Tag: SmeeSports

SmeeSports Internship Program: Applications Now Open for Spring Semester 2026

Alliance, OH- As the halfway point of the Fall Semester is upon us, SmeeSports has decided to begin accepting applications for Spring 2026 interns!

SmeeSports LLC is a sports media and broadcasting company founded in 2023 that serves the Cleveland and Stark County areas. We have partnered with many teams and organizations, such as Spectrum Channel 1022 Alliance, Minerva Athletics, Holy Name Athletics, Tri-C Baseball, 965 Midwest Challenge, WRCL, OPL, and Diamond League, to provide broadcast coverage of select games. While we do games outside of these partnerships, they make up the backbone and majority of our coverage.

Our owner, Nathan Smee, is a sophomore at the University of Mount Union. He is majoring in Sport Business and Marketing while minoring in Media and Communications. With five years in the industry, Smee has gained a lot of valuable experience in the sports media world.

Our Fall internship team, headlined by Cooper Fontaine, Bryce Fisher, Julian Rodriguez, Jack Speth, and Sarah Magyar, has done great work so far.

Cooper has been a go-to color commentator for SmeeSports, leading to a job with Spectrum Channel 1022 Alliance. The sophomore at Alliance HS has also done good work taking photos, many of which have made their way onto our gameday graphics.

Bryce and Sarah have been the “what do you need” crew for SmeeSports. They have created an Instagram account to post their pregame and in-game photos. Additionally, Sarah has been our trusted scoreboard operator, while Bryce has done everything from calling games to running our overhead or on-field cameras.

As for Julian, he has been a trusty overhead camera operator and producer, depending on the day. Signing on with SmeeSports in April, J-Rod’s addition has allowed us to cover more events with higher quality.

Not to be outdone, Jack has held down the Northeast Ohio fort. As a senior at Pauda High School and a former Cavs junior reporter, he knows how to tell a story with good comments from his peers. He has over doubled our Padua coverage while simply enjoying his senior year.

While not an official ‘intern’, Daniel Clark–AKA DC–has called a few football games on the channel. This work helped him get hired by Channel 1022, just like Cooper.

Let’s not forget about our Summer 2025 interns either. Cameron Ragazzo has been our go-to color commentator for Cleveland games this Fall. Gabriel Cozza has been a strong presence in our weekly high school football pick-ems and will rejoin the broadcast crew during Winter break.

Finally, Emily Malberg and Daniel Ridenour have done great work at Xavier and Bowling Green, respectively. Emily, a junior, has spearheaded our Guardians and St Xavier coverage. As for Daniel, he was given a media pass to attend the MAC media day in July at Ford Field.

Photographers Aaron Sharply, Christy Kyte, and Ally Hall, along with commentator Josh Minier did good work for us during the Summer and have moved on.

The point is, our interns not only get better during this program, but also have a track record of landing jobs afterwards. While this internship is unpaid, our interns get lots of amazing hands-on experiences across the sporting world.

During this upcoming internship cycle (that’ll run from December through May), interns will have the chance to help with hockey, basketball, baseball, softball, and lacrosse broadcasts.

If broadcasting isn’t your style, you can be a photographer or a sports writer for SmeeSports! These roles are not bound by location. However, you must be in the Cleveland or Stark County area and be willing to travel to qualify for the broadcast portion of this internship.

The requirement is to cover two games per week on average. This internship is the definition of you get what you give. The growth we’ve seen from our interns who buy into the process has been incredible.

If interested, you can contact Nathan Smee via email at nsmee00@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can reach out on Instagram at @smeesports. Either way, you MUST fill out the Google form at the bottom of this article.

Here’s to another successful internship cycle!

Apply Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeImsMsEUFATzH6ZdEuAT2QMjoBS6Hbmi_PDye6TfKrR2XmA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118438138772696393497

A Night to Remember: Minerva Football Earns 1st EBC Victory Since 2019 with a 7-0 Win over Marlington

Alliance, OH- Every team undergoes a rebuilding phase. For some, this period lasts a year or two. Others see the rebuild eclipse the half-decade mark. What if a rebuild sees a team go 4-96 across 10 years, leading into a new era? How do they rebuild? Zach Slates and the new look Minerva Lions have answered this question by improving to 5-3 on the year with a 7-0 victory over the Marlington Dukes.

“Minerva had a long tradition of smashmouth football, and it has been great to see it come back again,” remarked Minerva High School Athletic Director Garth Evans, “I am very excited for this school, town, and community to see success in football again.”

Minerva began the game with the football, but would proceed to fumble deep in Duke territory. After leading Marlington down inside the Minerva 35-yard line, Tyler Walder’s fourth-down scramble came up short, giving the rock right back to the Lions.

