WEEK 7: CAMPBELL MEMORIAL (5-1) AT CHAMPION (4-2)

• BigDean1

  

  Campbell is coming of its first loss of the season, 43-21 to Salem. Champion defeated Liberty 28-0 last Friday. This is a big game for both teams. Campbell, despite losing to Salem, will drop just one spot to 5th in region 13 according to Joe Eitel. The Red Devils need to get back confidence and momentum vs. Champion. Champion is now 12th in region 13 according to Joe Eitel. A win over Campbell would give the Golden Flashes a big boost in the ratings. This is also an important AAC-Blue tier game for both. Campbell is 1-0 in the league. Champion is 1-1. Your thoughts on this game?
• reddevil90

  

  My thoughts are they can not use just one back! Ja'les is in 95% of the snaps. We need to start using everything. the way we look on defense is the way we looked the first 3 games. i don't know what to make of this team.we are good but are we good enough? all they had to do was minimise one player and they did not! they got fooled on a few plays. or it would have been closer. so tighten of the defense and we will be 9-1. So i hope the coach starts to give Ja'les some much needed rest cause he is going to be to tired for the playoffs. give these other kids a chance already. Very disappointed in the play calling in the second half. we should have dominated on offense IMO in the second half. but you can tell Ja'les was getting winded. I never seen a running back play 95% of the snaps. But it wont change or it would have started in the Salem game. We have to have someone other the Ja'les.
• oldschoolreddev

  This is gonna be a fun game. Champion is playing very good football and cannot be taken lightly. Campbell needs to regroup. I didn't think the offensive play calling was bad. Our defense just didn't do their job, thus forcing us out of our game plan.
• reddevil90

  

  Could have been old school. But i don't know but i seen on here someone said Ja'les was hurt does anyone know if its true? I sure hope not. I'm just disappointed that's all. this is the best team in 11 years and we play good then we don't. And I'm worried about what #3 is going to have left in the tank come playoffs unless we fold. But i don't think that will happen. Just real worried about our team and the mistakes miss tackles and we seem to not put 4QT together yet this season. closes we came to 4 full quarters is brookfield. I think we can take Champion if we play smart. very smart football by the team will help going into the playoff. This team is good enough to go deep into region 13 if they start playing smart defense and hit lower. everyone knows you cant take a player on like toothman high, we shall see! But I'm confident we will finish this season on a good note.
• Caturdayz

  

  Good luck to Campbell from Salem, hope you win out
• GoPens

  

  Good Luck Campbell!
• reddevil66

  I think Campbell did a good job last fri.but I also think they need to start giving the ball tother guys.We have alot of talent that we can be using.Bledsoe hardly gets any touches.Hes a senior give him the ball.Jales cant be the only one getting touches.To sonny black, they still havent filled the shoes of skevo for kickoff and punt returns they tried how many guys it is wek 7. your right he is a straight away runner but he does FINISH his runs.Its too bad the kid wont get the chance.He touched the ball afew times his first game and made things happen.So when you have 20 plus touches something better happen.We have yet to fill his shoes both on offense and deffense and the kid had campbell heart ,so to you soonyblack I dont know what you seen but I saw a kid that was a playmaker and its too bad he is injured and wont get to FINISH his runs for you.
• reddevil90

  

  So has anyone heard anything yet on Ja'les? Is he hurt or was that hogwash? Somebody got to know lol.
• BigDean1

  

  I believe Richard Bledsoe has been attracting some double coverage lately. The opponents did not have that luxury until Skevo went down. He is missed bigtime. Rushton and LeBron are good receivers. But neither is the same caliber as Bledsoe. As far as kick and punt returns, Salem purposely kicked it away from where Bledsoe was so he could not burn them. The defense did not play well at all vs. Salem. The tackling was terrible. Offensively I thought Campbell played well until they got behind by 16 points and had to change up their game plan. When they resorted to throwing the ball in the second half Salem began to blitz and that caused some trouble for Lester. Champion is not going to be a pushover and Campbell could be making a big mistake if they are looking ahead to the Girard game. Champion has good size up front and they've got two good running backs. Campbell might want to consider changing up the offense a little. #7, #25, and #24 will at least give opposing defenses something else to think about. The Devils need to regroup and get it done at Champion.
• sonnyblack

