The Press Box: Nov 11,24, For the Ladies and, James Franklin

Recap Show with Guest Jame Franklin and Khelie B with For the Ladies as well as Ryan Day talking about how he can improve his team along with the Friday Blitz with Todd walker and many more good sports content.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the press Box with Marty Banister, the latest
on all local sports from Wright State to the Dayton Flyers,
from the Reds and Buckeyes to the Bengals and Browns.
Called Marty now at nine to three, seven by three,
one six, one seven zero the press Box on Fox
Sports nine eighty WNE.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
I grew up a Penn State fan.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
I wanted to go there my whole life.

Speaker 4 (00:26):
They didn't think I was good enough, but uh, I
guess we'll see next week if I was.

Speaker 5 (00:32):
That is Ohio State quarterback Will Howard voicing his well,
I guess displeasure with not being recruited by Penn State.
Welcome to the press Box, Fox Sports nine eighty W
go wheny we come with you on this football Friday,
And what a Friday. It is so much to get
ready for this weekend, A very much a weekend where
a lot of things will be determined as far as

(00:52):
playoff positions, teams that are still alive, as far as
making it to the College Football Playoff, an NFL weekend
full of determining game games as well, too. So good
to have with us here on this Friday. As usual,
on Friday, it's a shortened joke. Kevinuld Bee off today,
she's back with us on Monday. Sea Basses rolling the
program for us today, and we're with you right up
until about four fifteen today when we have our iHeartRadio

(01:13):
high School Football Blitz Week number eleven, getting you ready
for the opening round of the high school football payoffs,
and we'll talk about that coming up during the program
this afternoon, so we have a lot to get into
with all of that. We'll hear a conversation we had
with Doug ut a little bit earlier this week. We'll
let you hear from Penn State head coach James Franklin.
And it has been announced, oh, by the way, that
Drew Aller is a go on Saturday for Penn State.

(01:37):
They made that announcement a little bit earlier today. There
had been some talk that he was a game time
decision going into the game with Ohio State tomorrow, but
he is full go. And we'll start a quarterback with
the nine All Lions host Ohio State. And again, when
you start talking about mammoth mammoth games on the college
football landscape, that one is right at the top of
the list on Saturday afternoon, so we can dive in

(02:00):
that a little bit and again said we'll hear more
from James Frankly coming up a little bit later on,
there was the NFL action last night he has today.
During the show if You're with us, I talked about
how I saw the line for that game and saw
where the Jets were favored by I think it was
two and a half, and I just could not understand
how they were favored. Well, obviously somebody knows something because

(02:21):
they beat the Texans last night twenty one to thirteen.
And if you watched that game again, I've said this
before in this show a number of times, and I
will continue to say it. I despise those Thursday night
games because you don't get to see teams at their
best because they just played three days ago. And you
saw that in the first half of that game last night.

(02:41):
That was an atrocious game in the first half last night,
just brutal. The poor Jets rookie who dropped the football
before he crossed the goal line on what would have
been the night's first score. The ball went back to
the Texans after that because the ball just kind of
bound and no one knew what had happened. Everybody just
stood there and watched and the ball just casually rolled
out the back of the end zone, which made it

(03:02):
a touchback because no one touched it, and it went
back to the Texans. And it seems like there was
an injury about every three minutes during the game, and
it was just an ugly football game really, the entire
way that were missed field goals there were, I mean,
just the only positive out of it, I think for

(03:22):
a lot of people, especially if you're a Jets fan,
was the fact that they won the game. And now
all we're hearing now is well, the Jets now Aaron
Rodgers said that they can do this, and they can
do that, they can make this playoff riens and now
I have to sit through and listen to all that
right now. But the play of Joe Mixon last night
for Houston, I mean, the former Bengals running back. He
looked like he did in the Super Bowl year, and

(03:45):
that had been the thing. I think one of the
reasons why the Bengals felt it was okay to deal
him was because it looked like his tank was the
light was flashing that there's a low fuel warning. It
sure that way, but man, he uh he looked really
good last night, had the old Joe Mixon jump cut

(04:06):
moves that just about everything you could ask out of
a out of a running back, and still wasn't good
enough to lead him to the win. But it was
it was an interesting game and it was and people
again were criticizing al Michaels for his lack of enthusiasm. Well,
if you watch the game, can you blame him for
not being enthused about watching that mess last night? Uh?

(04:28):
It just just an ugly, ugly football game. So, but
that was last night. Of course, Tomorrow, as I mentioned,
Ohio State goes over to Penn State in a season
defining game really for both teams, and I think for
both head coaches. It's it's a huge game in that
regard for both James Franklin and for Ryan Day tomorrow
to see exactly how they perform and how they get

(04:49):
their teams ready for a big game, because that's been
really the big criticism of really both of those guys,
their inability to get their teams over the hung ump,
and tomorrow's game certainly falls into the over the hump
category for both. So again that one will kick off
at about noon or so tomorrow, updating on some NFL

(05:10):
injuries you heard the top of the hour from Fox.
Some of the other injuries. T Higgins has listed as
doubtful now for the Bengals. This one rather surprisingly jumped
up on the list today. Zach Moss, the Bengals running back,
is now listed as doubtful because of a neck injury.
Orlando Jones probably will not play asn't practiced all week
for Cincinnati, so that's again not good news going up

(05:34):
against Max Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders front so
Orlando Brown knee fibula is listed as doubtful. T Higgins
listed as doubtful. Sam Hubbard showed up on the list today,
limited with a hamstring injury. Charlie Jones is listed as questionable.
Zack Moss. I have been informed from another source that

(05:55):
Zack Moss will likely not play on Saturday, and Genos Own,
the Bengals starting safety, is listed as questionable, and they
have a Thursday night game coming up as well too.
But the matter of the day is trying to get
that one on Sunday at home and try and finally
win a home game, which they haven't done all this season.

(06:16):
Brown's on Sunday. We'll try to keep the good feelings
going after they beat the Ravens last week. They'll host
the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. That one will kick
at about one o'clock. Both teams that games kick at
the same time. Thankfully, they're on different networks. The Bengals
are on Fox Sunday and the Browns are on CBS.

(06:39):
Brown's David and Joku's listed as questionable for Sunday. Jerry
Judy is listed as questionable. Was limited practice yesterday. Ethan
Postitch is also questionable. So those are your big injuries
from that regard for the Bengals hitting or for the
Browns rather hitting into that game coming up tomorrow. There
was high school or college football action last night. They'll

(07:00):
be college football action tonight again. With Friday night being
now a night for college football, the Big Ten will
play games on Fridays from here on out because it
seems to work for the TV networks. Tonight. No Big
Ten game tonight, however, but there are three games. Georgia
State plays at Yukon South Floridas at Florida Atlantic. San
Diego State goes to Boise State. Last night. Two Lane

(07:23):
Cloppert Charlotte thirty four to three. Of course, as I mentioned,
Ohio State tomorrow, the big game. We're a few days
away from start of the college basketball season Monday, everybody
opens up, many many games. We'll have Miami Basketball four
years we always do right here on Fox Sports nine
eight w and EI, the RedHawks, and as we were
telling you yesterday, coming with the show starting next week,

(07:45):
each Monday and each Thursday, we're going to hear from
both the Miami's head coaches. Of Miami's women's head coach
on Monday, and then Travis Steel, the head coach of
the RedHawks men's team, we'll hear from him on Thursdays
during the season. So we look forward to those conversations again.
Those all will be part of what we do for
you next week. Also in the program today, Oh by
the way, Kelly b will have another disc for the ladies,
and we'll also have our Dragons download for you coming

(08:07):
up as well too. So all of those things on
tap for you coming up today. All right, three times
the time we're gonna step aside, take a time out,
we come back. We running down the playoffs schedule for
the big games around the area. Tonight and we will
hear as well too from the executive director of the OHSA. Hey,
we'll hear from Doug You it's the press box. Good
to head with Listen, It's football Friday, Fox Sports nine
eighty WNA.

Speaker 1 (08:28):
Get on the press box called Marty now at nine
to three, seven by three, one six, one seven zero
the press Box on Fox Sports nine eighty WNN.

Speaker 5 (08:41):
I'm back with you on this football Friday as we
get ready for college football tomorrow, big Sunday of NFL Action.
But tonight high school football has center stage. There are
a number of huge games all across the area as
we get ready to start playoff action Divisions one through seven.
Every game's on Friday night this week and coming up
in an hour or we'll go around the state and
give you a preview of everything coming up on our

(09:03):
iHeart Football High School Radio Blitz. But earlier in the week,
I had a chance to sit down and spend some
time with the executive director of the OHSA, Doug Ut,
and we talked about the playoffs, getting ready for the playoffs,
and all the things that surround another season of expanded
playoffs in the state of Ohio. High school football playoff time.
Everybody's excited. You can feel it in the air. The

(09:24):
weather has even turned out nice this week as we
get ready to open up the playoffs. But one interesting
aspect of the playoffs, Doug, that start this Friday night.
You've had a couple of schools decide not to play,
and there are various reasons for that.

Speaker 6 (09:35):
And it's in Division seven.

Speaker 5 (09:36):
Let me get your thoughts on that right out of
the shoot as we.

Speaker 6 (09:38):
Start talking about the playoffs right now. It's up to
the schools, isn't it.

Speaker 7 (09:41):
Sure, it's one hundred percent of schools, not just in football,
in any sport we have. It's all voluntary membership and
our association, it's voluntary participation in our tournaments.

Speaker 6 (09:50):
And so it was a few schools in one division
for various reasons.

Speaker 7 (09:55):
And I don't judge, because they do what's right for
their students athletes, and they're good coaches and good administrators
at that school that for one reason or another would decide, hey,
it's not the best interest of our student athletes in
our school community.

Speaker 6 (10:09):
So you know, we're not going to play in the
tournament this year.

Speaker 5 (10:13):
I respect that, and that's what it comes down to.
In the end, it's up to the schools. It's their call.
It's not in your realm of responsibility at all.

Speaker 6 (10:19):
Is it right? Not one bit?

Speaker 7 (10:21):
You know, we don't judge, as I said, and you
know we'll talk talk them through it.

Speaker 6 (10:25):
And I know Bo Rugg does a really good job
with a communication piece of that.

Speaker 7 (10:29):
And so again, you know, I've been in their shoes
as a school administrator, and you always do what's in
the best interest of your students. And if they feel
that that's it, then that's their right to do that,
and I support it.

Speaker 5 (10:41):
Another year of the expanded playoffs sixteen teams per region.
Let's talk about the success part of this, and I
think it has been a success since you went to this.
Just talk to us about that and what it has meant,
and I guess fair to call it a success over
the time that's been implemented.

Speaker 7 (10:54):
Yeah, I think it is has been very successful because
what we hear from our member schools is they like
another with their student athletes. It's good for their community
to participate in that. And I've always said football is
a only sport where not everybody gets in, and I
think you give kids opportunity and watch out and we've
seen that. You know, we don't see it every year.

