November 15, 2014 The Plain Dealer cleveland.com B5 COLLEGES OSU est Boren brother, he was also the smallest. Justin, 6-2, 315 pounds, started 26 games on the offensive line for Ohio State from 2009 to 2011. Zach is only 6-0, but he's basically 240 pounds of muscle, and started 34 games at fullback and linebacker for the Buckeyes from 2009 to 2012. Jacoby is listed as 6-1, 285 on Ohio State's roster. Not necessarily small by normal standards.
But small by Boren standards, and small for a Division I offensive lineman. Ohio State coaches expressed concern over Jacoby's size coming into this season. He spent two years backing up Corey Linsley at center. This season was supposed to finally be his time, but then Ohio State brought in Alabama transfer Chad Lindsay to compete for the starting center job. In typical Jacoby fashion, he didn't take it as a slight.
Rather a chance to work harder. "He never batted an eye," Justin said. "I think the coaches had concerns over whether he was big enough to play the position. He never brought it up to us. It just drives him more.
It was just another person to prove wrong. He did a heck of a job in camp." Jacoby started Ohio State's season opener against Navy. Lindsay never played for the Buckeyes. His season ended in September when he announced he wasn't returning from an injury sustained in fall camp. Since then, Jacoby has continued blossoming as the starting center, taking lumps with the unit but coming out better on the other end.
The whole group was lauded for playing its best game of the year in Ohio State's win over Michigan State last weekend. Boren was named one of the players of the game for the second straight week after the win over the Spartans. Urban Meyer called it Boren's most physical game this season. Physicality has never been a problem for any of the Boren brothers. (It's important to note that there's also a Boren sister.
Kallie Boren is a sophom*ore softball player at Pickerington Central High School who's drawing interest from Division I colleges.) Jacoby and Justin, despite being six years apart, would have battles in the backyard supervised by their father, Mike, who played college football at Michigan. Their mother, Hope, competed in track and field at Michigan. Justin, Zach and Jacoby perfected their football skills against each other. "Having those two there to guide me over the past two years, even in high school, I think has been a great help to me and it's helped me grow," Jacoby said. Competition could be found in everything.
From underwater tag in the family's pool to games of cops and robbers in which Justin played the cop and Zach and FROM BI "That all helped out," Jacoby said. Boys are weird like that. Little brother learned competitive edge It's always been a battle for Jacoby. Not only was he the young- 6 MARVIN FONG I 'THE PLAIN DEALER to make the snap as QB J.T. Barrett calls out instructions.
JOHN KUNIZI THE PLAIN DEALER Pickerington's Jacoby Boren, background, forces St. Ignatius quarterback Eric Williams to fumble the ball during the Division I state championship game Dec. 3, 2011. The Wildcats won the game, 34-13. while he was at Ohio State, but there's one difference.
"Jacoby is a great worker," Justin said. "He'd go through that all night long, go to his lift when he's supposed to be there and go to class when he's supposed to be there. That's the difference. I would work as much as him, but when it was over I would go home, go to bed and skip class." Work ethic is what has set Jacoby apart his entire life. When all he heard about was how successful his older brothers were at Ohio State, he was happy for them, but wanted to put in the work to get there, too.
"He is what he is. He's undersized as far as maybe the prototype offensive lineman at places like Ohio State," Buckeyes offensive line coach Ed Warinner said. "But that isn't always the measuring stick. Measurables don't determine how good a player you are. Measurables are just measurables.
They're something that people can measure that don't really understand OSU center Jacoby Boren prepares Jacoby fought to make sure they weren't caught first, losing has never been much of an option for the Borens. Even eating was an event. First one to the dinner table gets his pick of the food. Last one gets the scraps. That can be a dangerous game when dealing with three boys that size.
