Minor Setback for a Major Comeback; Rams win State, Silences Haters

Last year, the Trotwood Rams went into the OHSAA state football championship game feeling really confident that they could get it done and be 2016 - 17 state champions.

Trotwood celebrate 27-19 win over Tri-Valley for D-3 OHSAA Championship 

In that game, the Rams would be embarrassed, shut out on national TV and headed home with a nasty taste in their mouth.

Rams Coach Jeff Graham, the coaching staff, and the team was diploatic about it, but steaming inside.

Was the Rams overrated? Did they need some new juice in coaching or on the field? What was the reason for the collapse?
And on and on and on the questions ensued all summer and through the fall.

When the season started this year, there would be no hype train. Just all focus. No interviews, no preseason hoopla.

 This could be why the Trotwood Rams (15-0) are the 2017-18 OHSAA Division 3 State football champions after a comeback win on Saturday night vs Tri-Valley 27-19.

In In game that went back and forth, the Rams would step up in the most crucial of situations, in the 4th quarter.

Down 19-14 in the 3rd,  the Rams was able to score, shut down Tri-Valley and secure the championship on a William McDaniel TD, his 2nd of the half.

William McDaniel scores on a TD run

McDaniel scored 3 times on the night, while Hargrove got the Rams going with the 1st TD.
Hargrove, the runner up Mr Football, ran for 137 while McDaniels ran for 142 yards.

Then, in normal fashion, the Rams vaunted defense stepped up, as Jayvanare Nelloms snatched a huge INT, the only turnover of the night, and the Rams would hold on for the huge win.

The Rams have won their 2nd State Football title, the other in 2011. Offensive Coordinator Kerry Ivy stated, "This one means a lot" in which Ivy and the coaching staff endured all the criticism from last year.

All the haters can fall back now, as the Rams showed why they are the top team in D-3 & arguably the best in the State.

Congrats to Ram Nation on the title.
The question is, are the Rams the best in Ohio and the Midwest?

Minor setback for a major comeback.

Salute the Rams.

Trotwood, C-J battle for State Semifinal berth; Winton Woods vs LaSalle

With only 2 local teams left in the OHSAA playoffs and 1 of them guaranteed a State Semifinal spot, it's been another solid year in the Miami Valley.

 This year Chaminade-Julienne (9-3) & Trotwood (12-0) teams will battle for the right to play in the D-3 Semifinal Game next weekend. 

The Rams were predicted by many to be a Stare Finalist, as they had a major portion of their players from last season still in tow.

Led by Senior RB Raveion Hargrove, who just won District Player of the Year, the Rams have been dominant all year, leading to the top spot in the OHSAA State D-3 poll. 

C-J on the other hand?

Not so much, although you seen the talent last season. 

The Eagles started out 0-2, then reeled off 7 straight before being dusted off by Alter in the final week of the season. 

 Despite the loss, the Eagles slipped into the playoffs, and avenged the loss in the 1st round against Alter by smacking the Knights 49-24. 

They then topped that in the Regional Final with a sweet comeback win last weekend, led by rising senior Star QB Ryan Peltier, who has been lights out for most of the season, especially late. 

The 6'4 gunslinger has presence and a arm to get it anywhere on the field. And he can run too. Which makes for for a dynamite match-up against Trotwood lefty Markell Stephens-Peppers who has been a Top 5 All-Ohio QB all season himself. 

The difference? 

Trotwood defense has been deadly all season and don' expect anything different tonight. They will be missing one of their star two-way players in Sammie Anderson, but still have enough versatility to offset the loss. 

And of course, 3kray, which is Hargrove's fast growing and social media buzzing nickname. 

Recently there has been a lot of hate for how good Hargrove is.

  Calling him a prima donna. Needs to be taken down. 

Hargrove is the epitome of what you want in a high school student-athlete, which is why he is revered by everyone in his circle, and respected by his peers the way very few are. 

Coach Colvin of C-J has done a magnificent job of getting the Eagles to believe up to this point. 

Can he come up with the perfect game plan to outmatch wits with the best staff in the game in Trotwood? Can they defeat Jeff Graham and his staff and knock off the huge favorites?

 Or will Ram Nation continue to show why they are on a mission for that elusive State Championship? 

Games at Stebbins HS (730 pm) 

Battle for State Berth in Rematch game in Cincy

Cincy LaSalle has had a good run and will see if that trend will continue against a tough Winton Woods squad who already beat them once.
Woods, who easily won last week, is the favorite but LaSalle is a very tough team, and it will be hard to beat twice.
Both teams are playing at a very high level right now.

All Eyes on Trotwood, Dunbar as they clash for Regional FInal Spot; 6 Teams left in Tourney; Playoff Matchups, Predictions; Louisville, Iowa State jump in for Star WR

When it comes to Trotwood - Dunbar and the rivalry that has ensued over the years, you automatically think about the great basketball teams and games that these teams have had.

However this year, football has joined the party, as the Rams and Wolverines will play for a Regional Final berth tonight at Vandalia Butler (7:30).

Trotwood, who has been in this position many times before, will look to continue their rock solid run as they want to hoist the OHSAA D-3 Championship Trophy after a runner up finish last season. They have been the #1 state ranked team all season since the OHSAA Polls came out.
Star RB Raveion Hargrove, a legitimate Mr. Football in Ohio candidate, leads the Rams.

But, they will have to show they are the best in Dayton.

Which means, this year, defeating the talented Wolverines.

Dunbar, which has been through a great deal in the last calendar year, now gets a shot on the big stage after a thrilling comeback win last week against Goshen 28-27.

Coach Darran Powell is excited for the opportunity, and knows they are facing one of, if not the best in Ohio in Trotwood.
But, this is a interesting game to say the least, as most of the fanatics and experts here in Dayton area know how talented Dunbar is.

With the trio of  RB Tavion Thomas,WR Jo Jo Scates, and LB Seth Arnold, the Wolverines have 3 D-1 type star players who have nearly single-handedly won a game.

But the leadership factor and unity is what has gotten the Wolverines to this point.

And that leadership and unity will have to be on point to be able to match wits with Rams coach Jeff graham and the vaunted coaching staff and the experienced Rams.

Dunbar has the talent, and has shown the consistency and guts to get here, but can they execute and put it all together tonight to pull off one of the biggest victories in their historic football program?

Or will the mighty Ram Nation show why they are the unquestioned team to beat in the OHSAA D-3 Playoffs?

Should be a epic night.

But regardless, great to see local teams getting it done to create these type of matchups deep in the playoffs.




