Rams Set For Another Big Challenge; Blanton, Anderson continue to Shine Despite Odds; Rams face Hartley

The Trotwood Rams, in a nutshell, have had a season and calendar year that very few football programs would be able to survive.

Rams Head Coach Jeff Graham (Left), Offensive Coordinator Kerry Ivy (Middle),  give Rams QB Cooper Stewart (12) gameplan.

Before the football season started?
Ram Nation was hit with a tornado destroying a portion of the city and rocking the school.
 And before that?   

Being snubbed to come back to the GWOC. 

Add a health scare to one of its key players during the season
- A life threatening one at that -  

Mix in a rumored Mega-deal that went south,
and now your going into a realm that very few organizations can overcome in a decade.

Wait. This all happened in one season?

But, to their credit, most organizations are not the Trotwood Rams.  

And with that being said, the Rams enter its 9th OHSAA State Semifinal in 10 years, a OHSAA record. 

They will be battling  a powerhouse in Bishop Hartley tonight at London H.S. (7pm)

While Hartley is a team to be reckoned with, lets take a look at why the Rams could be a team of destiny, and how this year is easily one of Trotwoods' best coaching seasons. 

First off, Trotwood is loaded on both sides of the ball.

With 2 quarterbacks who can provide a passing and running option? 

This is a hard offense to stop.
Rising Junior QB Cooper Stewart has came into his own, after being inconsistent last year. 

Ke'Shawn Huguely, a 2-way star, comes in a makes a impact on offense as well. A dual threat who has gamebreaker ability. One of the best players, pound for pound, in all of Ohio.
The running game is dynamic and powerful with  Hudson-Davis and Huguely leading the way.

Now you throw in the Elite WR duo of Carl Blanton and Sammie Anderson, one that when healthy, no defense has been able to stop.
 Blanton was the star of the last game, and his ability to beat almost every corner with strength, speed, or size makes him possibly the best in the state.

When Blanton went down in the Northmont game, people were fearing that he would possibly never play again.
Was he really having a heart attack? First silence, then prayers reasonated throughout the stadium.
Once it was revealed that Blanton had went into cardiac arrest?
The love, support, and prayers poured into the Blanton family.
After being medically checked out, he was able to get back out on the field, which is definitely a blessing for the Rams, and the legendary Blanton family.  The Blantons' has a rich tradition of great talent to come through Trotwood,  most notably Blantons dad and twin brother Carlos.

Anderson, the UC commit,  just seems to make play after play, and he is, the top CB in Ohio, as evidenced by his Game Clinching pick-6 INT to seal the deal against Hamilton Badin.

As for the Rams defense? 

Been very diverse, with multiple players causing havoc, led by DT Jokell Brown and LB Huguely in the front 7. LB Daylon Morgan had a big INT last game and led the team in tackles, has been consistently good this season.
  Then throw in Anderson in the corner spot, Blanton in the Safety or CB spot, and watch out as the  Rams have the Top DBs in Ohio this year.

The Coaching Staff, already 2-Time OHSAA State Champions under Jeff Graham,  had to do their best job yet to keep Ram Nation from the uneasiness that comes with natural disasters and catastrophic shadiness that invaded Trotwood this year.

Through it all Ram Nation stuck together, which is what Trotwood always has done. A prideful city, while most acknowledged the entire city took a hit, Ram Nation,  somehow, was supposed to sweep all of this under the rug and just win a State Championship?

While they didn't sweep it under the rug,  they did use it as fuel for their last hurrah under the GWOC affiliation.

And while most organizations would have folded months ago, its obvious Trotwood is up for the challenge.

 Since this next challenge isnt unbeaten?  Hartley comes in at 12-1. Don't expect anything less than a W when it comes to this special group of young men.

Nothing these Rams can't handle.

OSU legend Mike McCray (left)  and Trotwood AD Chuck Richardson (right) watch Rams get to State

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Despite loss in OT to Kansas, Flyers win at Maui; How high should they be ranked?

Before heading to Hawaii to live their best life and play some basketball, the Dayton Flyers were a uncertain team.

They were 3-0 but hadn't played the toughest schedule to date.

After starting slow in the first 2 games, Dayton got its offense clicking in Game 3, against Omaha, to setup the Maui trip.

After defeating Georgia and Virginia Tech easily in the first two rounds, could they go toe to toe with one of the "Big Boys" in Kansas?
Could they actually beat Bill Self, and the storied "Rock Chalk" Jayhawks program in a Championship game on National Television?

Not only did they go toe to toe, they almost won the game, as Kansas grinded out a "ESPN Classic" type 80-74 overtime win.

With expert analyst Jay Bilas riding the Dayton wave, the Flyers displayed that they have all the tools to try to make a run at a Final Four berth.