Minerva quarterback Kannon Kirkpatrick has been working on his passing all season, and it paid off in a big way on the ensuing drive. With 2nd down and 19 in front of him, Kirkpatrick found Owen Shick over the top for a massive first down inside the Dukes’ five-yard line. A few plays later, Skylar Lab would run to the corner of the endzone to sneak it in for the game’s lone touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Both defenses proceeded to dominate the final three quarters. In total, the Lions’ defense stopped Marlington three separate times on fourth down. Still, a few players on both squads managed to put up solid numbers.

Looking at Marlington, both Blaize Horn and Caden Dine ran the ball effectively. Horn had 77 yards on 6 carries, while Dine had 45 yards on 8 attempts. In the air, Cole Jones had 46 yards on 5 receptions. Finally, Walder went 9/16 with 76 passing yards. Their big loss came in the form of Cameron Evanich, who suffered a season-ending arm injury during the Dukes’ loss at Carrollton.

As for the Lions, it was the running game that stole the show as expected. Breakout Sophomore Timmy Kirkpatrick ran the rock 24 times for 171 yards. Nate Linkous followed him up with 13 carries that resulted in 45 yards. K. Kirkpatrick went 2/2 passing with 44 yards.

Circling back to Evans, he made sure to give everyone credit when talking about this revival, as he said,

“Everyone involved has been a part of this rejuvenation in football. Students, staff, band, cheerleaders, players, and coaches because they all believe the team can win, and that’s been great to see.”

Up next for the mighty Lions–the Alliance Aviators. Despite losing 34-28 on the road at West Branch, A-Town is looking poised to host a playoff game in Region 9.

As for the Dukes, this loss sees them eliminated from playoff contention in Region 13. They are on the road in week 9 as they take on Salem.

No matter what happens for the Minerva Lions during the home stretch of their 2025 campaign, one thing is certain. This small Ohio town, divided amongst Stark, Carroll, and Columbiana counties, will not forget this special group. A group that helped change the future outlook for Friday Night Lights at Dr. Robert H Hines Stadium.

SmeeSports Player of the Game: Timmy Kirkpatrick

Watch Marlington Vs Minerva Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/DfwCmOX5JDc?si=qCubrRARVxxxBuLa

‘Back on Top’: Marlington Boys Soccer Defeats Alliance 3-0 to Win the Eastern Buckeye Conference

Alliance, OH- Asking the Marlington Dukes boys soccer team to share the EBC title, or even lose it, does not go over well. The boys in orange–with a year hiatus–are back atop the Eastern Buckeye Conference as they took down Alliance 3-0 to confirm an undefeated conference season.

The big storyline, outside of the conference crown, was the return of Parker Woods after his transfer to Alliance from Marlington.

“We certainly hated to see him go,” remarked Marlington head coach Clayton Cowgill. “He’s a tremendous soccer player, a tremendous athlete, and a good kid.”

Woods would go on to have the first shot of the game, but Brock Swisher was easily able to get the save. While the junior goalkeeper was challenged on multiple occasions, he still earned his ninth clean sheet of the season. What makes this stat even more incredible is the fact that he didn’t allow a goal in EBC play this season.

After the match, Swisher said,

“It [dropping the EBC last season] was really heartbreaking, so getting this back was huge.”

With five minutes left to play in the first half, Marlington junior Iden Tate smashed in a wonderstrike on a free kick well outside the 18-yard box to give the Dukes the 1-0 lead at halftime.

“Going into it, I just practice those all the time and was just confident through the hit and placed it like I know I could,” proclaimed an excited Tate. That was his 11th goal of the year, a team high for the Dukes.

Towards the end of the first half, Marlington’s Andy Frederick came up lame after a lunging attempt at the ball and was subbed out soon after. However, he showed the whole city of Alliance that he was ok by getting the Dukes a brace with just over 25 minutes left to play.

Around five minutes later, Marlington found their ‘cherry on top’ as TJ Guess skillfully went through the Aviator defense to make it 3-0. After 20 more back-and-forth minutes, which included Jacob Schuette being denied one-on-one against Swisher, the Dukes clinched the EBC title as the full-time whistle confirmed the 3-0 victory.

For the first time this season, Allinace has dropped back-to-back games as Louisville defeated them 2-1 at Rockhill on September 25th. As well, this was the biggest defeat for the Aviators in 2025, a margin once held by Canton Central Catholic as they downed A-Town 2-1. The Aviators have St Thomas Aquinas, Akron Garfield, and Streetsboro before the regular season comes to a close with a 7-4-3 record in hand.

As for Marlington, the Dukes are now 11-1-3. With this win over Allinace, MHS is now a top 500 team in the country, coming in at 499 according to MaxPreps. As for the state of Ohio, they are ranked 69th. Saturday is going to be a tough test for the Dukes as they travel to Canton to take on the Federal League champions, GlenOak. Then, it’s a senior night duel with Nordonia. That game will be streamed live on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel.

