback for the Mustangs during his high school days, with his dad as head coach and his uncle as an assistant.
“This will always be a special and difficult game,” Jimmy Henson said. “It is always great to see the people in Orwell that I grew up with.
“When we go to GV to play, a lot of great memories come back, even though it is a new field. However, it is very difficult to compete against family.
“I wish them well and hope they go 9-1. Of course, you know which game is the 1.
“Coaching against Jimmy was weird at first but never a distraction,” Tom Henson said. “We both look at it as an important game because it’s the first game of the season and you want to set the pace for the season.
“I think the communities put more emphasis on it than we do.
“As usual, we both want to win.”
Tonight’s game will be the 37th meeting between Jefferson and Grand Valley on the gridiron, the Falcons’ victory last fall narrowing GV’s edge in the series to 18-17. The two teams played to a scoreless tie at the Mustangs’ former home, Al Walters Memorial Field, in 1983.
In the 36 games between the teams, Grand Valley has scored 608 points (an average of 16.4), with Jefferson having scored 562 (15.6). The Mustangs hold a 9-8 lead in games played in Orwell in the series, along with the scoreless tie in 1983.
Tonight’s game will mark the 19th straight season Jefferson and GV have squared off in the opener — the longest active streak involving one area team, let alone two.
GV began playing football in the fall of 1962 and is 235-211-6 (.527) all-time (against varsity opponents). Jefferson brought 11-man football back in 1946 after a 20-year absence and is 240-336-1 (.417) in that span.
All-time, GV is 25-22 (.531) in its 47 season-opening games.
Starting in 1946, Jefferson is 26-35 (.426).
Champion at Edgewood
This is the only other game being played on Ashtabula County soil and if it’s anything like the 2009 matchup between the teams, expect a dandy, marking the fourth straight season they’ve opened against one another.
A year ago, the Warriors broke a 12-game losing skid with a thrilling 27-15 triumph, a win that proved to be a springboard for coach Joe Kearney’s squad to finish 7-3. That mark, following a disastrous 0-10 finish in 2008, proved to be the biggest turnaround from one season to another in Ashtabula County football history.
However, health issues forced Kearney to resign last spring and his shoes have been filled by former assistant Dominic Iarocci, who was formerly the head coach at St. John.
Iarocci is more than aware his Warriors will not have the luxury of sneaking up on opponents as the 2009 team may have.
“We set the bar petty high last year, and I agree, we won't be sneaking up on anyone,” he said. “Every game we’re involved in will be a dogfight. There are absolutely no easy games on our schedule.”
Iarocci admits to feeling some butterflies having returned to the role of head coach.
“I am extremely excited and re-energized to be the head coach again,” he said. “I am fortunate to have a great group of kids and a great coaching staff to work with.
Seniors Devin McCaleb and Matt Anderson (54 points, 5th in the area with 781 rushing yards, 5th with 6.9 yards per rush) are back at running back for the Warriors. They will be reunited with fullback David Peterson, who sat out 2009 after lettering as a sophomore. Peterson takes over for the graduated Stefan Dobriansky (303 rushing yards, 36 points in 2009). Senior Pete Mackey (359 yards and 4 TDs passing, 289 yards and 2 TDs rushing in 2009) returns as the starting quarterback.
But look out for Champion, though. Coach Terry Howell’s Golden Flashes will be bolstered by the addition of Jimmy Rasey to their offensive backfield. Rasey, who has rushed for more than 4,000 yards in his career in his first three seasons, transfered into the Champion district when his family moved from Southington during the offseason.
Add him to the attack led by senior running back Travis Damron (948 yards on the ground a year ago as a junior) and Champion is looking to bounce back from the 1-9 mark it put up a year ago.
“We were very fortunate to beat Champion last year,” Iarocci said. “We broke off some big runs. We had a very difficult time stopping their belly option. We are working very hard on that, to stop it.
“Also, this year they, have a fine running back named Rasey. He is a big addition to their team, so we are concentrating on stopping him, plus the other good back they have, Damron.
“Every year that we have played Champion, it has been an outstanding game either way, and it will take maximum effort on our part to beat them. We scouted them, and they run multiple sets on offense, and they run a 50 slant on defense. We will be severely tested.”
Iarocci said the focus Friday night will be on Racey and Damron.
“We must stop their running attack,” he said. “They have two good running backs. Their quarterback likes to throw. They run multiple formations.”
In the last 50 seasons, Edgewood and Champion have played nine games, the Golden Flahes holding a 7-2 edge. Champion has won three of the four games played at Corlew Stadium.