Six teams left in Miami Valley;
Here are the 2nd round Playoff Matchups:

Dunbar          vs   Trotwood   (D-3)
In a game which features a upstart team in Dunbar with State type of talent, but will face the team who looks to be on a straight line to a OHSAA State Title. What star will step up and make it happen?

Centerville    vs   Pickerington North  (D-1)
Can the Elks knock off a hot Pickerington North squad? Both teams had very good 1st round performances. Elks need offensive passing game to be on point to get W over Star QB Jimmy Weirick?

Sidney           vs   Cin. LaSalle  (D-2)
Can the dynamic duo do it again, and defeat one of the big boys from Cincy? LaSalle has been rolling lately, but if Sidney can get the running game going, the Yellow Jackets could move on.

C-J                vs    New Richmond   (D-4)
The Eagles will look to ride the hot hand of star QB Ryan Peltier as they take on a tough New Richmond squad, who knocked off Franklin last week. Can the Eagles do it again and move on?

Valley View   vs  Clinton Massie 
The Spartans have been untouchable this season. Can Massie, a playoff regular lately, pull off the upset?




Louisville, Iowa State enter Jo Jo Scates sweepstakes

Joseph Scates (smiling) with fellow Wolverines on set of Dayton HS Sports 

Jo Jo Scates, the star senior wideout for Dunbar, who has been pursued by the likes of Alabama and West Virginia, is now being recruited by Louisville & Iowa State.

Scates, who came on the Award winning  Dayton HS Sports TV Show last week, talked about how both teams have came into the recruiting trail lately.
Scates is one of the top recievers in Ohio, and had the Game winning TD last week in the playoff win @ Goshen.

While Alabama was thought of as a front runner, Louisville and Iowa State have came on very strong of late.
 Could those schools be offering a starting spot as a true freshman?



Find out more at: DaytonHighSchoolSports.com

Week 9 Recap: Wayne, Belmont, Centerville clinch berths; Springfield, Ponitz fall; Dunbar, Thurgood, C-J stay alive; Stars of Week 9

Heres the Headlines, Recap of Week 9 in the Miami Valley

Belmont finishes first undefeated season in school history
The Belmont Bison finished their first undefeated season in history with a 47-0 win over Western Hills. The Bison were led by talented running duo of Elijah Malcolm & Dawson Martin, which Malcolm ran for 120+ and 2 TDs while Martin continued to show why he could be the most Valuable player in the SWOPL, with 4 more TD's to add to his resume to go with another shutout of a opponent.
Because the Bison will only play 9 games, they will have to go on the road in week 1 of the playoffs, possibly against Sidney.
The Bison gave up 6 points all season, an unbelieveable amount for an entire season.

Wayne rides "Blue" to big win over Springfield in Play In game

The Wayne Train will roll into the OHSAA Playoffs after a big win at home against Springfield.

Ohio State commit L'Christian "Blue" Smith hauled in 2 dynamic passes for TD's from Rising star QB Rashad McKee, and the Warriors took advantage of some mistakes by Springfield to get the key win and move to 7-2 on the season.

Steven Victoria was also a star for the Warriors, as the Wildcats had no answer for the dynamic duo of Smith and Victoria.  Sprinfield falls to 6-3 and now must win at Fairmont on Friday to secure a playoff spot. Wayne now faces Trotwood in what could be the game of the Year in the GWOC on Friday.

Thurgood wins 6th straight, now readies for Dunbar

The Thurgood Marshall Cougars continues to ride the wave, which now sits them at 6-3 after a convincing 41-8 win over Meadowdale.

Starting the season at 0-3, it looked as if the Cougars season was over.

Fast forward 6 weeks, and the Cougars have a legit shot to win a playoff berth after another big win.

QB Ayyoub Muhammed led the Cougars with another great performance, and now the game on Friday vs Dunbar @ Welcome Stadium looms large, as the winner could end up with a playoff berth. Coach Carter is confident that his troops will be ready for the challenge on Friday.

Centerville clinches berth

The Elks clinched a OHSAA playoff berth win a big win over Fairmont 43-28. QB Alec Grandin was unstoppable, passing for 293 and running for 100 and 4 TD's. while Jake Spiewak garnered 13 catches for 160 in leading the Elks. Fairmont ran for 280 yards total, but a key TO  in the 2nd quarter shifted the momentum in the Elks favor. Centerville moves to 7-2 while Fairmont falls to 6-3, and face a Springfield team with a playoff berth on the line.

Northmont handles business

The Bolts of Northmont clinched a playoff berth with a big win over Springboro 35-10, as Jabari Perkins and Danny Lewis helped jumpstart the big win.

Perkins caught 2 TD passes early and Lewis 85-yard Pick-6 proved to be all the juice the Bolts needed, as they jumped out 35-0 at half en route to the big win. Lewis is starting to come alive after a big stop last week against Centerville.

The Bolts are now 7-2 and sit in the playoffs, while the Boro drops to 3-6.

Dunbar stays in playoff hunt with big win 

The Wolverines was able to stop Gamble Montessori by the score of 40-6 and it puts the Wolverines in a position to make the playoffs.

The Wolverines have waited for the moment to get into the Playoffs after the disasterous end last year, and now must win next week against a hot Thurgood squad, who has won 6 straight. If they can defeat the Cougars, they still will have to wait to see what happens. Dunbar was led by Tavion Thomas and JoJo Scates, and now sit at 6-3.

Trotwood rolls past Xenia

The Rams continued to plow past opponents with a  68-21 win over Xenia. Dallas Daniels, the rising WR, started the party with a 18- yard TD and Star RB Raveion Hargrove took over, with 3 TDs in the first half. Jayvanare Nelloms (14 tackles, 1 sack) and Kennedy Coates (2.5 sacks, Fumble Recovery) led the vaunted defense.  

C-J wins 7th in a row at the buzzer 

The Eagles continue to ride the amazing wave that has come their way, after a 2-point win last Friday over Badin.
Badin had a chance to win but missed a FG at the end of the game.
With the big win the Eagles have won 7 straight, and know that if they can find a way to beat Alter without their top gun in Blevins, the Eagles could stride into the playoffs on a major positive note. Chaminade now moves to 7-2 on the season.

Sidney stacks up 55 on Butler, heads to playoffs

The Yellow Jackets shook off a tough loss to run up 55 on Butler, and with it a playoff berth this season.

Star RB Isaiah Bowser ran for 245 yards and 3 TD's, threw for another and Star QB Andre Gordon accounted for 3 more as the Yellow Jackets powered past Vandailia Butler 55-34.
Sidney moves to 7-2 and could host a 1st round playoff game with a win on Friday.
Butler falls to 4-5.

