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October 30, 2003 |
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SPORTS
Bulldogs top Irish to win districts In front of an overflow crowd, the No. 1 seeded YSHS boys soccer team defeated Springfield Catholic Central, 4–1, last Thursday to win the Division III Dayton 2 district championship. The Bulldogs played their best game of the year as they advanced to the regional semifinal against Cincinnati Seven Hills (14–5–1) on Tuesday. Yellow Springs defeated Seven Hills 5–2 on a sloppy, rain-soaked field. Duncan Silvert-Noftle scored 2 goals. Anthony Brandon, Michael Hosket and Will Lapedes each scored a goal. The Bulldogs are now 19–1. Last Thursday, Rory Hotaling had one of his finest games of the season. He got the offense rolling with two goals midway through the first half, and dominated the middle of the field by breaking up attacks by the Fighting Irish, who were ranked No. 2 in the district bracket. Goalie Matt Phillips had a gold-medal night, making many brilliant stops. Because the Bulldogs’ defense is so good, Phillips doesn’t always get a chance to show his skills. The Bulldogs’ back four, Nic Huneck, Michael Hosket, David Suzel and Aaron Zagory, kept the pressure on the Irish and never let them sustain any kind of offense. The Bulldog defense repeatedly won possession of the ball and pushed it forward to the offense. Up front, when the Irish tried to stop YSHS by containing striker Duncan Silvert-Noftle, other Bulldogs were able to carry the offense. Anthony Brandon and Noah Woodburn each scored a goal, with Scott Keyes getting the assists. Silvert-Noftle was pleased with Thursday’s game. “Everyone on the team played the balls well as a team,” he said. “We have the strongest defense in the area, and we’re pretty much guaranteed our defense is going to have a good game. If we can score 2 to 3 goals, we have a win.” Coach Jim Hardman attributed his team’s success to each player’s ability to step in and cover for one another in each position on the field. “The ability to run fresh legs into a game and not lose a step as a team is also one of the keys to our success this year,” Hardman said. Hardman was pleased with the team’s performance last Thursday, and has high hopes for their continued success. The Bulldogs will play Cincinnati Madeira in the regional final on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., at Fairborn High School. Madeira, the defending state champ, defeated the Miami Valley School, 7–2, Tuesday night in Clayton. This is the first time the boys soccer team has ever advanced to the regional finals. If YSHS wins Saturday, the Bulldogs play in the state semifinals Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., at a site to be determined. The championship will be played Friday, Nov. 7, 3 p.m., at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Football ends long season YSHS fullback Jordan Skinner was determined that the Jefferson Broncos would not end the Bulldogs’ season by shutting out YSHS on its own field last Friday. Deep in the fourth quarter and buried under a heap of Bronco touchdowns, Skinner and his teammates were able to get on the scoreboard as the Bulldogs lost, 64–7. With 37 seconds left in the game, Skinner, a senior, set up the score when he returned a punt 70 yards to the Broncos’ 10. One fade route from quarterback Jake Fulton to Skinner later, and the Bulldogs were on the board. “That touchdown made a cold night a little warmer,” one fan said. “It was our last game, and I wanted to have a good note to end on,” Skinner said after the game. “I never saw anyone so hungry to score,” Fulton said of Skinner. “I made some very uncharacteristic interceptions because I was trying all night to get him that rock. When he scores he scores in fashion.” YSHS has relied heavily on Skinner the whole season, Fulton said. He has motivated his teammates and held them together through a very rough season. “It’s because of Jordan that we have a football program,” Fulton said. The Bulldogs started the game poorly, the offense fumbling several times and the defense struggling to stop the Broncos’ Pernell Williams, who scored three touchdowns in the first quarter. Besides Skinner’s TD, highlights for YSHS were few. Anthony Brandon snared an interception and Aaron Cobb grabbed a high 12-yard pass from Fulton before he was drilled into the ground. The Bulldogs were able to slow the Broncos’ running attack down in the second quarter, though Jefferson scored two more touchdowns to lead 42–0 at the half. The Bulldog defense stiffened in the third quarter, forcing the Broncos into a turnover on downs. Special teams showed resolve, and punter Aaron Zagory was able to keep the ball deep in Bronco territory. But still the Broncos ball carriers surged into the Bulldog end zone in waves. With a team that was less experienced and smaller than most of their opponents, YSHS ended the year 0–6 in the Northwest Central Conference and 1–9 overall.
Basketball news Practices for the McKinney and YSHS boys basketball teams will begin on Monday, Nov. 10, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., when practice schedules will be handed out. Those who did not play fall sports need to bring verification of a physical exam to the athletic department before practice. McKinney teams, coached by Shirley Martin, practice at the Morgan Building while YSHS teams, coached by Brad Newsome, will practice in the YSHS gym. A meeting for parents
will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m.
KTC basketball program sign up For more information,
fourth- and fifth-grade girls should call Rich Miller, 767-2902; sixth-grade
girls, call Doug Jewell, 323-6105; fourth- and fifth-grade boys, call
Mike Haller, 361-4537; and sixth-grade boys, call Bryon Stubblefield,
767-2902. Anyone interested in coaching the boys fourth- and fifth-grade
team should call Haller.
Youth basketball sessions Sessions will not be held on Nov. 22 or Nov. 29. The sessions will include instruction and drills on basketball fundamentals as well as scrimmages. Sign-ups start Saturday, but players may join at any time. There is no participation fee, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call Rich Miller, 767-2049. |
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