Posted by Brian Stumpf
• Only one FAB 50 team, No. 9 Cleveland Glenville, was in action on Thursday, and the Tarblooders had no problem with Senate Athletic League foe Collinwood, posting an easy 56-0 victory to move to 8-0. Jayrone Elliott led the defense with a fumble recovery for a TD, a safety and three sacks. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer has a little bit more on the game.
Killens
• Texans looking for a junior to keep an eye on? Watch out for Round Rock linebacker Kurt Killens, an athletic 6-foot-3, 205 pound weakside 'backer who should be a major Division I recruit come signing day 2010. Killens posted 102 tackles last fall as a sophomore and is off to a blazing start this year, registering 52 stops, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries through four games. Killens showed big-time athletic ability and talent last spring at both the Dallas Nike Combine, where posted an 83.76 SPARQ Rating, and the TCU Nike Camp, where he was named the top underclassman LB. So far he's getting mail from the likes of Texas, LSU, A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and many others, and has already taking unofficials to Texas and TCU with more to come this fall.
• Allegations of grade-changing being made by a teacher at ESPN RISE West Region No. 10 ranked Fresno Edison aren't going away despite the school already being cleared of any wrongdoing by the CIF Central Section and its commissioner Jim Crichlow. Jeff Powell, a math teacher at Edison, says an "F" grade he gave a player in the 2008 spring semester was changed to an "A" grade in June. And Powell isn't backing down, even though the school was cleared. "I know I didn't give that grade," Powell said. "Whoever changed the grade should be punished."
Powell also said he hasn't spoken with Crichlow. "To clear the school without talking to me is stupid," the teacher said. A separate investigation being conducted by the Fresno Unified School District is still ongoing.
• MassLive.com takes a look at tonight's big showdown in Massachusetts between undefeateds Longmeadow and Minnechaug. It might not be Texas vs. Florida in the Great State Debate finals, but games like these serve as great reminders that there is terrific high school football that is important to many people played in all 50 states.
• Speaking of all 50 states, Korrie Wenzel of the Mitchell (S.D.) Daily Republic delves into what he notes has been an increase in lopsided scores and games so far this fall in South Dakota. Wenzel notes that according to his research, "The average score of a high school football game in South Dakota the past month is roughly 40-10 … Of the 70 or so games played each of the last three weeks in South Dakota, an average of just 10 were decided by eight points or less." Some elements that maybe contributing to this, the geographical makeup of the state's conferences, the number of divisions or classes (six) for just 167 teams that play football and the wide variety of coaching philosophies and overall commitment to football at certain schools compared to others.