(11:14):
We saw sixteen b to one. Every year we see
a couple of fifteens win. And then just last year
we had a twelve seat who wouldn't have even been
into tournament a few years ago, runner up in Division
one at Springfield. And I remember talking to the folks
at Springfield last year after a week one of the
playoffs they were five and five, twelve seed getting in

(11:36):
and I remember talking to them, said, you know they
had They said, we had a little bit of a
rough year. We picked up some steam and we're going
to go to Centerville this week who they played week two,
and so we feel good about that. And it's a
different feel around here. And I think that's a poster
child for why we did this, is for the opportunity
for kids to get it to play in the playoffs.

(11:59):
And you know, Marty, you've covered high school sports a
long time. You give kids an opportunity to watch out
and so that's the neat thing for me to see.

Speaker 5 (12:08):
And it's funny because when something like that happens in football,
that's where you hear the well, they shouldn't have expanded,
But if a three and eighteen gets on the running,
makes it to.

Speaker 6 (12:16):
The state final in basketball. Everybody says it's a great story. Yeah,
it's a great story.

Speaker 7 (12:20):
You got kids healthy late in the year, you know
those type of things, and yeah, and you know, I
don't look back at our decision to do that one bit.

Speaker 6 (12:27):
It's been it's been a big win for our member
schools and you know, or if we could do everybody
would get.

Speaker 5 (12:35):
In with that in mind, Dog, I think that's one
of the reasons why you decided back in the spring
to decide to expand the other divisions, baseball, basketball going
to seven divisions. The success of football, how much did
that play into.

Speaker 7 (12:47):
That played a lot because you know, when you talk
about basketball, we had eight hundred boys basketball teams in
state last year. We had seven hundred and twenty football teams.
So you had seven divisions and football and four in basketball.
And you know, when the guns sounded this fall at
tournament time here, Marty, that we've seen already. I've gotten
text on Sundays from ads who say.

Speaker 6 (13:11):
You know, Western Brown's a good example.

Speaker 7 (13:14):
Tim Cook shot me a text last weekend and said,
thanks for expanding.

Speaker 6 (13:18):
First time in fourteen years that their soccer and volleyball
at advanced to a district terna.

Speaker 7 (13:22):
It's not about went in a state forum that they
have a chance to win. And I've seen because I
went through the soccer and volleyball, you know, brackets beginning year,
and I saw Marion Harding who was a sixth seed
Marion Harding in the old formats, a thirty and forty
seed down there with little chance to even win a game.
And then Logan who advanced to the district final regional

(13:49):
volleyball first time in thirty years because they've been a
small school.

Speaker 6 (13:53):
And so I think when you see those.

Speaker 7 (13:55):
Kinds of things, you know you did the right thing
because it's given kids an opportunity and that playing field
out a little bit a lot of.

Speaker 5 (14:02):
It actually when you look at that, you can go
to Friday nights and see what the success of the
football playoffs has meant to communities, and I think we're
going to see that dovetail over to some of these
other divisions that have expanded as well too, to the
additional divisions for the championships. But football is kind of
unique in that respect. Football Friday nights are football Friday nights.
There's no better way to describe it, I don't think.

(14:23):
And that means so much, especially when you get int
the playoffs and these schools dog get a chance to
host a first or second round game.

Speaker 6 (14:29):
It means so much. Oh it sure does, you know?
And you said it.

Speaker 7 (14:32):
Football unites the community, not just the school culture. It's
the community culture. You get to see that when you
go around to different schools. I get an opportunity to
see that going around. And you know I've shared with
you week ten. Last week, I'm down at Cold Water
watching a great football game. But I'm there at five
o'clock and I can see the excitement in town and

(14:54):
then the park across from the football, the tailgates and
little kids throwing the football around up on a volleyball
around at the tailgates, and you know those kind of things.
And and that's culture and good good schools. The community
rallies around him, and Friday night, that's the place to be.

Speaker 5 (15:13):
As we wrap up our conversation, we also now get
ready for another trip to Canton for the state championships
at the Tom BET's at Hall of Fame Stadium. You
and I have talked about this a number of times,
but it's such a great relationship the OHSA has with
the Hall of Fame and with Canton. It's a it's
a win win for everybody in Paul, isn't.

Speaker 6 (15:28):
It absolutely is? You know, we're the state with the
Hall of Fame in it, and.

Speaker 7 (15:33):
Jim Porter and the folks up in Canton have really
made a commitment to get some Hall of famers back
to our events.

Speaker 6 (15:40):
Last year, Anthony Muno spent.

Speaker 7 (15:41):
A lot of time up there, and and you know
this probably from from your job.

Speaker 6 (15:46):
You get around Anthony and he's a special person and.

Speaker 7 (15:49):
You wouldn't even know he even has a jacket or
he just seems like the guy it works out. He
lives down the street and works with you locally at
a place, and he's the most personable guy. And he's
so much time with kids and adults last year at
the Hall of Fame, and and so they're trying to
bring that flavor back.

Speaker 6 (16:09):
A little bit there to involve their Hall of famers
with the kids, which I think is special.

Speaker 7 (16:15):
Uh you know, and uh again, we have a lot
We're fortunate in Ohio where you can go from Cincinnati
at the Tennis Venue all the way up to acrony
and baseball, softball and over to Canton and then everything
in between where we host our events our kids. We
know we're fortunate here in Ohio to have, you know,
our athletes playing in these type of big time venues

(16:36):
because every state doesn't have that opportunity, and we think
we do it better than anybody in the country that way.
And part of that is the venues we're at. And Marty,
we've talked about this before. It's not just a Hall
of Fame, it's Stark County, uh and the folks in
Start County roll out that carpet and want our communities
there and it shows and we're fortunate.

Speaker 6 (16:56):
It's a fun time year.

Speaker 7 (16:57):
Always appreciate your time, YEP, appreciate all you do.

Speaker 5 (17:01):
Doug, youat executive director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
And as we had talked during the conversation, and I
think the point is worth bringing up again that you
get into basketball. For example, as I said to Doug,
a team that goes, say three and eighteen, gets healthy,
makes a run, and everybody says, well, what a great story,
what a great story. Football team at two and eight

(17:22):
makes a great run. Everybody said, well, he shouldn't have
been in the playoffs to begin with. That's the part
I don't understand the difference. I really don't. It just
to me, a great story is a great story, and
you get kids who are part of the playoffs for
the first time, maybe in their careers, and that's worth something.
You look at some of these matchups and again, yes,
there are some matchups in these opening round games where

(17:45):
you gough, okay, this is not going to be fun,
and there are a few of them. In fact, you
could look at the region which involves some of our
local teams, Region two of Division one. You have a
one to nine team, Grove City Central Crossing playing at
the top seed Fairmont at eight and two. Fairmont will
probably roll to an easy victory in that game. Central

(18:06):
Crossing is not a very good football team, but those
Central Crossing kids are getting a chance that they may
not get to play in a playoff. Now do they
deserve to be in Well, you can argue that till
you're blue in the face, but it's not about how
you and I feel, And Doug UTIs quick to tell
that to anybody. It's not about how you and I feel.
It's about how the kids feel, and the kids have

(18:26):
an opportunity to play in this game. Also in that
bracket a Centerville, the co champ of the Greater Western
Ohio Conference with Fairmont their home. Tonight, they have the
fifteenth seed, will be a regular season rematch with Beaver
Creek at beaver Creek's in. I mean, they don't have
to make postseason runs. Springfield is in at the number
four seed. They have the thirteen seed two and eight

(18:47):
Hilliard Bradley over in Springfield tonight. That one will kick
and everything kicks at seven o'clock. North Mott's in the
eleven seed. They're two and eight. They're at the six
seed Lebanon, which is a school with a six and
four mark. Springboro, the number seven seed, will play host
to the tenh seed four and six Dublin Jerome Wayne
is in at five and five. They'll host the ninth

(19:08):
seed Middletown, also at five and five, and again everything
kicks at seven o'clock tonight. A little further down seventy five,
you'll find in Region four number of games. Hamilton is home.
They have Cincinnati Oak Hills, a team that I think
a lot of people I don't want to say they're
being overlooked me and they finished in the top ten

(19:29):
in the state. I think it was an in Division
one in the ap pole. But the Cincinnati Winingwood's Warriors,
it's a very good football team with a mark of
nine and one. They open with one and nine Little Morrow,
Little Miami. In that opener tonight, Cincinnati Sycamore at one
and nine plays at nine to one Moler in an
opening round game. There are some other games you scan

(19:51):
down with further. There's one game that I can almost
guarantee you will have a running clock tonight. That's Potaskalar
Licking Heights. I had the fortune to call one of
their games a couple of weeks back as part of
the TV work I do in the Columbus area. They
play at Massilin tonight and the defending state champions. That
one's just not going to be pretty tonight. The sixteen

(20:13):
seed in that region is Logan, with the market one
to nine. They play at the top seed, Big Walnut.
The best team in that region is probably Masslin. They
stand a really good chance of getting back to the
state championship game just a couple of miles from their
home stadium in that part of the state. In Region eight,
Cincinnati Anderson is the top seed. They'll play host to

(20:34):
the sixteen seed Trenton Edgewood. Butler is gonna be a
very good football game. Butler's the number eight seed in
Region number eight, and they walk them into the nine
seed lin of Senior, which finished with nine and one.
Lin of Senior one of those teams their regular season record.
I didn't want to say it's deceiving, but they only
played one team and had a winning record this season.
They lost that game, they beat everybody else, so they

(20:55):
finish at nine and one and get into the playoffs
as nine and one should do.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
That.

Speaker 5 (21:00):
One could be interesting tonight being played at Butler. Just
looking at some of the other interesting matchups in Regional eleven.
The top seed, let's say it's the wrong region. Region twelve,
mart you has Tipsity Tip of Canoe, the number one seed,
the Red Devil's winning that showdown game with Xenia last week.
They have the sixteen seed Oxford Talawanda. You know their
opener tonight, wapakennett As ten and oh they have Franklin

(21:23):
Bellbrooks at nine and one. They have Dayton Meadowdale in
at seven and three Bell Fountain and five star Ohio
state quarterback recruit Tavi In Saint Clair play host to
Shamana Julian. That one goes at seven o'clock at Bell
Fountain tonight. Saint Mary's Place host to Miami Tray. Saint
Mary's Memorial hosts Miami Trace. Just scanning down at some

(21:44):
other matchups involving some area schools, Valleyview hosts New Richmond
and Region sixteen Valley Views eight and two on the season.
Moving a little further down, let's see one, there was
one other game I wanted to mention that stood out.
Kirtland right back again. Division six at ten and zero
will be playing Rootstown in their opener tonight. I think

(22:05):
everyone's kind of anticipating a Kirtland Coldwater State championship game,
which would be a very good football game for the
state title in Division six Division seven. Of course, I've
referenced the story before, back when Larry Bird was playing
for the Boston Celtics way back in the day. He
went to an NBA three point shooting contest, and he

(22:25):
went through the locker room and just kind of looked
everybody over, and somebody said something to him along the
lines of hey, Larry Wire, you stared everybody down. His
response was, I just want to see who's going to
come in second. Like I think Marion Local could do
the same thing in Division seven. We just kind of
get the whole field, look at it and go, let's
see what you guys are gonna come in second. Nobody's
beating them. They are that dominant. They pummeled Cold Water

(22:47):
last week in that final game. And on top of that,
I think I mentioned this on Monday during the show,
but it's worth bringing back up. Schools do fifty to
fifty draws, so a lot they're basically lottery tickets is
basically they are. The size of the crowd increases the
amount of these fifty to fifty tickets. The fifty to
fifty draw last week at the Merian Local game was

(23:09):
twenty two five hundred dollars. Somebody walked out of there
with twenty two thousand and five hundred dollars for dropping
whatever it was, five dollars for a ticket or whatever
the heck it is you drop on something like that.
But wow, nice way to even if your team lost,
you walked out of there with with mortgage for a
while so, but yeah, that was that was last night

(23:30):
or last Friday night. So high school playoffs starts to
night again all across the state. O willhiwoves. Should be
a fun, fun night Division ie all the way through
Division seven. Everybody kicks at seven o'clock tonight and then
we moved to the second round games coming up next week.
So it's a fun time of year for high school
football playoffs. Three twenty eight at a time. When we
come back, we'll shift our focus to the Ohio State

(23:51):
penchtag game tomorrow. We will let you hear the comments
of the head coach of the Nidney Lions, James Franklins.
He looks ahead to Ohio State on Saturday. It's the
press box Fox Sports ninet a eight wo.

