FIVE OHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF APPEARANCES (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS 2020 TIGERS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES 2020 Schedule & Results Gameday Storylines Week 9, Game #8 • Friday, October 23, 2020 • Boliantz Stadium • 7:00 PM kickoff WARREN HARDING RAIDERS PPD Friday, August 28 Cleveland Heights High School Stadium Cleveland Heights 5-2 overall MAPLE HTS MUSTANGS W 41-26 TIGERS 4-0 LEL Friday, September 4 Cleveland Heights High School Stadium Nordonia 4-4 overall EUCLID PANTHERS L 7-34 Friday, September 11 KNIGHTS 3-3 Suburban Cleveland Heights High School Stadium Last Meeting between Cleveland Heights and Canton GlenOak: This is the first meeting of the GARFIELD HTS BULLDOGS W 39-0 Cleveland Hts. Tigers and the Nordonia Knights in 20 years Friday, September 18 Charles A. Blaugrund Field Cleveland Heights Tigers Week 9 Games: Week 9 has been one of the most successful week's of BEDFORD BEARCATS W 49-23 the season for the Tigers over the past two decades. Since 2000, the Tigers are 13-7 overall in Friday, September 25 Week 9 games, having won 5 in a row, 6 of their last 7 and 9 of their last 11 games played in Week Bedford Bearcat Stadium 9. The Tigers current five-game winning streak in Week 9, includes four consecutive wins over the Shaw Cardinals. SHAKER HTS RED RAIDERS W 17-14 Friday, October 2 Cleveland Heights High School Stadium STOW BULLDOGS L 14-42 Friday, October 9 Opening Drive Bulldog Stadium OHSAA Playoffs - Region 1, Round 1 Cleveland Heights concludes the 2020 season with a road trip to Nordonia on Oct. 23. CANTON GLENOAK EAGLES W 42-0 Friday, October 16 Bob Commings Field The Knights are 4-4 coming off a playoff loss to Mayfield. Quarterback Billy Levak and running back Sal Perrine lead a balanced offensive attack that has NORDONIA KNIGHTS 7 PM kickoff scored at least 27 points in every game this year. Friday, October 23 Boliantz Stadium The Tigers are led offensively by Darreon Fair, Owen Bisker and Jovon Goodson - all benefitting from a solid offensive line. DaeSean Evans and Elijah Fowlkes both provide game-changing skills. Defensively, Heights has been led recently by Adonis Williams, Jordon Evans and Brandon Biggom among others. Vince Holland has proven to be a dangerous weapon on special teams. Heights is 5-2 this season. FIVE OHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF APPEARANCES (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS 2020 TIGERS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES Tigers Rewind Opponent: Nordonia Knights Overall Record 4-4 TIGERS PRESS ON, PICK UP ANOTHER WIN Suburban League 3-3 SHUTOUT CANTON GLENOAK ON THE ROAD Cleveland Heights TIGERS 42 2020 Nordonia Schedule Nordonia Quick Facts 4-4 Overall, 3-3 Suburban League Location Macedonia, Ohio Canton GlenOak Eagles 0 Enrollment Friday, October 16, 2020; Bob Commings Stadium 8/28 A Hudson L 27-50 OHSAA Assignment Division II, Region 5 9/4 H Barberton W 41-40 Nickname Knights Cleveland Heights bounced back after being ousted from 9/11 A Wadsworth W 63-49 Colors Green and White the postseason by shutting out host Canton GlenOak, 42- 9/18 H Highland L 38-44 Stadium Boliantz Stadium 0, on Oct. 16. 9/25 H North Royalton W 62-14 Surface Field Turf The Tigers posted their second shutout of the year and 10/2 H Stow L 47-53 Head Coach Jeff Fox improved to 5-2. 10/9 H Ashtabula Lakeside W 48-7 Record 60-38 (2nd season) 10/16 A Mayfield L 31-55 Overall Record same Heights got contributions from a variety of younger 10/23 H Cleveland Heights 7 PM players who will be major factors in the coming years. The Tigers conclude the season against Nordonia on Oct. 2019 Nordonia Schedule Nordonia News & Notes 23. (5-5 overall, 4-3 Federal League; Region 5 = 10th) DENZEL WARD - - FROM KNIGHTS TO THE NFL Ward was a three year football starter at Nordonia, also running 8/30 H Bedford L 13-20 track for the Knights. As a senior, he led the Knights to the 9/6 H Penisula Woodridge W 51-10 Division II State Championship game vs Cincinnati LaSalle, in which 9/14 A Mayfield L 23-43 he had 20 yards rushing, 89 yards receiving and made six tackles 9/20 A Twinsburg W 38-10 on defense. At the 2015, Regional track finals, Ward ran the 100- 9/27 H Wadsworth L 28-34 m in 10.49 seconds, capturing first place. 10/4 A 27-45 Hudson L Ward went on to play football at Ohio State. In three seasons, he 10/11 H Stow W 31-28 had 67 total tackles and 2 interceptions. 