The goal was simple heading into 2025–get back on top. That’s exactly what the Marlington boys soccer team did. In the words of Tj Guess,

“It feels pretty good.”

Link to rewatch Marlington vs Alliance Soccer: https://www.youtube.com/live/psWY1Uj35oA?si=gMe1nN7X_3i5vxnX

Subscribe to the SmeeSports YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SmeeSports

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smeesports/

X: https://x.com/Smeephus2024

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578065636004

LinkedIn: SmeeSports LLC + Nathan Smee

Mikey Maloney Dominates in First Career Mount Union Start as the Purple Raiders Defeat Wheaton 37-29

Alliance, OH- For the 38th consecutive season, the Mount Union Purple Raiders get a win in week one by downing the Wheaton Thunder 37-29. With it, the NCAA’s longest regular-season win streak increases to 76. The last time UMU lost in the regular season was in their last game against John Carroll in Alliance.

Mount Union got the ball to begin the game and wasted no time driving down the field. Mikey Maloney picked up a first down by connecting with returning wideout Nick Turner. Maloney followed this up with a 55-yard run, putting UMU at the Wheaton seven-yard line. Three plays later, Wyatt Stiehl caught his first touchdown pass since returning to Mount after a year at Southern Florida. Ivan Maric would miss the extra point, so the score remained 6-0 with 13:17 left in the first quarter.

The Thunder would pick up nine yards on their opening drive as Mark Forcucci found Seth Kortenhoeven. However, back-to-back incompletions forced Wheaton to punt. Mount Union used the short yardage game as a launching pad during its second drive. Seven out of the nine plays on the drive went for less than 10 yards. The exceptions came in the form of a 21-yard pass to Turner and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elmherst transfer Jacob Cockrell. Maric was able to redeem himself as he made the extra point, making it 13-0 with 7:24 left in the first quarter.

The Thunder responded on the following drive as they went 51 yards on four plays to get on the board by way of a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Matt Crider. The Purple Raiders would also respond, taking eight plays and 75 yards to find the endzone. This time, Maloney connected with Shaun Thomas on a wheel route for the 42-yard score. This made the score 20-7 as the first quarter came to a close.

Wheaton looked for an answer with a mythodical drive, but a Forcucci incompletion on the 12th play ended the drive at Mount’s 27-yard line. To make matters worse, Maloney found Cockrell for an 81-yard touchdown after being sacked on the prior play. With the Purple Raiders up by 20, the Thunder needed to get back in the game. However, another mythodical drive stalled out as Wheaton turned the ball over at UMU’s 11-yard line. From there, Mount Union would have a drive stall out after 9 plays, which was followed by a Thunder three-and-out. After trying to get down the field quickly at the end of the half, Maloney was dragged down for the second time, and the Purple Raiders opted to run the clock out. Through 30 minutes, it was Mount Union up 27-7.

The Wheaton offense would continue to have its struggles as the second half began. They would go three-and-out for the second consecutive series, this time with negative eight yards of offense. Maric would hit his first field goal of the season on the ensuing drive, making it 30-7. Keenan Cruz would get his first career interception at Mount Union on the first play of the Thunder’s next drive. This gave Maloney and the offense a short field. Turner would get into the endzone for the first time this season on a one-yard touchdown pass from Maloney. This would round out the Purple Raiders’ offense for the day as they led 37-7.

Down by 30 as the fourth quarter began, things looked bleak for Wheaton. Once again, the Thunder opted for a mythical drive. However, Forcucci was able to find the endzone on a 21-yard scamper. This made it 37-14. Junior quarterback Chase Copper would come in for Mount Union, along with sophomore running back Kayden Minner. They were able to move the ball 19 yards before a loss of two on a rush and a loss of five on a delay of game penalty, forcing Michael Franklin back onto the field to punt. Overall, two of Franklin’s punts ended up inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt, improving on his 41 yards per punt in 2024.

With 8:15 left in the game, the Thunder offense finally clicked. Forcucci took 4:28 off the clock before finding Kortenhoeven for a 19-yard touchdown. This made it 37-21. Then, Wheaton recovered an onside kick out of nowhere. Yet again, Kortenhoeven punished the Purple Raiders as he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Forcucci. With a successful two-point conversion, a 30-point game became a one-possession game. Maloney and the starters were forced back onto the field given the circumstances, and they got the job done. On a crucial third down, Maloney found Matt Anderson for his 19th completion of the day. However, the tight end fumbled the ball. Still, UMU was able to pounce on the rock, sealing the 37-29 victory.

“The Machine is the consistency of the program,” remarked Mount Union head coach Geoff Dartt after the game.

It’s no secret that players want to come to Alliance to play for UMU, as shown by the sheer number of players on the roster. However, Coach Dartt doesn’t want just any player.

