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School strikes are ugly situations.
They are ugly for the people sitting at the bargaining tables, they are ugly for the community and, most importantly, they can be ugly for the most important people…the kids.
The situation going on in the Harrison Hills Local School District is starting to get ugly. It could uglier this week as the teachers were on the picket lines early this morning and reports had said the board has issued its final proposal.
I understand that sports are a small part of the educational experience and it's just an extension of the classroom. However, for the kids involved it's a lot more than just an extension.
The Harrison Central Huskies are off to a 4-2 start on the season and are coming off a big win at Bellaire this past weekend. However, as the teachers walk, the future of the Huskies' season is in jeopardy. Despite the schools being open, the administration has said extra cirriculars would be cancelled, meaning football, golf, cross country, etc.
The players on this team -- and for that matter teams all over the area -- have been preparing for this season since probably early June. Countless hours and buckets of sweat have been put into this season.
When you think of what's been put into the season and for it to be possibly taken away due to a school strike is unfortunate.
I realize that the teachers and the board are looking out for more important issues than football. I understand that putting food on the table and medical benefits are the key issues for everyone. However, there's got to be a friendly medium or a compromise that can be made.
I know, I know, it's a lot easier said than done. But again, it's about the kids. The kids are the ones suffering the most.
Why should they be put in the middle of these sticky situations.
Along with the kids, the coaches are in a tough situation as well. Justin Kropka and most of his staff are members of the Harrison Central faculty.
Most of the staff is younger and fairly new into their careers, meaning they are caught between a rock and a hard place. They could stand pat and hold picket signs or they could say heck with it and coach their team like nothing was wrong.
It's a known fact that when Bellaire had its one-day strike a few years back, then head coach John Magistro was prepared to coach his team just the same regardless of the strike. However, Magistro was closing in on retirement and wasn't worried about those things.
However, it's not that easy for the Huskies' staff. They have to look out for their livelihoods and can't risk the chance of being black-balled by their peers if they made such a decision.
Again, these are the things that make labor disputes such an ugly, debatable topic.
For everyone involved, let's hope a deal gets done at the 11th hour and the Huskies board up the buses for Yorkville Friday to meet Buckeye Local in their scheduled football game. It would be an absolute shame to lose a game or multiple games due to a work stoppage. It would also be a shame if the players didn't have the chance to put their uniforms on and represent the Harrison Hills School District in a most positive light.
While football games get most of the limelight, lets not forget about the Huskies cross country teams, which are preparing for this weekend's OVAC meet, the Huskies' golf team which has a player heading to district and the volleyball squad, which is entering the nitty-gritty of its season.
A lot of people are being affected. But most importantly, the kids are being affected and that's a shame.
Strikes and the talks of strikes are ugly enough. Let's get this deal done as quickly as possible, so everyone and everything in the Harrison Hills School District can get back to normal.
NO LET DOWNS
Union Local -- coming off what many think was the biggest win in school history over Martins Ferry in Week 5 -- didn't miss a beat during its road trip to Richmond to meet Edison.
The Jets got out of the holder quickly and struck fast, taking the Wildcats by storm. Junior quarterback Jordan Barbina continues to establish himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in the OVAC and Zach Gust continues to show the speed and skill that's made him one of the area's most electric players. It wasn't all good for the Jets, however. On what's been described as a blatent cheap shot , Zach Azallion was knocked out of the game and had to be taken out in an ambulance. From reports from people close to the Jets' football program, Azallion is going to be fine, but his status for this week is still unknown.
Despite the injury, the Jets are playing as well as anyone in the valley. Bar none.
The attitudes in Jet land are changed, the talent is there and by jove the results are wins.
Attitude and talent goes a long way.
Union Local returns to the friendly confines this week to host Bellaire for homecoming.
REBOUNDING WELL
Martins Ferry started a little sluggishly, but the Purple Riders finished strong. Behind another brilliant defensive effort, the Purple Riders got back to their winning ways by virtue of a 24-0 win over West Muskingum.
For the Purple Riders, it was their third shutout of the season. Offensively, the Purple got another strong effort from Rawn Driver and the defensive unit was fueled by four interceptions from Derek Edwards.
The Riders return to Buckeye 8 play this week when they go on the road to Wintersville to meet Indian Creek. The Purple -- sitting in ninth in the unofficial computer rankings -- got little help above them as all eight teams above them earned victories last week.
NO LOOKING AHEAD FOR ST. C
The St. Clairsville Red Devils have already been in their fair share of big games this season. They had the Belmont County Fair Game in which they outlasted Union Local in double overtime. They very next week they had to trek to nemesis Bellaire where they rolled to victory in front of a large Nelson Field turnout.
However, this week could prove to be St. C.'s biggest game to date. The Red Devils will board up Saturday evening and head to Harding Stadium in Steubenville to meet Catholic Central.
The Red Devils are 6-0 and appear firmly planted in the Division IV Region 15 playoff picture. Steubenville Catholic is 5-1 and right in the thick of the Region 23 playoff hunt.
St. C. is led by a swarming defense, which has made a living in not allowing the big play. The Red Devils offense has been consistent. It gets the ball into its playmakers hands and lets them do the rest. It's worked well thus far.