Edgewood began playing 11-man football in the fall of 1944. It will take an all-time record of 229-262-15 (.466) into Friday night’s game.
In their last 50 season-opening games, the Warriors are 23-25-2 (.479).
Perry at Riverside
This matchup of Lake County squads has been dominated by Perry in recent years, the Pirates having won the last seven matchups, including last year’s 31-14 triumph at Alumni Stadium.
However, the Beavers will have a new look Friday night at Riverside Stadium as Dave Bors begins his tenure at the helm, having made the move to Riverside from West Geauga — the same move Perry coach Matt Rosati made when he took over as captain of the Pirates.
The Pirates will be led by quarterback Mitchel Hokavar, who threw for 1,199 yards and ran for 562, while gaining 5.6 yards per carry. He also tied for first in the area with 16 touchdown passes, while scoring 44 points.
Senior tight end Anthony Kukwa, like Hokavar an NCAA Division I recruit, returns as stud at tight end (24 passes for 508 yards and an area-high 21.1 yards per reception as a junior), while senior Chad West, a University of Cincinnati recruit, anchors the offensive line.
Even so, Rosati, who led Perry to a 6-4 finish last season, is expecting a good test Friday night in Painesville Township.
“Riverside will be a very big test for us,” he said. “They are a quality Division I program with an outstanding Coach. Coach Bors will have these guys ready to go and on there home field we will have our hands full.”
He knows what to expect, too.
“Riverside will run the triple option, which will give us a lot of trouble to prepare to defend,” Rosati said. “They will attempt to keep the ball out of our hands and dominate the line of scrimmage. They do have some size and the longer they get use to the offense, the better they will get.
“We are lucky to be playing them Game 1, because they are going to get better every week.”
Bors is quite aware of Perry’s high-powered attack, which averaged 25 points per game a year ago.
“Perry is definitely the class again in this matchup,” he said. “They have a boat-load of starters back, as well as three Division I prospects.
“We, on the other hand, have minimal starters back off a 2-8 team, as well as installing new schemes and philosophies on both sides of the ball.
“On paper, this game shouldn’t even be close. We’re going to give it our best shot, but things could get ugly if we don’t minimize mistakes.”
The game plan is simple, yet difficult, for Riverside.
“We need to limit the big plays from Hokavar and try to somehow control the ball on offense,” Bors said. “The more opportunities Perry has on offense, the worse the outcome for us.”
Rosati, too, points toward his defense.
“Our success will be getting stops on defense,” he said. “We can not allow for them to control the ball for major periods of time.
“On offense ,we must take care of the ball and take advantage of opportunities. We must score a lot of points in order to win this game. We must be able to protect our QB. If we can do that, we feel we have a good chance to win.”
Rosati and Bors go way back.
“I have known Dave for a long time,” Rosati said, “My first year of coaching football at Chardon High School, Dave was a senior, and I have followed his success as he went along.
“We have never coached together ,but some of my old staff at West G stayed with Dave. I know their system pretty well, but they have beaten me two of the three times we have played, so I have my work cut out for me this round.”
“We’re somewhat familiar with each other, but not really because of the West G connection,” Bors said. “More so because we’ve coached against each other the past three years.
“However, Matt does an outstanding job of adapting to his personnel and changing things year to year. Thus, while we know each other, this is a new and different year. We have a great amount of respect for Perry as a program, Coach Rosati and his staff and the Perry players and know this game will be difficult.”
Friday night’s game will mark the 11th straight season Perry and Riverside have opened against one another. In the last 50 years, they have played 17 times, with Perry holding a 9-7 (.563) lead. The 1964 game at Perry ended in a 6-6 tie. Riverside won the other seven games played through 1999, before Perry broke through and began its nine-game winning streak in the series with a 27-7 win at home in 2001.
Riverside began playing football in the fall of 1950. The Beavers’ all-time record is 292-284-14 .(507).
Starting with the fall of 1948, Perry’s record is a stellar 377-234-10 (.617)
Conneaut at Ledgemont
The Spartans and the Redskins will be playing for only the third time in history when they tangle Friday night, this being the first matchup played at Ledgemont.
Conneaut won the previous two meetings, 26-14 in 1998 and 35-0 in 1999, both games being played at Municipal Stadium.
His team having lost its last nine games after opening the 2009 season with a 13-12 win against visiting Southington, Spartans coach Ken Parise has narrowed the focus for his squad.
“We are concentrating on learning how to compete,” he said matter of factly.
He expects a tough matchup against the Redskins of coach Joe LaRosa, who went 6-4 in his first season at the helm a year ago and there are whispers of the word “playoffs” associated with his program, which is led by his son, Danny, at running back, along with quarterback Shane Ritts and received Brad Seiler.
