Ironton banned from football playoffs

VW independent sports/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has dropped the hammer on the defending Division V football state champion Ironton Fighting Tigers and it appeals no appeal will be filed.

It was made official Saturday morning – the Ohio High School Athletic Association has removed Ironton High School from the upcoming football playoffs due to numerous violations of the OHSAA’s recruiting bylaws dating back seven years. During the last several weeks, the violations were discovered by the OHSAA and shared with administrators and the coaching staff at Ironton.

Due to the nature and extent of the violations, the penalties include a football playoff ban this season, a postseason suspension of some members of the coaching staff next year (if they are coaching at an OHSAA member school), three years probation and a notable $7,500 fine.

The district also agreed to change local policies on enrollment and transfers and attend an educational seminar presented by the OHSAA staff. The postseason penalties and probation are specific to the football program. Any additional violations of the recruiting bylaws during the probationary period will result in automatic postseason ineligibility for the next available tournament.

According to a press release, at this point, the OHSAA will not require Ironton to forfeit wins from previous seasons and the school will retain its 2024 Division V state championship.

The penalties could have been more severe. In a letter from the Ironton Board of Education to the community dated Friday, October 24, it was noted the sanctions initially proposed by the OHSAA would have made Ironton ineligible to participate in the playoffs for two years, instead of just this postseason. The letter also indicates an appeal by the school through the court system is not in the works.

Cougars win finale 52-18 over Kenton

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

In Friday night’s season finale, Van Wert crafted a 17-0 halftime lead then scored the game’s final three touchdowns en route to a 52-18 win over Kenton at Cougar Alumni Field at Eggerss Stadium. The game was played in front of some members, cheerleaders, coaches and others from the 2000 Division III state runner-up team. That group was honored during pregame festivities.

The Cougars finished 5-5 (4-5 WBL), but did not qualify for the playoffs in Division IV Region 14. The top 12 teams per region qualify this year and it appears the Cougars finished 15th in the region. Official computer ranking standings will be released on Sunday. Kenton finished 1-9 (1-8 WBL).

Zach Crummey threw two of his four touchdown passes in the first half – a 28-yard toss to Micah Cowan on Van Wert’s first possession of the game and an 8-yard pass to Cowan late in the second quarter. Sandwiched in between was a 22-yard field goal by Griffin McCracken, who finished the season 4-for-4 on field goal attempts. Meanwhile, the defense kept the normally potent Kenton passing game bottled up in the first half.

“The defense really stepped up,” Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. “We were really nervous about the way Kenton was playing on offense but I thought we did a really good job all around defensively. The line got some pressure, which we hadn’t gotten a lot of all year, our linebackers did a good job taking away the screens and our defensive backs had a really good game.”

The third quarter was a different story, as the two teams combined for six touchdowns. Xavier Kelly accounted for two of Van Wert’s touchowns in the period – a 2-yard run to cap off the opening drive of the second half, and a 34-yard pass from Crummey that put the Cougars ahead 31-6.

“Zach threw the ball real well and he did a good job of hitting what was open,” Recker said. “He stayed patient – he didn’t force it and just took what they gave him.”

Kenton scored back-to-back touchdowns on a 48-yard pass from Zayne Perkins to Amiel Huff and a 22-yard pass from Xavier Gammon to Maddux McFarlin that made it 31-18, but from there, the Cougars secured the win with a 1-yard touchdown run by Crummey with just 15 seconds left in the third quarter, a 10-yard pass that caromed off Cowan and into the hands of Kelly in the back of the end zone, and a 7-yard scoring run by Kelly nearly halfway through the fourth quarter.

T-birds hold off the Knights in finale

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

CONVOY — A fourth quarter surge by Crestview came up short as the Knights fell to Lima Central Catholic 21-13 in the regular season finale Friday night.

Trailing 21-0, Crestview found the end zone twice in the final period, with Hayden Perrott scoring both touchdowns. After intercepting a pass by Thunderbird quarterback Brady Parker, Perrott scored on a 9-yard jet sweep but the extra point attempt failed. Perrott’s ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Knights and a short time later, Perrott was the recipient of a 24-yard touchdown pass from Huxley Grose, who completed 11-of-16 passes for 118 yards, with five going to Perrott for 87 yards. Perrott’s PAT was good and his second onside kick attempt was successful.

