Clippers VS BullDogs This is What They Call Sloberknocker Football |
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| There is a great football movie called "Remember the Titans", and this Friday night at Reid Memorial Stadium in East Palestine, there is going to be battle between titans. Undoubtably the two biggest lines in the ITCL will square off to see who is the best of the big men. But with the big "uglies" as Keith Jackson would say, locking horns, it will be the "little" guys that will run, throw, and catch the ball. Whichever linemen can win the battle of the trenches will have the advantage of scoring and winning this huge contest. |
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| Columbiana's head coach Bob Spaite will admit that his team is regarded as one of the biggest lines in the league, but the Dogs outweigh them in this match-up. "They're one of the few we are going to face that are actually bigger than us," he would remark. "Tommy Muir is 6-9 380, 390, they got him, Ben Gysin and our Rex Smith, I worked with. Bowling Green State University had a "big man" camp, and I worked that camp. Tommy Muir reminds me a lot of our Mike Greer who was a full ride guy (scholarships), very similar, big dominating presence. Gysin, Gysin is a guy that the MAC is interested in. He has great feet, he put on a clinic, he killed, offesively and defensively, " Spaite remarked about the Bulldog linemen. Coach Sharkey agreed that the line play will take a big role in the outcome of Friday night's game stating that "Both teams have veteran lines, it's going to come down to who can impose their will on the other". |
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| All Player and Coaches Photos Courtesy of: The Vindicator |
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| Both the Clippers and Bulldogs have a stable of running backs and receivers who can all make the game changing run or catch. Of course the Bulldogs heralded quarterback Shane Peterson will be in the spotlight. "He's a remarkable athlete," Spaite would say. "If he's not the best best quarterback in the league, he's one of two". Coach Sharkey noted, "We have more experience, but they have multiple backs they use, Davidson, Roncone, and then they throw Crider in there, oh yeah Ritchey, I almost forgot about him. So they have a whole stable of guys they go to". But when two talented teams hook up, it sometimes comes down to special teams. "Special teams and turnovers are key, we have stressed that this week. We felt our special teams were not up to what we wanted them to be," Sharkey said. |
| This game will not only go a long way in determining the league championship in 2009, it is also a rivalry game dating back decades. According to Columbiana's football web site, the Clippers hold a 29 to 22 game winning record against East Palestine. The rivalry may have faded a bit for the Clippers as they have developed spirited trophy rivalries with Leetonia and Crestview over the years, but for East Palestine, this is THE GAME. "Certainly East Palestine's intensity toward Columbiana will be three thousand times what it was against Steubenville (last week), I just know that. It is a passionate, passionate game for them," Spaite commented. He would go on to add, "The rival go back years. For years they played the last game of the season. It was Ohio State-Michigan". Coach Sharkey said he would agree with that, but added, "The first league game is always important, this is our biggest rivalry". One advantage that the Bulldogs may have is playing at the new Reid Memorial Stadium. Coach Spaite thinks it gives the bulldogs a sizable advantage over everyone, "Being the only turf field in the league, their playing five on it, everyone else is playing one game on it every other year. That's huge, that's major". Coach Sharkey wasn't quite as convinced, "It's our home field, both teams are playing on the same field. I'm not so sure that it gives us a big advantage. However, I will say it suits our team very well". Coach Spaite concurred, "They are lightening fast, frightening fast. Now your playing them on turf, and there you go with them twice as fast". Many fans may rush to point out that Columbiana beat Central Catholic by a point in overtime in week #1, while the Bulldogs hammered SCC last week 30-6. "It's the first game. We didn't play a very good game in week one either. They (Columbiana) have progressed from week to week. They have corrected a lot of their mistakes from then," Bulldogs coach Sharkey would caution. One thing for sure on Friday night, this will be a classic game of the titans. The winner will be the "king of the hill" until someone else can knock them off. Watch for both teams to play right to the bitter end. |
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| Side Notes: -Columbiana has won the past six games -CalPreps Prediction: Columbiana 22-21 |