Alter wins 42-34; Knights in state finals

By Mark Gokavi | Friday, November 21, 2008, 06:43 PM

FINDLAY — Alter never punted in the second half and never gave up the ball after Genoa got close. The Knights win 42-34 and move into the Division IV state title game.

Blair Skilliter’s 2-yard run with 1:24 left brought Genoa within 42-34, but Alter’s Eric Place recovered an onside kick.

Alter extended the lead when Chris Borland scored from 6 yards out to give the Knights a 42-27 lead with 7:32 left.

Alter responded to Genoa’s long drive with a 7-play, 70-yard drive capped by Justin Hall’s third score of the night. With 11:49 left, Alter leads 35-27.

Genoa marched 70 yards on 18 plays and took 9:38 off the clock, but missed the extra point after Blair Skilliter’s 1-yard run. With 2:22 left in the third quarter, Alter leads 28-27.

Genoa went down the field in the final minute of the first half and put Alter’s defensive backfield on its heels. But a first-and-goal pass from the 9 with 4.5 seconds left fell incomplete. Alter leads 28-21 at the half. Genoa gets the ball to start the second half.

Justin Hall’s 38-yard catch on a middle screen put Alter back on top 28-21. That capped a three-play, 73-yard drive. With 1:44 left before halftime, the game is officially a shootout.

Alter is having a hard time covering Genoa’s Zach Apel, who scored his second touchdown of the night on a 20-yard catch.

That tied things up at 21-21. Genoa nearly had an onside kick recovery after a personal foul penalty on Alter. The Comets got the ball back but were offside.

Alter’s Chris Borland scored from 2 yards out in a drive keyed by Borland’s 24-yard run. That gives Alter a 21-14 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.

Genoa ties it 14-14 on a 56-yard pass from Matt Bassitt to Zach Apel. The Comets forced Alter into a 3-and-out situation. Apel’s catch came on Genoa’s first play of the drive.

Alter stopped Genoa on downs. The Knights have a first down at their 15 with 10:36 left before halftime.

Alter leads 14-7 after one quarter, but Genoa is at Alter’s 17 to start the second.

Alter capitalized on a first-down fumble by Genoa as Alter drove 19 yards in seven plays for a 14-7 lead.

Knights quarterback went in from 4 yards outs and was not touched.

Alter fullback Justin Hall ran up the middle for a 44-yard touchdown as the Knights tied the game at 7-7.

Hall’s run capped a 5-play, 77-yard drive.

Blair Skilliter’s 52-yard pass from Matt Bassitt on third-and-13 gave Genoa a 7-0 lead with 7:21 left.

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Fewer Alter fans heading up to Findlay

By Mark Gokavi | Friday, November 21, 2008, 01:41 PM

Last week, it was Coldwater. This week, maybe it’s just cold weather.

The Division IV, Region 16 high school football championship drew a presale of about 1,800 tickets from the Alter side. For tonight’s 7:30 p.m. state semifinal against Genoa at Findlay’s Donnell Stadium, Alter AD Chris Hart said only about 750 tickets have been sold. Fans can also buy tickets at the gate.

Findlay is a lot farther to go than Troy and there is no built-in interest in Genoa, compared to Coldwater, the team that bounced the Knights out last season. And the temps have dropped lately. So, perhaps some Alter fans are hoping for a win and saving up (and bundling up) for the state finals next weekend.

The Dayton Daily News will be there and blogging live tonight.

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National Trail football coach needed

By Marc Pendleton | Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 02:15 PM

Any coach feel like tackling a 32-game losing skid? National Trail athletic director Mick Ditmer sure hopes so.

Mark Hoffman is out as the Blazers’ head football coach. National Trail is a Division V program that’s located at New Paris and a member of the Cross County Conference.

The Blazers’ best shot at winning was the Week 10 season finale vs. Bradford. Both teams entered 0-9, just like the 2007 Week 10 showdown. And like that game, Bradford won, 45-14.