“Hayden Perrott had the quarter of his life in the fourth,” Crestview head coach Cole Harting said.

After the second onside kick recovery, Crestview started a drive that ended at the LCC 10 yard line when Braxton Leeth was stopped on fourth and short with just over three minutes left in the game.

“Despite being down 21-0 in the fourth quarter, our guys never quit,” Harting said. “They fought until the very end.  We talked at halftime that whatever you have left in the tank, you need to empty it by the time the clock runs out and that’s exactly what those guys did.”

Leeth finished with 28 carries for 144 yards and unofficially finished the season with 2,264 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also broke the school’s career rushing record of 4,482, previously held by Drew Kline. Leeth finished with 4,525 career rushing yards.

“Braxton showed a lot of heart and determination tonight,” Harting said. “LCC’s defense has been the best in the league this year and he earned it tonight one tough run after another.”

Crestview outgained the Thunderbirds, 286-280.

Lima Central Catholic (9-1, 6-1 NWC), ranked No. 4 in Division VII in this week’s statewide poll, scored a pair of first quarter touchdowns, the first on a 5-yard run by Lausen Flores, and on a 54-yard sprint by Xavier Pernell with less than 30 seconds left in the period. After forcing a Crestview fumble, the Thunderbirds went up 21-0 nearly halfway through the second quarter, when Parker connected with Mike Quatman for a 54-yard touchdown pass. Brevan Stolly all three of LCC’s extra points.

Questions for final Monday Mailbag

VW independent sports

The final Monday Mailbag of the season will be published on Monday’s Sports page. If you have a sports question or comment, please email it to sports@thevwindependent.com by 5 p.m. Sunday, October 26.

Football Friday Scoreboard Week No. 10

VW independent sports

Here are final scores of area high school football games played on Friday, October 24.

GMC

Fairview 70 Hicksville 22

Paulding 33 Antwerp 6

Tinora 34 Edgerton 30

Wayne Trace 20 Ayersville 12

MAC

Anna 35 Parkway 0

Marion Local 7 Coldwater 6

Minster 28 Fort Recovery 21

New Bremen 42 Delphos St. John’s 7

St. Henry 26 Versailles 20

NWC

Columbus Grove 48 Bluffton 38

Fort Loramie 37 Allen East 7

Lima Central Catholic 21 Crestview 13

Spencerville 46 Delphos Jefferson 18

WBL

Celina 17 Defiance 14

Shawnee 27 Ottawa-Glandorf 10

St. Marys Memorial 29 Elida 7

Van Wert 52 Kenton 18

Wapakoneta 61 Bath 34

Schools to vote on NIL next month

VW independent sports/submitted information

COLUMBUS – The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors has set the dates that member high schools will vote on an emergency bylaw referendum on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). Schools will cast their votes from November 17-21, with the high school principal submitting the vote on behalf of the school.

The full text of the bylaw proposal is included below. The board approved the language at its September meeting in preparation for a vote of member schools during the regular referendum voting process in early May, or sooner due to legal action, as permitted by OHSAA bylaw 8-1-1.

The emergency referendum is being conducted due to a lawsuit filed by a student-athlete on October 15 against the Ohio High School Athletic Association regarding NIL. Ohio is one of only six states that does not currently permit high school student-athletes to engage in NIL. A Franklin County judge opened the case on Monday by issuing a 45-day temporary restraining order against the OHSAA.

Further details and dates for informational webinars will be sent to member schools in the coming days. If the membership votes in favor of a proposal, it would allow OHSAA member schools to shape the NIL bylaw. If schools do not vote in favor of the referendum, the lawsuit and the future of NIL in Ohio will be determined by the court.

During the OHSAA regional update meetings around Ohio in August and September, administrators in attendance were informed that a proposal on NIL was likely coming. Feedback from a committee of school administrators that met on this issue at the OHSAA also provided beneficial feedback. To help schools make an informed decision in the upcoming emergency vote, the OHSAA will send information and conduct webinars, hosted in partnership with Influential Athlete, to clarify the proposal and outline the next steps should the vote pass.

