Great Scott: Hubbard running back nears milestone
By Steve Ruman
When Jimmy Rasey became Mahoning Valley’s all-time career rushing leader in 2010, he broke a record which had stood for 30 years.
Rasey, a Champion High graduate who began his career at Southington, rushed for 6,335 yards. During the midway point of the ‘10 season, he broke the career record owned by Rick Badanjek (5,336 yards). Badanjek graduated from Southington in 1980.
However, Rasey’s record stood for just two years, until Howland’s De’Veon Smith eclipsed the mark in 2012 with 6,619 career rushing yards.
Now, Smith’s record is on the verge of going by the wayside in a similar time frame.
Hubbard’s Larry Scott rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries in the Eagles’ 41-10 win over Canal Fulton Northwest. Scott now has 6,533 career rushing yards. He needs just 87 yards in Hubbard’s regular-season finale against Struthers to become the Valley’s new rushing king.
According to records kept by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, Scott currently ranks 10th on the list of Ohio’s all-time leading rushers. He is one spot behind Smith. Rasey’s mark is good for 15th on the list.
Tyrell Sutton of Akron Archbishop Hoban is the state’s all-time leading rusher. Sutton, who played from 2001-2004, rushed for 9,426 yards.
CONFERENCE CALL
With just one week remaining in the regular season, league titles remain up for grabs in all area conferences.
Hubbard (9-0, 4-0) owns a share of the All American Conference American Division title, and can claim its second-straight outright title with a home win against Struthers. The Eagles could also claim the title with a Poland (8-1, 3-1) loss at Canfield.
Liberty (8-1, 6-0) is looking for its second outright AAC National Division title in three years. To earn it, the Leopards must defeat defending league title holder Lakeview (6-3, 5-1). A Bulldogs win would split the title, which could also be shared by Girard (7-2, 5-1) should the Indians defeat Jefferson.
Springfield (7-2, 5-1) has claimed at least a share of Tier One of the Inter Tri-County League. The Tigers can win the title outright with a home victory over South Range (6-3, 4-2).
Tier Two of the ITCL will be decided when McDonald (9-0, 6-0) visits Wellsville (7-2, 5-1). The Blue Devils have already clinched a share of the title — their fifth in eight years — and can win it outright with a victory.
Mathews (6-3, 5-0) and Pymatuning Valley (5-4, 5-0) will match perfect league records when the two square off in Vienna in what will be the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship game.
GlenOak (6-3, 4-1) will host Perry (6-3, 4-1) to decide the Federal League title. Louisville (8-1, 6-0) will claim the Northeastern Buckeye Conference with a win over Canton South (1-8) while Bedford (9-0, 5-0) will host Maple Heights (7-2, 4-1) in a game which will either give Bedford the Lake Erie League outright, or force the two teams to split the title.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Eight teams from the Mahoning Valley have clinched a spot in the OHSAA playoffs. They include: Austintown Fitch, Hubbard, Cardinal Mooney, Liberty, Ursuline, McDonald, Western Reserve and Wellsville.
Eleven other area teams remain in the playoff hunt, though only a few of those have an uncomplicated path to Week 11.
For Poland, Springfield and Mathews, the formula is simple — win on Friday and the postseason is a guarantee.
While the Bulldogs haven’t yet officially secured a berth, they will likely advance regardless of how they fare against Canfield. Springfield also could advance despite a loss, though the Tigers would need a bit more outside help. The Mustangs are in a must-win situation.
Lakeview, Crestview, United and Girard aren’t mathematically assured of a playoff spot even with a win on Friday, but it would be nearly impossible for any of those four schools to miss out with a victory. Crestview and United have a better than fifty-fifty chance of advancing even with a loss.
Howland, West Branch, East Palestine and South Range, though not mathematically out of the running, have virtually no chance of playing beyond Week 10.