Crimson steps down as Columbiana coach

COLUMBIANA — Dave Crismon said it was time for him to concentrate on other things than winning or losing.

Crismon told the Columbiana girls basketball team Friday he is leaving after eight seasons as head coach.

“My wife was diagnosed with cancer,” he said. “It’s a journey for her and I feel I need to be there for her.”

The Clippers hosted a benefit game for the Crismons in January 2025 after Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dave Crismon finished with a 134-50 record in eight seasons at Columbiana, including two straight Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference titles in 2024 and 2025. The Clippers finished 17-6 this season and featured an overall team effort that exemplified Crismon’s coaching style.

He also was 100-25 as co-head coach of the Jackson-Milton girls for six years, 5-38 as Lisbon boys coach (2005-08) and 32-53 as United boys head coach (1996-2000).

Crismon is a high school health and physical education teacher in the Lisbon school district, where he has taught for 36 years.

He was inducted into the Lisbon David Anderson High School Athletic Hall of Fame after leading the Lisbon softball team to a 304-158 record and five league titles.

Crismon also was an assistant basketball coach and coahed junior high football for 18 seasons.

“This will be the first time in 36 years I am not coaching something,” Crismon said. “It will be hard.”

Shepas will join Bulldogs

EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine board of education will vote tonight on hiring Rick Shepas as the new head football coach.

Shepas, the Warren Harding athletic director, was head coach as Massillon for seven years before becoming Waynesburg University’s winningest coach.

He is being recommended by superintendent James Rook, according to the board agenda. The board will meet at 6 p.m. today at the elementary media center.

Shepas starred at Youngstown Mooney High School and was Youngstown State’s leading receiver in the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He still ranks fourth all-time in YSU history with 150 career receptions and 2,263 yards receiving.

He was an assistant coach at Alliance in 1989 and at Poland from 1990-92. Then Shepas was head coach at Poland from 1993-95, Seneca Valley (Pa.) from 1996-1997 and Massillon from 1998-2004. He went 69-55 in 12 seasons at Waynesburg (Pa.) University.

He replaces Michael Demster, who led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 season last fall and a 17-25 record over four seasons.

County Classic on Sunday

LISBON — The 39th Columbiana County Classic will include six all-star basketball games Sunday at Nace Gymnasium.

Action begins with the junior high girls at noon, followed by the junior high boys at 1:30 p.m., the grades 9-11 girls at 3 p.m. and the grades 9-11 boys at 4:30 p.m.

The day will be highlighted by the senior all-star games with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m. and the boys at around 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are only available at the door.

Colorado QB dies in car accident

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. He was 23.

Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.

Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene in Boulder County. Police said a preliminary investigation “shows that speed is suspected as a factor.”

Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season, going 0-for-1 passing and carrying the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.

The Buffs were slated to begin spring practice on Monday.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1.”

Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion reposted Sanders’ statement and called Ponder a joy to be around and coach.

“Getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Marion posted. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!”

Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said Ponder “epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike.” The athletic department said it would make counseling resources available to players and staff.

Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”

Running back stars share the stage

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Notre Dame running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price rekindled some fond memories at this week’s NFL’s scouting combine.

They shared a room — just as they used to when they were college teammates.

Only here, one of college football’s best backfield duos is no longer working in tandem. Instead, they’re here to showcase their own skills and increase their prospects heading into April’s NFL draft.

“I’m going to go out there and be myself, no matter where I go, no matter when my name’s called, I’ll be Jeremiah Love,” he said before Saturday’s workouts in Indianapolis.

“But it’s a great honor, seeing if people recognize me, and I plan to go out and prove myself right, prove everybody else right as well.”

There certainly is a mutual respect and admiration between Love and Price for what they accomplished together over the past three seasons.

Love rushed for nearly 3,000 yards, finishing No. 7 on Notre Dame’s career rushing list despite only 29 starts overall and 71 carries as a freshman. He broke the program’s single-season record by scoring 21 total touchdowns in 2025, became the first player in Irish history with two TD runs of 90 or more yards and was third in last year’s Heisman Trophy balloting.

Price, on the other hand, was more than just capable of providing a second punch. While he excelled when giving Love a break, opposing defenses were never that fortunate.

Price still managed to rush for nearly 1,700 yards and 21 scores and became the first Notre Dame player to have two or more kickoff returns of 100 or more yards.

The result: Both earned All-American honors last season and they’re generally ranked as the two top running backs in this year’s draft class.

“Almost every coach and interview I had the past couple days,” Price said when asked how many teams have inquired about his play on special teams.

“I told them all the same (thing), I love special teams and I attack it like I attack offense. I’m willing to do anything when it comes to special teams.”

Love and Price aren’t the only highly regarded running backs being reunited in Indy.

When Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton walked onto Penn State’s campus in 2022, they were billed as one of the nation’s top freshman backfields. While they exceeded the hype personally, joining Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell as the only Nittany Lions teammates to top 2,000 career yards rushing, they didn’t achieve the lofty expectations of winning a national championship or even a Big Ten title.

But even in a league where running backs are often pushed down the draft board, Allen and Singleton are still ranked among the top 10 in this year’s class. And with some good pre-draft workouts, it’s still possible they could jump back into the top five — spots they occupied not so long ago.

Regardless of where they go, though, former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar believes both would be value picks.

“I definitely think they’re the two most complete backs in the country,” Allar said, noting Allen finished his career as the school’s career leader in all-purpose yards while Singleton set the program’s career mark for total TDs. “I am excited for them and to see them compete and grow as we move forward in our journeys together. And whoever gets those two guys are going to get guys that are dedicated to the team, very hard workers, and obviously really talented football players.”

All four still have something to prove, though.

While Love drew raves for his trademark hurdles and answered some questions about his ability to catch passes in 2025, he believes his blocking skills have been overlooked. Price and Allen still need to show they can carry heavier workloads against bigger, stronger opponents in the NFL and Singleton must prove he is healthy after rolling up to the podium Friday with his broken right foot.

“Obviously, I’m upset that I’m not doing anything right now,” Singleton said. “At the same time, I’m still grateful to be out here.”

Singleton hopes to shed his walking boot next week and plans to work out during pro day festivities to give scouts a first-hand glimpse of what he can do.

But for one weekend, it felt like old times for this running back quartet.

“The biggest thing that makes me feel comfortable is we were roommates during this process, and we were roommates at Notre Dame on the road,” Price said, referring to Love. “So it just feels like an away game for us.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL