Prep football news & notes

RECORD NUMBERS

With nine new starters on offense, it seemed logical that Crestview would experience some growing pains in the early stages of the 2012 season. Instead, the Rebels spent the first half of the season putting up record-setting numbers. Through five games, the Rebels (5-0, 2-0) are averaging 51.8 points per game. On Friday, they set a pair of school records in a 71-7 thumping of Mineral Ridge.In the second period, Quarterback Colin Gilbert hooked up with Dimitri Gregory on a 99-yard pass play to score the longest touchdown in school history. Then with 4:40 left in the game, sophomore Cody MacKall tackled a Rams ball carrier in the end zone to record a safety, and establish a team record for points scored in a single game. The previous record was 69.

“As coaches, we’re just worried about the next play, but the kids were aware of what they had done,” said Rebels coach Paul Cusick. “We’ve had opportunities to set the record in the past, but we don’t believe in running up the score. Things just happened and we ended up with 71.”

The win also extended Crestview’s Inter-Tri County League Tier One winning streak to 17 games. Since the formation of the league, the Rebels are 38-6 against conference opponents.

“We don’t concern ourselves with any of those numbers,” Cusick said. “I know it’s a clich , but we take things week to week. We preach that our next game is a championship game, and the kids buy into it. That’s a key to our success. Honest to God, I know we play Springfield this week, but I couldn’t tell you who we play after that. I never know our schedule more than one week down the road.”

STREAK BUSTERS

Prior to the start of the season, the last time Lisbon had won a league game was during the Bush Administration. That all changed Friday when the Blue Devils downed Jackson-Milton 48-34. The win lifted the Devils’ record to 2-3, and gave them their first Inter-Tri County League win since Sept. 15, 2006. On that night, Lisbon downed East Palestine 47-0. The Devils then lost 42 consecutive league games.

Against Jackson-Milton, Lisbon racked up 433 yards, and scored six rushing touchdowns. Zak Leko (234 yards, 23 carries), Brandon Barnes (155 yards, 27 carries) and Josh Liberati each crossed the goal line twice, while Liberati also threw for 121 yards and a touchdown. At 2-3, Lisbon is guaranteed of having its best season since at least 2007, when it went 2-8. In 2006, the Blue Devils finished 4-6. Entering the season, the Devils had won just two of their last 47 games.

CONFERENCE CALL

After just two weeks of league play, Crestview and South Range (3-2, 2-0) are the only teams in the ITCL Tier One without a league loss. The Rebels travel to Springfield while South Range plays host to Jackson-Milton. In Tier Two of the ITCL, Southern, Columbiana and Western Reserve are all 2-0 within the conference. The logjam will be decreased this week as Southern travels to Columbiana. Niles (5-0, 2-0) stands alone atop the All American Conference (American Division). The Red Dragons hold a half-game lead over both Howland (4-1, 1-0) and Struthers (4-1, 1-0). Hubbard (3-2, 0-2), who was considered a league favorite by many in the preseason, is two games behind the pace. The AAC National Division has Liberty (4-1, 2-0), Campbell (3-2, 2-0) and Lakeview (3-2, 2-0) in a battle at the top. The Leopards visit the Red Devils on Friday. Prior to this year, Liberty hadn’t won a league game since 2009. West Branch (2-3, 2-0) and Marlington (5-0, 2-0) share the top spot in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. Warren G. Harding (4-1, 2-0) is one of four teams Lake Erie League teams with a 2-0 league record. Canton McKinley (4-0, 2-0) owns a half-game lead over Boardman (3-2, 1-0) and Perry (3-2, 1-0) in the Federal League.

Steve Ruman | The Vindicator