The Jackson Girls soccer team has gotten off to a good start so far this young season, beating Green and finishing with North Royalton in a 1-1 tie.

Head Coach Frank Gagliardi says that his squad has done a good job learning his system and playing a good brand of soccer.

In a battle that will have a huge impact on the Federal League championship, the Jackson girls tennis team defeated Hoover 3-2 last Thursday.

Jim Kish has been the boy's golf coach at Jackson for the past 14 years.  Every year is different, but the love of the game remains the same.

Walk & Roll, the first Subway Challenge Series "walking only" race will be held at the Walsh University track on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. The 3-mile course will use the track and the Stark Parks Hoover Park Connector Trail. There will also be an untimed "fun walk" of any length.    

There are 65 players playing under the direction of head coach Beau Balderson, who are part of a program striving for success. 

Moments designed for greatness existed at Fife Stadium where the Polar Bears took on the Copley Indians, but in the end Jackson fell 42-21.

The Lake Blue Streaks took a page out of Jackson's repertoire tonight in front of a healthy crowd at Lake Blue Streak Stadium to commence the 54th season of Blue Streaks football in an astonishing display of effective offense and an obliterating defense as they seized a 30-0 halftime lead on their way to putting Green down for the count in a 44-14 knockout of the Bulldogs to start the season 1-0.

The first football game of the season might as well have been a track meet with pads.
At least it seemed that way for Springfield’s Dillon Matthews and Ellet’s Aaron Male, who combined for 528 offensive yards in the Spartans’ 20-14 win over the neighboring Orangemen Friday. The win gives the Spartans rights of the Shoe—the award for the winner of the Springfield/Ellet rivalry game dating back to 1952—for the second straight year.

A series of explosive plays by the Wildcats' running game had them up 21-7 on visiting Linsly (W. Va.) School. At night's end, the scoreboard read 21-7 in favor of the hosts despite both teams' best efforts to add to those early tallies.

The crowd was on its feet, the bright lights lit up the gridiron as the sun dipped down, the smack of a helmet against the chest of the ball carrier rang and when the clock hit all zeroes the Coventry Comets stood together as they victoriously sang their alma mater. 

Manchester Head Coach Jim France literally saw has young club grew up in the second half of his team's improbable 21-14 season-opening victory over Girard, Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

With the book closed on the 2000 decade, the Lake football program starts another decade of football with nine Division I opponents, multiple new faces, one former standout quarterback and two other new assistant coaches.

Of course, the grandfather of the Federal League football coaches is back for his 21st season as the patriarch of the Blue Streaks football program. And what a way to ring in the new decade according to head football coach Jeff Durbin.

Rarely are the heat and stress of two-a-day practices a welcome relief for any football coach, but seventh-year Mogadore head coach Matt Adorni might be the lone exception to that rule. With twin 15-month-old sons at home, the opportunity to escape to the familiar confines of the football field provide a welcome opportunity to get away and return to a place where he has led his team to the playoffs in every season at the helm.

Going into the off-season, Coach Tom Stacy was determined to improve his team's weaknesses and nagging deficiencies that plagued the team during its disappointing 3-7 season last year.
To that end, he identified the problem areas and preached to his players that if they improved in these areas, wins would follow. 

Soon the leaves will begin to change, the temperature will drop, the days will get shorter and the familiar pigskin will be tossed around. Autumn is upon us and so are those Friday night lights with the roaring crowds rooting for the home team.

While much of Springfield eagerly awaited the start of high school football season, the Lady Spartans golf team got off to a strong and early start, playing four straight days beginning Aug. 16, and adding two more matches last week.

While most high school sports teams are just getting started on their season, the Lake Center Christian School golf team has staked itself to a 4-0 record, with all four wins coming over Division I programs.

The Malone University soccer team, led by second-year head coach Chris Carmichael, will open its 2010 season on Saturday, August 28 (2:00 p.m.) in an away contest against Aquinas (MI) College with a record number of student-athletes on its squad.  Nearly 40 players will lace up their shoes for the Pioneers this fall and although this Malone program utilizes a JV squad as well, there will be no shortage of talented young men to fill key roles as the team looks to drastically improve upon last year’s 5-12-1 (3-6 AMC).

The University of Akron Department of Athletics announced on Wednesday the creation of its own television package to be broadcast live on SportsTime Ohio.

The regional station will air nine Zips sporting events during the 2010-11 season, including the football team's Oct. 23 contest against Western Michigan as well as two men's soccer games – Oct. 19 versus Michigan and Oct. 27 against Creighton. STO will also carry a total of six men's and women's basketball games this winter.

Jeff Durbin may be the grandfather of Federal League coaches in Stark County but don't be prepared to get him a cane or a rocking chair anytime soon.

Just because he retired from Lake Middle School after 15 years of presiding over middle school students, don't get the perception that his passion for the sport of football has dwindled a bit.