And while it has been the coming out party of Obi Toppin, the 6'10 240 pound monster of a player for UD, it was the entire team that showed why the Flyers could end up being a sleeper pick for a Final Four spot by some.

Jalen Crutcher showed his clutch gene and ability to run a offense against some of the best guards in the country. Rodney Chapman, despite some shaky calls on him, showed he's a Top combo guard, and a great defender.


Trey Landers, one of the top 2-way wing players in college, (Swiss Army knife type) pushed his NBA stock up with great play and the ability to do a variety of things well, especially lockdown defense and shoot.

Ibi Watson, the transfer from Michigan, broke out and showed why he could be a NBA prospect and All American candidate for next year.  Watsons' shooting range, ability to attack the rim and his size were major factors for the Flyers. A great 6th man weapon for the Flyers. Possibly the best 6th man in college.

Ryan Mikesell, one of the best Stretch Fowards in the country, showed his grit and value with a great showing as well.

Now lets evaluate Toppin, shall we?

Toppin was double teamed, (triple teamed a few ttimes)  the entire 1st half against Kansas, which forced him to make plays for his teammates, which he did.

Dayton was on fire from 3 in the first half, draining 8 3's, primarily on rotation plays from kickouts by Toppin.

Toppin  showed why he will be a Top 15 pick as well.

Late into the 1st half, Dayton was down 27-25 and Toppin had not scored a point. He still ended up with 7 points and 6 boards in the 1st half, and when it was all said and done, he had went toe to toe, and showed he can handle anything that was thrown at him.

Toppins final statline:
6-11 FG,  18 pts, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, (40 min).

Considering what he and the Flyers faced? A great game, by any standards.

Despite the loss, this Obi Toppin led Dayton Flyers showed they will be a team to be reckoned with.

Especially in March.
Dont believe me? Ask Jay Bilas, the ESPN basketball analyst who covered the entire event.













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SPRINGFIELD REACHES STATE; DOUGLASS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR; FACE ELDER NEXT

Here's the recap of Regional Finals:

SPRINGFIELD MAKES HISTORY AS SMOOT, DEFENSE LEAD TEAM TO STATE

Springfield takes on Dublin Coffman at Regional Final Game at London HS

The Springfield Wildcats displayed all season that despite the odds, they were built to get to the State.
Coach Maurice Douglass, the Coach of the Year in Southwest Ohio, whole-heartedly thought so;

But, could the Cats actually make it happen for the first time in their rich history?

It would take a incredible effort in order to do so, as the Cats shut down Dublin Coffman 7-3 to win the OHSAA Regional Title in a defensive grind at London High School on Friday night.

When the chips were down, two of the entities that the Wildcats have leaned on the most this season?
 Came through in the clutch. These entities?
QB Te'Sean Smoot and the vaunted Cats defense.

And both keys were no more evident in the 2nd half than in the biggest win in Springfield history.

In the first half Dublin Coffman controlled the tempo of the game, as their defense was able to keep the Cats offense off the scoreboard and hold a slim 3-0 lead.  Coffman ran the West Coast style offense, but used more of a running game to move the ball to get on the board in the first quarter.

Springfield had 2 opportunities to score in the first half; but was foiled on both attempts, as Coffman would bend but not break.

While the opportunities seemed to frustrate Springfield, the Cats came out in the 2nd half and showed that they would not be denied as Top Recruit and Super Sophomore Te'Sean Smoot directed the offense on a game-clinching drive, one that saw Smoot dive over the pile, showing his willingness to give himself up for the team.

Smoot, a sophomore, is one of the rare types who, when you watch him throw in practice, you know you are watching a young living legend in motion.

But it was Smoots' mental intelligence that helped him lead the Cats to the first of possibly a few State Semifinal Berths.
Smoot, the day before Coffman game, was as laser focused as we have seen in a player of his age and statue. His throwing style and ability to put the ball on the money, is second to none in high school.

But it was his natural football instincts and his knowledge of the game which propelled him and the Cats to the next level.
In the 1st half, Smoot was a little off his target, which, on a blistery cold night (30 degrees) against a State type of defense? Could be considered normal. Smoot, despite the ineffectiveness in the first half, was never rattled, even when it was obvious that the Cats had blown two great opportunities.

Instead, under the tutorials of a legend himself in Chris Wallace, the former Wildcat great and Arena Football Legend, Smoot has blossomed into one of the elite quarterbacks in the State. Regardless of Class.

Right now.

And his ability to run a offense which features the likes of dynamic players such as RB-KR Jeff Tolliver, WR Larry Stephens Jr, RB Tavion Smoot and others, has been paramount to the success.

After taking a 7-3 lead the Cats leaned on their defense, which brought the lumber. They were hitting hard, and sending a message, led by top tacklers  Xzerious Stinnett, Robert Holtz, Jokell Brown, and Jaivian Norman. 