In summary, the proposed new bylaw would allow student-athletes to enter into an agreement and be compensated for their name, image and likeness through appearances, licensing, social media, endorsements and/or the use of branding based on their public recognition or notoriety. The proposal would also establish reporting procedures and limitations so that students do not jeopardize their eligibility as it relates to the OHSAA’s recruiting and amateur bylaws. 

Full Text of Emergency Bylaw Proposal

Section 11. Personal Branding Rights/Name, Image and Likeness

Cougar golf awards…

The Van Wert High School golf team held its annual postseason banquet at Willow Bend this week. Pictured above is the entire team – all team members were honored as scholar-athletes. Pictured below (left to right) are All-WBL first team Zach Stoller and Griffin McCracken, and honorable mention selection Carter Wright. Shown in the bottom picture are the seniors (left to right): Trevor Halker, Carter Wright, Landyn Fox, Griffin McCracken, Brock Stoller, and Clayton Fast. The Cougars ended their season 12-3 overall and 7-2 in the Western Buckeye League. Photos submitted

Pigskin Pick’Em Week No. 10

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

Here we are – Week No. 10 of the high school football season, the regular season finale. League and conference titles are on the line, along with undefeated seasons and playoff spots. Some teams have other goals – sending seniors out with a win, getting victory No. 1, etc. Overall, it’s been a fun season with some pretty memorable moments.

Last week, I predicted three upsets. How did I do? 1-2, with Columbus Grove over Lima Central Catholice being the only correct one. With all due respect, I’m still not sure that was really an upset. Overall, I managed to go 16-3 (84.2 percent), which took my overall season record to 162-33 (83 percent). 19 more games are on this week’s slate, including six Games of the Week.

Pigskin Pick’Em will continue next week with predictions of any and all playoff games involving teams from the GMC, MAC, NWC, WBL, and Lima Sr.

Games of the Week

Antwerp (3-6) at Paulding (9-0)

Let me be clear, Paulding is the favorite here. However, Antwerp has a chance to play spoiler, sort of. An Archer upset win would likely lead to GMC co-championship between Paulding and Fairview and of course, it would spoil Paulding’s undefeated season. In a sense, Antwerp has nothing to lose. Having said that, I don’t really see an upset happening here. My prediction is the Panthers will be celebrating a perfect regular season, an outright conference title and a home playoff game, perhaps even a first round bye.

The pick: Paulding

Bluffton (8-1) at Columbus Grove (6-3)

It’s come to this, just as I thought it would with my preseason predictions. I didn’t really think Columbus Grove would have three losses and I thought Bluffton would be undefeated, but I thought this game would be for the NWC title. If Columbus Grove wins, the Bulldogs are outright champions. If Bluffton wins, they’ll share the title, perhaps with Lima Central Catholic as well, if the Thunderbirds beat Crestview. Columbus Grove really opened some eyes the last two weeks by shutting out Crestview, then rolling to a 33-13 lead and topping then No. 2 Lima Central Catholic 33-25 at Spartan Stadium. Bluffton has received a boost with the return of running back Parker Lovell from an injury and there’s no doubt the Pirates have a very potent offensive attack. The Pirates also haven’t beaten Bluffton since 2017, regular season and playoffs included. With that in mind, with the fact that Columbus Grove is the hottest team in the area and the fact that the game is at Clymer Stadium, I’m going with the Bulldogs.

Cougars hope to end season with a ‘W’

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

With the playoffs seemingly out of reach, Van Wert has two goals this Friday night – send the seniors out with a win and play well in front of the school’s 2000 state runner-up team.

The Cougars (4-5, 3-5 WBL) will host Kenton in the regular season finale and in all likelihood, it will be the final game of the season. While Van Wert hasn’t been completely eliminated from playoff contention, there’s just a one percent chance the Cougars will get in, according to the website fantastic50.net. Van Wert is currently 15th in Division IV Region 14 and with the OHSAA’s new playoff format this year, only the top 12 teams per region will qualify for the postseason. A win itself over Kenton 1-8 (1-7 WBL) alone won’t do it, as the Cougars would need a number of other things to happen within the region, some realistic, some not. That doesn’t change this week’s goals though.