  Reddevil66,
  When I posted way back about Ja'les "finishing" runs, that was in no way a slight to Skevo. Skevo would out run any opposing player, whereas Ja'les runs more like the prototypical TB. Everyone can see how much this team misses Skevo, especially on returns, he was the "energy" guy. You are correct in saying that they haven't found anyone to replace him yet. That being said, Ja'les has been tearing it up as the feature back, but I agree that they need to give him a break every now and then.
  As for the return game, I would like to see Bledsoe as the deep back flanked by Ray and Smith.
• oldschoolreddev

  The loss of Skevo was a huge blow psychologically and offensively to the Red Devils. However, he was not a starter on defensive and didn't help that side at all. He could have played some nickle but if he was healthy it wouldn't have mattered against Salem.
  
  Our defense is not good. Period. We don't hit, we are not physical, we don't have a true leader out there. We beat up on the teams we are supposed to. Against the winning teams, we don't do anything. If you look at our last 17 games we have only beat two teams with a winning record (Newton Falls - 2009, South Range 2010). We are 2-5 in those games. Our average margin of victory in those two wins is 40-14, in the losses we are outscored 16-37!
  
  Now back to the game. Champion has the Trumbull County All-Time leading rusher on their team. They are 4-2 and this is a team that is hungry. They will try to pound it down our throats again and again. We need to play sound physical defense in order to win.
  
  I don't make predictions but I will this week. Campbell wins to set up a big showdown next week against Girard.
  
  Good Luck Red Devils!
• QuakerOats

  oldschoolreddev;507756 wrote: Our defense is not good. Period. We don't hit, we are not physical, we don't have a true leader out there. We beat up on the teams we are supposed to. Against the winning teams, we don't do anything. If you look at our last 17 games we have only beat two teams with a winning record (Newton Falls - 2009, South Range 2010). We are 2-5 in those games. Our average margin of victory in those two wins is 40-14, in the losses we are outscored 16-37!

  Whoever #40 is; he's a player ------- maybe build your defense around him. Not sure where he's been, but he showed up Friday. Good luck the rest of the way.
• sooner1

  

  Campbell needs to learn how to win the "Big Games". Against good offenses, the defense looks bad! They better sure up that defense.
• reddevil90

  

  Campbell lacks one thing and that's not the coaches fault. I use to blame the coaches but after the Salem game i cant. They week after week tackle to high and hand tackle a lot. Go for the legs tackle low and wrap them up. if they have a head of steam don't get jacked stand your ground. if he looks like he is going to steam row you let him cause you will either still slow him down enough for help or stop him. You have to hit them so hard you knock fear into there souls. take them lower devils take there legs out. I don't mean brake there legs or knees i mean wrap up there legs. one other thing people good team eliminate your threat and we have only shown one threat the season since skevo. that's Ja'les. don't get me wrong he is a fine back but he is no better then what Campbell had for years, we need to maximize our offense if the defense cant stop them. that means keep there offense off the field. a change of backs would light a fire under this team IMO. also all this depth and we have not used it at all this season. also every game #7 was in and every down he played this season has gave us points he scored every time he was on offense. he is hard to bring down from what i see. so i have to wonder is it cause he is not a favorite of the coaches? or do they think they can win with one back on 95% of the carries? Did #7 25 and 24 do things the coaches don't like or are there things we don't know the coaches know? My guess is he is not favored. he started one game drove down the Field could not be stopped but he stopped himself he fumbled on the 4 yard line going in for the score. that was the last time we seen him run the ball other then mop up and that has only happen 2 times this season.
• soupcitysoldier

  i think the main reason 7 n 25 dont get alot of touches is because of ball security. i dont see them seeing any more playing time until that is shored up. no time to learn on the job this year
• reddevil90

  

  That's funny cause Ja'les fumbles a lot. he did a good job last week but we still lost. we use to blame the close games on the offense. the offense put up 21 and could have put more up if the defense did there job and stayed home or didn't get beat up on the out passes. and we got beat and so did the coaches on the fake punt. that punt was the game changer in my mind gave Salem the momentum. Campbell has the weapons to put a lot of points up. but got to give Ja'les some rest or forget the playoffs. we wont last long with a back that carried 90%+ of the hand offs. there has got to be a time to just let the talent show. we need them and it shows alot. we are a team that has so much dept but lack a good enough defense. they better start to tackle like there is no tomorrow. I'm pumped for the champion game. this will show how they worked on there adversity. we should go 9-1 but girard Struthers and champion are gonna make this team better or they just survive enough to make the playoffs.
• BigDean1

