Correction: Smithville and Waynedale have both been to the State semis 3 times each!

do we know where the game will be played next week?

Congrats Norwayne.

Hilarious video mage by Grier?? Come on! What was hilarious about a teenger making a fool of himself and his school? Yes, he didmake some plays last night, but I think it's stupid people applaud that type of crap from kids.






My thoughts on the game:

1 - BIG props to the Girard fan base! You guys packed out the home stands and were LOUD! At one point, it seemed like you were cheering on your team when nothing had even happened. I chuckled and asked the guy next to me, "What are they cheering about? A water break?" However, to be honest, it was VERY refreshing to see a team whose fans are that dedicated to making sure they feel the love!

2 - Norwayne played a sloppy game. Granted, the talent of the team still makes it a good game, but there were a LOT of mistakes I hadn't seen or heard from them in the two weeks prior. The biggest, of course, was the fumbling. TWO lost fumbles in the second half! Norwayne WILL lose if they don't protect the football with their lives going forward!

3 - Whoever told us on here that "stopping Girard is as easy as 1, 2, 3" was dead on. However, those three were insanely talented!

4 - On the interception Wallace threw, I saw a flash of the less developed Wallace that used to play. One thing I've noticed that Wallace has had to learn to do is to check down when necessary. It was something I saw him fight with in the Smithville game, and it was something he did exceptionally well in the Orrville game, but you can tell that his natural inclination is to chuck it deep and let the field-stretchers go get it. For most of tonight, he was good at choosing when to go deep and when to check down, but on that interception, he went deep when he had an open man about 10-15 yards closer. It was only one play, but you can tell he still has that inclination.

5 - There was a lot of arm tackling going on tonight, as well. Girard was quick, so a complete form tackle probably isn't going to happen very often, but you've still gotta wrap up. A bigger team will hurt you even more than Girard did tonight if you try to arm tackle like that.

6 - I've gotta say that for all the hazing Grier (sp?) has gotten on here for the hilarious video he made in Week 9, I give him a lot of credit tonight. He played tough tonight and made some good plays, including a nice hit in the second half. When he shuts his mouth and puts on his helmet, he's fun to watch, and he's good at what he does.

7 - Was the food any good? I never got a chance to get to the concession stand.

8 - I sat next to a couple CVCA faithful for the game. Seems fans of all Norwayne's opponents ... even non-league ... are coming out to watch and cheer them on. One of the people I sat next to was actually a CVCA lineman. Seemed like a sharp kid, and he was telling me he hopes Norwayne wins the State Title. Pleasant game from that standpoint.

9 - On the next to last drive, up until he coughed up the ball, it seemed like Wallace went into full beast-mode! It was AWESOME! If he had hung onto the ball, I'm thinking he might have just taken over the game on that drive. For the last two weeks, I've been calling him Superman, and tonight he solidified it. He reminds me of Jed Stephens from the 2001 Shenandoah team (Smithies played Shenandoah in the Regional Semis that fall). Kid threw for 2000 yards and ran for 1600. Haven't seen a player quite like him since. Now I have.

10 - Finally, I want to say this: This Norwayne team has done something that no other team not wearing a big green 'S' on their helmets has done. They've become regional champions. They have DEMANDED the attention of fans and teams state-wide, and they now have it. They're now on the big stage, where the small things will kill you and capitalizing on the small things is vital. It's where the game truly becomes a game of inches, and one solitary mistake will send you home.

These games are won in practice and in personal preparation. But I have confidence in this team. They have shown what it takes to succeed. They have done something no other WCAL team has done in 7 years. They've won the region and FORCED the Ohio high school football programs across the state to recognize their presence.

Okay, Norwayne. You've got everyone's attention. You've shut up the doubters so far, but your opponents going forward have won JUST as many playoff games as you, and they're hungry for a shot at that big trophy and their name forever enshrined in the record books as the best darn team in the state! You're gonna need that same fire and passion!

Norwayne has restored state-wide pride to the WCAL. This conference plays as good football as any conference out there, and it's been awhile since anyone from elsewhere in the state REALLY got to see it. They've taken the talent from this conference and they've lifted it up to tell the state of Ohio that the way we play football in the WCAL is as good as anyone, and that the WCAL ... and especially this Norwayne team ... WILL be recognized for it!

I must say this: As a Smithie fan, I have never been more proud of a team not wearing emerald green on gameday. This team plays with heart, and when it has been down late, it shows incredible resolve and mental toughness. This team deserves where it is, but it cannot be content with where it is. This can't be good enough, so I leave the Norwayne Bobcat football team with my favorite football video (the inspiration for my signature) ... appropriate, given that there are only 4 teams in all of D4 that are still playing.