“I think that [35 OAC losses since first title back in 1985] speaks more to the players that are choosing to come here and want to be coached hard and become the best versions of themselves…and I think it’s even more important when you recruit people, they’re good people that want to be coached and want to be developed.”

One of the best pieces of recruiting this past offseason, staying in line with Coach Dartt’s mantra, was bringing in Jacob Cockrell from Elmherst. In his Purple Raider debut, he caught three passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

“Meeting these coaches and players, I really wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” proclaimed Cockrell after the game.

Circling back to Mount Union’s lone interception, senior Keenan Cruz was glad to see his hard work pay off in a big way.

Cruz said, “Yeah, it’s amazing. A lot of preparation and work was put in. To see some of that pay off and finally get that [interception], that’s awesome.”

As for the Purple Raiders’ new QB 1 in Mikey Maloney, he had the definition of a dream debut. He went 19/24 with 307 yards and 5 touchdowns. He was also second on the team with 44 rushing yards.

Last season, the Riverside legend went down with an injury that ended his campaign in the win against Wilmington. However, he found comfort in God as he attributed his success to Him.

“The biggest thing being injured is the mental side of it, and I think I grew a lot as a person. My faith in God really helped me find myself, helped me be confident in His plan for me. So, I just put my faith in Him.”

During the postgame press conference with Coach Dartt, he even joked that Maloney could run for Mayor of Riverside [Painesville], showing not only that he is an excellent quarterback, but also a good person.

Next week, it’s on to Grove City as Mount Union takes on the Wolverines in their second and final 1 PM kickoff of the season. This week, Grove City made a statement as they knocked off #10 Courtland 31-14 on the road in New York.

As for Wheaton, it is another road trip next week as they take on Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. The Vikings earned a thrilling win, 42-41, in overtime on the road against Simpson in Iowa. This matchup will begin College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play for the 2025 campaign.

Mount Union had a task heading into week one-keep The Machine rolling and get the win. In the end, it’s mission accomplished for one of the prides of Alliance, albeit in a closer game than once expected. As the saying goes, a win’s a win. 13 more wins, and Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will host the Purple Raiders in the Stagg Bowl to close out the season.

Marlington Volleyball Continues to Roll in EBC Play, Defeats Minerva in Straight Sets

Alliance, OH- Fresh off a state championship game appearance, the Marlington Dukes were always going to have a chip on their shoulder heading into 2025. With losses to Twinsburg (3-0) and Olmsted Falls (3-1), Marlington had plenty to prove in the Eastern Buckeye Conference. Tonight, they earned their first home win and third conference win with a 3-0 victory over Minerva.

In the first set, it was all Marlington. After taking a 4-0 lead, the Lions got back into the frame with two quick-fire points. However, a 5-0 run followed for the Dukes, which made it 9-2. Tiffany Oaks, the head coach for Minerva, called a time-out to talk things over. Minerva got some points on the board after the break, but Marlington continued to control the frame. In the end, the Dukes got the win 25-9.

Set two started with plenty of back-and-forth play. The Lions kept Marlington within three or four points for the most part. However, the Dukes began to pull away as a timeout was called with the score sitting at 13-6. Minerva made things interesting after the break as they got within three. However, the pedigree of the Dukes showed as they sealed the set 25-17.

Just like the prior set, the Lions held Marlington at bay early. After going down, the Dukes took a narrow lead. The narrow 9-8 lead widened quick as Minerva called time with the score sitting at 15-8. This remained par for the course as Marlington cruised to a 25-12 victory, sealing the 3-0 win overall.

After the game, Danica Sarchione said,

“We worked really hard this Summer. We knew we lost some seniors, but this is a really good rebuilding year, and tonight we really proved ourselves.”

Sarchione is one of the biggest returners from last season. As a junior in 2025, Sarchione looks to be a two-year captain for the Dukes. In this match, she chipped in 7 kills along with 6 aces, 1 assist, 10 digs, and two blocks. Additionally, Marlington scored on 16 of her 18 services. Only Justine Doringo had more serves leading to points, but a lower total serve point percentage.

Looking into the priorly mentioned former seniors, Claire Battershell (Tiffin), Layne Graffice (YSU), and Jacsyn Hilliard headlined the class. However, the statsheet looked very similar to last season.

“Hey, these stats are very similar to last year,” remarked head coach Stephanie Tortola regarding what was said on the bench after the game.

The energy was the same from last year; just a few new faces were introduced. Senior setter Cali Young echoed this as she proclaimed,

“We have a good youth program at Marlington. A lot of the girls who were coming up freshman year have made an impact.”

Giana Bogunovich echoed the sentiment as she said,

“I feel like our energy and our determination just shows in everything we do.”

