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October weather provides different opportunities

Few things rival a sunny October day when the breeze is southerly at just enough pace to ruffle the water and the bass are in the mood to play. Two recent fishing trips help make my point. Last Sunday and Tuesday dawned clear and crisp. Experience indicated there was no need to try to beat the sunrise over the boat ramp, so I agreed with fishing buddies Tyler Woak of Niles and Ted Suffolk of Canfield to meet mid-morning to give the sun time to warm the air and water. A couple of degrees can make a huge difference in cold-water fishing, especially in the spring and summer. When the ...

Living up to a legacy

Ambrose Hoso fully understands the expectations and the lofty goals which are thrust upon anyone who dons a Warren John F. Kennedy football jersey. At JFK, “Blue Pride” isn’t just a pep rally battlecry, it’s a way of life for the entire Kennedy community. “Playing for the K” ...

YSU’s Davidson proves he’s QB1

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s always a gamble making a mid-season quarterback change, but credit Youngstown State coach Doug Phillips and his staff for being willing to do so by benching Demeatric Crenshaw for Mitch Davidson. And give even more credit to Davidson for proving it was the right decision. In YSU’s 35-30 loss to then-No. 22 North Dakota on Saturday, Davidson went 21-for-32 for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He set career highs in passing yards, attempts and completions and tied his career mark for passing scores. The 280 yards also marked YSU’s season high in passing. ...

Cheating incident causes black eye for fishing, anglers

The ugly scene that played out recently at a walleye tournament on Lake Erie spotlighted the vulnerability of competitive fishing’s reputation in the mindset of many who know nothing about the sport. The YouTube video viewed by millions last week shows a tournament official slicing open the bellies of walleyes presented by two competitors to be weighed in the big-money competition. The knife revealed what the tournament director hoped he wouldn’t discover: heavy lead balls. A crowd of anglers and onlookers reacted strongly at the discovery. The two men who presented the fish are ...

What’s the right amount? Local coaches debate correct size of playoffs

For a second straight year, the Warren John F. Kennedy football team faces an unexpected bye-week. A lack of players forced St. Thomas Aquinas to cancel a string of games, including tonight’s scheduled matchup with the Eagles. In years past, JFK coach Dom Prologo would have likely worked feverishly to find a last-minute replacement. Given the current high school football landscape that includes a 448-team, six-week tournament, Prologo is content to rest his players. At Springfield High, the combination of an inexperienced team and a brutal non-conference schedule resulted in an ...

Chilly weather signals time for game fish

The frost on my car window Friday morning was a clear signal that the season of big fish is at hand. Chilly weather and shorter days have sounded the dinner bell for the game fish here in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Whether you pursue walleyes, crappies, bass, muskies or steelhead trout, the next six to eight weeks will serve up some of the best fishing of the year, particularly for trophy-size specimens. Friday’s frosty windshield quickly thawed, and I was on my way within minutes. The balance of the day was comfortable, the kind of autumn weather that delivers ...