BUCHTEL FOOTBALL: Top Sports Moments of 2010
by Brad Bournival
Buchtel football: Top sports moments of 2010-The sportsink.com
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Buchtel quarterback Steve Parker eludes the tackle of
Cardinal Mooney defender Kevin McGuire during
the Griffins' 35-10 Div. III, Region 9 championship win
Saturday night at Ravenna.
In the late 1980s, Ricky Powers wreaked havoc on the football field for Buchtel. Now the coach of the Griffins, the former Cleveland Browns running back won’t even mention his state titles from 1987 and '88.That’s because he wants the 2010 version of the Griffins to take the next step toward greatness. This Buchtel team took a big step Saturday night. These Griffins beat defending state champion Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 35-10 in the Division III, Region 9 championship game at Ravenna Stadium.
Because of it, Buchtel (10-3) returns to the state semifinals for the first time since 2005.
Just don’t ask Powers about his glory days.“All I know is we were the state champs in ’87 and ’88,” Griffins running back Chevin Meadows said. “He doesn’t like talking about it. He never talks about it. “He wants us to have our banner (in the gym). He wants us to bring the legacy back.” That legacy whooped on the Cardinals (7-5) in a big way.
Mooney, which has won two of the last four Division III state titles, came in with a big line and a big running game.Against the Griffins, the Cardinals had just 134 yards of offense, 123 of it on the ground, and eked out only six first downs. That’s over 100 yards under what they usually rush for and a far cry from the 297 yards Buchtel chalked up against Mooney. “The defense was huge,” Griffins safety Marlon Oden said. “We went out to breakfast and talked about playing fast.”
For most of the game, Buchtel took the Cardinals’ lunch. The Griffins picked off Kevin McGuire twice – Jarrod Wilson returned the final attempt for a touchdown – and recorded 12 tackles for loss. And as big as the defense was, Steve Parker was just as big offensively. Still harnessing a cast on his left hand from surgery last week, the senior threw a touchdown pass and ran for another one. Parker, who was 3-of-8 passing for 80 yards, was the leading ground gainer with 122 yards and a score on 13 carries. He opened the scoring and closed the door on Mooney’s season. “He was just in a rhythm,” Powers said. “He was in a zone. Imagine how he would have played with two hands. The kid’s special.”
The win gives Buchtel a state semifinal with Region 11 winner Marlington. The Dukes finished the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state and knocked off Dover 35-23 on Saturday night to advance. But that’s another story for another day. For now, the Griffins will enjoy film on Monday, eat some Thanksgiving dinner and try to do what their coach did twice as a player for Buchtel.“We took a big step tonight,” Oden said. “Mooney was the defending state champs. No one expected us to come this far as an inner city school.”
Well, except for Powers.
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Share By BRAD BOURNIVAL HARWELLPHOTO.COM
Buchtel quarterback Steve Parker eludes the tackle of
Cardinal Mooney defender Kevin McGuire during
the Griffins' 35-10 Div. III, Region 9 championship win
Saturday night at Ravenna.
In the late 1980s, Ricky Powers wreaked havoc on the football field for Buchtel. Now the coach of the Griffins, the former Cleveland Browns running back won’t even mention his state titles from 1987 and '88.That’s because he wants the 2010 version of the Griffins to take the next step toward greatness. This Buchtel team took a big step Saturday night. These Griffins beat defending state champion Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 35-10 in the Division III, Region 9 championship game at Ravenna Stadium.
Because of it, Buchtel (10-3) returns to the state semifinals for the first time since 2005.
Just don’t ask Powers about his glory days.“All I know is we were the state champs in ’87 and ’88,” Griffins running back Chevin Meadows said. “He doesn’t like talking about it. He never talks about it. “He wants us to have our banner (in the gym). He wants us to bring the legacy back.” That legacy whooped on the Cardinals (7-5) in a big way.
Mooney, which has won two of the last four Division III state titles, came in with a big line and a big running game.Against the Griffins, the Cardinals had just 134 yards of offense, 123 of it on the ground, and eked out only six first downs. That’s over 100 yards under what they usually rush for and a far cry from the 297 yards Buchtel chalked up against Mooney. “The defense was huge,” Griffins safety Marlon Oden said. “We went out to breakfast and talked about playing fast.”
For most of the game, Buchtel took the Cardinals’ lunch. The Griffins picked off Kevin McGuire twice – Jarrod Wilson returned the final attempt for a touchdown – and recorded 12 tackles for loss. And as big as the defense was, Steve Parker was just as big offensively. Still harnessing a cast on his left hand from surgery last week, the senior threw a touchdown pass and ran for another one. Parker, who was 3-of-8 passing for 80 yards, was the leading ground gainer with 122 yards and a score on 13 carries. He opened the scoring and closed the door on Mooney’s season. “He was just in a rhythm,” Powers said. “He was in a zone. Imagine how he would have played with two hands. The kid’s special.”
The win gives Buchtel a state semifinal with Region 11 winner Marlington. The Dukes finished the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state and knocked off Dover 35-23 on Saturday night to advance. But that’s another story for another day. For now, the Griffins will enjoy film on Monday, eat some Thanksgiving dinner and try to do what their coach did twice as a player for Buchtel.“We took a big step tonight,” Oden said. “Mooney was the defending state champs. No one expected us to come this far as an inner city school.”
Well, except for Powers.
http://www.sportsink.com/259/2486/buchtel-football-top-sports-moments-of-2010/Default.aspx
Buchtel High's Chevin Meadows to Kent State
Tim Rogers, The Plain Dealer, February 02, 2011 2:32 p.m.
Buchtel's
Chevin Meadows, shown playing against Alliance Marlington in November,
helped the Griffins reach the Division III state title game
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(Gus Chan/Plain Dealer)Name: Chevin Meadows
High school: Buchtel
Position: Defensive back
Height, weight: 6-1, 190.
Stars: 2 (average of recruiting rankings from Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.com
College: Kent State
Other schools he considered: Minnesota.
Key stats: Was in on 66 tackles, had six interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered two others.
Did you know: He does not fear big, strong running backs or fleet-footed, sure-handed receivers. Spiders? That's another story.
High school: Buchtel
Position: Defensive back
Height, weight: 6-1, 190.
Stars: 2 (average of recruiting rankings from Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.com
College: Kent State
Other schools he considered: Minnesota.
Key stats: Was in on 66 tackles, had six interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered two others.
Did you know: He does not fear big, strong running backs or fleet-footed, sure-handed receivers. Spiders? That's another story.