Bogunovich led the team with 17 kills. She also provided one assist and seven digs. Young also provided a spark, earning a total of 28 assists.

The Dukes, now 4-2 on the year, head to Salem on Thursday as they hunt for a seventh consecutive undefeated EBC season in a row. As for Minerva, they travel to Alliance again, but to take on the Aviators. The latter will be streamed live on the SmeeSports YouTube channel.

SmeeSports Player of the Game: Danica Sarchione

Link to Rewatch Marlington Vs Minerva Volleyball: https://www.youtube.com/live/bx6QRqcwC5k?si=lO7CTC0oRfEuu-m2

Link to Watch Alliance Vs Minerva Volleyball: https://www.youtube.com/live/8MfuNvVqKDo?si=8jHWb6udk289eigv

2025 MAC Football Schedule Week 1

As we begin the road to Detroit for the 2nd time in conference history this week, every team in the MAC will begin their season this week. With five games on Thursday, two on Friday, and six on Saturday. Let’s take a look at each team’s matchup for the 2025 season. During a 3 year cycle, each team will play another 12 home and away contests which allows for new teams to face off and rivalries to continue. 

Broadcasts for games will vary depending on the team, date, time, and opponent. We have some of the games broadcast plans listed below and we will give updates here with a written weekly recap of each game. 

Another notable event for this season is University of Massachusetts will return to the MAC for the first time since 2015 and this will be the concluding season in the MAC for Northern Illinois Football.  Overall each team will play non conference matchups with the first conference game being September 13th on Saturday when Buffalo will travel to Kent State to battle the Golden Flashes.  

So with all that information, here are all the MAC football games for the 2025 season. 

Thursday 8/28

Ohio Bobcats @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights 6:00 PM ET 

Big Ten Network, Ohio Sports Network, WRSU-FM (88.7)

Lafayette Leopards @ Bowling Green Falcons 6:00 PM ET 

ESPN+, Falcon Media Sports Network, Lafayette Sports Network

Wyoming Cowboys @ Akron Zips 7:00 PM ET 

ESPN+, Cowboy Sports Network, WZIP Radio

Buffalo Bulls @ Minnesota Gophers 8:00 PM ET

FS1, The Varsity Network, 100.3 KFAN, KTCN 1130 AM 

Miami Redhawks @ Wisconsin Badgers 9:00 PM ET

Big Ten Network, Redhawk Radio, iHeartMedia Wisconsin

Friday 

Western Michigan Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans 7:00 PM ET

FS1, Bronco Media Network, Impact 89FM

Central Michigan Chippewas @ San Jose State Spartans 10:30 PM ET

Big Ten Network, WMHW FM, KLIV 1590 AM

Saturday 

Ball State Cardinals @ Purdue Boilermakers 12:00 PM ET 

Big Ten Network, Purdue Broadcast Network 

Merrimack Warriors @ Kent State Golden Flashes 12:00 PM ET 

ESPN+, WMCK Radio

Toledo Rockets @ Kentucky Wildcats 12:45 PM ET

SEC NETWORK, 88.3 FM WXUT

Temple Owls @ University of Massachusetts 3:30 PM ET

ESPN+, 1210 AM WPHT, UMass Sports Network

Holy Cross Crusaders @ Northern Illinois Huskies 3:30 PM ET 

ESPN+, WCHC 88.1, WDKB 94.9 FM, NIU Huskies App, TuneIn

Eastern Michigan Eagles @ Texas State Bobcats 8:00 PM ET 

ESPN+, 89.1 FM, KTSW 88.9 

Overall these games will be the stepping stone for how the year goes along. Some games are projected to be more lopsided such as Kentucky having a 81.9% chance to win over Toledo as well as NIU being projected with a 88.8% chance to win over the Holy Cross Crusaders (Both Probabilities as per ESPN). What we see as well is games that could go either way and are very close such as Akron being projected with a 50.5% chance to win over the Wyoming Cowboys (as per ESPN). Overall the closest game by probability is Akron vs. Wyoming as the most likely game for victory is Bowling Green vs. Lafayette where BGSU has a 95.5% chance to win. All these probabilities will be up for discussion as well depending on how the game goes, as we are prone to see upsets with the MAC. A notable upset being Northern Illinois upsetting CFP finalist Notre Dame in week 2. Enjoy the first week of college football, Smee Sports will be doing a schedule breakdown similar to this every week during the college football season. As well as a breakdown each week for Volleyball then Men’s and Women’s soccer starting next week. More to come for week 2 here on Smee Sports!

*Please note we have highlighted all student media to our knowledge as well as the major networks where games have been announced. If Dan Ridenour has missed any MAC or other conference student broadcasting, let him know at dridenourbroadcasting@gmail.com 

Holy Name Football Dominates Thursday Night Lights, Defeating Parma Rivals Normandy 55-12

Parma, OH- After a round one exit in the 2024 season, Holy Name looked to begin the 2025 campaign on a high note. They did just that, beating Normandy 55-12. This win is the first week 1 win since 2022 for the Green Wave.