Valley View stays undefeated with a big win
The Spartans move to 9-0 after another big win. Valley View will look to lock up a home game in the playoffs this week in the season finale.

Beavercreek shuts out Miamisburg
The Beavers continued to hold a shot at the playoffs after a big 21-0 shutout win over Miamsburg. With the win, Beavercreek moves to 6-3 while Miamisburg falls to 4-5.
The Beavers were able to harass the Vikings into 126 yards of total offense while 3 RB's for the Beavers ran for 70 yards.
While the game wasn't offensive, Miamisburg couldn't muster much offense, and the rest was history.

Dayton HS Sports, Funk Chronicles Nominated at Philo Awards; Funk Chronicles 3-Peat at Philo Awards? Star RB Hargrove decommits

Tonight will mark the Annual Philo Festival of Media Arts Awards Show, a ceremony that features the best TV shows, videos, promos, and other categories in  television for professional and non-professional shows.

Dayton Television, the local TV Station, has 3 shows up for nomination, including fast rising sports show Dayton HS Sports.

Dayton HS Sports, The Funk Chronicles & Have Ghosts, Will Travel  will look to win in their respective categories today.

Dayton HS Sports was nominated for best Sports Entertaiment TV Series. This is the first time the show has been nominated for a National Award. The show is produced by Deon Cash and features the top players, coaches, legends, and pros in the Dayton area.

The show is hosted by Cash, Lorenzo Smith, Deon Weatherspoon, Derrick Shepard, and Robert Brown.

The Funk Chronicles was nominated for Best Music TV Series. They have won twice already and could be headed for a 3-peat.
The show has featured some of the greatest old school artists in music, and has set the bar as the premiere show on Dayton Television and in the Midwest.
The show is hosted by former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin.

Have Ghosts, Will Travel was nominated for best Editing. Pat Hughes is the Editor for the show.

Dayton Television has produced numerous winners at the Henry T Philo Awards, which was established over 30 years ago and is considered one of the biggest and most authentic Award Shows in the Midwest.

The Philo Awards pits the best Shows throughout the Midwest States.

Hargrove decommits from Bowling Green

Raveion Hargrove, the star RB from Trotwood who is obliterating the defenders and the record books, has decommitted from Bowling Green sources say.

Hargrove, one of the very best RB's in the country, committed to the Falcons a while ago, but after consulting with family and sources, he has decided to reopen the recruitment.

Could it be possible that Hargrove could be headed to a bigger program?

Hargrove currently is the star player for the best team in Ohio in the Trotwood Rams, who sit at #1 in the OHSAA D-2 Polls.
Despite his height, Hargrove, is a complete back who can do it all, and boasts the type of talent NFL teams will look at, no matter where he goes to college.

Will be interesting to see which Big 10 or SEC school will look to snag the 5-star recruit.

Week 8 Recap: Wayne has Fairmont seeing "Blue" After Hail Mary; Belmont rolls again; Rams post 67; Northmont stops Elks; Wolverines fall; Cougars win 5th straight;

Here's our top Headlines for a Wild Week 8 in the Miami Valley:

Smith gives Fairmont "the Blues" with big catch  as Wayne survives
In the fairy tale that has been the Fairmont Firebirds season, the Wayne Warriors star receiver gave them a nightmare for a week or so.

In a game that featured great play from both sides, back and forth action, and a ruckus crowd, with the game tied at 28 and time running out, Rashad McKee launched a pass that L'Christian Blue Smith was able to grab from the defender in the end zone for the win.
The pass looked to be intercepted, only to be snatched away by Blue Smith.
Ball game.
Wayne moves to 6-2 and now looks as a lock for a playoff berth, while the loss drops the Firebirds to 6-2 as well.
Smith was heavily guarded by rising star DB Ryan Hall, but Smith, the Ohio State commit, showed why the Buckeyes can't wait for the 6'6 dynamic stud Wideout whose stock seems to be skyrocketing by the week.
The TD puts Smith in elite company as he now sits 20th all time on the TD list in OHSAA history.

Belmont roasts Shroeder, eyes SWOPL Championship
The Bison continued their unstoppable play with a 63-0 win over Schroeder at Welcome Stadium Friday night.

Dawson Martin, a do-it-all type player, scored twice and threw another TD,Senior Demari Black scored on a kickoff return and then later and the Bison scored 36 in the first quarter en route to the blowout win.
Star DB Jaden Rucker Furlow , a Miami commit, scored on a 47-yard pass to help the offensive attack.

Belmont has given up 9 points in 8 games, a average of 1.2 points per game.

With only one game left (@ Western Hills) and barring a meltdown, the Bison could - and should -be headed to the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season. And with that they can add another SWOPL Championship, which Coach Earl White and the staff can add to the growing list of achievements the Bison have conquered in this record breaking season.

Player of the Game:  Dawson Martin, Sr. DB-RB  Belmont
Dawson ran a TD, caught a TD pass and threw a TD pass as well, as the dynamic two way player dominated in every phase for the Bison.

Dunbar falls to Taft, still in playoff hunt
The Wolverines lost a tough one down in the Nati to a game and excited Taft team, who pulled out the victory.
Dunbar is now 5-3, and must win last 2 games for a shot at the playoffs. Taft sits at 6-2 and if they can win their last 2 games, should be in the playoffs as well.
QB Cleveland Farmer ran for 2 TD's and threw for another as Taft dominated the first half, going up 24-0 before Dunbar struck back on a long TD to Alabama commit JoJo Scates.

After a score by Dunbar, Taft stalled on its next drive and punted back to the Wolverines.
 However, the possession ended in a INT for the Wolverines, and that sealed the deal on a comeback.

Taft is now #4 in the playoff rankings, and could host a playoff game as they move to 6-2 and 3-0 in the SWOPL.


Trotwood puts a 67 spot on Stebbins
The Rams scored early and often as they ran past Stebbins as the Rams ran their record to 8-0. Trotwood star RB Raveion Hargrove scored 3 times while Stephens Peppers threw 3 TD's and ran for one more - in the first half  alone- as the #1 Team in the state rolled to a easy win against Stebbins.


Northmont stops Centerville as key play by Lewis saves game
Danny Lewis, a fast rising junior DB, hasn't gotten much pub with the likes of Devin Kennerly and the senior laden Thunderbolts team.
But Lewis came up with the clutch stop on 4th down against Centerville, and Northmont defeated the Elks 21-14 as the fans went crazy after the win.

