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Tigers fall short but gain playoffs
(by Steve Novak - October 29, 2008)
Tigers fall short but gain playoffs
By STEVE NOVAK
The Chagrin Falls Tigers have lived to see a week 11 in the 2008 high school football season. By virtue of their 7-3 record, despite a loss to Perry last Friday night, the Tigers will be playing in the opening round of Division III playoffs.
Preliminary site scheduling has Chagrin Falls playing against Youngstown Liberty Saturday night. Liberty is a school which finished with an 8-2 record, losing to Howland and Girard. Howland is a Division II school, and Girard finished the year with only one loss. Early postings show Liberty will host the Chagrin game.
Last weekend, the Tigers played a rugged Pirates team which also was bent on making the playoffs. Perry has only lost one game this season.
Perry exploded for 20 points in the first quarter of the game for a healthy lead. However, Chagrin came back to post two touchdowns of its own in the second quarter on a pass play and a short run from scrimmage. Perry scored another TD in the second quarter, however, and held a 27-14 lead at the half. Both teams went scoreless in a soggy second half of play.
Final statistics showed that Chagrin passed for a total of 159 yards, compared to 120 Perry. However, the Pirates won the ground game with 174 rushing yards, compared to 88 for the Tigers.
In addition to Perry, the other losses suffered by Chagrin during the season came in games with Aurora and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.
The Tigers' 7-3 record this season is one better than 2007, when they finished 6-4. Last year, Chagrin Falls finished 12th in computer rankings, and it appears that the one extra victory this season was the boost they needed to be a part of the playoff picture.
WEST GEAUGA, 29
BEACHWOOD, 0
In another Chagrin Valley Conference game, West Geauga finished up its season with a 29-0 win over Beachwood. The Wolverines ended their season above the .500 mark with a 6-4 record.
For third-year West Geauga head coach Dave Bors, the win over Beachwood -- as well as the rest of the season, in general -- showed a football program that is a work in progress.
"This is the second year that we finished 6-4. We are pleased in the direction that we're going," Bors said. "All four of our losses came to teams that made the playoffs. We'd like to be playing next week in the playoffs, but we're not. But we're extremely proud of our kids."
Against Beachwood, Wolverines running back Brett Williams gained 119 yards in just nine carries. Williams, along with Louis Link, Anthony Pinto and Nick Spiss, had TDs for West Geauga.
ORANGE, 18
KENSTON, 7
Orange wound up its season on a winning note by getting the best of Kenston by a score of 18-7 in a Chagrin Valley Conference contest.
Orange had a 7-6 lead at halftime, but the Lions put two more touchdowns on the board in the second half to seal the win.
In the first half, Orange's Lawrence Gholson scored on a pass reception. In the second half, Orange got TDs from Josh Rogers and George Shapiro.
Orange also finished its second straight season with a 4-6 mark. Coach Nick Gerhard's Lions also had victories against Bay, Edgewood and Beachwood.
Kenston's lone touchdown came on a run by quarterback Justin Brownlow. Kenston finished its season with a 2-8 record, with victories against Beachwood and Wickliffe.
HAWKEN, 34
RICHMOND HEIGHTS, 27
Hawken also came up with a win in week 10, as the Hawks defeated Richmond Heights by a score of 34-27. After a shaky beginning of four straight losses at the start of the season, Hawken had several key wins and came one win short of a .500 season, finishing 2008 with a record of 4-6.
For Hawken's longtime coach Cliff Walton, the season was a vindication for a preseason that showed low turnout numbers on the roster and numerous underclassmen in starting positions.
In the Richmond Heights victory, Hawken got touchdowns from Teddy Hook, John Wilson, Jake Willen and Jacob Minnaugh. Hawks quarterback Zach McMains completed seven of 15 passes for 112 yards and one TD.
Throughout the year, the offense was led by quarterback McMains and running backs John Wilson and Jake Willen.
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