Ditmer lists a math teaching position as possibly being available. Send letters of interest and a resume to Mick Ditmer, AD National trail H.S., 6940 Oxford Gettysburg Road, New Paris, Ohio 45347 or e-mail mditmer@embarqmail.com.

Application deadline is Jan. 9, 2009.

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It’s a Chaminade / C-J celebration

By Marc Pendleton | Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 01:20 PM

There’s no better way for the Chaminade / Chaminade-Julienne boys basketball program to celebrate its 1,000th program win than to host a big fund-raising dinner.

That’s just what the Eagles will do on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Former UD and Chaminade hoop coach Don Donoher will be the featured speaker. The 5:30 p.m. event includes a reception, dinner and presentation at C-J. Cost is $20, and free to former varsity players, coaches and managers who RSVP.

The event will follow C-J’s 3 p.m. game vs. Beavercreek that day at Fairmont’s Trent Arena. Former standout C-J players and title teams will be recognized at halftime.

Last season C-J became the area’s first school to surpass 1,000 career wins, a great run that started in 1928. That includes big-school state titles in 1966 and 1970.

According to Hoop Lines, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association’s magazine, 38 Ohio schools have surpassed 1,000 career wins.

For more information, contact Mike Lehner at (937) 461-3740, ext. 212 or at mlehner@cjeagles.org.

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Alter puts Coldwater in rear-view mirror

By Mark Gokavi | Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 03:10 PM

KETTERING — Alter football coach Ed Domsitz challenged his players Monday to get over the 31-21, Division IV, Region 16 championship win over Coldwater last weekend.

That’s probably going to be easy for everyone but senior defensive end Philip Sowar, whose father, mother and uncles went to school at Coldwater. His grandparents still live there.

That made last season’s 59-52 triple-overtime loss that much tougher to take during family visits to Cavalier country.

“Losing last year really wasn’t much fun,” Sowar said. ” Winning this year made it all that much better.

“I go up there quite frequently. I remember as a little kid before I knew about Alter, I used to root for Coldwater and used to watch them play. So it was pretty neat to beat them.”

With a win over Genoa Area on Friday, Alter can advance to its second state title game in three seasons. The Knights fell by one point to Steubenville in the 2006 D-III championship contest.

The Big Red could be next for Alter, which got past Coldwater and can’t afford to soak in that victory.

“It’s something that you’ll always remember, but it’s something that you’ve got to push back for now, because we plan on playing two more games,” Alter noseguard David Casella said. “So that’s our ultimate goal.”

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Valley View has ‘09 football opener opening

By Marc Pendleton | Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 10:19 AM

Valley View is in need of a 2009 season-opening football opponent.

The Spartans began the last four seasons vs. Colonel White/Marshall, and went 3-1 against the Cougars.

Valley View was 7-4 this fall, dropping its D-III playoff opener to Columbus Eastmoor. Coach Jay Niswonger has scheduled up of late, playing non-league, two-game sets vs. D-I foes Troy and Fairborn.

Niswonger expects Valley view to drop to D-IV next season.

Marshall reportedly has replaced Valley View with Greenon of the CBC. Greenon opened this season with Greeneview.

Contact Niswonger at (937) 855-4116.

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Alter gets Genoa Area in state semis

By Greg Billing | Saturday, November 15, 2008, 07:53 PM

Alter’s road to the Division IV state title game goes through Genoa Area, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association website.

Bracketing for the state semifinals was released on Saturday, Nov. 15, but game sites will not be determined until Sunday afternoon.

Alter (11-2) and Genoa (13-0) play 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at a netural site. Genoa is located about 20 miles southeast of Toledo. Steubenville (13-0) and New Lexington (12-1) play in the other semifinal.

In D-VI, Lehman Catholic (11-1) plays Delphos St. John’s (11-2) on Firday. Bascon Hopewell-Loudon (13-0) and Malvern (13-0) are in the other semi.

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