[video=youtube;ka0LsULjDuM][/video][/QUOTE]

You aren't going to beat Jonstown with arm tackles.

THE4RINGZ;980409 wrote:You aren't going to beat Jonstown with arm tackles.

Same can be said for Norwayne.

dontcare;980412 wrote:Same can be said for Norwayne.

Yeah I wasn't being critical. Someone pointed out the number of arm tackles last night. That rb from Johnstown is going to need wrapped up.

THE4RINGZ;980418 wrote:Yeah I wasn't being critical. Someone pointed out the number of arm tackles last night. That rb from Johnstown is going to need wrapped up.

Ross Franklin of Johnstown averages 10.9 yards per carry for almost 3000 yards this season so far.....wow....they only average 53 yards of passing per game but 430 yards on the ground per game.

Sounds similar to Smithville style of game. Run the ball and run the clock and try to keep Norwayne "O" on the sidelines. Do not think Johnstown will stop Cats "O", so they will need this style of "O" to win the game. Good luck to Cats. Hoping the game is at Arlin Field. Ashland visitor side is horrible for fans. If Norwayne has a weekness it may be against a strong power game that controls tempo and ball.


UOTE=dontcare;980430]Ross Franklin of Johnstown averages 10.9 yards per carry for almost 3000 yards this season so far.....wow....they only average 53 yards of passing per game but 430 yards on the ground per game.[/QUOTE]

If Norwayne would have pkayed Smithville on turf it would have been a different game.

They didn't though. Neither Smithville or Norwayne has turf and each year they switch who the home team is.

zoocrew;980454 wrote:If Norwayne would have pkayed Smithville on turf it would have been a different game.

Norwayne vs. Johnstown officially in New Phila.

beatobama;980447 wrote:Sounds similar to Smithville style of game. Run the ball and run the clock and try to keep Norwayne "O" on the sidelines. Do not think Johnstown will stop Cats "O", so they will need this style of "O" to win the game. Good luck to Cats. Hoping the game is at Arlin Field. Ashland visitor side is horrible for fans. If Norwayne has a weekness it may be against a strong power game that controls tempo and ball.

BUT...Johnstown dont seem to "grind" it out...as they are averaging around 47 a game and giving up 18-19? a game.....It would appear if The Cats can stack the box and contain the corners....there is not much passing game. This looks to be a 1 dimensional team, albeit a very good one dimensioanl team.....One game at a time Cats!!!

beatobama;980407 wrote:What was hilarious about a teenger making a fool of himself and his school?

Um ... you just answered your own question. He made a fool of himself. He became the butt of jokes. And what do we do at jokes? We laugh. And why do we laugh? Because jokes are funny.

I wasn't applauding the video. I was saying we had a good time poking fun at it, because it was such a stupid thing to do.

zoocrew;980454 wrote:If Norwayne would have pkayed Smithville on turf it would have been a different game.

Yes. Both teams would have been much faster. That's typically how it goes.

That field wasn't nearly the quagmire that most fans were thinking it would be, though. It was muddy, sure, but not nearly as muddy as people thought.

And plus, again, field conditions don't really matter to an offense when the offense is almost never on the field. The game plan wouldn't have changed, so it's unlikely that Norwayne would have seen the ball any more than they did.

Smithville's personnel and game plan were just the key that fit the lock to beating Norwayne. I don't think Norwayne was necessarily an inferior team by any means.

I was getting text updates from Dorksen last night... sounded like one heckuva game! Wow! Congratulations to the Norwayne Bobcats on a gutsy win! Can't wait to read the article.

I wondered who he kept texting! I actually noticed that. LOL!

O-Trap;980732 wrote:I wondered who he kept texting! I actually noticed that. LOL!

I think he has a group of people he texts updates to, and also in that list is his Twitter account. Knocks out 2 birds w/ one stone.

Johnstown is hard from being 1 Dim you'll see

Pulling for the Johnnies in this one.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

We needed to lose that game. Best thing that cold have happened. They lost it(literally)at the end of the 1st half. 60yds in penalties. 2 unsportsmanlike & 2 other 15yarders moved Smithville to their 10 from which they scored what turned out 2b the game winner. Smithville had no chance of going 70yds in 1:40 on that field. I doubt if they scored that quickly all yr. Hilty ran over Wallace & that's where the 1st un-sport...like conduct call was called on N-wayne. They lost their heads. They lost the game. It changed them from a very good team that just lost...,into a winner. They were humbled & brought back to earth. Starting the next wk vs unbeaten Hillsdale, thru Sat. night vs Girard...,they just Refuse 2 lose again. That loss could have broken them. Instead, they pulled together. Lead by seniors, they responded. Hillsdale was favored & winning till the Cats"refused 2 lose" & went 70yds to win. No 1 chose them over Orrville. Girard had them down late & again they refused 2 lose. Johnstown will try to beat them this Sat. But what game plan do you use against a talented,confident team that absolutely....,REFUSES to lose. Yes.., the Cats may have used some lives up the past few weeks..,but still have 6 left. They only need 2.