“With this being our last game we want to do everything in our power to make it a positive, memorable experience for our seniors,” Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. “They deserve everyone in our program to have a great week of preparation, continue to change our best, and perform on Friday night.  Seniors will remember their last game, and we want to make sure it’s a great memory.”

13 seniors are on the team – Kaiven Welch, Cam Werts, Finley Dickinson, Colton Richardson, Caine Shobe, Geary Hilleary, Griffin McCracken, Briggs Wallace, Trevor Dotson, Payton Morefield, Javon Smith, Nick Edwards, and Conner Harris.

The Cougars are returning home after last Friday’s 45-24 loss to Shawnee, the WBL’s most improved team this year. Despite the loss, Recker said there were some bright spots.

“I thought our special teams did a good job Friday,” Recker said. “Griff (McCracken) is kicking the ball very consistently on extra points and field goals and Alex Benner at holder and Cohen Bragg at snapper have been executing all season. Griff is also placing the ball very well on his kickoffs, keeping teams guessing on location. We executed a fake punt very well, with Cam (Werts) hitting Cohen for a first down. We also fielded their squib kickoffs very well to give ourselves decent field position.”

Kenton will enter Friday’s game with a six game losing streak and while it’s been a struggle, the Wildcats have given some teams fits, including Defiance in a 43-42 overtime loss. Last week, Kenton have St. Marys Memorial all they could handle before falling 35-26.

“Early on we dealt with a lot of injuries,” Kenton head coach Zach Turner said. “Through the season we had 11 varsity starters of our original 22 impacted due to injuries. These past few weeks we have gotten much healthier, so looking at the past few weeks we have seen a lot of growth and improvement amongst our players.”

Knights to host state ranked Lima CC

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports  

CONVOY — As Crestview prepares for the regular season finale, the Knights may have a chance to play again in Week No. 11, but it won’t be easy.

Crestview (6-3, 4-2 NWC) will host Lima Central Catholic (8-1, 5-1 NWC) Friday night and as it turns out, a victory over the Thunderbirds, coupled with a bit of help in Division VI, Region 22, could put the Knights in the playoffs. A win could also place the Knights as high as second in the final NWC standings. Crestview is currently No. 14 in Region 12, with the top 12 teams advancing to the playoffs after this Friday’s games. While the Knights won’t win or share the conference crown, there’s plenty to play for Friday night.

“The NWC title race (Columbus Grove, Bluffton and possibly LCC) is playing out about how I figured it would,” Crestview head coach Cole Harting said. “We wanted to be in the position to compete for a conference championship at the end of the season and credit to our players and coaches, we put ourselves in position by taking care of business early in our conference schedule. This week is huge for us…our conference is very strong from top to bottom. There are definitely no off weeks, if you don’t bring your best every week, someone will knock you off. Because of that, I believe whatever teams make the playoffs from our conference will make deep runs.”

Under first year head coach Colin Stolly, Lima Central Catholic is coming off a 33-25 loss to defending NWC champion Columbus Grove last Friday, the first loss of the season for the T-birds, ranked No. 4 in Division VII in this week’s Associated Press statewide poll.

“We have a lot of great coaches and some awesome kids that have made the transition pretty easy,” Stolly said. “We do a lot of the same stuff as before our staff, just put our own tweak on some things and it’s really paid off. I think our guys are ready to bounce back after the loss last week and get back to doing what we do. We need to play well and make sure that we are in rhythm throughout the whole game.”

When the Thunderbirds are in rhythm, they’re more than a handful. LCC averages 32 points per game and allows just 14 points per outing, second among NWC schools. Balance has been key this year, with the Thunderbirds averaging 181 yards rushing per game and 148 yards passing. Dual threat quarterback Brady Parker has completed 90-of-138 passes for 1,423 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and he’s the team’s leading rusher (102-752, nine touchdowns). Carter Lester had added 72 carries for 393 yards and six touchdowns and Mike Quatman (38-580, seven touchdowns) and Lausen Flores (29-398, three touchdowns) are the top two targets.