LONG JOURNEY LEADS TO PLAYOFFS FOR SILVERBACKS

                On their way to Saturday night’s regular season finale in Chicago, the Miami Valley Silverbacks bus broke down about 30 miles east of Indianapolis.  Once the Silverbacks’ nine-and-a-half hour excursion came to an end, Chris Stanford put together a practically perfect effort to erase the pain of the long trip, leading Miami Valley to a 58-24 win.

                Perfect, as in a 12-yard fumble return for a touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage as a defensive back.

                Perfect, as in six-for-six passing for 120 yards and four touchdowns in place of injured starter Kyenes Mincy, who went down with a shoulder injury late in the first quarter. 

                And perfect, as in a sixth touchdown contributed by rushing in a one-yard score on his third snap under center, part of a five-carry, 29-yard rushing effort.

                Stanford’s effort was so perfect, it seemed like it came from a movie.   

“I yelled at him ‘Beamon!  Get your butt in there!,’ “Silverbacks head coach Brian Wells said of how he told Stanford he was going to have to take over for Mincy.  “He reminds me of the character from Any Given Sunday, except he doesn’t get nervous like Willie Beamon.  His throwing motion isn’t pretty, but he has good touch on his balls and he anticipates his routes.”

Although Stanford made his biggest splash at quarterback, it was his recovery and return of a fumble forced by linebacker Will White on the first play of the game that he says set the tone.

“I don’t know who caused the fumble,” Stanford said, “but when I got it and saw there was no one in front of me, that was a sign it was going to be a good day.”

As far as his numbers as quarterback, where he is now seven-for-seven on the season with five touchdowns, Stanford credited his line and the play of his receivers.

While neither Mincy nor Stanford were sacked, Melvin Bryant made a leaping, one-handed catch while falling backwards for a 27-yard gain in the third quarter and another leaping catch against the boards for the final touchdown of the game.  Both of Evans’ catches went for touchdowns, including a jump ball he snatched in the end zone for Stanford’s first touchdown pass, putting the Silverbacks ahead 26-6 in the second quarter.

“When I’m at quarterback, my first option is Aric Evans,” Stanford said.  “When I’m in trouble, I just put it up to Aric Evans and he goes and gets it.”

Lineman Derrick Crawford blocked a field goal and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown later in the quarter to give Miami Valley a 32-6 lead at halftime. 

Stanford and Crawford were only a few of the players who contributed in a number of ways for Miami Valley.

“Considering your roster is limited, you have to have guys who are versatile,” Wells said. “Jason Cunningham, he’s not just a kicker.  He played defensive end and batted down a pass.  The kid’s an athlete.  You have to have 21 athletes and you have to have 21 football players.”

                In addition to forcing the fumble that lead to the game’s first touchdown, linebacker Will White finished with 3.0 tackles and carried the ball three times for 16 yards.  Receiver Isaiah Cheatham scored on a pair of runs, including a 45-yard burst that put Miami Valley ahead 14-0 less than six minutes into the game.  Lineman Eric Starks even contributed with a four-yard touchdown from Stanford in the third quarter.

                The Cardinals played without several of their top contributors throughout the season, who left to join for the Wisconsin Wolfpack, but Stanford says the Silverbacks still weren’t going to take them lightly.

“We didn’t come into this game thinking Chicago was going to lay down,” Stanford said.  “We came out and pulled the upset in Wisconsin, so I thought they were going to try to do the same thing to us.”

                Instead, with a win for their originally scheduled June 12 game awarded to them, the Silverbacks will be on a three-game winning streak for the first time ever as they head into the playoffs for only the second time in the team’s five seasons.  Awaiting them will be top-seeded Cincinnati, which suffered its first loss of the season to Wisconsin, 45-21, Saturday.

                The game is scheduled for Friday night, June 18 at the Cincinnati Gardens.

                “I don’t want to guarantee a win, but I can guarantee we can give Cincinnati a good game and I think they know it,” said Stanford, whose team beat Wisconsin two weeks ago.  “We just have to take these three weeks to prepare.”

                Wells concurred that while making the postseason is an accomplishment, his team’s work is far done.

“Considering as much adversity as this team has faced and where we’ve come as an organization from the start to now, I’m very proud of our players, our coaches, and our ownership has stepped up,” Wells said.  “It’s a great feeling, but it’s not over.”

CUNNINGHAM NAMED SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kicker Jason Cunningham has been named CIFL Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 9 for his role in the Silverbacks 22-18 upset win in Wisconsin May 15.  Cunningham was successful on both his extra point attempts and played a key role in the decisive play in the game.  After his 33-yard field goal was blocked on the final play, Cunningham recovered the ball and lateralled it to lineman Derrick Crawford, who ran it in for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.

