Ravenna is a narrow winner; John Hay makes coach proud in football playoff debut

Posted by Ravenna Ravens on Nov 4, 2012 in Press Box | 0 comments

Matt Pawlikowski, Special to The Plain Dealer, November 04, 2012 12:04 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The final score read 13-12, but when John Hay’s players walked off the field following their Division III quarterfinal loss to Ravenna, there were no losers.

“The guys are champions, there is a lot of love on that team,” John Hay coach Rodney Decipeda said. “They have grown together, they have grown as a family and have bonded and that is what is special. There are always two components to the game, one on the inside and one on the scoreboard.

“I told my men we are champions. We won on the inside and while we aren’t on the scoreboard, I couldn’t be prouder. It was a special season.”

Special indeed as John Hay nearly took home the win, when Decipeda went for it all. With 2:15 left in the third quarter, Mylik Mitchell found Deon Colvin for a 31-yard score. It put the Hornets one point away from advancing. The conversion attempt just was out of reach.

Ravens edge Cleveland John Hay to reach regional semifinals

Posted by Ravenna Ravens on Nov 4, 2012 in Press Box | 0 comments

By Colin Harris | Staff Writer

It wasn’t always pretty, but playoff football in Ohio is often about who is there at the end to make a play.

Ravenna senior quarterback Kyle Spellman had a rough evening under center, but he was there at the end to secure the win as Ravenna got a 13-12 victory over Cleveland John Hay in a Division III regional quarterfinal contest.

Spellman has had much better statistical performances, finishing just 6-of-16 for 102 yards passing while rushing for 27 yards. The Ravens senior had trouble securing the ball all evening, fumbling twice and getting picked off once.

But with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, it was Spellman who carried the ball four times — and picked up a first down that all but ended a timeout-less Hay’s hopes of a comeback — for 19 yards to seal the victory.

“A team like Kent Roosevelt is going to put the ball in (senior quarterback) Tra Chapman’s hands with the game on the line and we’re going to do that with Kyle Spellman,” Ravenna coach Jim Lunardi said. “Tonight didn’t go (well) for him, but he helped get us here and we trusted him at the end.”

PTC Metro Football Report: This time around, Ravenna football coach Jim Lunardi chose to go for one

Posted by Ravenna Ravens on Oct 31, 2012 in Press Box | 1 comment

Legendary Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne is often remembered for one gutsy call that didn’t go his way.

Trailing Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl, Osborne’s Huskers scored a late TD to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 31-30. Rather than going for an extra point, however, Osborne elected to go for two points — and the win.

Nebraska QB Turner Gill’s pass attempt was tipped away in the end zone, however, giving Miami the win and the national championship.

The reason I mention this is that Ravenna head coach Jim Lunardi was faced with a similar dilemma in Friday night’s game against Kent Roosevelt.

After QB Kyle Spellman hooked up with Kyle Kornbau for a 16-yard touchdown in the first overtime, Lunardi elected to kick an extra point and send the game into the second OT, rather than go for two and end the game — win or lose — right then and there.

Six area teams have eye on OHSAA football playoffs

Posted by Ravenna Ravens on Oct 27, 2012 in Press Box | 0 comments

Six area teams have unofficially qualified for the 2012 High School Football State Playoffs, while another was still awaiting its fate at press time Friday night.

Mogadore, Kent Roosevelt, Aurora and Streetsboro will host Regional Quarterfinal games next weekend, while Ravenna and Woodridge will open playoff action on the road.

The Wildcats (10-0) earned the top spot in Division VI, Region 21, and likely locked up their sixth Associated Press State Poll championship after defeating East Canton 33-12 on Friday to finish the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record. The Cats also captured AP poll crowns in 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985 and 2001.

Kent Roosevelt 26, Ravenna 20: Tra’Von Chapman carries Rough Riders to double-overtime victory

Posted by Ravenna Ravens on Oct 27, 2012 in Press Box | 0 comments

By Ryan Lewis | Beacon Journal sports writer

KENT: The Big R Trophy is returning to Kent on the legs of Tra’Von Chapman.

Chapman ran for 162 yards and four touchdowns, two of them in overtime, as Kent Roosevelt took down rival Ravenna 26-20 in double overtime Friday night.

“It was a heart-racer,” said Chapman, who also passed for 82 yards. “My whole family is here and I think I gave them a couple of spooks. It was a great team win.”

After trailing 13-3 entering the fourth quarter, Ravenna (6-4, 5-2) fought back and forced overtime in the Portage Trail Conference Metro game on junior kicker Ben Morgan’s 24-yard field goal as time expired.