Paying another visit to the variety store...



Main man

Want to walk a mile in Miles’ shoes? If so, be prepared to be black and blue.

Thanks to a recommendation from one of our favorite people — Tim “The Walking Man” Mizer — we gleaned the state high school football statistical leaders from the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Web site, ohsaa.org.

Looking at the numbers, Madison’s Miles Iverson ranks with some of the best players in the Buckeye State.

Though the data is only partial because not all of it is reported, according to what is posted, Iverson is leading all of Ohio in terms of the times he carries the football.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior has lugged the pigskin 257 times for coach Tim Willis’ Blue Streaks, who will carry a three-game winning streak into tonight’s 2009 season finale against Premier Athletic Conference rival Riverside at Riverside Stadium.

Iverson also is tied for 14th in terms of rushing yardage with 1,257 in the numbers that are listed and is tied for 30th in scoring as well with 102 points.



Series stuff

Let’s take our weekly look at some historical information in regards to the series involving the 10 area teams in their end-of-the-regular-season matchups:

n Conneaut (1-9, 0-1) at Edgewood (6-3, 0-1), 7 (WWOW) — These two archrivals have played every season in the past three decades.

In those matchups, Conneaut holds an 18-12 advantage.

However, Edgewood has won four of the last five meetings, the exception being a 20-0 Spartan triumph last fall at Municipal Stadium.

n Madison (3-6, 3-1) at Riverside (2-7, 1-3), 7:30 — Like the Conneaut-Edgewood series, these two Lake County schools have played every fall for the past 30 years.

In those 30 games, Madison holds a slim 16-14 advantage, thanks in large part to prevailing in six of the last eight meetings, including a 28-7 verdict last season at Blue Streak Memorial Field.

n Perry (6-3, 2-3) at Chagrin Falls (9-0, 5-0), 7 — These two Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division rivals began playing annually in 1996 — and even played twice in 2000, one being a Week 11 playoff game at Alumni Stadium (the Pirates won both games, 35-28 in Week 10 and 25-13 in Week 11).

Perry holds a commanding 11-3 lead in the games played in the last three decades, having won the last four, including a 27-14 victory at Alumni Stadium last fall.

n Youngstown Christian (5-4) at Pymatuning Valley (2-7) — The Eagles and the Lakers have played in each of the last four seasons, with one common thread — PV has won every time, including a thrilling 30-23 win last season at Youngstown Christian. That win gave the Lakers a share of their first conference championship, the East Suburban Conference title, since 1989.

n Lakeside (4-5, 2-2) at North (4-5, 2-2), 7:30 — Matching the YC-PV series, the Dragons and the Rangers have played the last four seasons — and North has won all four games, including a 24-21 win at Lakeside Stadium last fall.

One item to note — none of the games has been decided by more than six points.

n Geneva (7-2) at Gilmour Academy (2-7), Saturday, 1 — The Eagles and the Lancers have played the last two seasons, with Gilmour Academy prevailing both times — 34-0 in 2007 at Gilmour and 31-0 last fall at Memorial Field.

Meaning, the Eagles have never scored a point against the Lancers.

Anyone willing to wager a Diet Coke against that trend ending Saturday?

n Grand Valley (6-3) at Newton Falls (6-3) — The Tigers and the Mustangs have played only once in the last three decades — a 2001 matchup at the Mustangs’ former home, Al Waters Memorial Field.

Newton Falls emerged victorious in that clash, 25-2.

n University School (5-4) at Jefferson (3-6), 7 (WFUN) — Tonight’s game at Falcon Pride Stadium will mark the first time the Preppers and the Falcons have ever squared off on the gridiron.



Deadline

Today is the deadline for our Fall Scholar-Athlete forms to be turned in to the athletic directors of high schools in our coverage area.



McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.