BEES HOST BEARS FRIDAY
By Dom DiPasqua/Staff Writer
Monday night, October 5, 2015
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – Burn ’em, trash ’em, throw them out the window. That’s what you can do with the records of these two teams when Brecksville-Broadview Heights plays host to arch rival North Royalton Friday night in the annual battle for The Golden Shoe. The Suburban League National Division encounter kicks off at 7:00 in Community Stadium. A large turnout is expected.
The Bees (5-1, 2-1 SL) are coming off their first defeat of the season as Nordonia unveiled a powerful rushing attack to post a 49-34 victory last Friday at the Bee Hive. Royalton (2-4, 1-2 SL) was shutout, 9-0, by Wadsworth in Serpentini Stadium.
None of that matters to veteran BBHHS head coach Jason Black whose thoughts turned to the Bears shortly after last weeks game. “What we are coming off of. The magnitude of this game. Combine all that and that’s a pressure-cooker there,” Black said. “You know coach (Nick) Ciulli will have them ready to play. It will be a barn-burner.”
Strnad Sidelined
Brecksville will start senior Danny Shirilla at quarterback against NORO. He fills in for junior Luke Strnad who is out with an injury. Strnad injured his right leg late in the first quarter against Nordonia and did not return. He is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow afternoon. The result is expected to come later in the week.
The Bees offense is in more than capable hands. Shirilla led the team to 27 points against the Knights after Strnad left the game. Senior running back Josh Underwood is coming off his best performance (105 yards, 3 touchdowns) and appears to be running with more confidence each game.
Last Week
The Bears got a solid outing by its defense against Wadsworth. They bottled up the Grizzlies running game for most of the night, save for a 93-yard touchdown gallop by junior running back Alex Jones. The games biggest play came late in the first quarter on a counter to the left side. Wadsworth added a 27-yard Conner Mendel field goal midway through the fourth period to account for its 9 points.
Royalton struggled offensively and four turnovers were a big reason why. The Bears lost two fumbles, and starting junior quarterback Nick Coberly (#7) was intercepted twice. He was 9 for 15 for 145 yards before being lifted for sophomore Christian Robinson (#8). NORO has been turnover-plagued this season.
A Solid Gold Tradition
Brecksville and North Royalton first played for The Golden Shoe in 1937. There have been very few years that the two neighboring school districts, geographically intertwined like a jigsaw puzzle, have not played.
The Golden Shoe game is one of the longest standing trophy rivalry games in Ohio. The Bees have won the last two meetings. Last season, in week two, Brecksville prevailed 26-8 on the road. That was Strnad’s first varsity start. He has started 16 straight games at quarterback for Beeville.
The Bees have claimed three of the last four contests. The lone loss came on opening day of the 2012 campaign. A very talented Bears squad recorded a 54-42 victory on a hot Saturday afternoon at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Friday will be Royalton’s fourth road game of the season. “Papa Bear” Nick Ciulli’s team is 2-1 away from home. Brecksville is 2-1 at home. The Bees come in scoring at a 33.8 points per game clip. The Bears at 13.3. Brecksville’s defense, which had been lights out until Nordonia’s Anthony Perrine ran amok last week, is holding foes to 12 ppg. NORO is surrendering 24.1.
Some Serious History
Both teams are in the same conference for the first time in a decade. Their league rivalry goes back to at least the 1960’s when they were members of the Cuyahoga Conference. The nearby schools became charter members of the Pioneer Conference in 1977. In 2005 the Bears joined the three-division Northeast Ohio Conference. Brecksville found a nice home in the Southwestern Conference.
Royalton went 1-2 in its non-conference games, losing at North Ridgeville and at home to Medina Highland. In week two they beat Parma, 30-22, at Byers Field. In SL action the Bears hung on for a 23-18 triumph at Twinsburg. Hudson dominated them at home, 55-7, a week later.
BEE HIVE BUZZ:
Josh Underwood has been named ‘Captain of the Week’ for the North Royalton game. He will join fellow seniors Tyler Tupa, Ryder Seballos, Niall Lewison and Shirilla for the pregame coin toss. This is the second time this season that Underwood has been so honored by the Bees coaching staff. “It is well-deserved,” Coach Black said.
Seballos, a defensive end, returned to action last week against the Knights. He played well, coming back from a week two shoulder injury. Ryder’s uncle, Roel, is a longtime member of the Bears coaching staff.