It's going to be big for Brett McLean and his staff to keep his Red Devils from looking ahead to their Week 8 home encounter with Martins Ferry.
JUST KEEP GETTING IT DONE
That's exactly what Steubenville does. The Big Red keeps getting it done. Each year the Red loses a bundle of talent to graduation and people around the area say 'Well, this is going to be the year that the Big Red winning streak ends.'
Well, that was the case again this year and this past week was the game that many thought would be the game as undefeated Columbus Bishop Watterson came calling.
While the players may change, the coaches have stayed the same. The attitude and run-through-a-wall for the Crimson mentality has remained the same and there's a lot to be said for that alone.
Those factors came up big as Steubenville won its 35th straight game overall and 45th straight regular season game with a 23-14 victory over the Eagles. The Big Red again did it their way. Nothing real flashy offensively, but they nail you with defense and special teams.
Being sound in all three facets is huge for the Big Red and they have shown each week just how sound they are.
A strong Baltimore Mt. St. Joseph team comes calling this week to Harding Stadium. If I were a betting man, I wouldn't bet against Reno and company.
They have a way of making you pay.
WHAT HAPPENED?
This past week I heard and read how this Washington D.C. Ballou outfit was awful good. I guess that could be the case, but they got introduced to Ohio Valley football at Wheeling Central Friday.
The Maroon Knights -- up to their same old tricks -- took a much-hyped squad and made them look like a mediocre junior high team. The Knights cranked up the running game once again to a tune of more than 400 yards and showed once again that barring a rash of catostrophic injuries or heaven forbid a bus wreck the Knights are the best team in the state of West Virginia Class A.
I might even be willing to go out on a fairly thick limb and proclaim this Knights' squad to be the best in the state regardless of class. Yes, that includes Class AAA.
Coach Mike Young and Central have an unbelievable run going and it's probably not too early to begin thinking about a five-peat. It all comes down to this question, "Who's going to beat them?" Not anyone in Class A, and that's a guarantee.
SHAMROCKS SHOWING
Not many people outside of the Barnesville Football Family gave the Shamrocks much of a chance in their game last Friday at Shadyside.
Needless to say, the Shamrocks definitely out-played the way the predictions were going.
Coming into Fleming Field as a heavy underdog, the Shamrocks showed once again that despite their now 1-5 record they aren't nearly as bad as that record would indicate, and it also shows that the future is bright in the Land of the Pumpkin.
The Shamrocks appeared headed for a blowout early in the third quarter after Shadyside punched in another touchdown to go up 34-14. Barnesville roared back and scored the next 21 thanks to hard running from Jonny Miller, passing from Dalton Smith and receiving from Michael Wehr. Throw in an offensive line that came alive and opened wide running lanes.
However, the relentless Tigers made the most of the three-plus minutes they had on the clock and eventually scored and prevailed by a 40-35 count.
If there ever was such a thing as a good loss for a team, this past week could be deemed one for Barnesville. The Shamrocks' players -- who have been through a lot this season -- had to head to the western side of the county with a lot of confidence. And rightfully so, they took a Tiger team -- which has visions of grandeur down the road -- to the absolute brink.
Even though it stinks to lose, there is a lot the Barnesville players, coaches and fans can take from it.
WORTH THE TRIP
That's probably what Mike Flannery was thinking as his squad made the 100-mile journey to Ripley, WV to meet an undefeated Gilbert squad.
Needless to say, Gilbert probably wishes it had stuck with Class A West Virginia competition after the Pilots delivered a 42-6 thumping.
The Pilots are now 6-0 and will come north this week to meet 5-1 Bridgeport at Perkins Field. The Pilots moved up to second in the unofficial computer poll with the win. Picking up a boat-load of second-level points and seeing their divisor drop again the Pilots moved up to second.
The Pilots have several tough games left. After this week's road trip, they still have meetings with Buckeye Trail and Shenandoah to go.
LOCAL SUCCESS
Former River standout Chad Massie got off the schneid this week as the head coach at River View. The Black Bears -- who had lost their first five games -- hammered Indian Valley Friday by a 38-0 score.
The Black Bears are in action this week on the road at Claymont.
Former Bridgeport High all-state player Ted Wierzbicki and his Columbus St. Charles Cardinals' squad dropped its first game of the 2007 campaign. The Cardinals were upended by always-powerful Columbus St. Francis DeSales by a 38-14 count.
The loss dropped the Cardinals to sixth in the Division II, Region 7 poll and the road gets no easier this week as 5-1 Youngstown Ursuline treks to Franklin County.
Bellaire High graduate and Defiance head coach Jerry Buti was on the wrong end of a 35-14 decision to Lima Shawnee this past week. The Bulldogs are now 3-3 on the season and are at talented Kenton this week.
Another ex-Big Reds' standout, P.J. Woods, led his Philo Electrics to their second win of the season by virtue of a 56-23 score over Maysville. Philo is in action this week when John Glenn comes calling.
Former Martins Ferry ace Tom Bruney has his Maple Heights' squad soaring into the second half of the season. Maple Heights is now 5-1 on the season and ranked fifth in the computer poll thanks to a 49-21 romp over Cleveland Heights this past week.
Note: Know of other coaches with local ties? Feel free to email me at the below address.
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com