MN THE PLAIN DEALER CLEVELAND.COM TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021 B3
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Cleveland.com preseason Top 25: Nos. 50-26
Matt Goul [email protected]
High school football kicks off Friday night for most teams around Ohio. In preparation for the 2021 season in the next two days, we unveil the top 50 teams in the cleveland.com preseason power rankings. Today, the teams ranked No. 50 to No. 26 from a seven-county cover- age area that includes Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lorain, Lake, Medina, Portage and Sum- mit counties:
50. Elyria Catholic (3-3 last year): While Elyria Catholic’s passing game took a hit in graduation, the Panthers bring back Jack Kenneally (258 yards, two TDs on 13 recep- tions) to complement what should be a strong running game led by Levi Ellis (524 yards, four TDs) and Tavion Thomas.
49. Perry (5-2 last year): Perry will look different now that Bob Gecewich will be on the sidelines instead of Matt Rosati, who retired following his 14th season leading the Pirates. There is still big-play potential on offense. Brayden Richards (271 yards, four TDs on 16-of-21 passing) began last year starting as a freshman, but had his season cut short because of injury until returning for the playoffs.
48. Garrettsville Garfield (9-1 last year): If an area team can challenge Kirt- land’s Division V reign, it could be Gar- field. The G-Men took down Portage Trail Conference rival Mogadore last year and bring back two All-Ohio tackles with Riley LaPorte and Austin Roman, plus Anthony Demma (1,309 yards, 13 TDs rushing, 327 yards, three TDs on 21 receptions). Demma and Jesse Grace have a shot at setting school records in rushing and tackles.
47. Streetsboro (8-1 last year): A historic Ryan Miller of Kenston is headed to Indiana and is considered the area’s top tight end. Matt Goul, cleveland.com senior class, which included Ohio State- bound defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr., has graduated. Maysun Klimak (993 yards, and Joey DiLalla. The Wolverines’ six wins (551 yards, eight TDs on 29 receptions) and three of them each caught at least 30 nine TDs) is back under center after earn- last year in a shortened season were the and Daniel Lymon. passes for 400 yards. Cooper Rusk (802 ing All-Northeast Inland District second program’s most since 2016. yards, eight touchdowns last year on 55 team last season. 36. North Royalton (2-8 last year): Both receptions) leads that group with Matt 41. Willoughby South (3-4 last year): of North Royalton’s wins last season came Hayes (790 yards, eight TDs on 33 recep- 46. Amherst (4-3 last year): Kenny Fritz South found success later in the sea- in the playoffs, upsetting Amherst and tions) and Jon Henderson (422 yards, two takes over a team that saw its run end last son and brings back two top-flight run- Olmsted Falls on the road after a com- TDs on 30 receptions). season in shocking fashion with a tri- ning backs in Ira Sampson (355 yards, five bined five overtimes. Zadan Abuhamdeh ple-overtime loss at home in the playoffs touchdowns on 77 carries) and Tryone Sin- led the charge and rushed for 943 yards 30. Brecksville (7-2 last year): After to North Royalton. Torre Weatherspoon gleton (521 yards, seven TDs on 88 carries). with 11 touchdowns. Michael Piazza threw the offense took center stage the last two rushed for a team-high 549 yards and four Sampson (69 tackles, 8.5 TFL, four sacks) for 1,725 yards and 18 TDs with seven inter- years, it is the defense’s turn at Brecks- touchdowns on just 89 carries last season. also all-district honors at linebacker. ceptions. Defensively, Patrick McDonnell ville. Poder not only brings back playmak- George Gotsis is a second-team All-North- led the defense with 107 tackles and 10 ers, but ones with Division I college poten- east Lakes District safety who had 71 tack- 40. Buckeye (4-3 last year): Ben Barnes TFL. He also blocked two kicks. tial in two-way lineman Logan Doskocil les and three interceptions. and Kaymen Marshall should have plenty and Matt Rose (72 tackles, eight TFL), who of room to run free with Todd Allen lead- 35. Green (4-4 last year): Van Horn and committed in July to Stanford. 45. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Acad- ing a powerful line for the Bucks. Allen is Martin led a hot start last year for Green, emy (8-3 last season): Kyle Snider (1,727 the state’s heavyweight wrestling cham- which won its first four games but dropped 29. Avon Lake (8-2 last year): After bit- yards, 24 TDs, 125 tackles, 24 TFL) is a pion in Division II. its last four — including a 30-27 loss to ter playoff defeats the last two years to heavy hitter entering his third year as a Worthington Kilbourne that opened the rival Avon, the Shoremen have experi- starter for CVCA, which brings back much 39. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (1-7 last playoffs. Trevor Van Horn threw for 1,443 ence to lean on up front, including third- of its interior offensive line. New coach year): New coach Jeff Rotsky took Euclid yards and 20 TDs with Trey Martin, who year starters Brady Shildwachter and Joe Nick Cook played on three national cham- to the playoffs six straight years before earned All-Ohio second-team honors after Lubertozzi, plus Nate Schillinger on both pionship teams at Mount Union. resigning last year and finding a new turning 39 receptions into 679 yards and sides of the ball. home down the street with the Vikings. 