Speaker 1 (24:05):
Get on the press box, called Marty Now at nine
to three, seven by three, one, six, one seven zero
the press box on Fox Sports nine eighty wny thirty one.

Speaker 5 (24:18):
We continue long here on the press box Fox Sports
nine eighty w O I have Marty Banister. We're glad
you're with us here this afternoon as we continue long
closing in on high school football Friday night playoffs all
around the state of Ohio. And the iHeart Football Radio Blitz,
which comes your way at about four fifteen or so
during the show today, Todd Walker, the voice of the
Bowling Green Falcons, has that show for you, and we're

(24:39):
looking forward to hearing from Todd coming up here in
a few minutes for you again at recapping some of
the things going on in the world of sports and
injury news, centering on the Bengals. They play host to
the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Zach Moss is now
questionable with a neck injury. It's likely Orlando Brown will
be out. He hasn't practiced all week, neither has t Higgins,
so that's what the Buckeyes are looking at. Charlie Owns

(25:00):
also in the questionable category as well too. There is
some college football and college sports realignment news today. Grand
Canyon has joined the Mountain West Conference and making that official.
They had just announced last or last year that next
year they were going to join the West Coast Conference
and everything well, now they've decided to switch gears and

(25:24):
are now headed towards the Mountain West. Now the Mountain
West losing a number of schools because of teams leaving
to go to the PAC twelve. The reconfigured PAC twelve
Mountain West teams most notably have a football as one
of their lead sports. However, Grand Canyon does not have football.
They compete in seventeen conference will compete rather in seventeen

(25:48):
conference sponsored sports, most notably men's basketball. The Antelopes have
qualified for the past three NCAA men's basketball term. I
think they played at ud either last year, year before last,
and one of the first four games, if I'm not mistaken.
The Mountain West began targeting Grand Canyon for expansion after
Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and

(26:09):
Utah State. I guess you have to have state in
your name to join the PAC twelve. Along with Oregon
State and Washington State. It just kind of goes with
the trend. I guess announced they were leaving for the
PAC twelve earlier this year. Grand Canyon's decision was not
well received by the West Coast Conference, which had announced
in May that GCU, along with Seattle, would join the conference.
In July of twenty twenty five, WCC Commissioner Stu Jackson quote,

(26:32):
we are disappointed with its decision to seek conference membership elsewhere,
just months after completing its membership agreement with the West
Coast Conference that would have enhanced its national profile. But
it's all about money. It's all about what we want
and how it fits us. It doesn't matter how it
fits all the other schools that they're leaving in the wake.
So that's you kind of overlook that now with college athletics,

(26:56):
it's that part of the game long long gone. So
Grand Canyon joining the Mountain West Conference. Other than that,
that is pretty much what is going on. Also an
interesting note out of the WNBA. Kelly will have more
coming up on women's sports in her a Fourth Lady
segment coming up. But the Indiana Fever hired Stephanie White
as the new head coach. The team announced that today.

(27:17):
She'd spent the last couple of seasons as the head
coach of the Connecticut Son So she'll be coaching Caitlyn Clark. Now,
if you don't know anything about Stephanie White, she's been
a broadcaster, she's been a coach at a number of
different stops, had a great career at Purdue, and her
game in Caitlyn Clark's somewhat mirror one another. When Stephanie

(27:38):
White was playing. She's obviously not the talent of a
Caitlyn Clark, but has a lot of the same ability.
I had a lot of the same ability, distant shooting,
good ball handler, good passer. I think it's a very
good hire. I've got the chance to know Stephanie over

(27:58):
the years from working together in broadcast opportunities. I think
it is a very good hire for Indiana to bring
her on to this franchise. Plus, she's from Indiana, so
it's coming home. She was the head coach at Vanderbilt
for a number of years in college basketball. I think
it's a pretty good move to get maybe a more
of a mentor type presence around certainly one of the

(28:20):
more polarizing figures in all of women's basketball, that being
Kaitlyn Clark. So all right, three thirty five as we
move along here, of course, tomorrow over in State College Pennsylvania,
Big Day, it's Ohio State and it's penn State. With
so much riding on the outcome of that game for
both teams as far as their postseason lives are concerned.
The Big Ten Championship game is a big part of
all this. The outcome tomorrow for Ohio State. It's just

(28:42):
staying alive in the opportunity to play in the Big
Ten Championship campup for High State loses tomorrow, that's gone.
They'll have two conference losses and that won't do it,
especially in a Big Ten this year when you have
so much balance across the league as far as teams
records and one lost marks are concerned. Penn State head
coach James Franklin the media earlier in the week and
gave his thoughts on facing Ohio State on Saturday.

Speaker 8 (29:05):
The game now this week has event status. It's a
recruiting and nil fundraising opportunity. So what other demands of
your time off the field are you going to allow
or not allow this week?

Speaker 2 (29:17):
Yeah, nothing changes for us.

Speaker 3 (29:21):
We have our same process with the players in terms
of how we operate, you know, with those topics in season,
and our guys do a good job with that. I
think that's probably it's funny because I just talked about
that this morning in the staff.

Speaker 2 (29:36):
I think that's a big part of my job right is.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
We have some media policies kind of just how we
govern ourselves and how we go about our business, which
is magnified on weeks like this when everybody reaches out
and wants to do interviews with specific players, and by saying, hey,
players are only going to do two interviews max per week,

(29:59):
helps with that, helps manage that.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
And then it's kind of the same with the staff.
You know, we're not a.

Speaker 3 (30:05):
Bill Belichick level of program in terms of it's a
one voice deal.

Speaker 2 (30:10):
We don't go to that extreme.

Speaker 3 (30:12):
But we're also just not wide open either, So trying
to keep this thing is consistent and is structured as
possible so that we can stick to our normal routine.

Speaker 2 (30:25):
But all the other.

Speaker 3 (30:26):
Things, you know, the stadium, you know, different things that
that are going on, we don't deal with that. That's
where Vinnie and Pat and the administration handle all those things.
For me, I'm you know, I'm worried about the last
football building and the practice facility and and then Beaver Stadium,

(30:50):
the playing surface, in the locker room and and all
those other things. Outside of that. We we try not
to spend any, if not very little time on it.

Speaker 9 (31:02):
It's good to Frank Bodani foul by Johnny mcgodagall.

Speaker 10 (31:06):
Hey, good afternoon, James.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
How are you hey, Frank? Are you good? Frank? You
got great hair.

Speaker 10 (31:11):
By the way, where do I rank compared to Manny Diaz?

Speaker 3 (31:14):
And that man Manny's the kind of a whole nother level, right,
man Manny's.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
Is it jel or moose a little jel nice? Nice?
You got great hair. I appreciate that.

Speaker 1 (31:27):
Well, thank you.

Speaker 6 (31:29):
Now I'm completely off kilter here, but here goes.

Speaker 10 (31:31):
Anyway, go Pribuola the most impressive thing about his performance Saturday.
But then also, how do you feel from your perspective
the offense? How much different is it when he's leading
it as opposed to Drew? And is that more advantage
or more challenge when you have that situation?

Speaker 3 (31:51):
Well, a couple of things. If I'm understanding your question correctly,
I think. I think as a defense, it's it's difficult
because I think and your play you're preparing.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
For you know Drew and and you know.

Speaker 3 (32:09):
Bo will have his few plays that we sprinkle in
there per quarter.

Speaker 2 (32:15):
That's difficult. But when when the kind of the game
play on flips.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
Right and Bow's in there, it changes it dramatically, I
think for the defense, and.

Speaker 2 (32:26):
That is difficult.

Speaker 3 (32:27):
And most people aren't built like that, right, Your quarterbacks
are all similar type guys and ours are are very
different in a lot of ways.

Speaker 2 (32:37):
I don't think we're in a situation where the offense
totally changes.

Speaker 3 (32:43):
But what's nice about us, and it was a big
reason and bringing Andy here, is we do enough things
and we have enough diversity within our playbook that we
are able to focus on the strengths of the players
that are in there. And that's all I really did
on Saturday was just remind Andy of that, because this

(33:04):
is a little bit of a problem in the past,
in practice and in games that you really should strategically
call the game differently now with Boe in the game,
and just and just reminding Andy of that, let let's
call this game playing to to Bow's strengths. So obviously

(33:27):
the threat of the quarterback run impacts the defense, the
spike of more quarterback possible runs and scrambles affects the defense.
And then obviously the strength in the passing games. You know,
bo still can do all those things as well. So

(33:47):
it's just, you know, it's it's another kind of level
of concern that I think it creates for the defense
of things that they have to deal with.

Speaker 2 (33:57):
So I think the other.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Thing, I think it's really really important that probably is
not gone gotten talked about a whole lot. Is just
the way Bo has gone about his business since he's
arrived on this campus. He's got everybody's respect and confidence
and trust, so that when he went in the game,
I think there was a lot of confidence from our
team that you know, we are blessed and fortunate to

(34:22):
have a guy like Bo here in that role.

Speaker 10 (34:25):
Let's go to Johnny McGonagall.

Speaker 2 (34:27):
Frank, did I answer all your questions? Okay, let's go.

Speaker 11 (34:31):
To Johnny McGonagall.

Speaker 6 (34:32):
Filed by Neil Ridell.

Speaker 12 (34:34):
All Right, hey, Johnny, you mentioned with Drew, you know,
playing enough football that you can stretch it out to
go all the way to game time in terms of
making decision, do you feel like Deny is in the
same boat, And then how would you and how would
you assess the play of Smith in a mean when
they had to play a little bit more reps.

Speaker 3 (34:56):
Yeah, I was really pleased with those guys. You know,
you guys hurt me talk about Smith a lot, you know,
in preseason and right in the beginning of the season.

Speaker 2 (35:05):
I'm a big fan of his his.

Speaker 3 (35:07):
Growth and development since he's arrived on campus, his ability
as a football player. I think one of the things
you're seeing now is is, you know, the plan was
that we were going to play you know, we were
gonna play Smith at d tackle and as a detackle.

