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11/23/05
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High school football state semifinals: Eagles, Tigers similar teams
Wednesday, November 23, 2005 By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
MASSILLON vs. LAKEWOOD ST. EDWARD
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Rubber Bowl, Akron
RADIO WHBC-AM 1480,
WNPQ-FM 95.9, ESPN-AM 990
The similarities are uncanny. Few expected the Northern Ohio Division I state semifinal football game to be this.
Lakewood St. Edward had to upset Glenville, and Massillon had to beat a McKinley team that smacked the Tigers by 30 points in Week 10. Both teams managed in underdog roles.
Now teams with nearly identical scoring averages will meet for a trip to the Division I state title game.
“People who follow high school football expected the other two teams to be playing this week,” said St. Ed’s coach John Gibbons, a high school football coaching icon in Ohio. “Most people thought this would be a McKinley-Glenville showdown. That’s why you play the game, though.”
The Tigers bring an offense averaging 34.6 points a game. The Eagles are scoring 34.9 a game. Massillon’s defense allows 12.5, and St. Edward’s gives up 10.3. Both teams beat St. Ignatius by 3 points (10-7 for St. Ed’s, 29-26 for the Tigers).
Elder lost to the Tigers and Eagles, both games in Cincinnati. St. Edward scored 34, Massillon scored 35. The difference is the Eagles finished the game and allowed just 17 points. The Tigers gave up 31, most in the second half.
“There are a lot of similarities between the two teams,” Gibbons said. “Their quarterback (Bobby Huth) is a
playmaker. Our quarterback (Brandon Frohnapple) is. They have a good running back (Brian Gamble); we have a good running back (Frank Edmonds). Their offensive line is well-coached, and they’re all good players. I don’t know that they have a highly recruited lineman (Joe Thomas) like we do, but they’re good up front. What we see on film is they’re extremely well coached.”
When this season started, Gibbons thought this team might be a year away. He didn’t account for chemistry and young players stepping up.
Edmonds brings 2,136 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground into this game. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound spark plug was at the center of Lakewood’s storm last year. Edmonds transferred to St. Edward from Rhodes High School. Paperwork, none of it Edmonds’ or his parents’ fault, wasn’t completed.
The Eagles had to forfeit four games, and Edmonds was declared ineligible.
He seems to be playing with a chip on his shoulders.
“I think that’s probably the case,” Gibbons said. “I know he’s talented. If (last year) has taken him to another level, that’s feasible. It makes sense.”
It was a difficult period. Gibbons, a father of nine and grandfather of 11, didn’t know what to tell Edmonds.
“I called my wife,” Gibbons said. “ ... She’s good at dealing with those things. What do you say to a kid who did nothing wrong and can’t play football?
“She came over, and we sat him down and told him ‘No matter what happens we’re backing you up. You didn’t do anything wrong.’
“He’s a guy with a lot of character. He’s got a good strong mom and dad behind him. He’s an honor student. He’s got a lot going for him. He could get through that situation. Everybody supported him. The guys on the team had respect for him because he went through something that wasn’t his fault.”
This may not be the most athletically gifted St. Edward team, but Gibbons said he does have plenty of skilled players.
Frohnapple started three games last year for an injured senior quarterback, winning each one. Gibbons went back to the senior, and St. Ed’s lost in the playoffs. Frohnapple brings a 15-0 record into Saturday afternoon’s game.
“We’re talented, but I think we have a lot of heart and camaraderie,” Gibbons said. “We go out there and play hard as a team.”
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail:
todd.porter@cantonrep.com
Some similarities
St. Edward and Massillon have two common opponents this season. Each fared somewhat alike against Cincinnati Elder and St. Ignatius:
St. Edward (12-0)
Regular season
Pittsburgh CC W 14-6
Shaker Heights W 45-14
St. Thomas More (Ont.) W 49-0
at Cincinnati Elder W 34-17
Open date
St. Francis, N.Y. W 49-0
Cleveland East W 41-6
St. Ignatius W 10-7
at Cincinnati Moeller W 28-12
at Cle. Benedictine 3ot W 41-38
Playoffs
Shaker Heights W 42-16
Lyndhurst Brush W 49-0
Cleveland Glenville W 17-7
massillon (12-1)
Regular season
Dover W 34-0
at Cincinnati Elder W 35-31
at Mansfield Senior W 55-0
Chardon W 49-7
Mentor W 31-10
at St. Ignatius W 29-26
Youngstown Wilson W 54-0
Warren Harding W 13-0
Eastlake North W 49-14
at McKinley L 8-38
Playoffs
North Canton Hoover W 45-14 Findlay W 27-20 McKinley W 21-3
