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SPORTS BRIEFING

Local Sports

ZIPS WANT FANS TO CALL PLAYS AKRON — The University of Akron football team will look to fans to call the plays — at least for one drive. The university will select an "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" for the opportunity to help script the opening drive of the team's home opener with Robert Morris set for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 at InfoCision Stadium. The selected fan will work with Akron head coach and former Morning Journal sports writer Joe Moorhead to design the plays that will open the game. "I'm looking forward to collaborating with the season ticket holder who wins this ...

Beaver Local's Warrick takes second at Star Trax

Local Sports

SALEM — The Salem cross country program’s present and future were showcased Saturday at the 33rd annual Star Trax 5K Night Run. Salem senior Luke Stephens topped the 369-runner field, covering the 3.1-mile race in 16 minutes, 52 seconds. Beaver Local senior Luke Warrick was second. Stephens and Warrick both ran at the state cross country meet last season. Salem freshman Taven Tice was third. Salem sophomore Addison Hopple was first out of 176 female runners in 18:33.1. Former Salem standout Mallory Maher placed second and recent Salem graduate Laura Hovorka was third. Hovorka ...

Bracket Buster highlights Derby undercard

Local Sports

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — The $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes on the West Virginia Derby undercard has drawn a competitive field of nine including Bracket Buster, who competed in Grade I stakes as a 3-year-old, and Neoequos, who competed in the 2025 Grade I Kentucky Derby. The 1 ...

Scrimmages give fans an early look

Local Sports

The 2026 Ohio high school football season unofficially opens Friday with nine Columbiana County teams playing in scrimmages. The regular season kicks off Thursday, Aug. 20, with the Spaghetti Bowl as Lisbon hosts Leetonia. It will be 10 straight weeks of play before the Ohio football playoffs start Friday, Oct. 30. The season comes to close with the state championship games Dec. 3-5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Here is a look at the area scrimmage schedule: BEAVER LOCAL Friday, Aug. 7, at Canfield, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, host Struthers, 6 ...

Former United Local star gets his shot

Local Sports

After donating a kidney to his father, Salem native Mitch Phillis was stuck at home while recovering. So he got out his old Pop-A-Shot — an arcade game with miniature basketballs and hoops — that he loved playing a kid. Three months later, he is one of 12 competitors in the Pop-A-Shot ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

Local Sports

BLANEY VICTORY HARTFORD — Dale Blaney's 25th win at the Sharon Speedway was a family effort Saturday night. Driving his brother Dave's 410 sprint car, Dale Blaney captured the 18th annual Lou Blaney Memorial, held in honor of the Blaney's father. Dale Blaney, 62, won $12,000 for finishing first in the 35-lap race. He lso won the event in 2019. Dale Blaney set fast time over the 35-car field in qualifying with a lap of 14.001 seconds. Erick Rudolph, 34, of Ransomville, N.Y., won the BRP Modifieds for the fourth time at the Lou Blaney Memorial. He claimed the $2,500 first-place ...