10/18 A Brecksville L 30-53 10/25 H Cuyahoga Falls W 42-28 The Cleveland Browns selected Ward in the first round (fourth 11/1 A North Royalton W 56-26 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Ward was the first defensive back drafted in 2018 and became the highest selected cornerback from Ohio State since Shawn Springs, who was selected third overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. Ward was named to the Pro Bowl and the NFL All Rookie teams in 2018. Ohio High School Football, COVID 19, & Game Day Protocols On Aug. 18, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine approved a new Ohio Are there fan limitations? Regular Season Games and Playoff Changes? Department of Health order clearing the way for fall contact sports with strict guidelines for the players, coaches, Yes, and it's different depending on outdoor or indoor venues. The major change was the reductioin of the regular season from 10 games to six, administrators, parents and fans. Outside, the maximum number allowed is the lesser of 1,500 or ending on Oct 2. 15% percent of the fixed, seated capacity. What should athletes and parents expect to see? The playoffs will begin Friday, Oct. 9. The state championship games will be Seating is also to be in staggered rows and sections to prevent played no later than Nov. 21. You should see designated 6-foot distances with signage, tape or contact. General admission (standing) is only allowed with 6 feet some visible spacing. The sidelines have increased, going from of distance between groups and patrons clearly marked and All schools would be eligible for the playoff regardless of their records, if the one 10-yard line to the other 10 (previously the team box maintained. team chooses to participate in the post-season. Instead of the computer ratings extended from the 25-yard line to the other 25). determining which teams qualify for the playoffs, coaches in each region will conduct a tournament seed meeting the week of Sept. 28 to form the regional Hand sanitizer and sanitizing products should be readily What about team/band participant limitations? bracket. available. There's no sharing of water bottles, food or towels. The gameday roster limits for football is 60. Schools that are eliminated from the playoffs may continue to schedule regular- season games up until Nov. 14. Can fans attend games? For schools, like Cleveland Heights, that have more players on the roster than the maximum number permitted to be dressed, * Limiting coin tosses to the referee, the umpire and one designated Family and household members may attend if not symptomatic those athletic departments are permitted to consider having representative from each team, and must social distance during the coin toss and in limited numbers. Family members should sit socially- these athletes wear jerseys and stand on the sidelines or sit in ceremony. No giving handshakes before or after the game distanced from other individuals/families/household groups. the grandstands. * The ball should be cleaned and disinfected throughout the contest. * Officials Fans in attedance must practice 6 feet of distancing and resist However, all of these additional players, just like those dressed will have limited ball contact – the offensive team will handle the ball and take it the urge to congregate. Face coverings are required except for in game uniforms and equipment, must wear facial coverings with them to huddle, while the umpire places a bean bag at the spot where the those individuals with an exceptions. Schools should prioritize and must be socially distanced. ball will be snapped ticket distribution to families of participants. FIVE OHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF APPEARANCES (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS 2020 TIGERS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES 2020 Tigers Facts Head Coach: Mac Stephens Hired: March 13, 2015 GENERAL INFORMATION Cleveland Heights head coach Mac Stephens enters his sixth season on the Location 13263 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio sidelines for the Tigers. Stephens is 34-20 in his six seasons at Cedar and Founded / Established 1901 Lee. Enrollment 1,555 students (grades 9-12) District Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools Stephens spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at three local schools Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby Principal Byron Hopkins before being named the head coach of the Tigers on March 13, 2015. Director of Athletics Joe D'Amato OHSAA Assignment - Football Division I, Region 1 Stephens graduated from Akron Firestone High School in 1986 and attended the Conference Lake Erie League University of Minnesota. Stephens spent two seasons in the NFL, playing linebacker for the New York Jets Nickname Tigers in 1990 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1991. Colors Black and Gold Stadium Complex Cleveland Heights HS Stadium Stephens served as the head coach for the Lutheran East Falcons in 2003. He has spent 11 seasons (2004- Capacity 2,500 2014) as an assistant coach at Euclid, Villa Angela-St, Joseph and Glenville before being named head coach Playing Surface Field Turf for Cleveland Heights.