The game was Cunningham's first professional football appearance and represented his first action in a live football game since his one season of varsity football as a senior at Cedarville High School in 2004. 

Cunningham is the second Silverback to be honored by the league this season.  Quarterback Kyenes Mincy was named Offensive Player of the Week in Week 5 when he threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more in his first start at quarterback in Miami Valley's 46-29 win at Chicago, April 17.

Submitted by Ryan Stapleton
 
It was Division 1 Track & Field District Finals at Troy Memorial Stadium on Friday May 19, 2010. The Scheduled Event Time was 5 PM. Shortly within 30 Minutes, Rain Starts moving in with pouring Rain. Officials had to Delay the Track Meet for 1 hr and 55 mins once Rain Starts calms down. Officials Resume Track Meet at 7:10 to clear off any Rain Puddles of the track complex. The first event Begins to start at 7:15 with the Girls 100 Meter Hurdles and The Guys 110 Meter Hurdles with Rain still in the area. The Girls 100 Meter Dash starts at 7:20 and once the Girls cross the Finish Line Lighting hits at 7:25 to Once again Delay the event for another 30 minutes. The Official's tell Fans to take shelter for safety. After a 30 minute delay, Rain Clears out at 7:40 and shortly to the north end of the Stadium, a streak of luck comes out of the sky with a Rainbow. Rain is officially out of the area and fan's are excited to see the 2010 Division 1 District Finals back under way. Officials take 35 mins to clean more Rain Puddles off the Track surface. Once officials clear the track, Events shortly start back up at 8:15.  For a complete list of finishers and  winners for each event, visit www.finishtiming.com.
 
Event Info: Top 4 who finish in each event, will go onto Regional @ University Of Dayton May 26-29. Division 1 will compete on Wednesday May 26 and Friday May 28 and Division 2 Guys will Compete on Thursday May 27 and Saturday May 29 and Top 2 will Go to State at THE Ohio State University at Jesse Owens Stadium on June 4-5 to finish up the season.
 

TO VIEW AND PURCHASE MORE PHOTOS CHECK OUT WWW.STAPLETONPHOTOGRAPHY.WEBS.COM

By Ryan Stapleton

Troy High School Hosted the 2010 Division 1 District Semi-Finals on Wednesday May 19,2010 for Part 1 at Troy Memorial Stadium. Each Heat/Relay which included the 400 and Under take The Top 8 Fastest Times to move into The Finals on Friday Night Under the lights back at Troy Memorial Stadium. The Events from the 800-3200 will take the top 8 places in each heat moving into the Finals on Friday. The only event that had the Final was the 4x8 Relay
 
Womens/Mens Pole-Vault, Long Jump, and High Jump also were in Wednesday events.  Field Finals will begin at 5 PM and Running Finals will take Place at 6 PM.   Athletes must Finish in the Top 4 to move to Regional which will take place at University Of Dayton On Wednesday May 26-29. Friday Night will be the Finals. Who will be your Division 1 Track & Field District Champions. Find out  Friday Night back here in Troy.
 
The 4x8 Final Results
Vandalia-Butler Girls win the 4x8 Meter Relay and Piqua Guys also win the 4x8 Meter Relay
 
Results Listed Below
 
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
 
1   Angel Edwards        Springfield             
2    Jasmine Glover       Sidney                  
3    Dominique Brown     Bellefontaine              
4    Sonetrish Fairclot  Huber Height            
5    Desiree' Mays       Trotwood                      
6    Whitney Griggs      Huber Height            
7    Alissa Bergman      Northmont          
8    Jessica Kinchen      Bellefontaine   
 
 
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
 
1    Demoye Bogle        Huber Heights             
2   Alex Gaskins           Springfield                               
3   Brandon Cook          Spring. Shaw                         
4   Trey Hammon-Scott   Huber Heights                         
5   Aaron Johnson           Troy                                    
6   Logan Johnson          Piqua                               
7   Hank Benton            Trotwood                         
8   Marcus Amlin           Vandalia Butler                   
 
 
Girls 100 Meter Dash
 
1   Alexis Davis                 Trotwood             
  2   Brittiney Latimer        Xenia                     
  3   Brianna Woods        Huber Heights             
  4   Ashtyn Payne          Northmont              
  5   Rickisha Cochran     Springfield              
  6   Kira Beckham          Trotwood          
  7   Leah Michael            Piqua                    
  8   Morgan Stallard       Tippecanoe          
 
