Friday Night Lights: Opening weekend

The Cleveland Glenville football team rolled to a 32-0 victory over Mentor Friday night, but that was far from the best news the Tarblooders received all weekend.

As detailed in this story in The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Glenville head coach Ted Ginn Sr. has received a clean bill of health, a marked turnaround for a man some were fearing had some form of cancer.

Ginn did not coach Friday night's game, but Glenville managed without him. Quarterback Arvell Nelson completed 17 of 29 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Two of them went to coveted prospect Raymond Small, while Royce Adams had an interception and a 64-yard punt return.

Ginn watched his team's victory from the press box -- where he was joined by his son, Ohio State star Ted Ginn Jr. -- and seems likely to return to the sidelines next week.

Here is a look at some of Ohio's other top football games, beginning with those involving Buckeye verbals and also including some looks at how out-of-state prospects performed. Note that not every state has yet begun their high school season, and there are several games scheduled for Saturday night, including Cincinnati Colerain squaring off with Cincinnati St. Xavier in the Queen City. Expect this story to be updated on Sunday and return throughout the football season.

All schools are in Ohio, unless otherwise noted.

• Defending state champion Cincinnati Colerain -- featuring Ohio State verbal Connor Smith, Michigan commitment Cobrani Mixon and top recruit Tyler Moeller -- was upset by Cincinnati St. Xavier 7-0. St. X running back Chris Cionni accounted for the game's only score with a 7-yard touchdown.

• The senior season of blue-chip running back Chris Wells began on Thursday night, but not in the fashion many were expecting. Wells gained just 105 yards and Akron Hoban shot down Wells' Akron Garfield team, 21-7.

As detailed Saturday here in the Akron Beacon Journal, Wells sustained a stress fracture and could miss Garfield's next game. However, Sunday's ABJ reported Wells' injury as a bruise and said that he would not miss any live action.

• Ross Homan got his year off to a better start. Homan was all over the field in Coldwater's 40-6 victory over Kenton, rushing 10 times for 23 yards and a touchdown, catching a 36-yard touchdown and returning an interception 31 yards for a score. He added 8 solo tackles and 2 assists -- including 2 sacks -- to cap off his evening.

• Springboro kicked off its year with a 33-13 victory over Kings. Quarterback Clay Coomer, who has drawn some attention on the recruiting trail, completed 8 of 12 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, both to wideout Ryan Kerns. Coomer also ran for two touchdowns.

Buckeye verbal Jake Ballard played both ways, creating havoc from his defensive end position and catching two passes for 47 yards as a tight end.

• Clayton Northmont kicked off its season Thursday with a 28-14 victory over Dayton Chaminade-Julienne. Ohio State commitment Kurt Coleman ceded the spotlight to some of his teammates, as new quarterback Clay Belton threw for four touchdowns and an unofficial total of 372 yards, according to the Dayton Daily News, and Justin Watkins caught three of those passes, racking up 168 receiving yards on nine catches.

• West Chester Lakota West fell to Mason 33-22, but Josh Chichester had a big game, hauling in eight passes for 156 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown.

• Quarterback Antonio Henton and his Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County team were idle this week.

Here is a look at some of the other top performances from around the state and country.

• Despite enduring an offseason coaching change and the recent transfer of offensive lineman Lee Tilley to Franklin Heights, Springfield South was able to down Dayton Dunbar 43-13.

Lamar Mapp spearheaded the defensive effort with 6 ½ tackles, including two for loss, and Brennen Glass threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

• Quarterback Michael Hartline completed 15 passes for 207 yards, but his Canton GlenOak team fell to Hudson, 28-7.

• Westerville South tailback Elijah Griffin -- nephew of former Buckeyes Archie and Ray -- carried 24 times for 255 yards, including touchdown runs of 1, 1, 35, 48 and 91 yards, in South's 48-17 win over Dublin Scioto.

• Cincinnati Moeller senior quarterback Pat Redwine passed, caught and ran for a touchdown as his team looked strong in its 38-6 victory over Cincinnati Withrow, which features, among others, Notre Dame verbal Kallen Wade and potential OSU cornerback recruit Robert Williams.

• Armand Robinson had seven catches for 77 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown, and made an interception, but Reynoldsburg fell to Pickerington Central 28-7.

• Cincinnati La Salle's 35-7 victory over Cincinnati Sycamore was tempered by news that quarterback Tyler Sheehan may have suffered a broken collarbone after throwing for four touchdowns in the game. Top Ohio junior Ben Martin had two sacks for La Salle.

• One of central Ohio's top tailbacks, Christen Haywood had 27 carries for 301 yards and a 53-yard touchdown in Hilliard Davidson's 37-14 victory over Middletown.

• Copley tailback Delone Carter ran for 136 yards and four touchdowns as his team cruised to a 28-7 win over Uniontown Lake.

• Louisville-bound tight end Zachary Meagher of Cincinnati Glen Este caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in his team's 42-12 win over Ryle.

• Ohio State has shown interest in several prospects from Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway, including offensive lineman Chris Hanna. He and his teammates helped ensure a rough trip for Cleveland Benedictine, outscoring Ohio's defending Division III state champions 27-7 in the fourth quarter to take a 37-31 victory in a game held in Pennsylvania.

• Cleveland St. Ignatius hosted Edison High School from Washington, D.C., and found little trouble in racking up a 58-6 victory. Quarterback Rudy Kirbus attempted only three passes, all in the first quarter, connecting on all three of them for 66 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown to Notre Dame verbal Robby Parris.

• Zephyrhills, Fla., standout Bryan Thomas, who consistently lists Ohio State in his top three schools, caught a 56-yard pass but his team lost to Land O' Lakes 34-7.

• Travis McBride, a tailback who has drawn some attention from the Buckeyes, rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown. But his 66-yard score came well after the game was decided, as his McKeesport, Pa., team fell to Pittsburgh North Hills 33-7.