  

  reddevil90;508477 wrote:That's funny cause Ja'les fumbles a lot. he did a good job last week but we still lost. we use to blame the close games on the offense. the offense put up 21 and could have put more up if the defense did there job and stayed home or didn't get beat up on the out passes. and we got beat and so did the coaches on the fake punt. that punt was the game changer in my mind gave Salem the momentum. Campbell has the weapons to put a lot of points up. but got to give Ja'les some rest or forget the playoffs. we wont last long with a back that carried 90%+ of the hand offs. there has got to be a time to just let the talent show. we need them and it shows alot. we are a team that has so much dept but lack a good enough defense. they better start to tackle like there is no tomorrow. I'm pumped for the champion game. this will show how they worked on there adversity. we should go 9-1 but girard Struthers and champion are gonna make this team better or they just survive enough to make the playoffs.

  
  I would be surprised if Ja'les is given much rest, at least not until the Newton Falls game, if at all. I say that with no disrespect to Newton Falls. But the fact is Newton Falls has lost some key players this season and that game might be the one to give Ja'les a break. But that might not happen. Campbell's offensive line has really improved its run blocking. And Coach Sikora will more than likely use the bread and butter that has gotten him this far. Champion and Struthers could very well be tough games for Campbell. Girard WILL BE a tough game for Campbell. Champion must be beaten first. GO DEVILS !!!! By the way, which is the shortest route to Champion High School?
• soupcitysoldier

  the fake punt was a real good fake punt...mainly because it was completely illegal. they didnt have enough men on the line and one of the players was not allowed to go out for a pass, which led to one guy being wide open and thus a first down. the refs knew they messed up...either on purpose or on accident. but regardless you cant blame that on the coaches, we all saw it from the stands and if i watch the tape i guarantee youll see it. i wonder if anyone else can confirm this. jales is running like a man among boys...i just havent seen a real chance to give this kid a breather other than the labrae game which he did. you got horses you better run them. ive seen 25 n 7 play in garbage time and once when 7 fumbled...i dont know if thats enough to make a comment on whether they should be getting touches.
• reddevil90

  

  Soup he has made 3 touchdowns this year each time he was out there the last time he was out there was when he was going for the score and he got the ball stripped out cause he was making a cut that would have let him run the last 4 yards. That was him starting and running the ball down there necks. He put the ball out not knowing the defender would grab at the ball. i didn't know that about the fake punt and i heard that that was illegal also but didn't trust my brother cause he was pissed and couldn't tell for sure. he said i swear to god there was not enough players out there and it was a illegal pass to ineligible receiver. so that's twice now i heard that. But that fact remains guys are we good enough well i should say is the defense good enough. I do think so we have some big boys out there but at times they just make me so mad. I'm 37 years old and I'm tired of watching a team that has what it takes just not get over the hump. we are so close but yet so far. hit them hard devils hit and keep hitting make them think twice about crossing your path. 51 50 have been the anchors on defense and they need to lead this team and show them this is how you hit. Good lick devils
• BigDean1

  

  Bump.
• reddevil90

  

  So i take it the rumor that Ja'les got hurt in the last Qt of the Salem game was not true. I hope not. Hope we get a win tomorrow. I would love to get a home playoff game. Be good for the city and fans. Campbell should dominate on offense. But I'm gonna worry about the defense till they start to hit and tackle better. Campbell wins by 2 td's if we play smart with ball security.
• reddevil90

  

  BUMP!!!
• soupcitysoldier

  how do i get to champion?
• Old Rider

  

  1994..Orrville played Campbell and it was a whooping....enjoy!
• BigDean1

  

  soupcitysoldier;511162 wrote:how do i get to champion?

  
  Take 11 North to 82 West. Follow 82 West until you come to the Warren bypass. In other words, do not go into downtown Warren. Get off on the Route 45 Mahoning Avenue NW exit. Make a right. The stadium is down the street on the right. Take this route and you will avoid the traffic. It's a nice little stadium.