 
Boys 100 Meter Dash
 
1   William Henry       Trotwood             

  2   Demoye Bogle     Huber Heights            

  3   James Moore        Springfield              
  4   Jared Walker        Northmont          

  5   Renon Lorenz       Trotwood            

  6   Josh Bass           Springfield              

  7   Jack Foy             Sidney                   
  8   Nick James         Troy                    

 
4x2 Relay
Girls                                               
1. Trotwood
2.Xenia
3.Huber Heights
4.  Northmont
5. Vandalia-Butler
6. Tippecanoe
7. Troy
8. Springfield
 
Guys 4x2 Relay
1. Northmont
2. Trotwood
3. Sidney
4. Springfield-Shawnee
5. Xenia
6. Stebbins
7. Huber Heights
8. Fairborn
 
 
Girls 4x1  Relay
1. Springfield
2. Xenia
3. Trotwood
4. Huber Heights
5. Northmont
6. Troy
7. Tippecanoe
8. Vandalia-Butler
 
Guys 4x1 Relay
1. Springfield
2. Trotwood
3. Sidney
4. Northmont
5. Bellefontaine
6. Troy
7. Fairborn
8. Huber Heights
 
Girls 400 Meter Dash
 
  1   Janae Wilson          Northmont             
  2   Ashley Rector          Troy                    
  3   Brittanie Rooths      Northmont         
4   Cidni Latimer            Xenia                   
  5   Camille Hall            Springfield             
  6   Rachel Richardson   Springfield            
  7   Maddie Kreill          Vandalia-Butler            
  8   Kyra Williams          Trotwood          
 
Guys 400 Meter Dash
 1   William Henry         Trotwood            
  2   Andrew Butts          Northmont             
  3   Jordan Dotson        Xenia                    
  4   Julius Jones           Trotwood            
  5   Aaron LeCount        Greenville               
  6   Yuta Suzuki            Sidney                   
  7   Nick Dysinger          Tecumseh            
  8   Davion McConnell   Huber Heights  
 
Girls 300 Hurdles
  1   Sonetrish Fairclot        Huber Heights             
  2   Catelyn Schmiedebu    Troy                      
  3   Ashante Howard           Springfield               
  4   Angel Edwards            Springfield              
  5   Desiree' Mays           Trotwood             
  6   Allison Rawlins         Tippecanoe        
  7   Nicole Raffel            Greenville                
  8   Rebecca Carmen       Bellefontaine            
 
Boys 300 Hurdles
1   Alex Gaskins             Springfield              
  2   Demoye Bogle          Huber Heights            
  3   Aaron Dunn              Bellefontaine             
  4   Brandon Cook           Spring. Shawnee             
  5   Jermichael Lampley   Huber Heights             
  6   Logan Johnson        Piqua                    
  7   Aaron Johnson        Troy                     
  8   Hank Benton          Trotwood         

Girls 800 Meter Dash
1. Rachel Richardson-Springfield
2. Heather West-Sidney
3. Taylor Markowitz-Troy
4. Jessica Huber-Huber Heights
5. Katie King-Bellefontaine
6. Emily Rike-Vandalia-Butler
7. Kaitlyn Good-Vandalia-Butler
8. Chelsea Davidson-Fairborn
 
Guys 800 Meter Dash
1. Trey Quick-Northmont
2.Kurt Grove-Piqua
3.Mica Hatcher-Bellefontaine
4. Josh Enke-Troy
5. Don Ashton Hall-Huber Heights
6. Tyler Greenwood-Springfield Shawnee
7. James Winchester-Trotwood
8. Nick Milner-Trotwood
 
Girls 200 Meter Dash
1. Brittiney Latimer-Xenia
2. Alexis Davis-Trotwood
3. Brianna Woods-Huber Heights
4. Leah Michael-Piqua
5. Kira Beckham-Trotwood
6. Ashtyn Payne-Northmont
7. Sarah Janosick-Tippecanoe
8. Mari King-Xenia
 
Guys 200 Meter Dash
1. Demoye Bogle-Huber Heights
2. William Henry-Trotwood
3. Julius Ruby-Trotwood
4. James Moore-Springfield
5. Jared Walker-Northmont
6. Greg McIntosh-Northmont
7. Chris Lowe-Bellefontaine
8. Ben Hutton-Xenia
 
Girls 4x4
1. Xenia
2. Troy
3. Springfield
4. Vandalia-Butler
5. Northmont
6. Huber Heights
7. Bellefontaine
8. Trotwood
 
