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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 12:31 AM Friday, October 30, 2009

Punters routinely do their work in anonymity ... unless something goes wrong.

If people don’t notice you, then you’re probably doing something right goes the theory. But all eyes were on Eaton High School sophomore Cole French last week against Valley View.

Clinging to a 20-14 lead with less than a minute left and a division title on the line, the sophomore was sent to punt from near his own 20-yard line.

French — whose nerves could easily have been rattled after two field goals and an extra point were blocked earlier — responded with a punt that drove Valley View back near midfield. The Spartans drove to the Eagles’ 36-yard line as time expired.

“Oh, so much pressure,” Eaton coach Ron Neanen said.

His advice for French: “Catch it, and get the sucker off.”

The win sealed the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division title for Eaton.

Playoffs or bust

Seven SWBL teams still have a postseason shot. The top eight per region advance.

Still alive in Division III, Region 12 are No. 4 Monroe, No. 9 Eaton and No. 10 Franklin.

The SWBL logjam in D-IV, Region 16 includes No. 5 Valley View, No. 6 Carlisle, No. 7 Milton-Union and No. 8 Waynesville.

Five SWBL teams qualified for the postseason in 2008: Brookville, Franklin, Oakwood, Valley View and Waynesville.

Title towns

Eaton won the Southwestern Division title last week, its first league title since 2006-05 and first outright title since 1989.

Carlisle, Monroe and Waynesville are tied atop the Buckeye Division at 4-1. All three could share the title with wins tonight, Oct. 30.

Extra points

A trio of SWBL rushers are making a statement. Among schools that reported stats to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the SWBL has three running backs ranked among the top 20 in the state.

Eaton’s Dalton Caudill (1,715 yards) is fifth in the state in rushing, Waynesville’s Seth Millar (1,486 yards) ranks seventh and Monroe’s Devin King (1,254) is 18th. Millar also is eighth in scoring (152 points).

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