The Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs are turning around their football fortunes this season.

Under head coach Mark Nori, the Bulldogs are 3-1 this season with victories over North Canton Hoover, Firestone and Twinsburg. Their only loss has been to Kent Roosevelt.

The Bulldogs have been rewarded in the Ohio High School Computer Ratings. Stow-Munroe Falls is listed in 10th place in Region One Division Two. While the top eight teams in reach region make the playoffs, the Bulldogs have set themselves up in the playoff hunt with half-a-football season to go.

On Friday night, the Bulldogs travel to Mayfield High School to take on the Wildcats.

Nori says his commitment to run the football has paid off in victories for the Bulldogs

One of the rivalry games that everyone in Akron looks forward to every year.

The Archbishop Hoban Knights will take on the Fighting Irish of St. Vincent-St. Mary Friday night at InfoCision Stadium. A crowd of over 10,000 is expected.

Hoban and St. Vincent are at polar opposites so far this season. The Knights are 0-4 this season. St. Vincent-St. Mary are 4-0.

But, Archbishop Hoban head coach Ralph Orsini says you literally can throw out the records when these teams get on the field. Orsini says the rivalry is so intense, a victory in this game will make the season for either team.

Orsini believes that his team is turning things around. Even though they loss to Columbus Bishop Hartley last weekend, Orsini said his team played well. But, Orsini knows that his team will have their hands full with the Fighting Irish.

You'll be able to hear Friday night's game between Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary at 7 o'clock on 1590 WAKR.

In the wake of Ohio State's ugly loss on Saturday night in Miami, this has been a week of reassurance and confidence-building __ particularly for the Buckeyes' freshmen.

The Buckeyes are now relying on their upperclassmen to offer guidance heading into the discouraged team's game on Saturday against Colorado (1-2).

In addition to cleaning up a lot of personnel issues and lingering problem areas in all facets, the Buckeyes also need to have their most experienced players show the way to youngsters forced by graduation and suspensions into playing pivotal roles.

After several years of being a national contender, Ohio State (2-1) is suddenly just another team coming off a disappointingloss.

Interim coach Luke Fickell has spent this week trying to reinforce to his team that they need to fight their way out of this low point.

Kickoff between Ohio State and Colorado will take place at 3:30 Saturday afternoon.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Omar Vizquel wants to return for a 24th season in the major leagues.

The 44-year-old shortstop said Wednesday that he still loves the game, believes he can continue to perform at a good level andintends to play for some team.

In 58 games as a utility infielder for the Chicago White Sox, the three-time All-Star and 11-time Gold Glove winner is hitting .251.

Vizquel said climbing up the all-time leaderboard in various categories is not as important to him as being able to contributeto a team with postseason hopes.

Vizquel, who spent 10 years in the prime of his career in Cleveland from 1994 through 2003, entered the day with 2,841 hits.

That's 45th all-time, one in back of Ivan Rodriguez and seven behind Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Mark Buehrle bounced back from a poor outing and pitched six effective innings, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Cleveland Indians 8-4 Wednesday night.

Buehrle (12-9) gave up two runs and four hits. He had gone 0-3 with an 11.74 ERA in three previous September starts, allowing 33hits in only 15 1-3 innings.

Buehrle's skid included a career-worst 15 hits in 6 1-3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Kansas City last Thursday. The left-hander left that start after being hit in the left arm by a line drive off the bat of Alcides Escobar.

Alejandro De Aza hit a tiebreaking, two-run single off Ubaldo Jimenez (4-3) in a three-run seventh. Chicago added four runs on three homers off reliever Chad Durbin in the eighth.

Those the Chicago home runs were hit by Alexei Ramirez, Alex Rios and Brent Morel. Travis Hafner had a home run for the Indians in the game, his 13th of the season.

The teams play again tonight at Progressive Field to wrap up their four-game series. Jeanmar Gomez (4-2) will pitch for the Indians against Phillip Humbert (9-8) for the White Sox.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The Canton Fire Department is offering a $5,000 dollar reward for information which will lead to the arrest of those responsible for a string of seven arson fires earlier this month.

