Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
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Monday, August 1, 2011
Wayne’s Minton half the man he used to be
HUBER HEIGHTS - Jay Minton has always maintained a low profile on the football field. If you didn’t know that he was the head coach at Wayne High School, you’d think that he was just another onlooker at practices or on the sideline during games.
By design, he leaves the actual coaching to his veteran assistants. They have no problem cranking up the verbal “encouragement,” especially defensive line coach Pat “Woody” Wood.
As nondescript as that sounds, Minton now blends in even more so with the players. Since last season Minton has lost nearly 60 pounds. Never a robust figure, Minton is as lean as a distance runner now.
How did he do it? He limits himself to 1,200 calories daily, doesn’t eat after 6 p.m., walks/jogs three miles daily and “I drink a ton of water.”
Why did he do it? “There just comes a point in your life, you know?” he said following Monday’s afternoon practice on the first day of preseason camp.
As always, Minton was equal parts reflective, intuitive and encouraged about the prospects of following the second team that he’s guided to a D-I state championship game.
In his words:
Let coaches coach. That’s the way I’ve always done it. That’s what I believe in; that’s my philosophy. … You can really pick up on some little things and important things when you observe. You don’t have to worry about the other things like when you’re coaching a position. … Pat Wood, Mike Garinger, Aaron Powell and Rosey Mukes, they’ve been here forever. They’ve all been with me for 13 years. That’s unheard of with staffers. They’re relentless sometimes, but the kids respond.
You want to build on that legacy that the seniors left last year. It’s also a challenge. You hear a lot of, well, you lost your top dog, you lost (QB) Braxton (Miller). What are you going to do? We also lost Anthone Taylor, a big-time back. We lost a ton of guys on defense. Can those guys step up and have a similar defense to what we had last year? It’s going to be interesting.
On QB Javon Harrison: Mentality-wise, you’ve got to have the right person as well as a skill person. There are a lot of people who wouldn’t even attempt to replace Braxton. His number isn’t even assigned right now, because nobody wanted it. Somebody asked Javon if he wanted that number and he said no, I respect my guy too much. Javon’s got that mentality that, hey, I’m me. We’ll be different in some ways, but in some ways I hope to be better. He’s just got a sweet mentality. He also punts. He’s got a tremendous foot. That’s a weapon back there.
On Harrison’s rebuilt right shoulder: We were worried about it. Where would he be at this point in the season? The doctors all said if he does all his rehab and all that, it could be stronger. A lot of times that happens. And he has. That’s what I saw in his mentality in his rehab. He was determined to get through that surgery. A labrium tear on your throwing shoulder and you’re out all of last year? How many guys would tank it? A ton of them. He’s a winner, a 4.0 student. He’s got some quicks, too. I don’t want to give away all of his secrets but he can get it a little bit. I don’t know that anybody is going to be Braxton-esk. He was kind of a freak. But Javon’s got a nice package.
It’s a special time in the history of the program, coming off the three GWOC Central titles and a state runner-up. We tell the kids, those are nice things, but you don’t want to hang your hat on it. Right now you want to hang your hat on something new and better if you can. Last year’s seniors left an awful big challenge for these guys.
Midnight Madness: It turned out to be an unbelievable reunion. Jerel Worthy. Troy Gilmer is the starting outside linebacker at Akron. Josh Harrison is at Wisconsin. The Talbott brothers from Michigan. Tre Moore who’s at Northern Illinois. All these guys were here and just jacked our players up sky high. Those guys are coming back and coming to see us? This is what they left and they expect it to be handled the right way.
Every year I ask the seniors what they want and they say Camp Higher Ground and Midnight Madness. They’ll say, coach, we got to have it. We can’t do without it. Every year I’m thinking, why did I do this? I’ve got the power to veto this. But then you see how the players react to all the fans and the former players. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.
