H.S. football entering exciting stretch run
- col-aaron-dorksen
- October 16, 2024
- 442
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
The nights are getting colder, the leaves starting to fall and Halloween decorations are popping up all over neighborhoods.
That signals the final two weeks of the high school football regular season and playoff action to follow. Here’s a quick look at what’s going on with Wayne-Holmes football teams entering the stretch run:
WCAL LEADERS – Div. VII Hillsdale (8-0) and Div. V Norwayne (7-1) are on a collision course to meet for the WCAL title in Jeromesville in Week 10. Both teams could wind up hosting a pair of home playoff games, according to Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic50.net website.
Div. VI Dalton (5-3) dropped a tough 17-14 game at Norwayne in Week 8 but will be heavily favored against Chippewa and Waynedale, both 2-6, in its final two games. The Bulldogs are on pace to host in the opening round of the playoffs and could be headed for a rematch against state power Kirtland in the Region 21 semis or final.
Div. VI Smithville (6-2) got a big win over Rittman (4-4) and will visit Norwayne and then host Chippewa. The Smithies, who last won seven games in 2015 when they wound up 8-4, have a chance to host in round one.
ALSO PLAYOFF BOUND – Also likely headed to the playoffs are Div. IV West Holmes (4-4) and Orrville (4-4) and Div. V Triway (6-2).
STILL A CHANCE – Since the OHSAA expanded to 16-team regional playoff brackets, there are always some surprise qualifiers. The 2-6 Wooster Generals will be big underdogs against 8-0 Ashland this week, but an upset in that game or a win over Louisville (3-5) in Week 10 could still get them into the playoffs. Pasteur gives Wooster a 79% playoff chance with three wins.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS – Here are some of the top performers through eight weeks of the season. NOTE: Not all team statistics were available.
Quarterbacks – Orrville’s Cameron Kraft has completed 139 of 218 pass attempts for 1,933 yards and 18 TDs, while Triway’s Luke Starr is 159 for 260 for 1,831 yards and 17 TDs.
Hillsdale’s Kael Lewis is 95 for 149 passing for 1,536 yards, 17 TDs and just three interceptions.
West Holmes’ Morgan Smith continued his big season with 387 yards passing and three TDs against the Arrows.
Running backs – Wooster got a much-needed 42-24 win over Mansfield Senior in Week 8, with senior Julian Franklin carrying the ball 26 times for 197 yards and three TDs. Franklin has carried the ball 151 times for 1,382 yards and 14 TDs this season, topping 1,000 yards for the second straight year.
WORTH THE WAYT – Orrville’s Kaleb Wayt knew he had the leg to kick the area’s longest field goal ever and finally did in Week 8. The Riders senior booted a record-setting 57-yard field goal to close the first half in an eventual 34-28 win over Tuslaw at Red Rider Stadium. It broke the mark set by fellow Red Rider Dan Stultz (53-yarder in 1993), who went on to kick for Ohio State.
Wayt is 11 for 13 on field goals this season and 30 for 30 on PATs.
KICKING IT IN COLLEGE – Local products AJ Rhodes from Triway and Drew Rader from Wooster were recently named players of the week in their conferences.
In Ashland University’s 26-6 win over Ohio Dominican on Oct. 5, Rhodes was 5-for-5 on field goals. He connected on field goals of 23 yards, 43, 29, 42 and 38 to set a conference record for most makes in a game. He added three touchbacks on seven kickoffs and an extra point. Rhodes is tied for the conference lead with eight field goals in 2024.
Ashland (4-2, 4-0 Great Midwest) posted a 41-21 win at No. 20 Findlay (5-1, 3-1) in a battle for first in the league on Oct. 12. Rhodes added five more PATs and two field goals in that huge win.
—Georgetown College’s Rader was named Mid-South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Rader was 6 for 6 on PATs, booted a 29-yard field goal and averaged 46 yards per punt in a 45-14 win over Faulkner Oct. 12.
PARTING SHOTS – Congrats to Wooster resident Mark Glasgo on his upcoming Nov. 1 retirement after 39 years at MCTV. Glasgo was always a pleasure to work alongside at events. He did an excellent job as the studio host and producer for countless local MCTV sports events and programs. Best wishes to a great guy in retirement.
—Longtime Browns fans and media members, including myself, have lobbied for many years for Dick Schafrath to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Schafrath, a 1955 Wooster High graduate, national champion at Ohio State and 13-year tackle for the Cleveland Browns, is among 60 finalists the seniors committee is considering for the HOF Class of 2025.
Nicknamed “The Mule,” Schafrath was a four-time All Pro and earned six Pro Bowl nominations. He blocked for three HOF running backs in Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly during a 13-year career with the Browns and helped lead Cleveland to its last NFL championship in 1964.
Also included in that seniors group is former Browns linebacker Clay Matthews.
The list will be voted down to 25 and then pared to three to be recommended to the full HOF voting committee.
—The Guardians’ amazing American League Division Series win over the Tigers was a complete team effort. Unfortunately, the Guards made too many mistakes and couldn’t get enough hits in falling behind 2-0 against the Yankees in the American League Division Series.
Lane Thomas’ grand slam against the Tigers will be long remembered, and I’m glad the team stuck by him after a horrendous start here a few months ago, Steven Kwan has been incredible with the bat and in left field, David Fry showed a clutch gene against the Tigers, shortstop Brayan Rocchio is coming of age and the bullpen led by Emmanuel Clase has been phenomenal.
Unfortunately, Cleveland looks to be a couple of hitters, catchers and starting pitchers away from being able to beat the Yankees.