"You had to have a fighter's mentality in our house," Zach said. The consensus is that the youngest Boren brother is the toughest, though Justin and Zach would probably never admit that to Jacoby's face. Hard-working Jacoby keeps streets clear Jacoby has earned the respect of his brothers, teammates and coaches through hard work. Not only is he a Division I football player and a college student, he's also a bit of an entrepreneur. He's a vital part of the family business that includes successful landscaping and snowplowing ventures.
The brothers also have a Dumpster rental company that uses Dumpsters painted to look like Ohio State football helmets. The Buckeyes are never too far from the minds of the Borens. During harsh winters, like this past one, Jacoby has a schedule hectic enough to rival that of any college student in the country. He gets on the plow around 6 p.m., works through the night clearing parking lots and driveways at hospitals and office buildings around Ohio State's campus and downtown Columbus. Most nights last winter he didn't sleep.
Then it was lifting at 6 a.m., and class after that. Justin had a similar schedule Division II and III football previews Many schools still have something to shoot for TIM WARSINSKEY Hiram has one more shot at history. Notre Dame College is already there. John Carroll and Mount Union will play in the playoffs next week, regardless of today's result between the Ohio Athletic Conference powers. But the area's other small-college football teams' seasons end this week, and there is still plenty at stake.
Notre Dame College has guaranteed its first winning season in the five years since it began playing, and the Falcons (6-4) go for win No. 7 today at home against West Liberty. Lake Erie College (4-6) needs one more win for its best season in five years, but the Storm has a tough road to finish at No. 20 Michigan Tech (8-1). Junior running back Anthony Bilal needs 179 yards to join an exclusive club of collegiate rushers.
Hiram (4-5) has lost two in a row, but its four victories equal the Terriers' combined total from 2009 to 2013. With a win against rival Oberlin today, Hiram can achieve its first non-losing season since 1988. Here's a look at those and other Area college notebook More to watch than QBs in JCU vs. UMU TIM WARSINSKEY While much of the attention this week has been focused on top-rated quarterbacks Kevin Burke and Mark Myers, and their deep fleets of receivers, the running game and run defense could be the deciding factors when John Carroll plays at Mount Union today for the Ohio Athletic Conference championship. Both teams say they are deeper and more talented at tailback than they were last year, and they are saying the same things about their defensive lines.
John Carroll senior running back Tommy Michals tuned up last week with a 205-yard, two-touchdown game against Otterbein. It was JCU's first 200- yard rushing game since 1990. His 90-yard TD run in the third quarter put him over 1,000 for the season. He has 14 rushing touchdowns. Last year, quarterback Burke led Mount Union with more than 1,000 yards rushing.
That hasn't been necessary this season with the continued emergence of sophom*ore Bradley Mitchell (949 yards, 16 TDs). Mitchell and Burke (320 yards) are among five backs with at least 250 yards rushing, including juniors Logan Nemeth and Brandon Williams, who have 913 yards combined. Mount Union and John Carroll rank 1-2 in total yards allowed per game in Division III. Both teams use a lot of players on the defensive line, rotating in about eight linemen. Mount Union is sixth in the nation, allowing 68.7 yards per game.
Junior Tom Lally leads UMU linemen with 14 tackles for loss and sacks. John Carroll defensive coordinator Chris Shula on UMU wideout Roman Namdar, who is averaging 19.7 yards per catch and has 11 TDs: "He goes up and gets the ball as well as anyone I've seen." Quick history: Mount Union has won or shared 22 consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference titles, and 25 overall. John Carroll has not won the OAC since 1994, when it was in a three-way tie with UMU and Baldwin Wallace. The Blue Streaks have not defeated Mount Union since 1989, the only time they have won the OAC outright. Mount Union leads the series, 27-2-2.
They first met in 1931, a 6-6 tie. UMU has won 23 straight. They tied, 20-20, in 1991. Last year, Mount Union won, 42-34. JCU roared back from a 35-13 deficit and threatened to tie the game late until safety Alex Kocheff swatted away a pass in the end zone at the end of the game.
