2011 Week 6 - Orrville Red Riders at West Holmes Knights

Who: Orrville Red Riders (3-2, 1-1) at West Holmes Knights (4-1, 2-0)
Where: Knights Stadium in Millersburg (Directions Here)
When: Friday September 30, 2011
Last Week: Orrville lost to Mansfield Senior 21-14, West Holmes beat Ashland 35-31.

Series History: Orrville leads 26-12 (click here for detail)
Last Year: Orrville won 38-6.

Coaches: Orrville coach Doug Davault is 45-20 in his 6th year. Kevin Maltarich is 5-10 in his 2nd season with the Knights.

Radio/TV: 104.5 WQKT will provide updates. The game will be streamed online at The Voice of Holmes County. Click here for directions on how to listen to the game through your cell phone.

Computer Points: Both Orrville (Region 13) and West Holmes (Region 11) both sit in 8th place in the latest computer point standings. West Holmes region is stacked with perennial powers Steubenville, Mooney and Dover...as well as Stark County powers Minerva, Northwest and Marlington.

Overview: Last week could not have went any differently for the Riders and Knights. Orrville dropped a game they were heavily favored to win to Mansfield Senior, and West Holmes completed a comeback dubbed the 'Millersburg Miracle,' beating Ashland for the first time in program history, 35-31.

Orrville has won 6 of the last 8 meetings (outscoring the Knights 80-6 in the last 2 meetings), but the 2 Knight wins in that stretch (2007 and 2008) kept the Riders from the postseason each year.

2011 Week 5 Preview - Orrville Red Riders at Mansfield Senior Tygers

Who: Orrville Red Riders (3-1, 1-0) at Mansfield Senior Tygers (1-3, 0-1)
Where: Mansfield's Arlin Field (Directions Here)
When: Friday September 23, 2011
Last Week: Orrville beat Lexington 35-12, Senior lost to Clear Fork 35-28.

Series History: Orrville leads 9-5 (click here for detail)
Last Year: Orrville beat Senior 28-14.

Coaches: Orrville coach Doug Davault is 45-19 in his 6th year. Chioke Bradley is 7-7 in his 2nd season as Tyger head coach.
Radio/TV: The game will be broadcast on WRGM AM1440/97.3 FM starting at 6:45pm. It will also be streaming online...click here Friday evening to stream the game on your computer.

Overview: Two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions will meet up Friday night in Mansfield at the beautifully renovated Arlin Field.  The Tygers are 1-3, losers of three straight games, and last week lost the focal point of their offense in senior running back Terrell Dorsey to a season ending leg injury.  Orrville is fresh off a 35-12 drubbing of Lexington and is looking to stay perfect in the Ohio Cardinal Conference behind a quick-strike offense and a defense that has allowed the fewest total points (59) of any OCC team through 4 weeks.  Orrville has won the last 5 meetings between the schools.

After Week 4: Football and Everything Else

Well, Friday night after Week 4 sure felt better than Friday night after week 3 didn't it? A nice bounce back performance by the Riders. Doesn't it seem when this program is counted out or doubted that they always respond? Not just sometimes...ALWAYS. Again....TRADITION.

Let's review the game, the rest of the OCC, some Region 13 chatter and a little bit of volleyball, golf and Tim Hiller sprinkled in for good measure.

Pics, as always, courtesy of Rod Dilyard. Lexington gallery here. Thanks Rod.

Make Plans to Attend the Orrville Sports Hall of Fame Induction

We're just a little over 3 weeks away from the bi-annual OHS Sports Hall of Fame induction, to be held Saturday Night October 8th at Orrville High School.  The event will start with a dinner at 6pm in the gym, followed by the induction in the OHS Auditorium.

Here's a ticket order form, and I'd recommend getting your order in ASAP so a final count can be given to the caterers.

It's a great night of Red Rider Tradition and in addition to the 8 inductees, the 1991-92 State Champion Boys Basketball team will be honored. It's been nearly 20 years since that team won Orrville's first ever team state title and it's hopeful that a good number of players from that team will be in attendance.

Hope to see everyone there.

2011 Week 4 Preview - Orrville vs. Lexington

Who: Orrville Red Riders (2-1, 0-0) vs. Lexington Minutemen (2-1, 0-0)
Where: Red Rider Stadium
When: Friday September 16th, 7:00pm

All Time Series: Orrville leads 7-5. (Click here for detail)
Last Meeting: 2010 (Orrville won 21-14)
Last Week: Orrville lost to Copley 13-7 (OT), Lexington lost North Canton Hoover 32-0.

Coaches: BJ Payne is in his 6th season as Minutemen head coach, his overall record is 34-21. Doug Davault is also in his 6th season for Orrville, with an overall record of 44-19.

Radio: WQKT 104.5 FM will carry the game. Click here a little bit before 7pm Friday to listen live.

2011 Week 3 Preview - Copley Indians at Orrville Red Riders

Who: Orrville Red Riders (2-0) vs. Copley Indians (1-1)
Where: Red Rider Stadium, Orrville
When: Friday September 9, 2011

All Time Series: Orrville leads 24-13(detail here)
Last Meeting: 2010 - Copley won 34-33 in double overtime.
Last Week: Orrville beat Triway 52-7, Copley beat Akron Firestone 24-14.
Coaches: Doug Davault is 44-18 in his 6th year as Orrville coach, Ron Viscounte is 20-23 in his 5th year for Copley.

Stewart Turner verbals to Ball State

Wanted to take a minute to congratulate Orrville senior DB/WR and special teams extraordinaire Stewart Turner for his verbal commitment over the weekend to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

Ball State was the first school to offer him, and over the weekend he attended Ball State's win over Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The school has been very aggressive in recruiting the speedster, and I think he'll be a great fit there.

The verbal was first reported Monday evening by the Ball State website BallStateInsider.com and verified by the ScoutingOhio.com website earlier today.

This continues the streak of Orrville football players to land Division 1 offers, joining the likes of Tim Hiller, Rhyne Ladrach, Chase Hoobler, Sam Miller and Max Pirman.

Turner is being recruited by the Cardinals as a defensive back, but his ability anywhere on the field can't be questioned. He'll be an asset to the Cardinals at any position.

Since coming to Orrville last season, Turner has averaged nearly 100 all-purpose yards per game and has scored 13 touchdowns in 16 games.  His versatility is a big part of Orrville's fast 2-0 start and he's a game changer with elite speed and great hands at the receiver position and great cover ability from his cornerback spot.

Always gives me a lot of 'Rider Pride' to report on an Orrville athlete earning a full scholarship to play at the next level. It's great to see young people use the gifts they're given and work hard for to further themselves.

Congrats to Stewart, his family, coaches and teammates.

Week 2 Review & Upcoming Schedule

Week 2 of football season is in the books...a nice 52-7 thumping over Triway. Again, can't complain about the points this offense has put up and the play of the defense either. But still lots to work on, but that's a good thing. No reason to peak in week 2. Seems that through history, Coach Davault's team hit their stride late in the season and are playing their best ball late in the season.

I'll hit the high points of the win over Triway, look ahead to week 3 vs. Copley and look at the upcoming week for all the fall sports teams.