Summer Football Report July 2nd 2003 By Sportscaster17

  Bellevue, OH - Greetings and good day to all you Redmen rooters. It's the end of June, and with it comes talk of football all across this great state.  In this report, we'll break down some of the teams from the area on how they look heading into the beginning of training camps.  So let's get to it.

  Bellevue's 28-27 setback to Norwalk in week eight of 2002 signaled a new era in Trucker football. Bellevue, which could have packed it in after losing such a tough road game, instead rallied to win the season's final two contests; drubbing Galion and knocking off the always-tough Shelby Whippets.  Two transfer students eased the off-season pain for Redmen fans and coaches as Greg Keyes  (Sandusky Perkins) and Tim Keegan  (Fremont St. Joseph)  both donned the red and white.  Then, a former Charger and Whippet turned in his Edison blue and Shelby red for Redmen red and white.  Francis Sruci was named Bellevue's new principal recently, joining Lee Kaple as two former Whippets in Bellevue's administration.

  Keyes has shown flashes of brilliance during the track and field season of 2002, running the 40 in 4.27 seconds.  He still needs some work in properly catching and holding the football, but with work and patience, could very well be a key variable in Bellevue's 2003 campaign.

  Keegan is a natural athlete, and to me looks like a guy who could play anywhere between the lines.  The early return is that he is a very coachable kid, an element that surely has Redmen coaches attention. Don't expect major contributions from him early, but in time this young man could become one of the best all-around players in the league.

  There have been conflicting reports from Redmen camp regarding the health of returning signal caller Jon Journay.  The fact is that Journay suffered a slight tear of the meniscus, the stretchy cartilage that protects the knee joint.  Jon has said he is absolutely fine, and participated in a Purdue Quarterback camp recently.  With a year of experience under his belt he could be ready to lead this team.

  About 14 miles east of BAF Stadium lies Edison International Field where mediocrity has ruled since head coach Jim Hall has taken over.  The Edison Chargers will open camp in 2003 with returning senior quarterback Ethan Caskey calling the shots.  The problem the Chargers will have is a common one.  The rest of the Sandusky Bay Conference.  The ever-tough SBC promises to be a buzz-saw again this year, which could be bad news for teams like Edison, who are ready to step up and contend.  A new opponent awaits the Charges in week two:  the Monroeville Eagles.  The Eagles will be the preseason pick to win the nearby Firelands Conference.  An opening-night battle with Norwalk, the week two encounter with Mo-town and the interleague finale versus Wellington will surely test Edison for the grind of the SBC slate.  The good news is that the games against the likes of Oak Harbor, Huron and Sandusky Perkins are nicely divided between Port Clinton and Clyde.

  We stay in the SBC where another team remains deathly hungry following the 2002 season.  Post-season football has become tradition along the shores of Lake Erie at Huron, and the fact that the Tigers missed out on the playoffs in 2002 has everyone scurrying around trying to right a wrong that amounted to be a few decimals.  The Tigers will have the athletes and personnel to operate their patented run and shoot to perfection in 2003 beginning with senior QB Stephen West.  The typical Tigers will be back in 2003, much to the dismay of seven other teams in the SBC.

  Finally, a quick check-in with the team that eliminated two SBC teams back-to-back in the 2001 post-season, the Kenton Wildcats.  After winning two straight state titles, the OHSAA rewarded Coach Mike Mauk by sending his Wildcats into the state's toughest division.  The move to D-III will likely only affect the Wildcats in the playoffs.  Kenton has been playing in the WBL, a league dominated by division two and three squads.  Kenton and league rival Ottawa-Glandorf were the only two division four teams in the league. There will still be two Mauks on the Kenton sidelines, unfortunately, Ben won't be one of them.  Mike will still be calling the shots, and his youngest son Matt will return as the head manager.  Talk during the spring was of a hot transfer QB from a rival school, but as of June 30, it hadn't happened.  Regardless, Kenton could still have arguably the most talent and athletes in the WBL, but the trick will be operating a new offense.  The Wildcat defense which shut down tournament teams Archbold and Kettering Alter during crunch time returns, and will be the key to Kenton's success in 2003.  Keep an eye on this team Redmen fans, a post-season matchup could be very likely.

  Well, that's all for now.  It's good to talk football again, and I'll be back in late July with the 3rd Annual Ohio High School Football Forecast!  Until then, stay cool!

  So Long Everybody!