Jenny Nelson murder
Muse Machine rehearsal
.JPG)
Celebs come out for TV's '24'
Game of the Week: Northmont vs. Wayne
Friday, September 22, 2006
NORTHMONT (4-0)
vs. WAYNE (2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Where: Heidkamp Stadium, Huber Heights
Key players: Northmont QB John Nussman, RB Kevin Ringer; Wayne QB Ryan Bitsko, RB Joe Gilford.
Quick slants: QB Clay Belton's broken thumb will keep him out of tonight's "Dayton Daily News" high school football Game of the Week. But just like his arm, the Thunderbolts also have a strong supporting cast. Lost one of the top QBs in the state? No worries. In steps Nussman. He might not have big-game experience, but he has big numbers. Nussman has completed 17 of 23 passes for 225 yards for one TD and no INTs. He helped avoid Miamisburg's upset bid in last week's 20-18 win, won by kicker Kenton Froebe's 22-yard field goal with two seconds left. He gets help in the backfield with the return of A.J. Combest, who broke his fibula in July. The running game could use the boost. Though a passing team first (and it's certainly working at 4-0, No. 8 in the state rankings), the T-Bolts enter averaging 81 yards rushing. Wayne appears to have knocked off the rust following time lost to a teachers' strike with a pair of 40- and 45-point games. The Warriors ran up 600 all-purpose yards — 406 of that was rushing — in last week's win over Xenia. Bitsko is efficient (22 of 32 for 248 yards) and adds to a rushing game where the top three leaders in yardage average 6.5 yards or better per carry. This crossover game doesn't count in the GWOC standings, but major computer points are up for grabs. Northmont is No. 3 in D-I, Region 4 rankings. Wayne is No. 15. Wayne took last year's game 40-15.
Picking the game: Many factors are used to determine which three games will be voted on: team records, DDN ratings, traditional rivalries, how close the game could be, impact on the league and playoff chase. Northmont and Wayne staged a fourth-quarter comeback to earn GOW honors. Tippecanoe and Greenon had the edge and was driving late, but the GWOC schools pulled out 4,893 votes overall to the Central Buckeye Conference schools' 4,562.
Fan friendly: The DDN will provide megaphones and T-shirts for trivia answers at a pre-game party at the home field. WHIO-TV sports director Mike Hartsock will deliver Tuffy Brooks game balls prior to kickoff via Chopper 7.
Says WHIO-TV Sports Director Mike Hartsock:
I was leaning toward Northmont until Clay Belton broke his thumb. The T-Bolts still have plenty of talent, but can they keep up with Wayne with the number two QB ... I don't think so ... I'll take the Warriors to win at home.
Says DDN assistant sports editor Marc Pendleton:
This would be a tough assignment for Northmont even with Belton. Wayne is firing on all cylinders with Bitsko becoming a factor. Warriors too much at home.