 The Bolts now sit at 6-2 and knocks the Elks from the undefeated ranks as well (7-1).
Lewis is also a very good basketball player, and comes from great lineage as his father enjoyed a great career professionally in basketball.

Bolts coach Tony Broering knows that this is his best team he's had and with 1 more win, it could secure a berth in the OHSAA playoffs.



Thurgood survives on road at Woodward, keep playoff hopes alive

The Cougars of Thurgood Marshall continued to show why, if things go right, they could end up in the OHSAA playoffs after a gritty 21-20 OT win at Woodward.

While Woodward is not in playoff contention, they played hard all night, and looked as if they would be able to upend the Cougars in OT.
After a TD score by Woodward RB Kyron Reese, who was unstoppable near the goaline, the game went into OT.

Thurgood would score on a Russell Jashawn TD and with a extra point by Mr Automatic Rolando Perez would push the score to 21-14.
Woodward then would score on  a Reese TD, and when it was time to kick the extra point?
Former Wayne and Dayton Christian coach and head man for Woodward in Kali Jones rolled the dice and went for 2.

At home? With the crowd roaring in approval?  Against a tired Cougars team?

Thurgood stopped Reese short of the end zone, and the Cougars playoff hopes stayed alive.

Then came the jubilation for Thurgood, as they now own a 5-game winning steak under Coach Brian Carter,  which is the most since the Earl White era.

Troy stops Sidney undefeated run with great rushing performance from Culp-Bishop

The Trojans shut down Sidney's vaunted offense and with it, put themselves in playoff contention with a 48-21 thrashing on Friday night.
Rising RB Jaydon Culp-Bishop tormented the Yellow Jackets D for 237 yards, with a Tony Dorsett like run of 99 yards to break open the game and move the Trojans in first place in the GWOC North Division.
As far as stud RB and leading Rusher Isaiah Bowser?

55 yards on 25 carries, by far his lowest outing of the season.

Culp Bishop stated after the game that the Troy D is "the best in the GWOC. Period."

Not sure if that is true, but for one night, they shut down the top guy in the GWOC and put themselves in good position for a playoff berth.
Sidney falls to 7-1.



Springfield clobbers Beavercreek, sends statement

The Wildcats was at a crossroads before the game, as they had let one slip away at home to Northmont. Sitting at 5-2, how would they respond against a tough team who had just lost themselves in Beavercreek?

Well the response was ferocious, and it left no doubt that the Wildcats want a taste of the OHSAA Playoffs as they bounced back with a resounding 64-28 win at Beavercreek.

Leonard Taylor was on point, and the offense was hitting on all cylinders in the big win.
The win moves the Wildcats to 6-2 and in a good position to reach the Playoffs.
The Beavers have lost 3 straight, and need to win last 2 games to try to get back in playoff contention.


The Burg wins 2nd straight, stays in hunt

Miamisburg won their 2nd straight game as they defeated Lebanon 24-13. The win gets the Burg back to .500 (4-4) and if they can win their last 2 games, could push them back into a playoff spot.

 Star WR Tyler Johnson led the Vikings on the win.

Valley View rolls to 8th straight, dominates Oakwood

The Spartans showed why they could be a problem come playoff time as they wiped out Oakwood and their explosive offense 50-7.
The Spartans scored 29 in the 1st quarter and never looked back as Genslinger and Wood scored twice in the 1st half to lead Valley View to a 8-0 record on the season and hopeful to host a 1st round game.



Alter shuts out Badin, wins 20th straight, C-J survives, wins 6th straight
Alter continued to show control of Badin, as they shut them out 48-0. The Knights have beaten Badin 20 straight times, and now sit at 7-1 on the season. John Bivens, the star RB for Alter, powered for  260 yards on 25 rushes, the Badin had no one who could stop the D-1 bound RB.

C-J survived a tough game from McNicholas as they won 24-21.
With the win, C-J moves into a position to possibly make the playoffs, as they have won 6 straight since the Week 2 loss. Coach Marcus Colvin is real pleased with the progress through the season, and know that if he can get a big Week 9 win, they could be headed to the playoffs despite a 0-2 start.



Stars of Week 8

L'Christian Blue Smith, WR  Wayne - Blue Smith gave something for the Firebirds to remember if they don't make the playoffs as the Hail Mary catch capped off a 4-catch dominating display of why Ohio State is drooling over the WR sensation.

Danny Lewis, DB, Northmont  Lewis, who could be headed for stardom, knocked down the final pass vs Centerville and helped shut down one the Top Teams in the GWOC in a 21-14 win. Lewis, a athletic DB,  is a  2- sport star in the making, and should have a great end to the season.

Raveion Hargrove, RB  Trotwood  - Hargrove continues to amaze, with 4 TD's in the game as he seems to just be playing at another level, along with the rest of the team.

Rashad McKee,  QB,  Wayne  McKee continued to show up big in the big games as he accounted for 5 TD's in the epic game and ended with a  connect to Blue Smith to end the game.
McKee seems headed for stardom and some big time D-1 recruitment.

Rolando Perez, K Thurgood  Perez has come through in the clutch for Thurgood, as they ride a 5 game winning streak. Perez hit the GW Kick to help seal the deal for the Cougars. With Perez, it has made Thurgood a more rounded team with a solid Special Teams unit.

Kameron Mathis, WR, Northnmont - Mathis caught 2 big TD passes against State Ranked Centerville to help the Bolts get the big win.

Dawson Martin, RB-DB, Belmont  - Martin showed he can be a jack of all trades as he scored a TD running, catching, and passing the ball as the Bison destroyed Shroeder. Martin is one of the most versatile football players in all of Ohio and in the Midwest, and is a D-1 prospect, no doubt.


Jaydon Culp-Bishop, RB, Troy - Culp Bishop took all the hype from opposing RB Isaiah Bowser and responded with a 237 yard effort that included a 99-yard TD run. Not bad for fast rising junior from Troy.

John Bivens, RB,  Alter  - Bivens continues to show whe he could be the highest RB prospect in the junior class in Ohio, as he rushed for 260 on 25 carries to lead the State Ranked Knights to a 7-1 record. Hes already been recruited by Big 10 schools.

Leonard Taylor, QB,  Springfield - Taylor showed why the Cats could be a team who could do some big things as he led the Cats to a big win against Beavercreek. The dynamic big QB ran an passed for TDs, controlled the tempo, and got the Cats back in the playoff saddle.

