Niles wasn’t Ross’ typical road trip

October 13, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Hamilton Ross High football coach Brian Butts has been roaming the sidelines since 1983, including the past nine years as the head coach of the Rams.

Until Saturday, to his knowledge he was never part of a regular-season road game which took his team more than 60 miles from home.

“Our typical trip takes maybe 20 to 40 minutes to get there — an hour tops,” Butts said.

However, Ross’ latest road game was anything but typical. The Rams on Saturday logged 582 round-trip miles in a 40-21 road win at Niles. The Rams (4-3) departed for Trumbull County Saturday morning at 8 a.m. They expected to arrive back in Hamilton around 4 a.m. on Sunday.

The trip to Niles included stops in New Philadelphia to eat and Canton to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“We decided that we were going to make this a fun day for the kids, if we were going to have to travel this far anyway we were going to make a day of it,” Butts said. “Instead of this being something that we would all dread, we turned it into a memorable experience.

“It was always a goal to bring a team to Canton (for the playoffs). Well, today I did it.”

Butts said the Hall of Fame visit had several advantages. For starters, be believed the visit “might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience” for many players. The stopover also made the jaunt from Canton to Niles feel more like a typical road trip.

“We really didn’t know how our kids would respond to such a drive,” Butts said. “We figured that if we broke it up, they would be a bit more fresh for the game.”

Butts’ plan worked to perfection. The Rams built a 33-7 halftime lead and never looked back.

“It’s certainly not something you would want to do every year, but it turned into a perfect, memorable day,” Butts said. “The kids were super loose. They had a blast.”

HAPPY 100th

Among the 16 football-playing schools in Trumbull County, the average tenure for head coaches at their current respective schools is five years. Among them, Lakeview coach Tom Pavlansky leads the list. Not only is Pavlansky in his 16th season with the Bulldogs, but it’s the only head coaching job he’s ever had.

This past Friday, Pavlansky logged career win No. 100 when the Bulldogs defeated LaBrae, 12-0.

Pavlansky owns a 100-66 record at Lakeview. He has led the Bulldogs to five playoff appearances and has just one losing season under his reign.

“Honestly, all it really means is that I have been surrounded by great players, coaches, administrators, teachers and parents,” Pavlansky said. “It just comes down to who you are surrounded by. Lakeview is a great school in a great community.”

Pavlansky won the first-ever game he coached. It was a 42-13 win at Ashtabula Edgewood on Aug. 27, 1999.

“I remember it, probably only because getting that first win out of the way is always important to any coach,” Pavlansky said.

As for some of his most memorable wins? Sure, Pavlansky recalls the league titles and the playoff appearances, but he insists he treats all wins as equal.

“Our biggest and most important win to me was (Friday), because it was our most recent win,” Pavlansky said. “And I mean this when I say it, I hope that the seniors we had in 1999 realize they were as much a part of the victory as the seniors on today’s roster.

“I’m blessed. I couldn’t be at a better school.”

A LOOK AHEAD

Week 8 of the regular season features a number of games which will go a long way in determining the playoff fate of area teams.

Hubbard (6-1) visits Howland (6-1) in a game which will have major implications in Division III, Region 7. The Eagles are well on their way to a postseason appearance and a win over the Tigers would virtually guarantee a first-round home game. Howland, meanwhile, is clinging to its playoff hopes despite just the one setback. A loss to Hubbard would likely mean that the Tigers would need to win out and get outside help, as they close the season against two teams with losing records.

Cardinal Mooney (4-2) is currently in line for a playoff spot in Division IV, Region 11. However, the Cardinals close their season against three opponents who are a combined 17-3. This week, the Cards travel to New York to take on Buffalo Canisius (6-0).

Also in Region 11, Lakeview (4-3) is on the outside looking in, but a win over Jefferson (6-1) could put the Bulldogs back in the chase.

Liberty (6-1) hosts Girard (6-1) in a showdown of Division V, Region 15 rivals. Despite its lofty record, Girard is on the outside looking in because the Indians’ wins have come against opponents with a combined record of 8-34. However, the Tribe closes against a trio of foes who are a combined 16-5, so they can control their playoff fate.

Crestview (4-3) is very narrowly out of the top eight spots in Region 15. The same goes for Springfield (5-2) in Division VI, Region 19. The two meet Friday in New Middletown.

United (5-2) and Lisbon (6-1) are both currently in playoff position in their respective regions. When the two meet Friday in Hanoverton, the winner will come close to punching its ticket to the post-season.