By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
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The common belief in high school football is you can't win unless you have the numbers.
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This statement revolves around the belief that winning correlates with the number of players a team has. Well, there is one school in Hardin County proving that theory to be false - the Dola Hardin Northern Polar Bears.
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Since 2002, the Polar Bears have one state title (2004) and a state runner-up (2002) in Division VI. They have been playoff participants for over a decade now and are always a threat to win it all. What makes this even more impressive is they are one of the smallest school systems in the state playing football.ÿ
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In 2005 when the OHSAA classified the schools into divisions, Hardin Northern had 59 boys considered eligible by the OHSAA and each year they have no more than 40 kids on the football team. But this has not stopped coach Pete Brunow from building a small school powerhouse. Now in his 24th season, he entered the 2006 season with a 200-49 career record.
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With the small numbers, Brunow has kept it simple over the years, focusing on defense and ball control. His system relies on power running, strong offensive line play and a 5-2 defense. Although very simple it has worked brilliantly over the years for Northern as they have dominated the Blanchard Valley Conference.ÿ
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The Polar Bears are not flashy and they are often overlooked. But opposing coaches have learned over the years that playing Hardin Northern means a hard fought, four quarter battle and a victory is never an easy task.
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The Other Teams in Cincinnati
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Cincinnati High School football usually revolves around a handful of schools, beginning with St. Xavier and Colerain, but there are two teams trying to crash the party, Cincinnati Glen Este and Cincinnati Sycamore.
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Glen Este sits at 7-0 with a 35-13 win over Mason and now control its own destiny for the playoffs. The Trojans are getting it done via the ground where they have tallied over 2,000 yards rushing as a team. Donnie Talbot leads the attack with 1,052 yards and 16 touchdowns on the year. Glen Este still has a number of difficult games remaining, but if they win out they can punch a ticket to the playoffs.
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The Sycamore Aviators are also 7-0 after beating Lakota West, 27-24, in overtime, giving them a crucial boost in the playoff race. Like the Trojans, Sycamore looks to run first, gaining 2,155 yards on the ground this season. But they will also strike through the air with quarterback Mitch Allen tossing for 10 scores and adding 10 more on the ground.
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There is one gigantic hurdle remaining on the schedule for the Aviators, Colerain. Even with a loss to the powerhouse Cardinals, Sycamore should secure a playoff berth with wins in its other two remaining games.
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Warren Harding threw a wrench in the comeback party of Cleveland St. Ignatius, downing the Wildcats 17-7. The conventional thought was that the Wildcats would take care of business, setting up a showdown with Lakewood St. Edward, but once again Harding showed that assuming in sports is a very dangerous action.
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Despite holding Ohio State-bound running back Dan Herron to 98 yards rushing, the Wildcats were unable to muster much offense, dropping their first game of the season.
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Cross Country
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The Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) is known around the state mostly for its football accomplishments, but there is another sport the MAC has dominated like no other in recent years - girls cross country - thanks in most part to the Minster Lady Wildcats.
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The Minster runners perform with machine-like precision when it comes to girls cross country. They have won five state titles and are in position for a sixth. Even with the accomplishments in Ohio competition, it looks like the Cats are taking their act to the national level.
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On Oct. 7, Minster won the Jesse Owens Cross Country Invitational with a total of 68 points. Bernadette Burke paced the Cats effort finishing sixth with a time of 18:28.42. The win qualifies Minster to compete in the Nike National Team meet held in Portland Ore., Dec. 2.ÿ