10/28 Game Scores

2-1 Gahanna. 35 minutes to play

3-2. Darby. Wins. Bad day for Gahanna.

All 5 goals scored on shots inside the 6. Game winner was off a charitable free kick on what appeared to be a clean tackle. The ball was played into the box and Gahanna's centerback and keeper collided. The ball fell in behind them and was put away with about 2 minutes on the clock.

Gahanna had more good chances but didn't capitalize. Darby capitalized on Gahanna mistakes. My advice to keepers today is to stay active to keep warm. Neither keeper today had a game to remember. I attribute that to the cold.

Liberty wins 3-1

Grandview/Columbus Academy went to PKs with Grandview winning.

Big Walnut wins 0-0 (7-6) in PK

Never seen a team play as close to the edge, direct, and hard on the eyes as Big Walnut. You couldn't pay me to watch them play. They forced the game to be kickball and nothing more. They did a great job of winning 50/50 balls and had no problem rolling through players on challenges. Easily had 15 fouls against with an additional 15 going uncalled. They seem to have Granvilles number - hit them, foul Cox and disrupt rhythm. It wins, but it sure is gross.

That leads me to the officials, who were absolutely hot garbage. Out of position, out of touch, and out of breath. CR took ages to check his ARs for anything. Didn't seem to understand how persistent infringement works. Missed call after call, including handling in the box in OT not five yards from the CR. All in all, both sides had plenty to gripe about with the officials.

Which leads me to Big Walnut fans. They must really have a chip on their shoulders. They must not beat Granville at anything (except girls soccer). I heard plenty from the Granville students, but not much from their parents. The Big Nut parents, though... wow. I don't think they have much to cheer about to be as vocal as they were. The best part came when they actually jeered the girls taking PKs for Granville. A good back and forth is great, especially between student sections. My kids have been through good natured robbings. But to hear the Granville students go silent while the Big Nut fans jeered the kids taking PKs... that's absolutely trash and indicative, it would seem, of the culture of being the little town with a chip on their shoulder against their "big brother" who's more successful at pretty much everything.

End on a positive note. It was cool to see each keeper slap hands after each and every penalty until the last one. That type of sporting behavior should be celebrated and encouraged at every level. Good luck to Big Walnut; I'm sure their brand of kickball, excuse me... soccer, will get them through a ridiculously soft region and into the final four where they can bore another team to death with their cheap shots, off the ball antics, and kick and chase soccer.