The Greater Akron-Canton region was loaded with strong Division II high school football teams this year.

Louisville, Highland, Tallmadge, and Archbishop Hoban qualified for the playoffs and there was the possibility three of the four would make the state semifinals.

Louisville, 10-0 during the regular season, was a state runner-up in 2007. Suburban League champion Highland was 9-1 with a major-college recruit in Chris Snook. After a 3-3 start, Tallmadge had won four in a row heading into Week 11.

Of the four, Hoban seemed the least likely to win a region championship. The Knights came into the playoffs at 6-4, having lost two of their last three games. In Week 8, a short-handed Mentor Lake Catholic team beat Hoban at Dowed Field.

I read too much into that loss as the playoffs began and figured Hoban would make an early exit.
I’m glad I was wrong.

Wins at Warren Howland, against No. 1 seed Mayfield at Solon, and against Tallmadge at Twinsburg lifted the ups tart Knights to a semifinal berth against Sylvania Southview at Fremont Ross Don Paul Stadium. 

When Hoban lost to St. Vincent-St. Mary at the Rubber Bowl midway through the season, I asked coach Ralph Orsini how the Knights had lost a 12-0 lead.

He was drained. I felt bad for Orsini because it was obvious how much the loss hurt. His team had controlled the game for three quarters and should have been up 19-0, if not for a block in the back penalty. The Irish rallied to win 20-12.

Eight straight playoff berths (1998-2005) had created expectations for Hoban football. In 2006, Hoban finished 7-3 and did not qualify for the playoffs. The 2008 Knights were attempting to rebound from a 3-7 season.

This Hoban team had to overcome many obstacles and plenty of naysayers, including me. This is a region championship to be savored. Congratulations to Coach Orsini and his team for proving once again that championships are decided on the field and not on paper.

Collegians
Eastern Michigan University volleyball senior Jill Wolosiansky, a 2005 Green graduate, has been selected to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine volleyball Academic All-District IV first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced earlier this month.

A public administration major with a 4.0 GPA, Wolosiansky has played in all of the team’s 31 matches (105 games) this season. She was on target to surpass her career highs in nearly every statistical category, collecting 257 kills, 254 digs, 76 blocks, 68 assists, 18 service aces and a .183 attack percentage. She ranks third on the team in kills and second in assists. Eastern (10-21, 4-12) opened the MAC Tournament at Ball State last Tuesday.

Wolosiansky was featured on the cover of  the October edition of “emYOU The Magazine” and was the subject of the Student Spotlight. …

Did you happen to catch Northwestern University basketball freshman Brittany Orban on the Big Ten Network last Monday?

Orban and the Wildcats were hosting Kansas State at Welsh-Ryan Arena. She is one of three freshmen on this year’s team with two nationally ranked recruits set to join for 2009-10.

In her debut, Orban scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in a loss to Chicago State. K-State also topped NU 57-52.

A North Canton Hoover graduate, Orban attended Green schools through eighth grade. She is the second leading all-time scorer in Stark County history. …

The University of Akron women’s basketball team upset Michigan 58-49 on Nov. 17 at JAR Arena. Kyle Baumgartner (Hoover) and Ashley Veal (Wadsworth) led the Zips in scoring with 14 and 12 points, respectively. ...

In the NCAA Div. II football playoffs, Ashland defeated Minnesota State in the first round and was scheduled to play at Grand Valley State last Saturday (Nov. 22) in the second. AU junior quarterback Billy Cundiff (Green) is the Player of the Year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). …

The Mount Union Invitational (aka the NCAA Div. III football playoffs) began last Saturday (Nov. 22) in Alliance with the Purple Raiders (10-0) hosting Randolph-Macon (6-4). …

The Zips nationally ranked men’s soccer team will host a second round NCAA Tournament match on Nov. 25 against either Ohio State or Oakland (Mich.) at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field.

Boys’ Hoops Openers
Most high school boys’ basketball teams will open their seasons on Friday, Dec. 5.

The Green Bulldogs are home against Stow and CVCA is home with Woodridge. Maybe the best game in the area that night has St. Vincent-St. Mary hosting Garfield Heights.

Most of our local teams will be on the road, including Coventry at Marlington, Hoban at NDCL, Lake at Tallmadge, Lake Center Christian at Field, Manchester at Chippewa, and Springfield at Ellet.

The Walsh Jesuit Warriors open Dec. 9 at Firestone.

Corrections
The Green High girls’ basketball team will play Toledo Start on Jan. 19 in the Classic in the Country VI. … Re: Football. Hoban is in Division II, Region 5, and Highland is in Division II, Region 6. Lake and Louisville are in Division II, Region 7.