Moving on The winner today receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, which hUMU has won 11 times. The loser is expected to receive an at-large bid. On the air: The game will be broadcast by three radio stations: WJCU in University Heights, and WDPN and WRMU in Alliance. SportsTime Ohio will televise the game on a delayed basis. Scheduled broadcasts are 11 p.m.
today and 5 a.m. and noon Monday. Joe Tait will do the play-by-play. players or what it takes to win and be successful." There's always been more to Jacoby Boren. "Jacoby Boren will always be undersized as long as he plays at Ohio State," Warinner said.
"How well he does his job is getting better and better. And that's refreshing. We remind him of that, too, when he makes champion, you're still short and still whatever you are, but you're a competitor, you're a winner, you're a team guy, a leader, and playing at a high level." Another commitment: Four-star junior defensive end Jonathon Cooper of Columbus Gahanna Lincoln will play his college football at Ohio State, according to Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt. Rated by 247Sports the No. 13 weakside defensive end in the 2016 recruiting class, Cooper (6- 3, 215) chose the Buckeyes over Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan State, Notre Dame and others.
enth in the 11-team league. Oberlin (2-7, 2-6) at Hiram (4- 5, 3-5), 1 p.m. What: North Coast Athletic Conference game Last week: Hiram lost to DePauw, 45-12; Oberlin lost to Ohio Wesleyan, 50-13. Notable: Hiram senior Robert Partridge has set a school record for passing yards. He has completed 139 of 267 attempts (52 percent) for 1,999 yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
Oberlin has won five straight against Hiram. No. 6 John Carroll (9-0, 8-0) at No. 3 Mount Union (9-0, 8-0), 1:30 p.m. What: Ohlo Athletic Conference game Last week: John Carroll beat Otterbein, 66-13; Mount Union beat BW, 59-3.
Notable: Mount Union and John Carroll are ranked 1-2 in total defense and 1-6 in total offense, respectively, in Division III. JCU senior Mark Myers and UMU senor Kevin Burke are ranked 1-2 in all of college football in ing efficiency. The winner earns an automatic playoff berth while the loser is expected to recelve an at-large bid. John Carroll is 15th against Tickets: Remaining seats and the run at 86.4 yards allowed. standing-room tickets will be Linemen David Porter, Mike sold starting at 10 a.m.
AccordTozzi and Frank Pines are ing to a UMU news release, no ranked 3-5 on John Carroll's one will be turned away once the tackle chart and have combined seats are sold because standing for 104 tackles and 13 tackles room tickets will then be made for loss. available. Alliance agaln: The game is be- UMU vs. JCu, part one: Mount ing played in Week 10 at Mount Union beat John Carroll for the Union Stadium for the second OAC volleyball championship consecutive year by happen- last weekend, 25-18, 25-22, 25- stance, according to the OAC. 17.
The league reset a four-year The No. 12 Purple Raiders schedule rotation this year and (29-5) advanced to the NCAA the game was scheduled in Alli- Tournament and defeated Washance on a random basis. ington Lee, 3-0, on Thursday. "We're going to host it again. Nicole Snyder had 18 kills.
Hopefully that gives us a little advantage," UMU coach Vince BW women lose: Baldwin WalKehres said. lace (11-9-3) advanced to the John Carroll coach Tom Arth OAC women's soccer final as the said he didn't understand how No. 4 seed but lost to Capital, it happened, but his team will 4-1. BW's Reid Ayers was named make the best of it. OAC Coach of the Year.
"They have a great fan base and their fans are not afraid to JCU man lose: John Carroll let you hear it, and I absolutely lost in the men's soccer final for love it," Arth said. "I hope when the fourth year in a row, 5-4, to our players are walking through visiting Heidelberg. The Blue the tunnel we hear nothing but Streaks (17-4) were hoping for negative and everything bad an NCAA Tournament bid but about us. That's always moti- were shut out when the field was vated me, and I know that mo- announced Monday. tivates our players." Mr.