While Coffman threatened in the 2nd half, the defense tightened up every time. Conley Smoot, the Defensive Coordinator, did a excellent job of preparing the Cats for the tough offense Coffman ran.

"Smoot has done a great job; his attention to detail on a week to week basis is incredible." Douglass boasted.

Douglass felt like if he was given 5 years, would be able to possibly get results like this.
Welcome to the big time Springfield.

Springfield will be taking on Cincinnati Elder in Piqua on Friday night in the State Semifinals.



  
DOUGLASS NABS COACH OF THE YEAR HONOR 

Maurice Douglass, former Kentucky Star and NFL DB, is Southwest Ohio D-1 Coach of the Year

Maurice Douglass, Head Coach of the Springfield Wildcats, garnered the Southwest Ohio Coach of the Year in football after leading the Wildcats to a 12-1 record and their first ever State Semifinal berth.

Douglass took over Springfield in 2015, with the intentions of turning around the program in five years. And, true to form, the Wildcats have reached their first ever OHSAA State berth.

Douglass, who played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, coached the Trotwood Rams back to prominence before taking on the Springfield opportunity.
At the time? Springfield was going nowhere fast.

Douglass would host the infamous "Satellite Camp" that the NCAA would disallow just a year later after a myriad of D-1 coaches would be in attendance for the High School Football Camp, which would anger the big boys in the NCAA department.

However, that camp, which would have over 400 kids in attendance, would give Douglass and the Cats what they needed:
Exposure.
Once people understood that Douglass had the keys to the progam at Springfield? The results spoke for themselves.
With 3 playoff appearances and a State Semifinal berth, its safe to say the Springfield Wildcats are a program on the rise.
Douglass and the Wildcats will take on Cincinnati Elder in the State Seminfinals on Friday.
"We Are Making History every day" Douglass stated elatedly.
Indeed they are.

Game Of The Week Feautures Ponitz, Dunbar

In the Dayton Weekly Newspaper Game of the week, the Week 7 Matchup Features the Dunbar Wolverines  (2-4) against the Ponitz Panthers (0-6) at Welcome Stadium tonight (7pm).

The Panthers,  who have been competitive in most of the games, will bring a offense that will be looking to explode against a tough Dunbar team who can fire it around themselves. 

Key Players: 

Brandon White,  Jr WR Dunbar

Greg Packnett, Jr QB Dunbar 

VaShawn Ward  RB Ponitz 

White, who is having a breakout season, has come through in the clutch, and with Packnett bringing the Wolverines back to a big win last week, can they take the Wolverines to their 3rd consecutive win?

If Vashawn Ward can exploit the Wolverines D, can the Panthers pull off the upset?


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New Platform Launches for Newspaper Giant; Game of The Week Features City League Rivalry

ONLINE PLATFORM LAUNCHES FOR DAYTON WEEKLY NEWS 

Welcome to the Dayton Weekly Online Sports Blog!

This is where you will see the Top Sports Games, Players, Coaches, Businesses, Events, and other great topics regarding Sports in Dayton and throughout the state.

This blog will be posting on a weekly basis, so make sure you subscribe to the Dayton Weekly Newspaper for more info or to this blog!

Thanks for your time and we look forward to bringing you the best sports related content available!

Deon Cash
Sports Director 
Dayton Weekly Newspaper

Note: If you want a Sports video, photo,  person, or business to be recognized, please email us the information at:

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DAYTON WEEKLY GAME OF THE WEEK  - (Week 5)
THURGOOD (1-3)  VS   DUNBAR (0-4) 

With both teams looking to make a run for a City League Championship, this Week 5 Matchup will go a long way towards one of  teams actually competing for that as Thurgood (1-3) will take on Dunbar (0-4) in the Dayton Weekly News Game of the Week.
In what was THE  rivalry of the 2000s, there will be no love lost as the Cougars and Wolverines go at it for bragging rights and City League stakes.

Thurgood, who started out 1-0 after a big home win, has faltered in the last 3 games. The offense has not been able to get going, and the result has been some tough results of late. William Dewberry Jr. has been phenomenal this season, and is one of the front runners for Defensive Player of the Year in the City League.

Dunbar, who already has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, have actually had opportunities to win but sit at 0-4 coming into the contest. Packentt, who did not play in the last game, will be ready to seize the Wolverines 1st win of the season. Packnett Jr has started to get looks from some of the big colleges lately.



Final Analysis / Prediction:
With both teams getting after it tonight, look for a offensive explosion tonight. But even moreso, look for a Packnett coming out party of sorts, and we got the Wolverines winning 34-24 to get their first win of the season and move into a first place tie for the City League Championship.


Key Players: 
Dunbar - Greg Packnett Jr 
Thurgood - William Dewberry Jr. 


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