The blazes took place between September 14th and September 18th. Five of the fires took place on Sunday the 18th.

James Rudish, a resident of Daleford Avenue, saw his Jeep go up in flames early Sunday morning. he tells Channel 3 news that he's afraid to go to sleep at night and wakes up anytime he hears a noise outside.

The fires hit unoccupied homes and vehicles in a five block area that includes Daleford, Baldwin Avenue, Fairmount Boulevard, Coventry Boulevard, Gilbert Avenue and Fletcher Avenue.

Canton residents are asked to call either the Police or Fire Departments if they have any information.

One of the good stories of the Fall sports season in the City Series is the performance of the Cross Country Teams at East High School.

Heading into their meet with Firestone, East's Boys Cross Country team is 5-0. The Girls Cross Country team is 1-0. Next week, East will run against Firestone with first place on the line.

East head coach John MacLean says a 21st Century tool has helped to grow the Cross Country program. " Our runners communicate with each other through Facebook", said MacLean. "They use it to encourage and inspire each other".

MacLean says he has five seniors on his boys team that are helping to lead his five sophomores. "Kyle Stanley and Chaz Lewis are leading the way. But, Dave Powell, Chris Faulkner and Reggie Chisolm are right behind them". On the Girls team, "Miranda Fockler and Sabrina Shackelford will lead us into the Firestone meet".

Getting students to participate in Cross Country is not easy. But, MacLean admits that the success of the Cross Country team is drawing students to the sport.

"We're the best kept secret at East High School", said MacLean.

It's spreading across neighborhoods in Ohio. The problem of extreme hoarding. It effects an estimated 500,000  people in the state. Extreme hoarding involves individuals who can't control the urge to collect or save items.

Sue Cummings is an inspector with the Summit County Health Department. She told NewsChannel 5 of a case involving a 62-year old woman who collected cats.

Surprisingly, the woman lived in the home for years until she was persuaded to move out this past June. NewsChannel 5 reports the woman is attempting to repair the home, but it has been condemned. Cummings says the home had cat feces everywhere, holes in the floor and cat food laying out.

On the Web:   www.newsnet5.com

Coming off one of the worst passing games ever at Ohio State, Luke Fickell says he and his staff will decide after watching practice this week what the balance will be atquarterback.

The decision will be between true freshman Braxton Miller and fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman when the Buckeyes host Colorado on Saturday.

Neither was effective in a Saturday night's 24-6 loss at Miami. They combined to complete just four passes, all to backs, in 18 attempts for only 35 yards with an interception.

Miller also lost a fumble and recovered another. Fickell says no one on the team, including coaches, can afford to look past the game against the Buffaloes.

The Buckeyes, outplayed on both sides of the ball by the Hurricanes, fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in almost seven years.

Saturday's kickoff between Ohio State and Colorado will take place at 3:30 pm. Next Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium, between Ohio State and Michigan State will also take place at 3:30 pm.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Alexei Ramirez's seventh-inning single broke the game's final tie and led Chicago to a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians last night, giving the White Sox a split of theday-night doubleheader.

Asdrubal Cabrera's solo home run and six strong innings from Fausto Carmona gave Cleveland a 4-3 win in the first game. Travis Hafner and Kosuke Fukudome also homered in Game One. Chris Perez earned save number 35 in the opener.

The teams, who were eliminated from the AL Central race last week when Detroit clinched the division, are battling for second place. The Indians lead the White Sox by 1.5 games.

Matt Thornton (2-5) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win in the second game and Chris Sale went the final 1 2-3 innings for his seventh save.

Cleveland took a 4-3 lead into the seventh before Chicago rallied against rookie reliever Zach Putnam (0-1). The Indians scored all of their runs in the fourth inning.

The teams continue their series tonight at Progressive Field. Ubaldo Jimenez takes the mound for the Indians against Mark Buhrle for the White Sox.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)