(35:28):
Depth kind of grew and some guys came on like
we didn't know what we were going to get out
of Alonso after coming off an injury and as as
he's played well, and then we lost some depth at
defensive end with some injuries and things like that, then
we said, hey, you know, we want you to stay
at defensive end full time. But at that point he'd

(35:49):
gotten up to two eighty five, So now his weight
is coming down. He's about two seventy five right now.
He's quicker, more explosive. So I thought he played very well.
I thought a mean played very well. It means one
of the most physical guys that we have on our team.
You guys have heard me tell stories about our tight

(36:11):
ends kind of looking across on split zone to see
who's over there, and they say, I mean, like you
start buttoning up their helmets, right. I'm really proud of
those two guys. Two guys came from the same high
school program you know that does a phenomenal job. Algie,
the head coach there, does a phenomenal job. And I

(36:36):
felt very confident coming into this season that both Smith
and a mean we're going to have big years. And
I still believe that. I think both of those guys
are going to play football for a long time. So
you know, Deny will have the ability to play in
this game. He's played a ton of football. He's super mature,
it's very intelligent, it's thoughtful, he's hard working.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
He's been in the training room the last two days.
Every time I've gone down there, he's down there. So
so same thing.

Speaker 3 (37:07):
We'll go right up the game time to see, uh,
kind of where we're at with things.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
If he's able to go, he'll go, But.

Speaker 3 (37:15):
If not, we have we have a ton of confidence
in those other guys as well. And then I think
you guys saw we we played Max as well, so
we'll be prepared to play Max this week. You know,
he's still under the threshold of red shirting, which we'd
like to try to do if we can. But if
it comes down to you know, winning, we're gonna We're

(37:37):
gonna do what we gotta do to win the game.

Speaker 2 (37:38):
And Max is on board. With that as well.

Speaker 3 (37:40):
So too early to tell at this point, but yeah,
those are veteran guys that have played enough football and
are intelligent guys that that we feel like, you know,
they'll be able to go in and get the job done.

Speaker 5 (37:56):
Interesting how James Franklin took time out of his press
conference to compliment one of the reporter's hair, trying to
throw him off agains. I don't know. That was just
kind of a bizarre segment of that Q and A
with the members of the media. But the always unique
world is that of Penn State football coach James Franklin
as he gets his Nitneye Lions ready to face Ohio

(38:17):
Stay tomorrow. And again Award coming out a little bit
earlier that Drew Aller will start and will quarterback the
Nintey Lions, And again, I don't think there was any
doubt in anybody's mind that all or the Ohio product
from a mentor would not play in the game tomorrow.
That was just if smoke screen is the word, then
you can use that. But there was simply no way

(38:40):
that Aler was not playing tomorrow unless it was just
an injury so severe that he couldn't risk his own
safety out there. Suffered attle bit of a knee injury
against Wisconsin last Saturday night, but looked like he was
fine and good enough to finish the game of Penn
State had enough to beat a very average Wisconsin team Saturday.

(39:00):
So but yeah, and Aller, who if you remember last
year's game against Ohio State and Columbus looked awful against
the buck Eyes, looked looked again. I don't ever like
to say a player looks frightened on the field, but
it sure looked like Drew Aller's mind was anywhere but
stable on that game last year. And Ohigo State just
ate him up last season when the Buckeyes beat the

(39:22):
NNEE Lions over in Columbus. So I think there's saying
question he's kind of itching for another run at the
buck Eyes. And comments have been made about the start
time tomorrow with it being a noon kick, whether or
not that helps Ohio State or not. Because the whiteout games,
when they play those at night in state College, those
fans are very well lubricated by the time the game

(39:44):
gets underway. It can be one of the more difficult
atmospheres to play at in college athletics. In college football
certainly and there's there's something to that, But I still
think with the importance of this game, all the attentions
circled around it, everybody's gonna be ready to go tomorrow
when that thing kicks off a little bit after twelve
noon tomorrow over in State College. Three forty seven is
the time. As we continue long, it's the press blocks.

(40:05):
I'm already managed. I'm so glad you're with us here
on this football Friday. When we come back for the Ladies,
with Kelly b and more of this program, as we
get you ready for a big weekend of high school,
college and NFL football, it's the press blocks. It's Fox
Sports nine eighty w ol Anam.

Speaker 13 (40:28):
You shouldn't know work, Welcome back to for the Ladies,
where we dive into women's sports both the local and abroad.
The word of the day is expansion, and that seems
to be what all of these women's sports leagues are
looking to do. In the WNBA, who just added the

(40:49):
Golden State Valkyries as their thirteenth team, has plans to
add two more to their upcoming season, and they already
have Toronto and Portland on the way in twenty twenty six.
But they are still getting interest and bids from ownership
groups and cities all over the nation. Houston and Milwaukee

(41:09):
have thrown their hats into the ring, but make room
for one more, well two more, because Patrick Mahomes and
the Kansas City current ownership group are looking to get
into the WNBA. Boston Celtic star Jason Tatum has also
floated the idea of ownership in his hometown of Saint Louis.

(41:30):
The boom is officially on in the Pro Women's Hockey League.
They are also looking to grow from its inaugural six
teams and add two more teams by as early as
next season. Detroit and Pittsburgh, where the PWHL played neutral
site games last season, are some of the most likely spots,

(41:51):
but don't count out d C, Philly, Denver, and Chicago
because they are also in the mix. In the Three
Women's Basketball League, Unrivaled co creator Nafisa Collier explained on
social media yesterday that the league will be adding more

(42:11):
players earlier than originally scheduled because they beat their financial goals,
so the league will be moving up to thirty six
players from the originally announced thirty and no Caitlin Clark
will not be playing. She's taking a well earned summer
break from basketball. In fact, she said she was going
to take the time to become a golf pro. We'll

(42:34):
see how that goes. The US women's national soccer team
coach Emma Hayes was awarded the Balond'or or the Golden
Ball for best women's team Coach of the Year. And
if you're like me and have never heard of this award,
show it's a lot like the French sb's for soccer,

(42:55):
and it's been going on a lot longer than ESPN
has existed, but you get it. Anyway, Congratulations to coach
Emma Hayes. And in a very curious move, the Connecticut
Son in the WNBA parted with their head coach Stephanie
White this week, just days after the Indiana Fever let
go of Christie Sides, and people are saying that the

(43:17):
Fever want to bring in Stephanie White to help mold
Caitlin Clark, but that remains to be seen currently. The
Washington Mystics also recently moved on from Eric and Mike
Tibolt as head coach and GM of the team, and
the Chicago Sky moved on from first year head coach
Teresa Witherspoon. When you add the Sparks, the Dream and

(43:41):
the Wings who also moved on from their head coaches
just this past month, now more than half of the
current WNBA teams are without coaches. Who knows what that means.
This is in particularly a odd situation with Stephanie White
and the Connecticut Sun though, because she did lead the

(44:03):
team to two consecutive w NBA semifinals. Whatever is on
the horizon in the W and beyond, we will absolutely
keep you in the loop until next time. I'm Kelly B.
Thanks for tuning in too for the Ladies on the
press Box on Fox Sports nine E W.

Speaker 5 (44:19):
O N E accurately. As Kelly accurately pointed out, there
was rumblings about Stephanie White. Was we told you a
couple of short time ago. She has indeed been named
the head coach of the Indiana Fever, So it wasn't

(44:42):
that far fetched an idea anyway. So again thanks to
Kelly B. For another edition for the ladies. Back with
you next week at this very same time. All right,
let's see some other things going on in the world
of sports on this Friday afternoon. Not everything certainly centers
on the National Football League or football as a whole.

(45:02):
There is Major League Soccer Tomorrow. The Columbus Crew will
play in New York against the Red Bulls tomorrow, and
if Columbus loses, they are eliminated. The defending MLS Cup
champs would be out of the playoffs, so they need
that one to stay alive. If they win it, they
come back to Columbus. I think it's Wednesday night for

(45:22):
a decisive third game in that series. Cincinnati or f
C Cincinnati Cincinnati, I f C f C Cincinnati. I
think it is one of the one of the others.
It's f C Cincinnati. They are still alive. They won
their opening round playoff game, so their season moves along.
They were winners over I think it was Philadelphia the

(45:43):
other night on Wednesday. I believe it was in the
opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs. So Columbus though,
they need to win to stay alive in the MLS Cup.
There are a couple of games, are they tonight? Yeah,
they're tonight. Charlotte FC go through all of them, but anyway,
Columbus needs to win tomorrow night just to stay alive

(46:04):
in MLS let's see what else. The Columbus Blue Jackets
one again last night beat the New York Islanders two.
Nothing CBJ that was Wednesday night. In fact, they're back
in action tonight, hosting Winnipeg five to three and one
out of the gate, and I take on probably the
hottest team of the National High League, Winnipeg. The Jets
have won nine of their first ten games. That's in Columbus,

(46:27):
So a big night for the CBJ trying to continue
their great start and again for a franchise that has
not had great starts and great seasons of late. That's
a big one word out of Baltimore. Lamar Jackson had
been talked about during the week that he would not
play on Sunday against Denver. He has missed a couple

(46:48):
of practices this week with back and knee injuries. But
after practice today, Jackson says, quote, there wasn't him not playing. Rather,
that wasn't in doubt, just resting my body. It's a
long season, so he'll be in action when the Ravens
play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. Ravens
coach John Harbaugh is not worried about how Jackson will

(47:09):
play after missing multiple practices in a week. Now, remember
the Ravens. They have the Bengals next Thursday night, so
a short week for both of those teams. So any
extra rest you can get in this stretch is probably
a good move. And for a guy who does and
plays the position the way Lamar Jackson plays with me, yeah,
probably not a bad movie. All right, top of the hour,

(47:30):
coming up than more of this program. I have our
Dragons download on the other side and get you closed
into Ihearten High School's football Friday Blitz program. It's the
Press Blox Flock Sports nine ADWN not Now for another

(48:25):
edition of Dragons Download. I'm Marty Batters there and we
talk a little Dragons Baseball with Eric Deutsch from the Dragons.
Still lots of things to talk about even though the
season is over. There are a lot of things look
ahead to the twenty twenty five campaign, Eric, and one
of those includes ticket sales, and that includes group outings
and hospitality spaces. The Dragons always do a good job
of taking care of folks, and those are spaces that
are available right now, aren't they.

Speaker 6 (48:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 14 (48:45):
Our schedule got released a few months ago, so we've
been working with people who came out last year to
get them booked. We've got a lot of different group
outings for different locations, price points, days of week, months,
obviously six to six home games from April to September.
We've got hospitality areas such as suits and party decks
and or dragons Layer, and then we have stadium seats
in law and for other options. So if you've got

(49:08):
a group of ten or more, you know, we reach
out to schools and churches and associations and companies and
scouts and cheerleaders and dance groups and karate do jo's
anybody who basically gets together in a group of ten,
you know, we're more happy to take care of you
and put together a nice group outing a lot of fun.
We do most of the work, make it really easy
for you, and.

Speaker 5 (49:26):
Those would become immensely popular, haven't they.

Speaker 14 (49:28):
Oh yeah, I think last year we did about one
hundred and twenty thousand group tickets, bringing out you know,
one hundred and twenty thousand people and part of a group.
So I think those have been really great because you know,
you might just be a one time thing. They might
might do two group outings, but yeah, They've been great
for a lot of people and they kind of program
it into their summer calendar.

Speaker 6 (49:46):
It's great.