The game started with a bold play from Normandy-an onside kick. After the ball was bobbled by HN, the Invaders quickly pounced and took the football. However, the Normandy offense could not get rolling. Nick Nemeth had a TFL while Kae’Leon Cleveland sacked the Invaders quarterback Jakob Muniak.

Holy Name wasted no time on their opening drive as the offensive unit found good rhythm and balance. Eso Gonzalez helped Holy Name quarterback Connor Jamison by making a big 15-yard catch. That reception would set up Xavier Rodriguez to score the Green Wave’s first touchdown of the new year on a 27-yard rush. With 8:38 on the clock in the first, HN led 7-0.

Muniak was able to find a receiver to begin the Invaders’ second drive, but Blake Troy and Tommy Ontko forced a fumble that was recovered by Noah Wallace. Receptions from Brendon Preisel and Nemeth set up Kayden Parker for a one-yard rushing score, putting Holy Name up 14-0. To follow it up, the Namer defense remained strong, forcing a three-and-out.

On the following drive, Gonzalez would make two catches. The first went for 12 yards while the second was a 21-yard touchdown. This score gave Holy Name a 21-0 lead heading into the second quarter. For context, the Green Wave averaged 14 points per game in 2024. Additionally, they scored 21 points the last time they played Normandy.

The Invaders’ fortunes would seemingly change for the better as Cameron Hayden would catch a long throw from Muniak, getting a 43-yard gain in the process. Jai Hebebrand would take his only carry to close out this drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Normandy opted to go for two, but came up short. With 9:12 left in Q2, Holy Name led 21-6. Parker would run for a first down on the following drive, but a sack from Fernando Acevedo stalled the HN offense. A Nemeth punt pinned Normandy within its own 10-yard line. Nemeth wouldn’t be done as he ended the Invaders’ drive with an interception. However, Ray Brown would force a fumble, giving his offense a chance to strike back.

Normandy would get their second big break of the second quarter as Nick Williams caught a 54-yard pass from Brown. This set up Acevedo for a two-yard rushing score. Just like the first attempt, the two-point try was unsuccessful for the Invaders. With 4:07 on the clock in the first half, HN led 21-12. Both sides would trade fumbles, bringing the Namer offense back onto the field. Nemeth had a few knocks in this game, but he bounced back nicely with a 20-yard rushing touchdown. Then, he returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown. At halftime, Holy Name led 34-12.

Williams would come back for another highlight reel play in the third quarter as he hauled in a 33-yard reception. Once again, however, HN had the last laugh as Preisel would pick off Muniak. Nemeth would continue his stellar game as he had 14 and 12 yard receptions along with 19 and 4 yard rushes, with the latter rush being a touchdown. Luke Hudak would join the INT parade with one of his own on the following drive. Parker would find the endzone after Holy Name got the ball back. Just like his first touchdown, his second came on a one-yard rush. That put Holy Name up 48-12.

The Green Wave would end their excellent scoring night with some fireworks. Noah Wallace returned an interception 30 yards for a pick-six, the second of the game for HN. However, it would be Troy who caught the final interception of the game for the Green Wave. Troy’s INT marked six on the night for the Namers. Hudak would come in for Jamison to close out the game as Holy Name earned its first win of the next season, 55-12.

Last season, Jamison had some trouble with interceptions. In total, he had 12 in 10 games during the 2024 season. He looked more comfortable and adjusted in the pocket and had good awareness. After the game, Holy Name head coach Dan Wondowlowski talked about the fact that Jamison should be nearing some division one offers, as he has the talent and frame. The rest of the Namer offense was improved as well. Players such as Parker, Rodriguez, and Nemeth acted as ‘gadget guys’ who moved around given the different formations.

As for the Invaders, Muniak had a couple of good passes downfield. Mario Stewart, Hayden, and Williams proved they have the talent and ability to be big weapons for the junior quarterback this season. The bulk of Brown’s carries came late in the game, potentially indicating a change in game plan heading into week two against Ravenna. Holy Name will have its penultimate home game at North Royalton’s Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium next Friday against 2024 standouts Gilmour Academy. The Lancers open up their season on Saturday against Benedictine.

The Healthiest You Chiropractic Center Player of the Game: Nick Nemeth (Holy Name- 3 Touchdowns, 2 INT’s)

Watch the Full Game Here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WuZMgh6qFDI?si=fjfJdn1obiS7IDsw

SmeeSports Apparel Now For Sale on Hometown Threads Website

Strongsville, OH- After months of work, we finally have an apparel site up and running. By joining forces with Hometown Threads in North Olmsted, we have a local, high-quality manufacturer, along with a place to easily purchase SmeeSports apparel.