“Ledgemont is a sound, hard-hitting football team,” Parise said. “The running back, LaRosa, is shifty and explosive at the point of attack.
“This should be a great game. Being the opener, both teams have something to prove. For us, it’s plain and simple — win the giveaway/ takeaway battle and win away.”
Parise has his Spartans looking ahead, not back.
“We haven't talked about last season,” he said. “The past is the past. This is a new group who is trying to establish themselves and create lifelong memories.”
Since the 1921 season, Conneaut is 397-418-34 (.487) on the gridiron.
PV at Berkshire
The Neal Croston Era begins Friday night for the Lakers in Burton, Croston having taken the step up to head coach after five seasons as an assistant after former Lakers coach Jason Root resigned last winter.
A year ago, the Lakers struck first, taking a 8-0 lead, only to see Berkshire run off the next 25 points en route to a 25-8 win.
“Turnovers and big plays were the difference in last year’s matchup,” Croston, a Pennsylvania native, said. “Both teams have a pretty good one-two punch with the running backs. Both lines are physical and showed be a good matchup up front.”
Berkshire, which went 4-6 a year ago, is once again under the leadership of veteran coach Jack Arnold, who returns as head coach after posting a 67-43 record from 1987 through 1997 leading the Badgers.
Its strength lies in its offensive line, which returns four starters and averages 223 pounds.
Conversely, the Lakers will be led by running backs Nick Marshall and Josh Kirby and quarterback Josh Adkins. Croston has scrapped the spread attack used at PV in recent years for a power running attack.
“We have to be able to run the ball for four quaters, control Bershire’s running game and win the turnover margin,” Croston said.
The first-year head coach admits to feeling some anticipation of his first game as a head coach.
“I’m really excited about the first game,” he said. “The players are ready to get the season started and show they are a good team.
“Our kids have really have improved and grown in the system since July. I expect us to run the ball for four quarters and defenses to have to respect our passing game with Josh Adkins improving throughout camp.”
PV began playing football in 1963. It’s all-time record (against varsity opponents) is 186-247-6 (.430).
Geneva at Kirtland
One of the best games of Week 1 in 2009 was the Eagles’ 32-23 victory over the Hornets at Memorial Field.
It paved the way for coach Tony Hassett’s Eagles posting an 8-2 record and winning a second straight Northeastern Conference championship.
Meanwhile, coach Tiger LaVerde’s Hornets finished 7-3, just missing out on a berth in the Division V, Region 17 playoffs, something you can bet they will be remembering Friday night when the Eagles come to town for the first time ever.
Last fall’s matchup between Geneva and Kirtland was the first-ever meeting between the schools on the gridiron.
“I think it’s going to be another highly competitive game,” Hassett said. :Kirtland knows what it’s like to be in the playoffs (having been there 5 times, including a regional runner-up finish in 2008) and we haven’t been to the playoffs since 1989.
“Kirtland has an outstanding quarterback (Paul Guhde — 990 yards, 16 touchdown passes a year ago as a sophomore) and they’re well coached. Our kids have high goals. They’ve worked extremely hard in preseason.
“Kirtland is going to win at least half of its games. We know it’s extremely important to win these first few games because they are out of conference.”
Conversely, the Eagles were hammered by graduation, with only six returning lettermen.
“I think we have good senior leadership,” Hassett said. “Our skill positions are the ones who return — Tommy Padavick, Nelson Marquez, Ryan Wright, Cory Morrow — and Dillon Puckrin has look very good, too.
“We’re brand new up front, but those players do the same things every year, so it shouldn’t be new to them. It will be a little different Friday night, but they should be able to perform with discipline and hustle. For the first time, we’ve got pretty good size up front.”
Hassett sees Kirtland’s strength being in its offense.
“I think they have seven returning starters, mostly on the line,” he said. “Their quarterback is very highly regarded. He’s a good thrower and maybe even a better runner. He reminds me of (Grand Valley’s) A.J. Henson.
“They’re a spread team and run out of multiple sets, so we have to be ready for anything.
“Defensively, they run a 3-5 and swarm to the ball. We will have to know our assignments.”
As most football coaches do, Hassett says what happens in the trenches will go a long way toward determining the outcome of this matchup.
“We have to be able to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball with our two big backs,” he said. “We can also throw the ball. Offensively, we can’t turn the ball over.
“We have to carry out our defensive assignments, read our keys and get to the ball with aggression.”
Geneva began playing football in the fall of 1903. It’s all-time record is 454-466 .(494).
McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Read his blog at donmac1.blogspot.com. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.