Speaker 5 (49:47):
As we think baseball, we can also start thinking ahead.
We are well nearing the holiday season and the holiday
shopping season, and of course the Dragon's Den Team Store
has plenty of new items for fans who are thinking
about that baseball game for someone special.

Speaker 14 (49:59):
Yeah, holidays season really picks up obviously for all retailers,
and our team store is no difference. So we'll be
putting out some promotions on some store hours, some you
know online free shipping, other discounts and opportunities for merchandise,
opportunities to buy for your loved ones for the holidays.
So you know Dayton Dragons dot com. You click on
the store, see what we've got. We can you can
order online and have it shipped you or you can

(50:20):
pick it up, or when the store has some hours,
you can come down and shop at day or a ballpark.

Speaker 5 (50:24):
And Eric, I got a sneaky suspicion. The Elie day
La Cruz Bibblehead's going to go very very fast.

Speaker 14 (50:30):
Yeah, we were selling those. We had those as a
giveaway a few years ago. And obviously he has become
like kind of the hit guy from Major League Baseball.
And the best thing about it is that all the
proceeds from the sale of the Daily Cruise Babble had
go to the Dragons Foundation, which we recycle money back
into our community. So get a nice memento that there's
not many left and help do some good as well.

Speaker 5 (50:50):
Eric, always a pleasure, my friend. Thanks for your time.

Speaker 14 (50:52):
Thanks having us, Marty.

Speaker 5 (50:53):
That's today's Dragons download.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
Welcome to the press Box with Marty Banister, the latest
on all local sports from Wright State to the Dayton Flyers,
from the Reds and Buckeyes to the Bengals and Browns.
Called Marty Now at nine to three seven by three,
one six, one seven zero the press Box on Fox
Sports nine eighty wn.

Speaker 15 (51:18):
I think we ran in double, you know, twice as
much as we threw it in the game, and so
we're looking to establish the run. But when you can't
convert them the third downs, the third shorts that you
can't get drives going, you can't.

Speaker 2 (51:27):
Wear down in defense.

Speaker 6 (51:28):
So we've got to convert up third down.

Speaker 5 (51:30):
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day one of the reasons
his Buckeye struggled last week against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Welcome
back to the press box Fox Sports nine eighty wing
about five six minutes left in the program here this
afternoon before we get you to our iHeart high School
Football Friday blitch. So with that in mind, let's give
you some more from Ryan Day as the Bluckeyes getting
ready for that titanic showdown tomorrow with the Penn State

(51:50):
and Nitney Lions. Coach Day earlier in the week had
a chance to address the media and Columbus and answer
questions about the Penn State game and why his buck
eye struggled against Rascal Cornhuskers.

Speaker 15 (52:01):
You know, it was a combination of things. I don't
think we were always you know, I did correctly and
you know, Zendi get beat on a few of them there.
But but it wasn't just him, you know, there were
some other things that were mixed in there. But you know,
in Chip, I think we ran it double, you know,
twice as much as we threw it in the game,
and so we're looking to establish the run. But when
you can't convert on the third downs, the third and shorts,

(52:22):
then you can't get drives going, you can't wear down defense.

Speaker 6 (52:24):
So we've got to convert on third down.

Speaker 16 (52:28):
For wrong, I said, it didn't seem like there were
a lot of those kind of like perimeter throws. You
guys were coupled with the rung game earlier on in
the season in the Nebraska game. Is that just a
game plan specific thing to Nebraska or do you feel
like you need to get back to some more of
those complimentary passes.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (52:42):
Yeah, you try to, you know, game plan based on
what you're getting that week. And obviously the game played
didn't work very well, so we got to obviously reconsider it.

Speaker 17 (52:53):
Uh Ran James Franklin kind of left it up in
the air yesterday about where they'll go with quarterback. Two
different guys, two different styles. How do you prepare for
two different quarterbacks for a big game and you've got
so much else kind of.

Speaker 18 (53:08):
Going on as well.

Speaker 15 (53:09):
Yeah, we'll prepare for you know, both guys being being
healthy and ready to go, and you know, they both
bring different things to the table, but both are are
very effective in what they do. So you know, we'll
go based on what we've seen, what's on the film,
but yeah, we have to know who's in the game.

Speaker 4 (53:25):
Even then, they've.

Speaker 17 (53:26):
Played both even when Dollar is healthy. Does that help
a little bit, because you do you had to prepare for.

Speaker 11 (53:31):
Some change up there.

Speaker 15 (53:32):
Yeah, I mean regardless, you know, we knew we were
gonna have to prepare for both quarterbacks, so you know,
and both do things. You know, they both do they run,
they throw, and they both can do things very well.
So they're both talented and what they do, which is
a little bit different in the way that you know
their skill sets set up. But like you said, we
knew we were gonna have to prepare for both anyhow,

(53:55):
so we.

Speaker 18 (53:56):
Can watch it and we say that, right, it's not working,
and maybe go away from it. But as as a coach,
what's the conversation like on the headset when you're trying
to establish running you're trying to learn in the Nebraska
game versus we've got to get away from this because it's.

Speaker 11 (54:10):
Just not working.

Speaker 15 (54:11):
Conversation, Well, the number one goal is to move the
ball down the field, and you know, so that has
to get done, but you also are looking to, you know,
control the game by running the football and making sure
that you know you're establishing the run and controlling the
run and running the rushing yards.

Speaker 2 (54:25):
But when you.

Speaker 15 (54:26):
Know, look at on the sideline. You got to identify
what's going on in the game and if it's and
it's an adjustment that needs to be made or somebody
you know just you know, didn't execute it right. You know,
you're not just going to walk away from it. I mean,
we were explosive when we shot the ball down the field,
but that's just that's not always going to happen. You know,
we have to make sure that we're we're establishing runs,

(54:46):
we're staying effective and then again converting on third down,
because the more a batch you have during the drive,
the better you're going to be. When you're not converting
on third down, you're not keeping drives a lot to
go one for ten. I mean, that's just unacceptable. So
you know, we're going to keep swinging at it because
we've got to make sure that we're doing it the
right way and making sure that we're you know, winning
the rushing yards and especially in this game, and we
got to win the turnover battle, we got to win

(55:08):
the rushing yards, got to win the X place and
and so yeah, you got to go back to the
drawing board and figure out what happened in the game.
Why it didn't get done and get it fixed.

Speaker 7 (55:19):
What went into the decision that Luke Montgomery ended up
being the left guard when he moved out.

Speaker 11 (55:23):
Of the jacksonutside.

Speaker 6 (55:24):
Yeah, just based on practice.

Speaker 15 (55:26):
You know, we have the ones and twos and and
you know, Luke had been practicing at left guard, you know,
for the last couple of weeks, and Austin's you know,
spending time at right guard. So where we were in
the game, we you know, we felt like Luke had
more practice reps under his belt to left guard.

Speaker 6 (55:39):
And I kind of.

Speaker 2 (55:42):
Obviously, yes, logically, you control the game by running the ball.

Speaker 19 (55:46):
Maybe this is an oversation, but can you control the
game by just throwing the ball as well?

Speaker 15 (55:53):
Listen, I mean we all have to move the ball.
So when we're throwing the ball, we're not running it,
and when we're running it not throwing it. The bottom
line is you got to convert on third down. So
you know, we got to do a good job in
both sides of the ball terms of execution. We got
to put the players in a better position to be successful,
and we got to move the football.

Speaker 2 (56:08):
That's the bottom line.

Speaker 15 (56:09):
So we can look at run, pass, this and every
the bottom line is we've got to convert on third down.
We've got to have a balance of running and throwing
and then move the ball down the field and score touchdowns.
I mean, that's what it comes down to. So you know,
we can talk toward Blue in the face about you know,
running and passing. You want to balance.

Speaker 6 (56:24):
You got to execute better.

Speaker 15 (56:25):
That's the bottom line.

Speaker 19 (56:29):
You guys only had forty four deal down plays.

Speaker 6 (56:31):
Obviously the third down into that move.

Speaker 19 (56:33):
Can you see the stash You see them that can
have three three catches and three targets, four markets. How
do you get him more involved in your off seems
a little staging at times.

Speaker 15 (56:45):
I mean, convert on third down and keep drives going
to get more plays, you know, because we didn't have
very many plays. When you do the math on it,
you only have that many plays, you know the numbers
are going to look the way they do. So you know,
we'll always try to figure out ways to get the
ball to our best players.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
And you'd say last week you had been spending.

Speaker 18 (57:01):
More time with the defense.

Speaker 20 (57:02):
Does that change around this week?

Speaker 18 (57:03):
Do you spend more time with the offense?

Speaker 21 (57:05):
Yes, you had said with Zen that you know, we'll
see how he works through this week?

Speaker 2 (57:11):
Have you gotten the diagnosis on him?

Speaker 17 (57:13):
Is there on a chance this week?

Speaker 15 (57:15):
We'll look at it again today and see where he's at.
You know, I think there is a chance, but we'll
look at it today and get an updated for you
later in the week.

Speaker 22 (57:26):
So Zen can't go, is he?

Speaker 2 (57:28):
Then you're you're a starter.

Speaker 6 (57:29):
If you could go, he would be.

Speaker 2 (57:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (57:32):
How much of that is trying to come up with
the most seamless move rather than the most painful Perhaps more,
I don't hope would be better now obviously, try to
put the best line out there.

Speaker 15 (57:43):
Yeah, you got to put the best lineup out there,
and you have enough, you know, to not only just
win this game, but you know, be able to play
the rest of the season. So you got to think
of a short term plan and then you've got to
come up with a long term plan. So you know,
we'll do everything we can to win this game. And
that's where the folks is right now.

Speaker 2 (58:03):
What's the mode of your pluff coming in this week?

Speaker 12 (58:05):
Coach?

Speaker 2 (58:05):
What you know?

Speaker 6 (58:06):
Unbelievable opportunity right here?

Speaker 15 (58:07):
I mean this is you know, a chance to go
to Indianapolis is on the line, and you know our
guys are are excited about playing this game. You know,
I think the defense got a lot of confidence coming
off of last week, the way that they played and
creating TFLs and winning the game in the fourth quarter.
I thought they were flying around. And so, you know,
if we can get the offense playing the way it
has in the past, combined with the way we played

(58:29):
on defense this past week, then you know, that's what
we're looking for in this game.

Speaker 4 (58:34):
But how about your quarterback? After the game, he said that,
you know, he's been waiting his whole life to play
in that stadium, to play in this game. He's got
a chip on his shoulder. What do you expect out account?

Speaker 6 (58:47):
Yeah, just like everybody else.

Speaker 15 (58:48):
I mean, for Will, he grew up in Pennsylvania, so
you know, I guess that that's a little bit different
for him, but for everybody else. I mean again, you know,
just like the Oregon game was, this game's been you know,
circle on our schedule.

Speaker 6 (58:58):
We know what's at stake here.

Speaker 15 (59:00):
So we're gonna have a great week of practice, great
energy in practice, and we're going to go into that
environment and go, you know, finish the way that you know,
we didn't have an opportunity or we we didn't do
you know, two weeks ago, and so now we have
another opportunity to go do that in this game. So
now we've got to go finish and win the game
in the fourth quarter. We know it's going to take
four quarters in this game. You know, it always does
when you go play in this environment. It's a very
difficult environment to play in. But you know, we've been

(59:23):
in this situation before. Guys have been in this situation before.
So now it's now it's go time to you know,
go win this game and get a top five victory.
And that's what the guys are focused on right now.
To coaching staff, everybody in the building is to focus
on winning this game right here.