Guys 4x4
1.Trotwood
2. Northmont
3. Sidney
4. Xenia
5. Piqua
6. Bellefontaine
7. Springfield-Shawnee
8. Huber Heights
 
To view & purchase more photos from the event, visit www.stapletonphotography.webs.com

The Athletic Department has available the following sports passes for 2010-2011:

                 All-Sports Family Pass for $225
                 All-Sports Adult Pass for $100
                 High School Student All-Sports Pass for $40
                 Senior Citizen Pass – no charge

Information about these different pass types is listed below.  Additional information on single event ticket prices to compare your pass savings is available at: Ticket/Pass Information.

The Athletic Department is open from 7:00AM - 3:30PM, Monday through Friday, for all sales.  Download an order form now.  Please call the Athletic Department at 332-6068 for additional information.

Information will be mailed in May for purchasing reserved football seating for the 2010 season. The price will remain $40 per seat for 5 home games.

All season, it has seemed as if every close call, bounce of the ball, or break had gone against the Miami Valley Silverbacks (2-6).  For once on the final play of the Saturday night’s 22-18 upset of the Wisconsin Wolfpack (5-2) at Hartmeyer Arena in Madison, all those factors converged to go in Miami Valley’s favor.

                With the Silverbacks trailing 18-16 in the final seconds, Jason Cunningham, who was 2-for-2 on PATs in his first appearance in a football game since his senior year at Cedarville High School, was sent in to attempt a 34-yard field goal.   The kick was tipped, but Cunningham managed to beat two Wisconsin return men to the ball at about the Wisconsin 15, then flipped it backward to lineman Derrick Crawford, who took a clear path into the end zone for the game-winning score as time expired.

                “I saw someone jump to block it, so I just sprinted around the left side.  Me and the return man were running for it and as I was getting tackled I turned and flipped it to Crawford,” Cunningham said. “I just went to block for him when he picked it off the ground and when he started to turn I put my hands out,” Crawford added.  “I knew it was a touchdown.  It was just a matter of if the other team tips it on a field goal, it’s live and we can pick it up.” “I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, but this has definitely been the craziest,” added Crawford, who has experience in the NFL, NFL Europe, and Arena Football in addition to the CIFL.

After a conference by the officials, the touchdown was upheld and Miami Valley came away with its second win of the season, beating a second-place Wisconsin team whose only previous loss had been to undefeated Cincinnati.“I knew it was a legal play.  It’s a live kick,” said Miami Valley head coach Brian Wells.  “That’s why you can return those field goals- they’re live kicks.”  The final play would have made no difference had it not been for the continued improvement of the Miami Valley defense. 

                Two weeks ago the Silverbacks were torched for a CIFL-record 184 rushing yards in a 64-39 loss in Marion.  Since then, that unit has allowed a then-season low 26 points in a loss in Fort Wayne last week, and this week held the CIFL’s second-highest scoring offense to less than half its 37.3 point average coming in and a season low in points. "The defense came out and we played another good game,” said Crawford.  “We just hustled to the ball.”  Wells said along with the addition of veteran linebackers Tommy Sewell and Larry Byndon and the play of the secondary, Crawford’s play was a significant factor Saturday.  “Derrick Crawford got a lot of pressure,” Wells said.  “It got to the point where they had to double team him.”

                Miami Valley was also able to overcome injuries to two of its top receivers, Daniel Stover and Melvin Bryant, coming into the game. “(Receiver) Aric Evans is no slouch and neither is ‘Zeke’ (Isaiah Cheatham) and Eric Morton,” Wells said.  “I wasn’t worried about that group being out there and (running back Derrick) Moss had a great game.”After Moss scored a 1-yard touchdown run to start the scoring for Miami Valley, Kyenes Mincy hit Evans for a touchdown that put Miami Valley ahead, 14-12.

                Wisconsin quarterback Matt Schabert responded with a touchdown run to give the lead back to Wisconsin, but Will White forced Schabert to throw a pass away in his own end zone, resulting in intentional grounding and a safety that pulled the Silverbacks to within 18-16 in the fourth quarter.  In the final minute, Miami Valley got the ball back for one final drive from deep in its own territory.  After a big play, it appeared Miami Valley could punch in the go-ahead touchdown in a more traditional manner, but penalties resulted in the decision to try the kick instead. “ ‘Nez’ (Mincy) completed a pass down the right sideline to Zeke inside the 15 yard line,” Wells said.  “Then we had two false starts because we were trying to get to the line and they were loud so I put the kicking unit out there.”  “I was not really nervous,” Cunningham said.  “I was excited to have the chance, but I knew the odds were against me because the ceiling was so low and the defensive line was so tall.  So there was kind of no pressure, because you’re not expected to make a kick like that.  I just wanted to give it my best shot.”