We have a total of 7 different pieces of apparel, including T-shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, polos, pullovers, hats, and jackets. Most of these items come in multiple colors, which allows you to find just the right piece.

You can purchase apparel by visiting the Hometown Threads website and selecting SmeeSports under the “Our Apparel” tab.

Alternatively, you can find our apparel at the link here: https://hometownthreadscleveland.com/product-category/smee-sports/

We look forward to seeing our fans with their own SmeeSports apparel at games this season!

SmeeSports Football Broadcast Schedule + Storylines to Watch

Strongsville, OH- Last week, we announced our broadcast schedule for the 2025 OHSAA football regular season, which includes 12 games across 9 weeks. Overall, this slate includes 14 teams from Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Lake Counties. With less than two weeks until kickoff, let’s take a look at these matchups to find the key storylines that make Friday Night Lights so special.

Game 1: Normandy Vs Holy Name (August 21 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Byers Field, Robert M Boulton Stadium
  • Home Team: Normandy Invaders (Parma, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: This matchup features two teams that used to play in the Great Lakes Conference.
  • Storyline 2: Last time these two teams played each other, there was a lot of controversy. Normandy was awarded a ‘Fifth Down’ that resulted from miscommunication between the officials and the scoreboard operator. A play was ruled dead on the field, but the press box was not told. Four seconds disappeared from the game, time that would’ve allowed Normandy to kick a potentially game-winning field goal.

Watch Normandy Vs Holy Name: https://www.youtube.com/live/WuZMgh6qFDI?si=doeQ8WFPaL4IfpL8

Game 2: Padua Vs Alliance (August 22 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Padua Stadium
  • Home Team: Padua Bruins (Parma, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Alliance Aviators (Alliance, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: Year two of this two-year series. Padua one the first matchup at Kehres stadium 34-6 to open the 2024 season.
  • Storyline 2: The team dynamics flip from last season. Padua lost key offensive and defensive figures such as Nick Barker (Allegheny), Rod Love (ODU), Riley Cervenka (Lake Erie Basketball), Conner Williams (Charleston), Christian Ruggerio, Brandon Homady (West Virginia), and more. As for Alliance, they bring back four out of five starting offensive linemen and all of their skill position players outside of Brady White (Mount Union Baseball).

Watch Padua Vs Alliance: https://www.youtube.com/live/l0_XS7vYbEA?si=K3mFQl-hiEQac8cF

Game 3: Holy Name Vs Gilmour Academy (August 29 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium
  • Home Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Gilmour Academy Lancers (Gates Mills, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: This is the first meeting between these teams in the MaxPreps Era (2005 forward)
  • Storyline 2: Holy Name will have an extra day of rest heading into this home matchup.

Watch Holy Name Vs Gilmour Academy: https://www.youtube.com/live/6MfhJFhmh7M?si=Tctdr6ho3lSP0iTI

Game 4: Minerva Vs Springfield (September 5 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Robert H Hines Stadium
  • Home Team: Minerva Lions (Minerva, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Springfield Spartans (Akron, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: Minerva and Springfield have a combined 4 wins this decade. Springfield’s win came against Minerva last season, while the Lions beat STA for their first win since beating Rootstown (22-0) and United (21-14) to close out 2020.
  • Storyline 2: If Minerva wins this game, there’s a chance they could be over .500 for the first time since the 2013 season through three games.

Watch Minerva Vs Springfield: https://www.youtube.com/live/2bAD6eaZjcI?si=_69YI8_P5HhUgcJV

Game 5: Marlington Vs Louisville (September 12 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Duke Stadium
  • Home Team: Marlington Dukes (Alliance, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Louisville Leopards (Louisville, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: These teams used to be part of the Northeastern Buckeye Conference. This is the first series since the conference folded (year two of the series).
  • Storyline 2: With both teams having uncertainties at the quarterback position due to the departures of Tate Aljancic and Bryson McCord, this could be a statement week for the new signal callers.

Watch Marlington Vs Louisville Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/qp52sIAXqG8?si=i2B4-_f6Zv03IFw3

Game 6: Holy Name Vs Madison (September 13 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Brooklyn Memorial Stadium
  • Home Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Madison Blue Streaks (Madison, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: This will be the first time Holy Name plays a home game at their new home stadium. Additionally, this is the Green Wave’s first game in Brooklyn since their last-second playoff victory over Padua in 2021.
  • Storyline 2: Madison pulled away last year in the fourth quarter to take home the 24-7 victory. Can that momentum carry over into a pivotal week four matchup?