Speaker 11 (59:36):
Podcast, you mentioned the tackles for the lost and finishing
the game in the fourth quarter. On defense, after that
two week stretch, for how different was Saturday for the defense?
What was the evaluation overall there?

Speaker 15 (59:49):
I thought we played with more precision. I think we
got lined up faster. I thought we played with a
better pad level. I thought we played fast. Just everything
about it was crisper to me than it was certainly
in the Oregon game.

Speaker 11 (01:00:08):
Now that that game has been played. What do you
what was the one thing you wanted change the most.

Speaker 6 (01:00:15):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's a good question.

Speaker 15 (01:00:17):
I'm probably not going to get into it right now,
but I mean there's a lot of things that they
came into play, and I'm going to kind of leave
those questions right now for in the meeting room or
you know, leave those conversations from the meeting room. But
you know, the bottom line is, you know, it's our
job to make sure we're putting our guys in the
best position to be successful. I know you keep you know,
I keep saying that over and over again. But we
got to do that as coaches, not allow him to

(01:00:38):
play fast. And we got to do that again this week.
You know, these guys, you know, throw a lot of
stuff at you. Got to be able to handle it.
And you know, we want to make sure that when
the game comes down to the fourth quarter, our guys
are able to go play and win the game in
the fourth quarter. Got to be able to do that
on offense, end defense in this game. It's a coach's
job to make sure that happens.

Speaker 5 (01:00:58):
And he did say that over and over again, so
but that's he's right, though, that's what it is, something
that has as much important as tomorrow. You have to
repeat the obvious, and Ryan Day certainly did that.

Speaker 2 (01:01:11):
All right.

Speaker 5 (01:01:11):
That'll do it for today's disition the program. Thank you
so much for joining us. Enjoy your football Friday, Enjoy
the game tomorrow. It should be a lot of fun
to watch. Not that it matters to interview, but this
will be the first time I've had a chance to
sit down and watch an entire college football game on Saturdays.
I'm kind of looking forward to that. So I'm not
sure how that works, what a Saturday off is like,
but looking forward to at least get a chance to
see the game.

Speaker 6 (01:01:31):
Should be a lot of fun.

Speaker 5 (01:01:32):
Thanks to Sea Bass, great job as always producing the program,
and thank you for being with us this afternoon. We're
back with you on Monday for over Reaction Monday, we
look back at everything happened on this busy, busy weekend.
That'll do for today's edition of the program. The iHeart
Football high School football Radio places coming up next Fox
Sports nine eighty w OL and eight.

Speaker 1 (01:02:12):
This is the Friday Night Blitz from iHeartRadio, a preview
of tonight's action across the Buckeye State. Now your host,
Todd Walker.

Speaker 23 (01:02:22):
You know some would say it's the most wonderful time
of the year, high school football playoff time. Todd Walker
with you the Friday Night Blitz for Week eleven. We're
going to go around the state. We're going to start
here in my area, Lima in West central Ohio. Out
of the conferences we cover, those being the Western Buckeye League,
the Northwest Conference, Northwest Central Conference, Midwest Athletic Conference, and

(01:02:44):
Blanchard Valley Conference. Thirty four of the forty seven teams
made the playoffs. That's over seventy percent, and three of
them earned top seeds, including Marion Local, who has won
three straight state championships, two in Division seven, one in
Division six. They enter the tournament on a fifty eight
game winning streak, a new state record. They set the
record by beating Coldwater last week.

Speaker 24 (01:03:06):
Three teams refused.

Speaker 23 (01:03:07):
To play Mariyan Local, so it fell to fellow macmember
Fort Recovery, who will make the trip to Maria Stein tonight.
The Flyers are the top seed in Division seven Region
twenty eight. In Region twenty six, the number one seed
is Columbus Grove. They completed a perfect season by beating
Fellow nine to zero team Bluffton last week forty two
to nothing. They host North Baltimore tonight. In Division six

(01:03:30):
Region twenty four, Coldwater is the number one seed, despite
falling to Marion Local last week. The Calves take on
Covington tonight. From our area, there are four number two seeds,
including Wapakanetta. In Division three Region twelve, the undefeated Redskins
host Franklin tonight. You can hear that game on one
oh seven five the Big Buck and on the iHeartRadio app.
Also earning a two seed Bluffton and Division six Region

(01:03:53):
twenty two.

Speaker 2 (01:03:54):
They're home for Paulding.

Speaker 23 (01:03:55):
In Division seven Region twenty six, it's Upper Souda Valley
entertaining Saint John. And in Division seven Region twenty eight,
Minster is a two seed home for Manchester. As far
as Lima, five teams are in, only one will be
home a Lima Central Catholic Tonight will take on Fellows
seven and three Pandora Gilboa. That's in Division seven Region

(01:04:16):
twenty six, and that's our broadcast game tonight on eleven
fifty w MIMA and on the iHeartRadio app. Perry is
on the road at Anna tonight Division six Region twenty four,
Bath at five and five gets in. They're at Carlisle
in an eight nine matchup tonight in Division five Region twenty.
Elias slipped in at three and seven. In Division four

(01:04:36):
Region fourteen, they traveled to undefeated Shelby tonight, and Lima
Senior lost last week at Start, costing themselves a Toledo
City Athletic League championship and a home game tonight in
Region two. Tonight, in Division two Region eight, they go
to Vandelia Butler in an eight nine matchup. Other teams
from our area that earned home games tonight Defiance, Mary's, Liberty, Benton, Anna, Ada, Ridgemont,

(01:05:04):
Saint Henry, and Wayneesfield. So look at what's happening around
Lima in West central Ohio tonight with our playoff teams.
We'll take a break, come back and check on northwest
and Eastern Ohio as the week eleven edition of Friday
Night Blitz rolls on on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 1 (01:05:20):
Now for a look around the state and tonight's biggest matchups.
It's the Friday Night Blitz with Todd Walker.

Speaker 23 (01:05:27):
A lot of excitement as the playoffs begin in high
school football. My Name's Todd Walker and it's great to
be with you for the Friday Night Blitz. Let's see
what's happening in Northwest Ohio with the first week of
the playoffs tonight. As we hand it off to Dave Kleck.

Speaker 24 (01:05:40):
There's plenty of action in Northwest Ohio on a football
Friday Night playoff edition. The Defiant Bulldogs earned a home
playoff earth. They're hosting the Bowling Green Bobcats. Both teams
love to run the football. This could be an early
finish tonight with Bowling Green at Defiance, thenapulling in. Wildcats
are theirs sixteenth playoff appearance, but they're all the road.
Napoleon needed a win in Game ten to punch their ticket.

(01:06:03):
They're headed to Lorraine Clearview Napoleon with their sixteenth playoff appearance,
taking on the Clippers out of the Lorraine County League.
The Atsego Knights are in D four.

Speaker 25 (01:06:14):
They'll be on the.

Speaker 24 (01:06:14):
Road at Clyde in Division five Liberty Center. The ten
and O champ of the NWOL will host Utica, making
a nearly three hour trip to Northwest Ohio. The Delda
Panthers and Archbold Blue Streaks so also NWOL teams that
made the playoffs. In D five, they're both on the road.
Archbold will be at Eastwood, a team they beat during

(01:06:36):
the regular season. Well Delda will had to creston norm
Wayne over in the Worcester area. Plenty of D six
teams up this way that are playing in playoff football tonight.
Patrick Henry with an eight and two regular season and
had their best defensive team of the year, hosting Evergreen
in a rematch of an nwoal matchup earlier won by

(01:06:57):
the Patriots to Noora. The unbeaten Champp of the GMC
is sent home with Carrie Woodmore is that Fairview and
the Polling Panthers are at Bluffin that's a rematch of
last year's first round playoff game. And in D seven,
the Eden Blue Bombers at nine and one, host perennial
power MacComb. Eden lost their season closer to Ottawa Hills

(01:07:19):
they entered in Bulldogs leave the GMC headed for Mohawk
in a first round playoff matchup Tonight from Northwest Ohio,
We're headed eastbound to check in with Bob Gavalier.

Speaker 20 (01:07:29):
We begin the first week of the high school football playoffs.
In Division one Region one that is number sixteen. Sagninacious
is that number one. Mentor Over Division two, Region five
and number sixteen. Willoughby South is a number one Welsh
Jesuit number thirteen. Mayfield is at number four, Austin Fitch
number twelve, John Hay goes to number five. Warren Harding
and number nine. Hudson is at number eight. Boardman Division three,
Region nine, number thirteen. Bedford is at number four, Aurora

(01:07:51):
number twelve, Madison travels at number five, Geneva number eleven,
Talmadge goes to number six. Shardon number ten. Maple Heights
is at number seven. Kenston number nine. Cleveland Ville and
to Saint Joseph is at number eight. Gatesville Hawkin. Also
in Division three, Region eleven, number fifteen, Buckeye Valley is
at number two. Stubamville and number thirteen. Indian Creek goes
to number four. Licking Valley. In Division four, Region thirteen,

(01:08:13):
number sixteen, Ravenna is at number one. Mender Lake Catholic
number fifteen. Akron bookdel plays at number two, Perry number fourteen.
Youngstown Cardinal Mooney travels to number three. Streetsboro number thirteen.
Hubbard is at number four West Branch, number twelve, notre
Name Cathedral Latin plays at number five, Glenville and number
nine Field is at number eight Lutheran East. In Division
five Region seventeen, number sixteen Fairless is at number one

(01:08:36):
South Range number fourteen, Knton Central Catholic plays at number
three Poland number eleven. Martin's Ferry plays at number six,
Cresview number ten, Chagrin falls as at number seven Burton,
Berkshire and number nine.

Speaker 2 (01:08:47):
Edison goes at number eight.

Speaker 20 (01:08:48):
Gerard. Moving on to Division six Region twenty one, Number
sixteen Rootstown plays at number one, Kirkland number fourteen, mineral
Ridge is at number three, pie Valley number twelve, Maginer
goes to number five United Number eleven. Valley Christian plays
at number six Stuton number ten, Wickliffe is at number
seven Toronto and number nine. Smithville goes at number eight
Lovree and in Division seven Region twenty five, number sixteen

(01:09:11):
Crestline is at number one. Western Reserve number fifteen, Fairport
Harding is at number two, Hillsdale number twelve. East Palestine
goes in number five. Warren John F. Kennedy number eleven.
Lowville plays at number six McDonald and number eleven. Southern
is at number seven windhom.

Speaker 23 (01:09:25):
Thanks to Bob and thanks to Dave Kleck. We've got
a lot more area to cover with the Friday Night Blitz.

Speaker 2 (01:09:30):
Week one of the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (01:09:31):
Here on iHeartRadio, Kickoff is coming up. Let's look around
the state and find tonight's key matchups. Here's Todd Walker.

Speaker 25 (01:09:41):
Six more wins.

Speaker 23 (01:09:42):
That's all that stands between a team and a state championship.
Everybody hoping for win number one tonight as the high
school football playoffs begin in the state of Ohio.