Week 4 Recap: Wayne rolls past Miamisburg; Belmont thumps Meadowdale; Trotwood drops 50+ on Tipp; Thurgood, Ponitz, get W's; Fairmont, Franklin stay undefeated

Here's the Week 4 Recap and Headlines of football in the Miami Valley:

Wayne stops the Burg as McKee erupts for 6 TDs
Wayne was down 7 midway through the 2nd quarter, and the Vikings continent was feeling like "this could be the year" after a TD had put them up 21-14 right before the half.
Would this be the year that Miamisburg continues through its season undefeated, beating one of its nemesis, the Wayne Warriors?
Was Wayne overrated?
Warriors head coach Jay Minton felt, that at that moment, he would see what his team was truly made of.
Backs against the wall, young team as a whole, and playing against a good team salivating for a win against them?

"I just hoped the guys would stay calm" Minton said.
Erupt was more like it.

Rashad McKee Jr, the fast rising junior QB, then took the game into his own hands and delivered one of the best peformances by a QB in this young season.
He directed the Warriors to a TD drive capped  on a run by himself to tie the game before half, then directed 5 more drives in the 2nd half en route to a 56-28 blowout win at Heidkamp Stadium on Friday Night.

Wayne tied it up at half, then took the lead on a McKee to Blue Smith TD immediately after the half.
From there it was all Wayne.
Junior WR Steven Victoria was also a stud for the night, as he had a career high 6 catches for a whopping 203 yards on the game.
Wayne new moves to 3-1 while Miamisburg falls to 3-1.
 Star WR Tyler Johnson caught a TD for the Vikings in the first loss on the season.

Belmont continues its dominant defensive run, shuts out Lions
The Bison continued to show why they could be headed towards a 3rd consecutive playoff run as they dominated the Lions in a 57-0 win. The Bison have given up 1.3 points a game, a stifling mark this far into the season. Coach White was happy with the performance, but knows that its still early and the Bison must stay focused for the playoff stretch. Senior RB's Elijah Malcolm and Dawson Martin led the Bison.

Trotwood pounds Tipp as Hargrove goes wild
The Rams rode the All-American candidate in Raveion Hargrove as they pummeled Tippecanoe 55-10. Hargrove ran over, around, and through the Tipp defense for over 230 yards and 2 TDs' as the #1 Team in D-3 and possibly the entire state cruised to a road win. Trotwood now improves to 4-0.

Elks stop Springfield after miscues doom Cats  
Centerville continued to ride first year coach Brent Ullery magic to a big 24-12 road win in Springfield this weekend in a clash between 2 undefeated squads. The keys in the game was the miscues made by the Cats' in the red zone, and with star QB Alec Grandin lighting it up for over 230 yards passing and 2 TD's for Centerville, the Elks avenged defeat last year on their home field by the Cats. Centerville (4-0) is now ranked #7 in the State poll while Springfield falls to 3-1.

Thurgood rallies to snatch first W
Thurgood was on the ropes against Western Hills, but used a dynamic 2nd half to get their first W of the season in Cincy. Western Hills had cut the lead to 3 (24-21) and the momentum had shifted, but the Cougars ran off 21 straight points to lockdown their first victory on the season and in the SWOPL.

Bowser carries Sidney to another epic win with record setting performance
Northwestern commit Isaiah Bowser powered the Yellow Jackets to a 4-0 mark with a 413 yard 6- TD performance against Xenia as they outpaced the Bucs 55-48.
 Sidney needed every yard of the efforts as they couldn't stop the Bucs. So they relied on their monster back, and he delivered. Again. And again. And again.
He has over 1,000 yards already, and could be headed for OHSAA record type numbers at this point. Not to mention that Sidney is now 4-0.

Fairmont continues to ride the unbeaten streak after improbable comeback
Fairmont continued its great run with a big comeback victory over Springboro, as 2nd year head coach David Miller runs the Firebirds record to 4-0. A Braden Miller to Ryan Hall bomb was the difference as the Fairmont only threw the ball 3 times, but the 3rd times a charm as the bomb helped keep the Firebirds undefeated.

Ponitz shuts out Riverview Academy
Ponitz was able to pick up its first win of the season, a 32-0 shutout over Riverview Academy. Coach Jim Place knows he has a young team, but the Panthers came out focused and took care of business to get their first defensive shutout and win on the season in the SWOPL.

Stars of Week 4 

Rashad McKee, QB Wayne 
McKee a junior, was the biggest star of the Weekend, with 6 TD's total against a top opponent in Miamisburg. Not only did he produce 6 TD's, McKee stepped up when the Warriors needed him most.

Tavion Thomas, Dunbar 
Thomas has found his groove with another 160 yard performance in a big win over Schoder.

Raveion Hargrove, RB  Trotwood 
Hargrove was ultra dynamic in rushing for 230+ yards and 2 TD's as the Rams routed Tipp. The Bowling Green commit broke off a couple of long runs, which helped the Top Ranked Rams.

Isaiah Bowser, RB Sidney 
Bowser rushed around, through, and past Sidney defenders for 413 yards and 6 TD's as the Xenia defense had no answer for the Northwestern commit

Alec Grandin, QB Centerville 
Grandin was nearly flawless in a hostile environment against a team who has playoff hopes, in which he went 20-24 for 230 against a very tough defense. He also kept the Elks undefeated and now ranked in the state (#7)

Elijah Malcolm, RB Belmont   Malcolm was unstoppable along with the O-Line as they did what they wanted in the big win over Meadowdale.


Ayyoub Muhummed,  QB  Thurgood  Muhummed took the Cougars to a big win with a decisive 4th quarter in which he led the attack as Thurgood grabbed its first W of the season in SWOPL play.




Here are the Top Games in Week 5 around the Miami Valley


SWOPL 
Woodward (1-3) @ Belmont (4-0)
Can Woodward find the recipe for a upset tonight at Welcome StadiALum? Belmont has been lights out this season, and put their No Touchdown Rule back on the board. While Woodward hasn't had the season they wanted, they still boast a lot of talent and will be ready to battle. However, this isn't the same Belmont team who has been accustomed to losing. Coach White will have his squad ready to go.

Dunbar (3-1) @  Aiken (3-1) (Saturday)
Can the Wolverines get a big W on the road against one of the best teams in the league? Aiken lost last week, but have played well overall this season. Dunbar has been one of the best teams outside of Week 1, and seem to be getting more confidence as a team. Tavion Thomas has started to explode, which can be attributed to the O-Line getting more camaraderie and cohesion. Aiken will be ready, can the Wolverines pull off another key road victory in Cincy?