15 TDs. 44. Keystone (7-1 last year): Each of the He arrives at VASJ with one of his former 28. Padua (5-2 last year): Brandon Wil- last two years, Keystone’s season ended standouts at Euclid in Ty Howard, who 34. Elyria (3-7 last year): Elyria will play son is a four-year starter on the defensive with narrow home playoff losses to the missed much of last season to injury. Jalen a new conference (SWC) and the offense line and an all-district offensive lineman eventual state champion. Ryne Shackel- Minter (921 yards passing, six TDs, 640 still has potential with an up-and-com- as well. His presence will be a comfort for ford (728 yards, nine TDs on 34 receptions) yards rushing with seven TDs) earned a ing back in Lance Glover and the return of QBs Evan Palmer or Tyler Tusai. and Gideon Lampron (1,608 yards, 19 TDs spot last year on the All-Ohio third team Andrew Palos (32 receptions, 7 TDs) rushing and 103 tackles, 12 TFL, six sacks) at Beachwood, but he can play a myriad a 27. Barberton (3-6 last year): The Mag- started on both sides of the ball for Key- positions. VASJ has nearly doubled its ros- 33. Shaker Heights (1-6 last year): The ics took a 1-5 regular-season record and stone in each of those games. With Konner ter with 105 players out for football this Raiders had four losses by five points or turned it around for two big playoff wins, Rodick (1,455 yards, 16 TDs) back at quar- year. fewer last season. Adam Diaz enters his including a road victory at Toledo St. terback and some more seasoning, Key- third season as Shaker’s starting quarter- John’s Jesuit. Two all-district performers stone could be a player for the Division IV 38. Maple Heights (5-3 last year): Dawon back, throwing last year for 1,100 yards are back in John Jackson — a second-team state title. King is back for his third year as starting and 16 touchdowns in seven games. All-Ohio player — and Roosevelt Andrews. quarterback, and still only a junior. He Tommy Dunn had 22 tackles for loss last Cameron Macon’s play at running back, 43. Akron East (4-2 last year): Eric Hol- threw for 1,487 yards and 19 touchdowns to season. which included 13 touchdowns and 830 ley III and Brandon Gates lead an Akron six interceptions in eight games. Edward yards rushing last year, could bring it all East program that didn’t get to play its first Robinson III is receiving Division I college 32. Kenston (3-4 last year): Ryan Miller together. game last year until Week 5. A University interest at running back. is a four-year starter and the area’s top of Akron commit, Holley is moving this tight end, committed to Indiana. Nikko 26. Valley Forge (5-3 last year): With one year from quarterback to receiver. 37. Bedford (4-4 last year): The Bearcats Georgiou (887 yards passing, 10 TDs), J.P. of the area’s top recruits in Kentrell Marks, could have their most potent offense Germano (420 yards, three TDs, 34 recep- Valley Forge is poised for a run in the GLC 42. West Geauga (6-2 last year): Five since a 2017 playoff run that included 10 tions) and Cale Doyle (another four-year and for the Division II playoffs. Marks, a all-district players return for the Wolver- wins. This team brings back a third-year contributor) are all coming off all-district Purdue commit, rushed for 1,481 yards last ines, led by Danny Stewart (1,208 yards, 13 starting quarterback in Raymell Hester, seasons. year and 22 touchdowns in a shortened TDs passing, 320 yards, four TDs rushing), who threw for 1,448 yards and 12 touch- season. Torry Stazzone (490 yards, 31 receptions, downs. Two of his top targets, who have 31. Nordonia (5-6 last year): Four of nine TDs), Luca Gasbarrino, Nate Meyers speed to burn, are back with Jaylon Clark Nordonia’s top five receivers are back, Coming Wednesday: No. 25 to No. 1.
DICK SCHAFRATH 1937-2021 Browns legend cleared way for Hall of Famers
Left tackle was a starter capture the 1964 NFL Championship and made the Pro Bowl that season. The other opened holes for three Hall of Fame run- three were Frank Ryan, Jim Brown and on the last Browns ners. We send our deepest condolences to Paul Warfield. Brown joined Schafrath on his family.” the All-Pro team. championship team in 1964. Schafrath played his entire NFL career Schafrath played his college football with the Browns. He played for 13 seasons at Ohio State before being drafted by the in Cleveland, starting 158 of his 176 career Browns with the No. 23 pick in the 1959 Tim Bielik [email protected] games at left tackle. NFL draft. “I played behind Dick for one season “Right after I was drafted, I learned Former Browns All-Pro offensive line- and he was just a pleasure to be around,” about the rich history of the left tackle man Dick Schafrath passed away on former Browns offensive lineman Doug position for the Cleveland Browns,” former Sunday at the age of 84. Dieken said in a statement. Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas said “The Cleveland Browns were saddened “Not a lot of guys would have taken me in a statement. to learn of the passing of Dick Schafrath,” under their wing the way he did. He was a “Some of the NFL’s all-time greats lined the team said in a statement on Monday. great player. His credentials merit the Hall up in that spot – from Lou Groza to Dick “He was a Cleveland Brown and Ohioan of Fame, but he was also a first-class per- Schafrath to Doug Dieken. Dick helped set to his core. Schafrath’s unmatched work son.” the standard for left tackles in the NFL, Former Browns offensive tackle Dick ethic helped establish what it means to He was a four-time All-Pro and a six- and I am truly saddened to hear of his Schafrath, a Wooster native and a longtime be a Cleveland Brown. He was one of the time Pro Bowl selection. In 1964, Schafrath passing.” state senator, passed away on Sunday at most decorated offensive linemen in team was part of the last Browns team to win an After football, Schafrath had a lengthy age 84. Plain Dealer file history, earning numerous Pro Bowl and NFL championship. political career, serving in the Ohio Senate All-Pro honors. He also helped the Browns He was one of four offensive players who from 1987 until he retired in 2000.