Speaker 2 (01:09:53):
My name's Todd Walker.

Speaker 23 (01:09:54):
Thanks for joining us on the Friday Night Blitz. Let's
see what's happening in the Mansfield, Ashland area tonight as
we look to Aaron.

Speaker 22 (01:10:01):
Hines, Thanks Todd. Here in north central Ohio, there's about
a dozen teams that have reached tonight's week eleven. In
the opening right of the playoffs, our broadcast game on
doublema N has two local teams from the same league,
the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference, meeting as the Ontario Warriors
play host of the clear Fork Colts in Division four
Region fourteen. Ontario is the three seed the Warriors nine

(01:10:22):
and one. They're led by senior quarterback bod Pin Miller
Clear forok Is the fourteen seed. They're four and six overall,
playing good football, winners of three of their last four
to reach the postseason. The two teams met back on
September twentieth, Ontario, winning that matchup thirty one to fourteen
two other games. In Division four Region fourteen, the two
seed Shelby Whippets outright champs of the MOAC ten and
zero for the first time since twenty seventeen. They're hosting

(01:10:44):
the a Lot of Bulldogs from the Western Buckeye League.
They're three and seven. They're the fifteen seed. The seven
and three Galleon Tigers are the seventh seed. They'll host
Ottawa Glandor if the Titans are the ten seed. They
have a record of five and five. In Division two,
the Ashland Aarros claim the Outright Ohio Cardinal Conference title
last week for Ashland their second ever ten to no
season in school history. The Eros the four seed in
Region seventh. They'll host the thirteen seed Columbus Saint Charles.

(01:11:06):
The Cardinals are four and six, and they actually won
their first four games. They're currently on a six game
losing streak. Divasion three. Five and five Lexington is the
twelve seed. They're in Region ten. They're traveling near Toledo tonight.
They'll play the five seed Mallmey. The Panthers are eight
and two Division six. The five and five Cresview Cougars
have actually won five of their last six games, so

(01:11:27):
the fourteen seed in Region twenty two. They're on the
road tonight near Toledo. They're going to battle the three
seed Ottawa Hills who's eight and one Division seven, Region
twenty five. Hillsdale. The nine to one Falcons the two seat.
They'll host the fifteen seed Fairport Harbor. They're five and
four Lucas. The Cubs have reached the postseason for the
eleventh straight year. Five and five Lucas the fourteen seed.

(01:11:47):
They're traveling to Carroll County tonight. They'll battle the three
seed Malvern. The Hornets are nine to one and Creshline
got the final playoffs spot. The five and five Bulldogs
the sixteen seed. They're the top seed Berlin Western Reserve.
The Blue Devils are nine and one. That's a luck
in high school football. Opening rude of the playoffs tonight
here in north central Ohio, now let's send you to

(01:12:08):
jering Cox down in Chillicothe.

Speaker 21 (01:12:10):
There are sixteen different games featuring Southeast Ohio teams in
playoff Week number one, ranging from Division three all the
way through Division six. Let's start off in Region eleven,
where the FAC champions Jackson Ironman are hosting New Philadelphia
and the TVC Ohio runner up Athens is going to
host Lyndon McKinley. In Region twelve, seven and three Miami

(01:12:35):
Trace travels to eight and two Saint Mary's Memorial. Flipping
over to Region fifteen, it's the seven and three Logan
Elm Braves hosting five and five PI Love, the SVC
champion Unio to Sherman's hosting five and five West Holmes
and the five and five Waverley Tigers travel to six
and four Fairfield Union and Division five Region nineteen. Ironton

(01:13:01):
host five and five. Worthington Christian nine and one, Fairland
hosts six and four. Zane Trace seven and three, Pikedon
travels to nine and one, Columbus Academy six and four.
Wheelersburg travels to ten and o Barnesville six and four.
Amanda Clear Creek travels to seven and three Portchmouth six
and three. Coalgrove travels to seven and two Harvest Prep

(01:13:24):
eight and two. Union Local travels to the TVC Ohio
champion Nelsonville, York Buckeyes.

Speaker 2 (01:13:32):
And in Region twenty four at.

Speaker 21 (01:13:33):
Seven and three, Paint Vallet hosting five and five, Percel
Marion seven and three, Portsmouth West hosting five and five,
Chesapeake and the rock Hill Ironman coming in at seven
and three are going to host six and four Madison Plains.
Now we'll check on Central Ohio with Todd Bell.

Speaker 25 (01:13:52):
First week of the OCHSA A Playoffs in Central Ohio,
let's see some of the best games that we've got
on tap. In Division one, Region three, Mitchell westcamps Grove
Port Cruisers finished six to four and they had lost
three straight before a big win over Canal Winchester in
Week ten that vaulted them into the eighth place and
a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
They're gonna have their hands full with one of the

(01:14:13):
top running backs in Central Ohio in favor A Key,
who finished the regular season with over sixteen hundred yards
and fifteen touchdowns on the season for the ninth seeded
Delaware Pacers. They finished at seven to three, staying in
Region three. Orange had a chance last week to finish
a nine to one season and an OCC Central Division championship,
but they fell to their rival Liberty and now is

(01:14:34):
the fourth seed. They're going to have to bounce right
back as they'll host another backyard rival in Olan Tangi.
The Braves finished eight and two, but as the thirteen seed,
they also fell to Arrival in Berlin last week. These
two teams did not play in the regular season. Olan
Tangi defeated Orange last fall seventeen to ten. In Division
three Region eleven, there are two programs that typically are

(01:14:56):
expected to make deep runs, but they're going to square
off in round one as fifth seed, bloom Carroll will
host twelfth seed at Hartley. Bloom Carroll finished eight and
two on the season and won their final two games
of the year after falling to Bishop Hartley that was
a Week eight classic forty four thirty eight. The Hawks
are six and four entering the postseason, but the combined
record of those four opponents they lost to is thirty

(01:15:18):
six and four. Hartley's Robert Lathan had two hundred seventy
eight yards and four touchdowns in that Week eight win
over the Bulldogs. Now it's head down to Southwestern Ohio.
We'll check you with Marty Banister for Week one of
the playoffs in that area.

Speaker 5 (01:15:32):
A number of intriguing matchups highlight the opening week of
the playoffs in the Southwest region. Let's start in Division
one in Region two. This region combined schools from two
powerhouse leagues, the Greater Western Ohio Conference and the Ohio
Capitol Conference. The top seed is GWOC CO champion eight
and two Fairmont. The Firebirds host the sixteenth seed one
to nine Grove City Central Crossing The two seed is Centerville,

(01:15:52):
which shared the GWOC title with Fairmont. The Alks will
host the fifteenth seed conference rival Beaver Creek. A team
to watch in this region obviously, it's the four seed,
six and four Springfield. The Wildcats have advanced to the
state title game in each of the past three seasons.
Their tournament run starts by hosting the thirteenth seed, two
and eight Hilliard Bradley. In Region four, this bracket is
populated by the Cincinnati area. The top seed, and some

(01:16:15):
say a favorite to win the Division one title, is
GCL champion Moler. The Crusaders open with one to nine Sycamore.
Greater Miami Conference co champions Lakota West and Princeton reside
in this region as well. West is the two seed
and opens with one to nine one at Hills, while
Princeton is the four seed. The Vikings have a regular
season rematch with two and eight Fairfield in Division two
Region eight. The top seed there is the second ranked

(01:16:36):
team in the state. That's ten and oh Cincinnati Anderson.
They'll face three and seven Trenton Edgewood. The two seed
is Cincinnati Lasal. They tangle with the fifteen seed, four
and six Monroe in their opener. In Division three Tips
City Tipical News the number one seed. In Region twelve,
the Red Devil's hosts the sixteen seed, three and seven
Oxford Talwanda. Keep an eye on the four seed, unbeaten London.
The Red Raiders have tossed five shutouts this year. They

(01:16:57):
face thirteen seed Hamilton Ross In Division five four Region sixteen,
Clinton Massey is the number one seed. The eight and
two Falcons welcome in the sixteen seed Cincinnati Roger Bacon.
Perennial power Cincinnati Wyoming is the two seed. The Cowboys
host seven to three Cincinnati Schroeder in their opener. Division
five and Region twenty is where Southwest Region teams reside.
The top seed is Ohio Heritage Conference South Division winner

(01:17:19):
ten and O Jamestown Greenview. They'll host the sixteen seed
three and seven gram Local. In Division six Region twenty four,
Cold Waters the top seed. The Cavaliers, who fell a
Marion Local last week in that Titanic Week ten showdown,
hosts the sixteen seed Covington And In Division seven Region
twenty eight, an interesting story developed before the playoffs even began.
Three teams elected to opt out of a postseason birth

(01:17:40):
and facing the number one seed. Two time defending champion
Mariyon Local, Cedarville, New Miami, and Lachland all stated injuries
and depleted roster numbers as the reason for deciding not
to play. The sixteen seed then fell a four Recovery,
which had finished eighteenth in the final rankings. They accepted
the bid and for a second time this year, will
face league rival Maryon Local. The Flyers won the first

(01:18:00):
meeting sixty two do Nothing.

Speaker 23 (01:18:02):
Thanks to Marty and all of our correspondents. We'll be
back with more as we count down to kickoff with
coverage of your game tonight. This is the Friday Night
Blitz on iHeartRadio. We're turning the corner here on Friday
Night Blitz. About to head down the backstretch, but still
a lot to get to. We'll check in in detail
on all the biggest games in each region of the
state when you come back. The Friday Night Blitz continues

(01:18:25):
on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 1 (01:18:27):
The countdown to kickoff continues with the Friday Night Blitz.
Here's Todd Walker and we're.

Speaker 23 (01:18:34):
On the back side of the show. Friday Night Blitz
or Week eleven, Week one of the playoffs. My name's
Todd Walker. Good to be with you in West central
Ohio and the Lima area. One of the best matchups
of the night, no question, will be the game on
eleven fifty WIMA. It's LCC hosting Pandora Gilboa. Both teams
are seven and three. Both teams have losses to Columbus

(01:18:57):
Grove and Bluffton on their resume as well. Those two
teams combined to go nineteen and one as they met
as undefeateds last week, with Columbus Grove winning since losing
to those two early in the season. Pandora Gleboa has
won seven of their last eight or elsece. Their losses
to Blufton and Grove came later in the season, but
they played probably the most competitive game against Columbus Grove

(01:19:20):
this year, losing to them twenty eight to twenty and
that was the closest margin of victory all year for
the Bulldogs. One other interesting note in West central Ohio
Marion Local, of course, the Juggernaut fifty eight straight wins,
three state championships in a row, struggled to find an
opponent this week. Three schools passed on the opportunity to
play Mariyon Local, so fellow macmember Fort Recovery stepped into

(01:19:44):
the void. The Fort Recovery Indians lost to Marion Locals
sixty two to nothing during the regular season, yet they
step up and take the opportunity to play in the playoffs.
We keep looking around the state. We head up to
Northwest Ohio now and check you have a Dave Kleck.

Speaker 24 (01:20:00):
Two of the featured matchups in Northwest Ohio playoffootball come
from Division six, and one is a rematch with Evergreen
and Patrick Henry. The Patriots won the earlier regular season
game in the nwoal, but Evergreen coming on strong. The
Vikings love to air it out, but they'll face one
of the top defenses in Northwest Ohio and Patrick Henry,
who set a school record for fewest points giving up.