Watch Holy Name Vs Madison Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/CKx_3nGt2dc?si=mSGiV9SGq75YS7eF

Game 7: Holy Name Vs Cleveland Central Catholic (September 19 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium
  • Home Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Cleveland Central Catholic Ironmen (Cleveland, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: First meeting between these teams since August 31, 2019. Holy Name won the game in Cleveland 38-0.
  • Storyline 2: This game will be Holy Name’s last home game at Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium as they will make the full-time switch to Brooklyn Memorial Stadium in 2026.

Watch Holy Name Vs CCC Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/8bZE1bOsGzM?si=XLSio98YJisFjTiw

Game 8: Minerva Vs West Branch (September 26 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Robert H Hines Stadium
  • Home Team: Minerva Lions (Minerva, Ohio)
  • Away Team: West Branch Warriors (Beloit, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: West Branch has dominated the EBC this decade, going 25-0 in the 2020s. The push to 30-0 starts at Minerva
  • Storyline 2: This is going to be Coach Slates’ first EBC game as Minerva’s head coach. How does he do against the EBC’s best?

Watch Minerva Vs West Branch Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/fVc3LVxBunw?si=c3EqKeFVV5Yvxb9W

Game 9: Minerva Vs Salem (October 3 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Robert H Hines Stadium
  • Home Team: Minerva Lions (Minerva, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Salem Quakers (Salem, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: Salem lost a total of 4 games by one score or less in 2024, including an overtime loss against Carrollton. With the Warriors on the docket in week 8, this game could be a great tune-up for the Quakers.
  • Storyline 2: If Minerva can keep this game close, could this be their first EBC win of the 2020s?

Watch Minerva Vs Salem Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/hpMldhIloTY?si=Vqg8mmaCXwCABWP0

Game 10: Holy Name Vs Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (October 4 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Brooklyn Memorial Stadium
  • Home Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Royals (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: This is the first meeting between these teams in the MaxPreps Era (2005 forward). This matchup comes as CVCA and Holy Name play in the newly formed North Coast Conference, which took teams from the GLC and Crown.
  • Storyline 2: Holy Name and CVCA have played a lot of close games over the years. Will this game be the latest instant classic in this brewing rivalry?

Watch Holy Name Vs CVCA Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZP3q6_20WK8?si=glNLwKv6Z1Scm-Ow

Game 11: Marlington Vs Minerva (October 10 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Duke Stadium
  • Home Team: Marlington Dukes (Alliance, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Minerva Lions (Minerva, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: If these teams are fringe playoff squads, the loser of this matchup would likely drop out of the playoff race.
  • Storyline 2: Both teams are in the midst of transition seasons, and this could be a turning point for the winning program, even if the benefits are shown more in the 2026 season.

Watch Marlington Vs Minerva Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/DfwCmOX5JDc?si=sY5_pGn8A8ABrvJP

Game 12: Holy Name Vs Padua (October 24 at 7 PM)

  • Location: Brooklyn Memorial Stadium
  • Home Team: Holy Name Green Wave (Parma Heights, Ohio)
  • Away Team: Padua Bruins (Parma, Ohio)
  • Storyline 1: Rivalry Week for Holy Name and Padua has been moved back to Week 10, which means both teams will be at their best. How will this contrast with the past few seasons, where the game came early?
  • Storyline 2: This is the first time these teams will play each other at Brooklyn Memorial Stadium since 2021. That game was the 28-21 thriller which saw then Sophomore Andrew Cole win the game for the Green Wave by catching a high pass in the corner of the endzone with minimal time on the clock.

Watch Holy Name Vs Padua Football: https://www.youtube.com/live/Z-4eirI6Ncg?si=QcGADPsARmbjQBSn

This great season of high school football is set to get underway on August 21st. High school football is a new addition to SmeeSports this Fall, as we only covered one game last year. As the channel grows, so does our coverage area, sports, teams, etc. Let us know in the poll below which game you’re most excited for this season. 12 games, 12 chances to see OHSAA Football this regular season on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel.

SmeeSports to Broadcast Home Games + Week 1 for Holy Name Football

Parma Heights, OH- It is with great excitement that we have reached an agreement to broadcast home games, along with week one, this Fall for Holy Name Football.

I got my start in sports media back in 2021 with Holy Name football. For three years, I covered every single game in some capacity. During this time, I got to see two trips to the regional championship game and one final-four game. The 2023 season got cut short as results around Northeast Ohio knocked the Green Wave out of the playoffs late into the night. Since then, I have not called nor been to a football game for HN. However, I am excited to say that will change on August 21st as Holy Name takes on Normandy at Byers Field.

SmeeSports would like to extend shout-outs to Mr Mike Tworzydlo and Mr Joe Kucera for helping us make this partnership a reality. We also thank athletic director Rich Kozub and head coach Dan Wondolowski for having us cover Namer Football this season. You can catch the five home games, along with the Normandy game, live on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel. The SmeeSports Pregame Show will begin at 6:15 PM before each 7 PM kickoff.