GWOC

Wayne (3-1)  @  Northmont  (3-1)
In the Game of the Week, are the Bolts forreal? Or will the Wayne Train continue to roll, as they are on a 3 game winning streak? Northmont has been on a roll lately, but will face a beast few have been able to conquer in the last decade, and with the Wayne Train offense playing well and getting some key guys back on D such as Taz Wilcox and Antwuan Johnson, the Warriors should be ready for a big game in Northmont.

Springfield (3-1)   @ Lebanon (2-2)
Can the Cats' shake off a tough home loss and go on the road against a tough Lebanon team that is playing well in the last couple weeks? Will be a tough task for Coach Moe and Springfield.

Fairmont  (4-0)  @ Beavercreek (4-0) 
Which of the unlikely 4-0 teams will continue the magic ride? The Firebirds, or the Beavers, which both have had great success early this season.
 
Greenville (2-2)  @ Trotwood (4-0)
Can Greenville pull off the biggest upset in OHSAA this season? Or will the Rams prove to be too much like they have for every opponent this season?



SWBL

Franklin  (4-0)   @ Valley View (4-0)  In a game that could feature 2 teams headed to the playoffs, this is no doubt the game of the year in the SWBL. With both teams featuring high octane rushing offenses, it could come down to the defense on who gains the advantage on being the best in the SWBL.

GCL
Alter (3-1)    @  Fenwick (1-3)  Can Alter continue its torrid stretch after a 58-0 rout and a 3 game winning streak? Or will Fenwick get back on track after losing 3 in a row?

C-J  (2-2)   @ Bloom-Carroll (1-3)  - Can C-J continue its midseason push for a possible playoff spot? The Eagles used that big win over Meadowdale and defeated Fenwick to get them back to .500. Can they pull off a big road win?





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Week 3 Recap: Trotwood, Springfield, Dunbar get key road Ws; C-J, Wayne cruise; Belmont defeats Thurgood; Dayton dominates vs big schools

Here's the top headlines and results for week 3 in the Miami Valley in football:

Raveion "Shock" Hargrove levitates after a TD vs Pickerington Central 

Trotwood defeats #1 ranked Pickerington Central;  Stephens-Peppers shows mettle, Rams now sit at #1 in the OHSAA D-3 poll
 Trotwood showed why they are one of the best teams in Ohio, bar none, as they went up to Pickerington and handled business to the tune of 28-19.  The Rams got off to a lead and never relinquished it. Central had knocked off some very big opponents in the first 2 weeks, but the Rams offense was too explosive and held a great offense in check as well.

Junior QB Markell Stephens-Peppers and star RB Raveion Hargrove did the heavy lifting, as Stephens Peppers threw 4 TD's on the night, while BG commit Hargrove ran for 10 yards a carry en route to 160 on the ground and 54 in the air with a TD, as the Rams showed moxie, hunger, and that they are forreal.

The Rams were rewarded with the top spot in the first OHSAA D-3 Football Rankings.

Belmont stops Thurgood in DHSS City League Game of the Week; Martin, Furlow shine
The Bison followed their strength of great run play and shutdown D as they defeated Thurgood Saturday night.
  RB Dawson Martin provided 2 TD runs and Elijah Malcolm added 2 more which was too much for the Cougars to handle. While it was close at half, the Bison scored to make it 14-3 at half, a score that would never be threatened en route to a 26-3 victory.

Thurgood responded in the 3rd quarter with a FG, but Belmont came right back and put the game away with a Martin TD. A Jaden Rucker Furlow INT doomed the Cougars comeback hopes.

 Belmont moves to 3-0 while Thurgood falls to 0-3.
Belmont has not allowed a TD in 3 games.

Star QB Leonard Taylor with Coach Douglas as the Wildcats are 3-0 heading into big game Friday Night.

Springfield stays undefeated with big win @ Lima Sr.
The Wildcats star QB in Leonard Taylor passed for a TD and ran for another in the 4th - which turned out to be the game winner - as Springfield remained unbeaten with the big win in Lima 19-16.

This is the first time in over a decade since the Wildcats have went 3-0. The defense was brilliant for most of the night, as junior rising star DB Moses Douglas was able to lead a talented defense to hold a explosive team to 16 points. Coach Doug has brought back a hope to Springfield as they feel that this could be the year.

Wayne defeats Canadian power as Clarkson sees "Blue" breakout
The Wayne Train had its biggest burst of the season with a 34-21 win over Clarkson (Canada).
And it was led by All-America Candidate  L'Christian "Blue" Smith as he totaled 189 yards on 10 catches with a TD as the Wayne Warriors defeated Clarkson (Ottawa, Canada). Blue was downright unstoppable, and the O State commit garnered National Player of the Week awards for the performance. It was a complete performance for the Warriors, who now move to 2-1 on the season.



Dayton teams sweep Pickerington in matchups
Not only did Trotwood defeat Pickerington Central, but Centerville (3-0) extended its undefeated season after squeaking by North 27-26. A late FG sealed the deal for the Elks, and 1st year coach Brett Ullery continues his great run. Can they take it up a notch and win in Springfield this Friday Night?



Franklin stops Piqua, stays undefeated; Montgomery continues to roll
Franklin was able to run its record to 3-0 after riding the shoulders of star RB Ryan Montgomery as he accounted for 190 yards in the offense and 3 TDs in the 21-7 win at Piqua. Super Soph QB Braden Woods came in and starred as well, going 12-12 for 162 yards and a TD after a injury to Braden White in the 1st quarter. Piqua falls to 1-2.

Seth Arnold & Tavion Thomas delivered big for Dunbar

Dunbar gets key road win; Oklahoma commit delivers big in Cincy
The Wolverines pulled out a big road victory in Cincy as they was able to upend a tough Mt Healthy team who had the Wolves on the ropes in the 4th.
Dunbar had jumped out to a 20-7 lead, led by Oklahoma commit Tavion Thomas, who had his breakout game with 150 yards and 2 TD's.
However Mt Healthy rallied back with 2 consecutive 2 TD drives of its own to tie it at 20 as QB Lamier directed Mt Healthy back to a position to take the lead in the 4th.
But a missed extra point left the game tied, and the Wolverines responded with a big drive capped off with a Thomas TD to seal the deal.
Star LB Seth Arnold was downright unstoppable, and had the defensive stat line of the week with 23 tackles - yes you see it right - 23 tackles on the night, and the Wolverines needed every bit of it to get the big victory.
Dunbar goes to 2-1 and stays firm in its move for the playoffs.