(01:20:24):
The Patriots loved the ground attack featuring their quarterback Lincoln
Craigor who's rushed for over one thousand yards, and the
Tonora Rams are on a roll. The GMC champ won
their last seven in a row as they host the
Carry Team Carry, a former state champion, Toenora a final
fourteen from years back. Those are the featured matchups in

(01:20:44):
Northwest Ohio from w Wendy H and Napoleon. I'm Dave Klek.

Speaker 2 (01:20:49):
Good stuff.

Speaker 23 (01:20:49):
Klecker appreciate that. Let's head over to eastern Ohio and
see what's going on there. Bob Gavalier checks in.

Speaker 20 (01:20:55):
In our thirteen nine to am High our game of
the week. We have a Division three Region nine matchup
as the number sixteen seed Youngstown Cheney is at the
number one seed Youngstown Ersline. Cheney comes into the playoffs
with a three and six record and has lost three
of their last four games, including a fourteen to thirteen
loss against Youngstown East in Week ten. Ercelin, after losing

(01:21:16):
a week one to wall schedule with thirty seven to
thirty five, has won nine in a row. These two
teams met during the regular season in Week nine, with
Ersline winning thirty seven to six. You can catch youm
Evans on the call by downloading the iHeart app to
your electronic device and typing in thirteen ninety am Youngstown.

Speaker 23 (01:21:33):
All right, Bob, appreciate that. Let's focus on north central
Ohio as we welcome in Aaron Hines.

Speaker 22 (01:21:39):
Two local rivals from the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference meet
in tonight's opening round of the playoffs and Division four
Region fourteen. It is Ontario hosts Clear Fork. The Warriors
are nine and one. The Colts are four and six,
but playing good football, winners of three of their last four.
Ontario coach Aaron Eckert.

Speaker 9 (01:21:56):
Win the physicality battle up front. You know, we've been
a nice job all year of the control the line
of scrimmagine.

Speaker 3 (01:22:00):
We've got to continue to do that this week if
we're gonna have any.

Speaker 9 (01:22:02):
Shot to win this game.

Speaker 22 (01:22:04):
Clear four coach er and Broke ass Is tackling will
be key, especially against Ontario. QB bod Pin Miller.

Speaker 26 (01:22:10):
He's a tremendous athlete and they do a good job
doing some different things with him that we just got
to keep playing, keep things in front of us, keep
making tackles, and make him take the next snap. He's
going to have some success. Keep our composure when he
makes a play, keep him out of the end zone.

Speaker 22 (01:22:24):
The two teams met back on September the twentieth. Ontario
won that matchup thirty one to fourteen.

Speaker 23 (01:22:30):
We moved down to Southeast Ohio now as the Jaron
Cox checks in.

Speaker 21 (01:22:34):
Playoff football is back at Union out to High School
for the third year in a row. The last two
years they have made an early exit, falling to Clinton,
Massey and Urbana, but they are looking to flip the
script and turn the page this season as they host
five and five West Holmes. Well, they have no common opponents.
Both teams seem to get lined up one offense in
similar formations three and four wide. West Holmes comes in

(01:22:58):
averaging over twenty six points a game, and their quarterback
has a quick release and good arm strength. If un
Yoda wins this game, you can probably point to their
defensive line and their depth in the defensive backfield featuring
Caden Cuttwright, Jackson, Zikafuse, Levi Beam and Blake hoops offensively
for un Yoda, look for a steady dose of Cody

(01:23:20):
Braden leaning heavily on Marcel James, Ben Griffin and the
company up front.

Speaker 2 (01:23:25):
Thanks Jerming.

Speaker 23 (01:23:26):
Our final stop is Central Ohio as we welcome in
Todd Bell.

Speaker 25 (01:23:30):
All four of the Old Tangi schools this year finished
eight and two. Berlin is coming off a win over
rival ol In Tangy last week to win the occ
Cardinal Division. Last year, they won a school record eleven games,
but they lost in the third round of the playoffs.
Now they begin this year's playoff journey as the number
six seed in Region three and will host Grove City.
The Greyhounds won their first five six of their first seven,

(01:23:52):
but they were just two and three in the back
half of the season and that has dropped them from
a top four seed all the way to the number
eleven seed. Now they have to go on the road
to open up the playoffs. This will be the first
ever meeting between these two schools and will be the
Central Ohio OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News one.
You can join myself and Chris Wallace for the call
Friday at seven pm.

Speaker 23 (01:24:14):
All right, Todd Bell, thank you. Lots of great matchups
all over the state. We're gonna take a break on
the Friday Night Blitz.

Speaker 2 (01:24:19):
When we come back.

Speaker 23 (01:24:20):
Our final segment for tonight, we'll visit with Tim Street
from the OHSAA. We'll talk about the effort to make
sure gambling doesn't become a problem in high school sports,
especially for the student athletes or our youth.

Speaker 2 (01:24:32):
That's coming up. You keep it here on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 1 (01:24:36):
Back to the Friday Night Blitz. From iHeartRadio, here's your host,
Todd Walker.

Speaker 23 (01:24:43):
Final segment for the Friday Night Blitz on week eleven.
Todd Walker with you, and time now to welcome in
Tim Streed, the media relations director for the OHSAA. And
as you know, it's been a while since we've had
legalized gambling in the state of Ohio, and folks are
worried that it could affect schoolers and they want to
head that off. And with that in mind, we welcome

(01:25:04):
in Tim Street today. Tim, Thanks for joining us.

Speaker 9 (01:25:07):
Hey, my pleasure, Tod. Great to talk with you and
thank you for wanting to talk about this We sent
out a pressure release recently about this new program, and
I'm happy to explain some of the details. And you're
right that Change the Game Ohio is something that people
will see at some of our state tournament events, and

(01:25:28):
our schools will see it too, with some additional measures,
but it's definitely something we need to raise awareness about
before the gambling situation gets more significant than it already
is with our student athletes.

Speaker 23 (01:25:42):
Yeah, this is a consortium, this Change the Game Ohio,
the Lottery Commission, the Casino Control Commission, and the Ohio
Mental Health and Addiction Services, and really it's to provide
resources and education for students and parents, of course, teachers
and coaches, all to prevent youth gambling and of course

(01:26:04):
gambling disorders. We know it's highly addictive, so I guess
that's where we start with the education, this ability to
reach out to the younger folks, the students.

Speaker 9 (01:26:13):
Right, You're absolutely right, And the Ohio Department of Mental
Health and Addiction is a big part of this, and
of course there's a lot of things that follow in
that category. But the challenge now is that with gambling
being legal and you know, but whether it's at a
professional game or even colleges. Certainly, the ads we see

(01:26:37):
on TV and in stadium signage really promoted and so
kids are exposed to it now like a lot of things.
But this is something that we're starting to see an
uptick in the number of student athletes that say they
have gambled, that they do have online accounts to place wagers,
and it's not good. It's something that leads to a

(01:27:00):
lot of other issues, that leads to struggles with schoolwork,
with being on time for things, with all kinds of situations,
and you know, some of the issues we've seen at
the professional and college level with gambling, we certainly don't
want to see that trickle down to the high school level.
So this is a program that hopefully will be something

(01:27:22):
that coaches can talk to their teams about, that athletic
directors and school administrators can raise awareness of because it's
so easy with cell phones and websites to be able
to create a profile and place a wager, and certainly
that is something that can be a really slippery slope
for student athletes.

Speaker 23 (01:27:41):
Yeah, and I guess you sort of touched on it
that somebody's surveying student athletes and young people about it.
And they're seeing that indications and the responses, but clearly
the idea of it being legalized and being so accessible
is driving this maybe misconception amongst the youth that it's
no big deal, right.

Speaker 9 (01:28:02):
Absolutely yeah. Now that they see it everywhere, they want
to engage with that. And not all student athletes, but
a number of them have seen that and they have said, hey,
this is something new, this is fun, let's give this
a try. And then, like a lot of things, that
can be addicting and then lead to other issues. And

(01:28:23):
I guess I do need to express our appreciation to
the three groups you mentioned them, the Lottery Commission, the
Gaming Commission, and at Department Mental Health and Addiction Services,
just that they are aware of that too. They all
three of those groups are aware that now that this
is legal, there are already some cases where it has

(01:28:47):
reached the student athletes at the high school level, they
don't want that either, you know. They they understand its
place and where it fits and that there are some
dangers with that. So I give us some credit to
them as well for realizing this is something that we
need to be proactive about. We need to talk about it,
we need to be able to reach our teams and
our schools, and they reached out to us. You know,

(01:29:08):
we are the group the OHSAA that can have a
direct line into our schools and our student athletes and
our coaches, and it came together pretty fast. We started
those conversations back in September and led to that October announcement.

Speaker 23 (01:29:25):
Tim when we talk about I guess the thing you're
trying to get through to parents and coaches and teachers
is maybe recognizing warning signs. What kind of advice are
they giving in that way?

Speaker 9 (01:29:39):
Well, you're right, and like a lot of things. You know,
parents having an awareness of their kids activity on their
cell phone is certainly an important part of this. But
I think gaming in general, E sports.

Speaker 26 (01:29:54):
You know, there's a.

Speaker 9 (01:29:55):
Lot of good things about that. A lot of our
schools have E sports teams, which is great, but you know,
there's certainly the other side of that where kids can
spend too much time on that, and then they see
a lot of things that come through gaming. There's there's
gambling aspects of gaming that are starting to be prevalent

(01:30:17):
in the games that our kids play. So they're seeing
signs of it, they're seeing exposure to it. And certainly
a lot of those things are so inviting, you know,
our kids are being exposed.

Speaker 26 (01:30:31):
To here's the.

Speaker 9 (01:30:32):
Fun site of it, here's the excitement side of it.
And fantasy sports have been around forever, it seems like,
and and that there's a fun aspect to that as well.
But now there's things.

Speaker 2 (01:30:44):
Connected to that.

Speaker 9 (01:30:45):
There there's gambling, non specific games and players that is
a part of fantasy sports that it wasn't how it started,
but like a lot of things, this is what it
has led to. And the number of student athletes and
kind of the initial round of surveys that said, yes
they have wagered on sports and even on a friend's account,

(01:31:06):
on an adults account, but they're responsible for it. That
can lead to some things that are dangerous, you know.
And then and then school work stuffers, attendance stuffers, engagement suffers,
and certainly none of us want to see that with
our kids and at the high school level. So so
this program is just it's the first step in trying

(01:31:29):
to reach the student athletes and let them know that
there's some.

Speaker 26 (01:31:33):
Dangers with us as well.

Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
Tim.

Speaker 23 (01:31:35):
We appreciate you taking time today, my pleasure, Todd.

Speaker 2 (01:31:38):
Great to have Tim with us.

Speaker 23 (01:31:39):
That's going to wrap up the week eleven edition of
the Friday Night Let's We're headed out to your game next.
Remember to join us at halftime for the halftime Huddle.
My name's Todd Walker. You stay here on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 1 (01:31:51):
Thanks for listening to those Friday Night blitz from iHeartRadio.
Kickoff is coming up.