Brecksville and Royalton compete for the Honey Jar in boys basketball. The “Jar” is a baby compared to the Golden Shoe. In its 6-year history the Bears have a 4-2 advantage in staking possession of the red, gold and purple ceramic pot. The Honey Jar currently sits in the Bees trophy case. Or perhaps it is in Steve Mehalik’s office. No one knows for sure.
THIS WEEKS GAME and CAPSULES:
Week 7 … Friday, October 9, 2015
Suburban League (National Division)
NORTH ROYALTON (2-4, 1-2) at BRECKSVILLE-BROADVIEW HEIGHTS (5-1, 2-1) ….. Look for the Bees defense to bounce back after last weeks humbling by the Knights. And there is no reason to think that Brecksville won’t be able to score its customary 34 points. The key to the game is for North Royalton to take care of the football and pick up first downs. They have to score when inside the red zone. If the Bears are unable to accomplish at least two of the three you’ve got to lean toward the Bees to hoist The Golden Shoe.
CUYAHOGA FALLS (0-6, 0-3) at NORDONIA (3-3, 1-2) ….. This is a must-win game for the Knights if they have any inclination of advancing to the playoffs to defend their Division 2 regional championship. Nordy is playing well and they entertain a win less team that is having a tough season in the Black Tigers. If the Knights ride the coat tails of Anthony Perrine they should name the score.
TWINSBURG (0-6, 0-3) at WADSWORTH (2-4, 2-1) ….. I like the way the Grizzlies have bounced back to win two of three after getting pasted in their three non-league games. But Wadsworth can ill-afford to take the Tigers lightly. Twinsburg is due for a win and has enough skill position talent to do so. As much as the Grizzlies made a mockery of my early season predictions I am back on their bandwagon. Wadsworth in a low-scoring closely contested game. But don’t take it to the bank.
HUDSON (5-1, 3-0) at STOW-MUNROE FALLS (6-0, 3-0) ….. Thursday night special! This is, without any shadow of a doubt, the spotlight game in the National Division this week. And it will be one of the best in the area. There isn’t a whole lot of love lost between these two neighboring schools. And with first place in the SL on the line emotions will be sky high. Talk about making a statement in the new league. Hudson is averaging over 40 ppg in the circuit. And its defense is allowing a meager 4.6. Stow is scoring 41 in the loop, but giving up close to 24. I think the Explorers defense is up to the task of keeping Jayson Gobble in check well enough to emerge victorious. The winner of this game is definitely in the SL drivers seat.
OTHER GAMES OF NOTE:
WALSH JESUIT at PADUA FRANCISCAN (1-5, 0-1 NCL) … The Bruins got a crash course in big-time football last Saturday afternoon at Bedford’s Bearcat Stadium in a 44-15 North Coast League loss to Benedictine. Walsh has to be the favorite in this one. And after this week life continues to be challenging for Padua with games against; Lake Catholic, Akron Hoban and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin down the stretch.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS (1-5) at KENT ROOSEVELT ….. The Bulldogs have dropped five straight. But this feels like a winnable game for Lance Reisland and the boys from Turney Road. A.J. Rose found the end zone twice last Friday in a loss at Bedford. If the ‘Dawgs can bust him lose against the Rough Riders, Garfield might just pull this one out. My predictions this year are in shambles anyway so what the heck. I’m going with the heart over the head. The Bulldogs over Roosevelt.
SHAKER HEIGHTS at BRUNSWICK (2-4, 2-1 GCC) ….. The Blue Devils have won two straight games after four surprising losses. It appears they have turned things around. I can’t imagine Shaker traveling well or playing well on the carpet, on the road, and at night when they prefer the Saturday afternoon and natural grass atmosphere of home games. Brunswick will win its third in a row.
In Missouri ….. CAMDENTON at JOPLIN (5-2, 3-2 OC) ….. The Eagles have won two consecutive games and they have me believing again. I’m sticking with Coach Jasper and Joplin in this Ozark Conference tilt.
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
Follow on Twitter: @beevillesports.com.
Follow the Lady Bees volleyball team on the worldwide web at: beesvolleyball.com. Brecksville (16-2, 10-1 SL) plays at Stow-Munroe Falls tomorrow night.
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