TweetFootball preview: Belmont Bison
Belmont High School
D-II, Region 8
Head coach: John Derr
Assistant coaches: Jack Fails Sr., Jack Fails Jr., Gary Jackson, Larry Barnes, James Fierson, Tony Carlton.
2010 record: 1-9 overall, 0-4 Dayton City League
Key returners:
Tyshawn Gordon, RB
Walt Roberts RB/DB
Delmarco Scales QB
Kendric Dorsey OL/DL
Byron Blair OL/DL
Key newcomers:
Marcus Houston OL/DL
Ed Taylor WR/DB
Belmont schedule
Fri., Aug. 26 Cin. Hughes*
Sat., Sept. 3 Greeneview*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 8 Northridge*, 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 17 Dunbar*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 22 Cin. Riverview East Aca.*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 29 Ponitz Tech*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 6 Meadowdale*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 13 Thurgood Marshall*, 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 22 Patrick Henry*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 27 Jefferson*, 7 p.m.
*At Welcome Stadium
TweetFootball preview: Alter Knights
Alter High School
D-III, Region 12
Head coach: Ed Domsitz, overall 252-136 (at Alter 177-53), 35th year, (20th at Alter).
Assistant coaches: Tom Alig, Dave Imber, Tim Edwards, Tom Cobey, Ron DiSalvo, Mike Donohoo, Phil Drayton, Rick Willits, Paul Howe, Chris Pancake, Dan Shea, Bob Madewell, Brandon Markley and Jason Schondelmyer.
2010 record: 11-3 overall; 6-1 GCL North champions; D-IV regional champions.
Key returners:
Joey Bolek, Sr., DL, 5-10, 210;
Ryan Bayer, Sr., DL, 5-11, 180;
Ryan Goulden, Sr., DB, 5-9,155;
Joe Penno, Sr., RB, 5-11, 175;
Andrew Asebrook, Sr., OL, 5-11, 275;
Andrew DiMario, Sr., PK, 5-7, 130;
Brian O-Donnell, Sr., DB, 6-0, 175;
Danny Thimons, Sr., LB, 6-2, 180
Key newcomers:
Malik Zaire, Jr. QB, 6-1, 185;
Stephen Dockins, Sr., DL, 5-11, 210;
Ben Braebender, Sr., OL, 6-1, 220;
Michael Holder, Sr., DE, 6-0, 185
Alter schedule
Fri., Aug. 26 at Fairmont
Fri., Sept. 2 Cle. East Technical at Centerville
Fri., Sept. 9 at Napoleon
Thu., Sept. 15 Purcell Marian at Springboro
Sat., Sept. 24 at Ham. Badin
Fri., Sept. 30 McNicholas at Fairmont
Fri., Oct. 7 Carroll at Centerville
Fri., Oct. 14 at Fenwick
Thu., Oct. 20 at Roger Bacon
Fri., Oct. 28 Chaminade Julienne at TBA
TweetFootball preview: Beavercreek Beavers
Beavercreek High School
D-I, Region 4
Head coach: Scott Clodfelter, 26-44; 7 years as head coach
Assistant coaches: Butch Snider; Dave Miller; Joel Dougless; TJ Smart; Kerry Davis; Mark Smith; Clint Bartlett; Brad Woods; Aaron Carnes; Pete Ankrom.
2010 record: 1-9 overall; 1-5 GWOC Central
Key returners:
Zach Smith
Justin Weaver
Airius Moore
Ryan Sedlar
Key newcomers:
Allen Lawrence
Jake Young
CJ Davis
Tyler Reasoner
Ricky Ford
Beavercreek schedule
Fri., Aug. 26 at Fairfield
Fri., Sept. 2 at Carroll
Fri., Sept. 9 Trotwood-Madison
Fri., Sept. 16 at Xenia
Fri., Sept. 23 Troy
Fri., Sept. 30 Northmont
Fri., Oct. 7 Wayne
Fri., Oct. 14 at Springfield
Fri., Oct. 21 Fairmont
Fri., Oct. 28 at Centerville
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