Warriors’ Clark officially unhappy with calls

October 20, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Brookfield was edged out by Conneaut 27-24 on Friday

Brookfield coach Randy Clark is in his 10th season with the Warriors. Until Friday night, he never believed he had a game taken from him by the officials.

Today, Clark is positive that his 2014 record stands at 4-3 versus scheduled opponents, and 0-1 versus the referees.

“It was so blatant, we watched game film hoping to see something different, but it was even more obvious than it was [Friday night],” Clark said.

Clark was referring to Brookfield’s 27-24 loss at Conneaut. In the game, the Warriors led 24-14 with less than four minutes to play. Clark noted that his team was penalized 15 times for 164 yards, “including somewhere around 10 penalties in the fourth period alone.” Clark had Conneaut flagged four times for 33 yards.

“It was horrible, there was no way we were going to win that game,” Clark said. “Our hands were tied. We were in a no-win situation.

“I can point to play after play where there were just blatant bad calls that went against us. I have never seen anything like it. The refs knew exactly what they were doing. They knew what calls they wanted to make and knew exactly when to make them.”

Clark said that the majority of the penalties against Brookfield occurred “in situations which weren’t going to allow us an opportunity to win the game.”

Clark also was miffed over an official’s treatment of an individual with special needs who is a longtime member of the Warriors sideline crew.

“We have never had a single incident with this individual, ever,” Clark said. “Friday I was told to shut him up or we would get penalized and he would be thrown out of the stadium. It was just baffling.”

Clark stressed that his frustration had nothing to do with the Conneaut players and coaches. He said the Spartans displayed class both during and after the game.

“Some of the coaches even apologized to us afterward,” Clark said.

Conneaut coach Rocco Dobran said he watched the game film, and while he thought that the referees “missed some calls on both sides,” he wasn’t ready to acknowledge they played a difference in the outcome.

“Coaches coach, players play [and] we have to let the referees ref the game,” Dobran said. “They did the best they could.”

ALESSI RUNNING WILD

South Range senior running back Joe Alessi began each season of his high school career by writing out a list of team and individual goals. He reads over the list prior to each game, “just as a way of getting mentally focused on achieving what’s on the list.”

As the Raiders head into the final two games of the regular season, Alessi won’t have much in the way of reading material. His list has grown much shorter over the past several weeks.

On Friday, Alessi broke single-season school records (which he previously owned) for touchdowns and rushing yards in the Raiders’ 49-20 win over Columbiana. Alessi ran for 324 yards and four touchdowns on just 18 carries. For the season, the senior now has an area-leading 1,952 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. He is averaging 12.7 yards per carry.

“I honestly believe these are team records,” Alessi said. “I just happen to be the one carrying the ball, but the offensive line, the quarterback, the fullback and the wide receivers all play as much a role as I do. These rushing yards and touchdowns belong to everyone.”

Alessi’s lone personal goal yet to be erased from his list is a 2,000-yard rushing season. He is now just 48 yards shy of that achievement.

“If I get there, it would be great, but honestly I’d trade in the yards for a chance to play in Week 11,” Alessi said. “I just want to keep playing with my teammates as long as I can because they are great guys and they are my best friends.”

PLAYOFF CHATTER

With just two weeks left in the regular season, 84 teams have clinched a berth in the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs. Of the 140 remaining spots, 333 teams have kept their postseason hopes alive.

Locally, Hubbard, Ursuline, Liberty, Western Reserve and Wellsville have secured Week 11 games.

Four other schools — Austintown Fitch, Cardinal Mooney, United and McDonald — control their won destiny.

Poland, Howland, Crestview, Girard, Springfield, Lisbon, South Range, Lowellville and Mathews are among the teams which need to win and get some outside help.

Cardinal Mooney (4-3) and Ursuline meet Friday in a game crucial to the Cardinals’ playoff hopes. The Cards finish their season at Fitch. Springfield (6-2) travels to Lisbon (6-2) in a game which will go a long way in determining the fates of both teams.

Fitch (6-1) visits Erie McDowell (4-4), United (6-2) travels to Crestview (4-4) and McDonald (8-0) hosts Lowellville (4-4) in other games which highlight the Week 9 slate.