ps,
Funny thing, I'll bet the Cats will be the underdogs......again. That's ok w/us. We don't mind. We'll just suit up game day &......., get after 'em.

oldcatQB;982031 wrote:We needed to lose that game. Best thing that cold have happened. They lost it(literally)at the end of the 1st half. 60yds in penalties. 2 unsportsmanlike & 2 other 15yarders moved Smithville to their 10 from which they scored what turned out 2b the game winner. Smithville had no chance of going 70yds in 1:40 on that field. I doubt if they scored that quickly all yr. Hilty ran over Wallace & that's where the 1st un-sport...like conduct call was called on N-wayne. They lost their heads. They lost the game. It changed them from a very good team that just lost...,into a winner. They were humbled & brought back to earth. Starting the next wk vs unbeaten Hillsdale, thru Sat. night vs Girard...,they just Refuse 2 lose again. That loss could have broken them. Instead, they pulled together. Lead by seniors, they responded. Hillsdale was favored & winning till the Cats"refused 2 lose" & went 70yds to win. No 1 chose them over Orrville. Girard had them down late & again they refused 2 lose. Johnstown will try to beat them this Sat. But what game plan do you use against a talented,confident team that absolutely....,REFUSES to lose. Yes.., the Cats may have used some lives up the past few weeks..,but still have 6 left. They only need 2.

ps,
Funny thing, I'll bet the Cats will be the underdogs......again. That's ok w/us. We don't mind. We'll just suit up game day &......., get after 'em.

Well said! That whole "needed to lose" thing was the same with Smithville. Had they not lost to Hillsdale, I don't think they would have come out hitting with the intensity they did against Norwayne. When a team is playing with its back to the wall, it becomes that much more dangerous. I think Norwayne became that team in Week 10. They had to win for a piece of the title, and that made them all the more dangerous.

It's good to see a team lose, then pick up the pieces, and use it to fuel a great win, and that's exactly what Norwayne did after the Week 9 loss. They picked themselves up and fought back against a great Hillsdale team, playing with desperation on the final drive, and doing it flawlessly.

I do agree that it has carried over into the playoffs, because any game they don't win is their last game, and I think they see these games the same way they saw the Hillsdale game.

In each division, 32 teams make the playoffs. 31 end their season with a loss. You can tell that Norwayne is fighting to be that 1 team.

I really hope they do it. It would be much earned.

By the way, does anyone know how Grier is doing? There was talk of him possibly having a concussion.

O-Trap;982044 wrote: By the way, does anyone know how Grier is doing? There was talk of him possibly having a concussion.

Whoa! im sure it wasnt a concussion...right! he suits up next week??? righht? That would be terrible if he were to suffer a concussion in the last minute of the game and have to miss this week.

I disagree. There was nothing funny about the way that kid acted in that video. You may see humor in it. I see a smart assed immature kid making himself and his school look bad.

O-Trap;980627 wrote:Um ... you just answered your own question. He made a fool of himself. He became the butt of jokes. And what do we do at jokes? We laugh. And why do we laugh? Because jokes are funny.

I wasn't applauding the video. I was saying we had a good time poking fun at it, because it was such a stupid thing to do.



Yes. Both teams would have been much faster. That's typically how it goes.

That field wasn't nearly the quagmire that most fans were thinking it would be, though. It was muddy, sure, but not nearly as muddy as people thought.

And plus, again, field conditions don't really matter to an offense when the offense is almost never on the field. The game plan wouldn't have changed, so it's unlikely that Norwayne would have seen the ball any more than they did.

Smithville's personnel and game plan were just the key that fit the lock to beating Norwayne. I don't think Norwayne was necessarily an inferior team by any means.

Everything you said was true. I just think that people acting foolish are funny, because they usually don't know how bad they look.

My apologies if I don't take his actions so seriously. He's a kid. Kids do dumb things. You laugh at the ignorance and move on.

zoocrew;980454 wrote:If Norwayne would have pkayed Smithville on turf it would have been a different game.

IF the dog wouldn't have stop to take adump, he would have caught the rabbit........IF