The Burg continues its undefeated run; Clark, Johnson lead the way
Miamisburg continued its great early season play with a big victory (41-6) at home against Loveland, as "The Burg" came out firing and scored on 5 of its first 6 possessions to put the game away early. Star RB Tony Clark scored 3 TD's, & Junior QB Tate Vongsy dominated early and often, throwing 2 TD's on the night.

The defense has been lights out as well, led by rising junior CB Cameron Moore, who has shown shutdown ability and great instincts, and it will be needed as he will be taking on Ohio State commit L'Christian Blue Smith and the Wayne train this Friday night in a key game for the Burg.

C-J pounds Meadowdale
The Eagles haven't forgotten what happened 2 years ago, when Meadowdale defeated them at Welcome Stadium by the score of 6-0.

Well C-J exacted revenge as they ran past Meadowdale early and often to the score of 63-22, as the Eagles offense was hitting on all cylinders.
The score was 50-0 in the 2nd quarter before the Lions were able to regroup.
Marquis George and Ryan Peltier led the charge as the Eagles got on the board this season (1-2) for the first time in a big way. Meadowdale falls to 0-3.

Dynamic Duo leads Sidney past Carroll
If this is a precursor for what could happen this year, watch out as Star RB Isiah Bowser and Star QB Andre Gordon scored 4 times in the game of a 35-7 romp of Carroll. Gordon started it off with a 94- yard run and Bowser followed that up with 2 Runs himself - for 74 and 45 yards as the Yellow Jackets were too explosive for Carroll. Sidney moves to 3-0 as well. Carroll falls to 1-2.
 If Sidney can continue to play good defense, watch out as they have 2 bona-fide stars who can carry a offense.

Nex: Star players in Week 3

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Locals dominate at Nike Camp; Hargrove nabs MVP; Thomas, Scates sends statement; Powell regains coaching job;

Here's the Hop topics in the Miami Valley as we head towards the end of the school year:

Hargrove wowed coaches at the Nike camp in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hargrove is a back to back MVP, a feat few have accomplished 

Locals stars shine at Nike Camp

Raveion Hargrove, Jojo Scates, Tavion Thomas and L'Christian Blue Smith headlined a star studded senior class as both shined at the Nike Camp last weekend in Cleveland, Ohio.
While Browns Head Coach Hue Jackson and the Browns staff observed, the local talent shined.

Hargrove had been looked at as one of the top RBs in the country,  but the question remained;
What about his stature? Is he tall enough?

Hargrove put all those rumors to bed, winning MVP of the event, and pushing his name into the upper echelon of the country. When asked about his height, Hargrove just shrugs it off and shows why he's the one of, if not the most dynamic RB in the country.
Dunbar stars JoJo Scates and Tavion Thomas repped well at the Camp as well, as both are high on the radar of all the top colleges in the country.

L'Christian "Blue" Smith fielded questions about his ability to play WR, as some has thought that maybe he would be a Tight End at the next level.
The #1
Smith also put those rumors to rest, as he has ran a 4.4 40 recently while standing at 6'7 right now. His ability to change directions, and to beat his man has dismissed the rumors, and he has stated that "I want to play WR" and that he will not play anything else, which is a reason Ohio State is not at the top spot in Smiths mind.
 As of yet.

Smith has taken visits, and just recently visited Notre Dame.
Blue is a fan of the Irish.
Smith has favored Kentucky, Ohio State, and Notre Dame along with Alabama making a push as well.
And don't forget about Michigan and Michigan St.

Overall the Nike Camp was a success for the Dayton athletes and it should be a incredible senior year in Southwest Ohio.

Coach Darran Powell regains football job at Dunbar

Dunbar Powell re-signs with Wolverines, will coach Dunbar next season 

With everything that has happened in the last year, the Dunbar staff cab finally exhale as Coach Darran Powell and his staff will coach the Wolverines next season.
 While Powell has stated that he felt like his name and the staff would be slung through the mud during the allegations, he always kept the faith that he should be the head coach.

In a move that should have happened, it did, and now the Wolverines will get a chance to atone for a disastrous end of season. While Powell knows that the team he had last year was very good, this team coming up should be just as good. Although senior star players Keyshawn Jones and Chris Jackson moves on, the Wolverines have ready and willing talent ready to step in.

 Powell has stated that he can now "sleep again" after many restless nights during the investigation,
and hopefully can get some positive vibes and repair the program after a tumultous end with the team last season.

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Underdog Rams look to finish with State Championship

Trotwood Rams will play for a chance to win the OHSAA D-3 Football Championsip today (3pm). They will take on Archbishop Hoban (13-1), the champions from last season at Ohio State Stadium.

Can the "Underdog" Rams grab that elusive State Championship

The Rams have been counted out all year as a serious threat to win a Football State title.

While other teams looked more the part, the Rams struggled in game 1, losing to Troy 12-6.

Raveion Hargrove struggled with a early season injury, along with other key players.
 We're the Rams overrated?
Was this just not going to be the year they expected? Would they still be a year away?

Then came the schedule.

The Rams schedule was called soft, weak, and not tough enough to get the Rams ready for the playoffs.
 Despite being one of the top dogs in the GWOC for the last decade, the Rams still are overlooked, especially on the Local & National front.

Today, the entire Ram Nation will have their chance, as they take on a ready for war Hoban squad.
The Rams, once again, will not be favored in this game despite having a elite team.
 Should be no sweat for Coach Jeff Graham and the Rams.

 Hoban has everything to lose as they are going for legendary status with back to back championships.
 Trotwood also has a lot to lose, as they don't want to fall to 1-4 in Championship games.
  The Rams have made it to the state final 5 of the last 7 years, and have reached the State Semifinal the last 7 straight, a record in the Southwest Ohio area.
  If the Rams can seize a huge victory today, they will solidly themselves as a perennial title contender, a giant slayer, and a National powerhouse in the making.

   Former NFL Player, now Coach Maurice Douglass guided Ram Nation back to prominence and handed the baton to Jeff Graham, who has done a masterful job in his own right, winning a State title and losing one in his tenure.
 For Graham and the Rams, winning on Ohio State soil would feel no sweeter than to the Rams Coach, who starred at Ohio State before heading to the pros.
 He told his players to take a few minutes and "soak up the moment." Before the big game at Buckeye Stadium.
"You will get emotional" Graham said.

  Look for a inspired Rams game today.

The defense has been lights out, & healthy star  RB Ravieon Hargrove has been electrifying along with the passing game.
 Hargrove will get a chance to play where he could end up in 2 years.
 Expect something special today from the underdogs.