                Although unconventional, Cunningham’s best shot may have helped the Silverbacks prove a point to the rest of the league.  “Our guys can play with anybody,” Wells said.  “It’s just a matter of if we can come in together as a group and come in rested, we can beat anybody.”

                The Miami Valley Silverbacks found themselves battered and bruised following Sunday afternoon’s 26-8 loss to the Fort Wayne FireHawks at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, but in more critical condition than any player was the Silverbacks’ playoff hopes.

                “Obviously, this puts us out of the playoffs for the most part,” said head coach Brian Wells.  “Hopefully we can play spoiler.”

                The Silverbacks haven’t been mathematically eliminated from the post-season, but will most likely have to win each of their three remaining games, including next Saturday at second place Wisconsin, and have either the FireHawks or Marion Mayhem lose each of the their final four games to make the post-season.

                That’s because the Silverbacks offense, ranked second in the CIFL in points per game entering the week, seemed out of sync all game.  Even the Silverbacks lone touchdown came when defensive back Chris Stanford subbed for an injured Kyenes Mincy and hit Aric Evans in the back of the end zone for a third-quarter touchdown that pulled the Silverbacks to within 20-8.

                “I knew I had to do something to help my team,” said Stanford, who had not played quarterback in a game of any sort since his senior year of high school, about five years ago.  “I put it up so my receiver could make a play.”

                Stanford followed that touchdown pass by completing a two-point conversion pass to Larry Byndon on a roll out, but returned to his defensive back position afterwards, where he intercepted a Kota Carone-Colors pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

                “That’s a first,” Stanford said of intercepting a pass and throwing a touchdown in the same game.  “I never thought that I would ever do something like that.”

                The turnover was one of four Miami Valley forced inside its own 10-yard line, leading to a season-low 26 points allowed.

“We executed what we had to do,” Stanford said.  “Everybody was flowing to the ball.”

The defense, made up of mostly newcomers to the indoor game, was aided by the addition of indoor veterans Tommy Sewell at linebacker and Luke Scarborough at defensive line.

That was not enough to overcome an offense that turned the ball over on downs each of its first five possessions, including three straight inside the Fort Wayne 10-yard line in the second and third quarters, one of which came as time expired in the first half.

“We punch it in there, we’re down seven getting the ball to start the second half,” Wells said.  “We beat ourselves.”

Isaiah Cheatham helped set up several of those possessions by returning four kicks for 114 yards, a 28.5 yard average, and caught four passes for a team-high 73 yards in his team-debut, another bright spot for the Silverbacks despite the poor result.

“He almost took two to the house, to where they didn’t want to kick to him anymore,” Wells said.

Mincy, however, completed just 10 of 25 passes for 118 yards and leading receiver Daniel Stover was head without a catch, missing most of the game with an apparent hamstring injury.

Tremaine Billie led Fort Wayne with two touchdown runs, scored a third touchdown when he recovered a blocked field goal in the end zone, and had seven tackles on defense.

That helped create the Silverbacks bleak playoff outlook for this season, but hasn’t dampened the Silverbacks enthusiasm for the rest of the season.

“We’re building for next year,” Stanford said.  “We’re a team full of rookies. 

For the second consecutive weekend, the U-14 Miami Valley Hawks AAU girl’s basketball team took second place in a tournament.  The Hawks played in the Annual GBA Lady Hornet Classic Tournament held in Monroe on May 1 & 2, 2010.  The Hawks U-14 team is coached by Danny Saunders and Don Nuss, is based out of Miami East High School, and has girls from seven different High Schools on the team.  Pictured in the front row left to right are:  Hannah Mowery (Piqua HS), Kayla Vath (Tippecanoe HS), Madeline Franklin (Holy Angels HS), Trista Lavy (Newton HS), & Teha Richards (Tri-Village HS).  Back Row left to right are:  Kristy Graves (Piqua HS), Emily Kindell (Miami East HS), Sarah Janosik (Tippecanoe HS), Hannah Davisson (Miami East HS), & Tori Nuss (Miami East HS). 

Not pictured are Coach Danny Saunders, Coach Don Nuss, Ellie Gearhart (Miami East HS), Jordan Hill (Tri-Village HS), & Courtney Romero (Mechanicsburg HS).