County pride is at stake in MVCA

Several of the area’s best seniors will compete in Thursday’s all-star game.

By MARK W. MILLER

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

HUBBARD — Tomaz Hilton, a wide receiver-safety from The Rayen School, and Corey Cunningham, a wide receiver-cornerback from Springfield, are two Division I recruits scheduled to play for the Mahoning-Columbiana squad in the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association 23rd Jack Arvin Football Classic on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hubbard High Memorial Stadium.

The White team (Mahoning-Columbiana) will meet the Red (Trumbull) team.

“I expect us to be more eager to play because of last year’s loss to Trumbull,” said Mahoning-Columbiana coach Mark Assion, Jackson-Milton High’s coach. “It’s kind of like defending the counties.”

Hilton, who had 32 receptions for 600 yards and eight touchdowns for Rayen, will continue his football career at the University of Cincinnati.

He said, “It’s a pleasure playing with these guys. They are all-stars and we have been having a lot of run at practices this week.”

Cunningham made 71 catches for 881 yards and nine touchdowns for Springfield last season. He’ll continue his football career at Bowling Green University.

“It’s good playing with these kids. They are from different regions, guys I have never played with on the same team,” said Cunningham.

Good practices

Assion said of the week-long practices: “The kids were getting at it, they have been very competitive and learning a new system quickly.”

Jeff Bayuk is the Red coach. At Hubbard for the past 15 years, he takes over as coach at Campbell this fall.

“Our four practices this week have been the most pleasurable since I coached in the Big 33 game in 1993,” said Bayuk.

Hubbard has five players on the roster, which includes Joel Younkins, fullback-linebacker, who rushed for 800 yards and led the Eagles in tackles last season. He’ll continue his football career at Youngstown State, as will Warren Harding’s Ian Vasil, an offensive and defensive lineman.

Bayuk said, “The thing that impresses me most is how quickly the kids pick up on things. I only have to tell them once or twice and that’s a credit to all the coaches in Trumbull County.”

Three of the Trumbull stars are coaches’ sons. LaBrae’s Eric Hart, a running back-defensive back, is the son of Bill Hart, who has coached at several area schools.

There’s also Newton Falls’ Matt Bjelac, running back-linebacker, whose father coaches the Tigers, and Hubbard’s John Bayuk, a wide receiver-defensive back.

Practices will be held at Jackson-Milton High from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and at Hubbard from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

miller@vindy.com