The game is featured and televised on Time Warner today.

Week 2 Playoff Recap: Wayne, Trotwood, Miamisburg, Alter advance; How did they do it? Stars of Week 2;

After the 2nd Week of the Playoffs, one thing is crystal clear:

 The Miami Valley, and in particular, the GWOC, is reppin' well in the OHSAA State Football Playoffs, as 4 teams will play for a chance to reach the State Semifinals this weekend.

  With the teams that are still in, they all have a legitimate shot to not only get to state, but to win it.

Here's last weekend results and recap, as we see how all the local teams fared in their divisions.

Can these thoroughbreds lead their respective teams to the State Semifinals? 

(D-1) Wayne blows out Dublin Coffman   -
   Wayne RB Fred Pitts scored 4 times as the Warriors D shut out Coffman in the first half (31-0) and cruised to a victory vs Dublin Coffman 52-10. Coffman was outmatched from the start as the Wayne Train steamrolled Coffman in the first half. Wayne, who is now ranked #6 in the country (Max Preps) was clicking on all cylinders, and looked razor sharp from the kickoff.



(D-2) Miamisburg beats Troy again   - Different location, but the same results after Miamisburg defeated Troy 28-21. The game was played to a tilt until a late blocked punt helped the Burg seal the deal. Star RB Jake Netherton scored on a burst to give the Vikings the 28-21 lead they never relinquished, and will now head to the Regional Finals. Troy (10-2) had a great season, only losing to Miamsburg twice after only winning 2 games last season.

Rising Star QB Markell Stephens-Peppers of Trotwood passed for 3 TDs last week 

(D-3) Trotwood slams new Richmond
 Trotwood star RB Ravieon Hargrove once again scored on the first play of scrimmage and rising star QB Markell Stephens-Peppers threw 3 TDs as the Rams overwhelmed New Richmond 47-10. The D also did a great job of shutting down New Richmond offense as the Rams (11-1) head to another Regional Final.


(D-4) Alter shuts out Massie  -
Alter dominated early and often as they shut out Clinton Massie 42-0 as the #1 team in Ohio in D-4 moved to another Regional Final. Star RB John Bivens ran for a score as the Knights Defense stymied the Massie attack.



(D-3) Franklin falls to St Marys  - 
Franklin fell behind early, and fell prey to a tough St Marys team as they lost 55-31. Once St Marys got rolling, the Franklin offense couldn't stop them, as they scored, but wasn't able to get back in the game.



(D-4) Valley View falls to Cincy Wyoming
 Cincy Wyoming scored twice in the 2nd quarter to build a 21-6 halftime lead and take control in the game to hold off Valley View. The Spartans pulled it to 21-12 but missed the 2 point conversion and Wyoming scored in the 4th to seal the deal. Colin Genslinger and Colin Wood scored for the Spartans in a losing effort

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The Camp Fee is $60 and you will receive NFL-Style training & football gear courtesy of Under Armour.






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Trotwood will face familiar foe, looking to get back to State Championship

 After seeing the playoff performances from  Trotwood and Wayne, it's no surprise why these are the two teams still standing in the Miami Valley making it to the state semifinals.

Rams Coach Jeff Graham talks "Rap Diss Song" & reaching State

Let's start with Wayne.

    All-season Wayne has made it look easy scoring a multitude of points, usually having a "Running clock" by the third quarter because of the blowout rule in high school football which is a 35+ lead.

    Last week in the regional finals vs Hilliard Davidson there were all the signs of a upset: Frigid weather, raining off and on, a gusty wind, a tough Defense and a well coached team in Hillard who runs, runs, and yes, runs the ball. As  a matter of fact, Hilliard hadn't passed the ball the last 2 games prior to playing Wayne.
 
    Hillard shut down the Wayne Train in the first half (3-3 halftime score) and the game had the look of a low score, grind it out affair that it would take to win, which Wayne hadn't won all year.
    Considering that Wayne had cruised to every victory in the 2nd half, this was their first Real Test of the playoffs.
  In the 2nd half they outscored Hillard with 2 big TDs, shut down the Hillard squad completely with their D, and gutted out a 20-6 win in front of almost  7,000 fans at Welcome Stadium.

   Now while the Wayne faithful didn't quite like the way they won that game, they might wanna get used to it if they plan to hoist a State Championship and complete the most dynamic season in Wayne history.
   The pretty wins are probably over, as only 4 teams remain, and Wayne, despite being ranked #5 in the Country by USA Today, are only ranked 3rd in the State, and will face the #1 seeded team this week in Cincy Colerain  who dismantled Elder last week 41-11.

   After seeing what Wayne was able to do on Saturday night, it shows that they are far beyond the "Flashiness and Style Points" that have been affiliated with them. And that their "D" can stand up and be dominant when it needs to be.

   Daryl McCleskey Jr. scored late in the 3rd, Fred Pitts scored in the 4th, and the D locked down for the W.
   Can the Wayne Train continue to steamroll to its 2nd consecutive State Championship game?

Rams continue to ride hot player, dispatch of Wapakoneta

Rams Coach Jeff Graham talks "Rap Diss Song" & reaching State

   Last year Wapakoneta lost to the Rams in the Regional finals which Trotwood won in 4 OTs; so when Wapak saw that Messiah DeWeaver had transferred, they felt like they could - & would beat the Rams. The my even had a "diss song" rapping & talking about it.
   However they had no clue how to stop the new "Star Player" in Raveion Hargrove, which they had no answer for.
  Hargrove ran up, down around, and through the Redskins for 320+ yards, 3TDs and took the liberty of dominating from the opening drive after Wapakoneta fumbled on its opening 2 drives.
  The Rams seized control and sensing the nervousness of the Redskins, took control with their aggressive D & running game.
  In speaking with  head coach Jeff Graham, he laughed off the supposed, "Rap Song" that Wapakoneta made and said that his boys heard about it, but was focused on the task at hand, while having a laugh or two in the process.
 
  Wapakoneta has been undefeated the last two years and the only opponent to stop them?
  Trotwood.

   The irony Is that Trotwood will now have to face a team who has had their number recently in  Toledo Central Catholic, who won in OT, and will be looking to get back to the State Championship as well.
  Can Trotwood erase the demons of Toledo Central Catholic and get one step away from another Championship game?
  We like the Rams chances and their mentals right now,  and don't expect a rap song about Toledo Central Catholic anytime soon from the Rams.
 We'll just assume they just want to get the job done and in the words of the infamous Jay Z and Swizz Beatz from  the hit song,
"On to the next, On on to the next"