Perfect: In football, BaldEasy way to 8-0: No. 6 John win Wallace sophom*ore Joe Carroll (9-0, 8-0 OAC) has been Simonis hasn't missed a kick extended once this season, in all season, making all 33 extraa 17-10 comeback win at Ohio point attempts and six field goal Northern on Oct. 4. Its closest attempts. margin of victory since then is 48 points.
No. 3 Mount Union They do run-run: The Lorain (9-0, 8-0) hasn't been challenged County Community College men all season. Its closest game was were sixth and Cuyahoga Com58-17 against Heidelberg. munity College's women were "The lay person or a fan could 10th at the NJCAA DIII National think that's a concern, but it's not Cross Country Championships for us," Burke said. "We're not in Canandaigua, New York, last preparing for two quarters every weekend.
week, we're preparing for four. LCCC had its highest finish We bust our butts every day." in the six years the program has Some view JCU's game against been back at LCCC. Freshman Ohio Northern as a red flag. Arth Nick Boatman placed seventh sees it differently. (28:41) to earn All-American "The Ohio Northern game is honors, and Ben Toole was 30th.
something for us to draw on," Tri-C's Karen Barrientos Arth said. "I told the guys I earned All-American honors, would appreciate if we were not placing 14th in a school-record in that situation again, but there time of 18:24. Allison Hainer was nothing we needed more was 49th. and nothing more valuable to us on the road than being down in Wrestling begins: Baldwin the fourth quarter." Wallace 125-pound junior Jesse Gunter opened the season 4-0 Quick quotes: Arth on Burke: last week in a tournament at "We can play perfect defense, Case Western Reserve. Gunter but he's that special type of was third last year at NCAA Diplayer that it may not matter.
He vision III nationals. may get loose and gash you for a Mount Union's 11th-ranked 20-yard run. He can hurt you in wrestling team was upset by so many ways." Thiel, 26-5, on Wednesday. Online: Keep up with the latest Ohlo State, national and local college football news and post your comments. local Division II and Division III games today: Division II Lake Erie College (4-6, 3-6) at No.
20 Michigan Tech (8-1, 8-1), 1 p.m. What: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference game, Last week: LEC lost to Wayne State, 47-28; MT beat No. 22 Ashland, 28-12. Notable: LEC junior Anthony Bilal's 1,821 yards rushing rank second in all of college football. The Storm defense has 18 interceptions.
West Liberty (6-4, 6-3) at Notre Dame College (6-4, 6-3), noon What: Mountain East Conference game. Last week: WL beat VirginiaWise, 35-20. NDC lost to No. 15 Concord, 51-14. Notable: WL and NDC are tied with Charleston for third place in the MEC.
NDC has clinched its first winning season and this is the final game for a core group of seniors who have shepherded the Falcons from obscurity to relevance. QB Ray Russ' 3,454 yards and 32 touchdowns passing both rank third in Division Il. Michael Shegos' 1,118 yards receiving rank fifth and his 9.8 catches per game rank second. Offensive tackle Doniel Gambrell is expected to be drafted or signed by an NFL team next year. Division III Baldwin Wallace (5-4, 4-4) at Heidelberg (6-4, 6-2), 1:30 p.m.
What: Ohio Athletic Conference game. Last week: BW lost to Mount Union, 59-3; Heidelberg beat Capital, 52-28. Notable: BW hopes to avoid repeating last year's meltdown against Heidelberg tallback Cartel Brooks, who set an NCAA record with 465 yards rushing. He's back and has 1,116 yards rushing this season. Chicago (7-1, 2-0) at Case Western Reserve (3-6, 1-1), noon What: University Athletic Assoclation game.
Last week: Chicago beat Carnegle Mellon, 28-7; CWRU lost to Thomas More, 66-34. Notable: CWRU finished 3-5 in its first full season back in the Presidents Athletic Conference. The Spartans are tied for sev- cleveland.com/sports.
