We’re one week into the high school football season, and I’m ready to declare Walsh Jesuit and St. Vincent-St. Mary as the top two teams in Summit County.

 In their Aug. 22 opener, the Warriors traveled to Licking Valley and blasted last year’s OHSAA Division III runner-up 48-14. Walsh Jesuit rushed for 463 yards and Ball State recruit Armand Dehaney scored three touchdowns.

Coach Gerry Rardin has two Big Ten recruits up front in 6-foot-8, 295-pound Brian Smith (Northwestern) and 6-foot-6, 290-pound Pat McShane (Indiana).

The next night in Euclid, St. Vincent-St. Mary steamrolled Villa Angela-St. Joe 31-12. The Irish had touchdown drives of 97, 76, and 79 yards the first three times they touched the ball and led 24-0 at half. Senior bowling ball Harvie Tuck IV rushed for 163 yards and two scores. Tuck lists at 5-foot-10, 220 pounds and physically resembles Delone Carter. Opposing tacklers bounce off Tuck much like they did Carter.

Coach Dan Boarman’s team is loaded with skill players and has good size. The Irish had the area’s top defensive team a year ago and seven starters back from that unit.

The two parochial rivals square off October 3 at Green Street Stadium. I’d recommend securing your tickets early because this one is going to sell out.

Walsh Jesuit does not play the week before playing at St. V-M. The Irish host Canton Central Catholic the week prior to Walsh and that should be an advantage for the Warriors, giving them a chance to heal for the showdown. St. V-M can’t get caught looking ahead as Central Catholic is a quality program.

St. V-M plays Archbishop Hoban on Friday, Sept. 12, at the Rubber Bowl. The Irish will be trying to make it two in row over the Knights.
 
The Multiplier
 Walsh Jesuit plays Division III football, while St. V-M plays Division IV.

I expect the Manchester Panthers (good come-from-behind win at Smithville!) to rebound and have a nice year, but to think coach Jim France’s ball club is in the same region as St. Vincent-St. Mary? I mean honestly. That hardly seems fair.

Regional quarterfinal football scores for 2007 in Division IV, Region 13, were: Cardinal Mooney 30, Coshocton 6; St. Vincent-St. Mary 42, Lake County Perry 0; Steubenville 28, CVCA 10; and Canton Central Catholic 48, Tusky Valley 6. The average margin of victory was 31.5 points. That would qualify as one sided.

In May, Akron Beacon Journal writer Bob Dyer researched a front-page story on the disparity of Public Vs. Parochial success in OHSAA tournaments. Dyer’s numbers said that parochial schools in Ohio represent 8.5 percent of the population and yet in 2007-08 these schools accounted for 47 percent of the state championships (as of May 19).

One idea for reform is to apply a multiplier to private school enrollment figures. The net result would have most parochial schools playing up one division.         

 “I think there is an edge private schools have in terms of drawing from a wider range, and I don’t deny that,” Walsh Jesuit athletic director Grant Conzaman told WAKR Radio earlier this year. “I do think there are some advantages public schools have.

“Now seeing some of the statistics on the number of schools that have open enrollment to adjacent districts and open enrollment from a wider area. Again I think it’s a little closer to being even. But in honesty I would say yes, the private school, or even an open-enrollment school that draws from a wider area, does have an advantage.”

OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross also says that open enrollment is leveling the playing field. What about the 26 percent of Ohio’s public schools that choose to remain true to their boundaries and have not succumbed to open enrollment?

I do believe the multiplier is the best answer for preserving the current OHSAA postseason format. I don’t like the idea of separate tournaments (public and private), but there should be some accounting for the private school’s ability to attract students from a wider area.
 
Correction
 It was a case of the sports-columnist fumble. Former Green High quarterback Kade Wagner has transferred to Walsh University. I reported old news last week, saying that I had heard Wagner was third on the Zips’ QB depth chart. He’s now playing for Jim Dennison at Walsh.

 Other local players on the Cavaliers’ football roster include: senior DL Sian Cotton (St. V-M), junior WR Mike McGill (Coventry), junior WR John Rutan (Lake), sophomore LB Mike Rutan (Lake), and freshman WR T.J. Viscuso (Lake). Cotton graduated with LeBron James in 2003 and attended Ohio State for three seasons.
 
Golden Flash Receiver
Look for Kent State senior TE Jameson Konz (Lake) to have a big season for the Golden Flashes. KSU desperately needs a pass catcher who can stretch the field and Konz moving from linebacker to tight end should help jump-start the Flashes’ passing game. Listed at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, Konz started nine games a year ago and had 43 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs. Kent State’s Dix Stadium opener is Sept. 13 vs. Delaware State at 2 p.m.

Comet Athletic Hall of Fame
On Sept. 13, Coventry High will induct a charter class into its Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the first inductees are: Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker James Harrison, two-time state champion wrestler and state championship coach Randy Glover, the 1978 state champion wrestling team, and the 1993 boys’ basketball team, which reached the state semifinals. For info, call Coventry AD Jim Vivo at 330-644-1152.
 
Dapper Dan stalwart
The Dapper Dan Club of Akron Youth Charities lost one of its finest members earlier this month when Chris Sarvis passed away at 75. Chris graduated from Buchtel High in 1950 and fondly recalled his playing days and the impact of life lessons learned through sport. He tirelessly served Dapper Dan for years and was president from 1997-99. Chris was my best friend in the organization and I’m going to miss him. This year’s golf outing wasn’t the same without him.