Supporting their schools

11.27.2009

Before he was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Brian Robiskie was a standout receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, before Robiskie went to college, he matured as player at Chagrin Falls High School in suburban Cleveland.

During his senior year in 2004, Robiskie was a first-team All-Ohio selection who gained 754 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He was a special teams standout who returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown and also took an interception back for a score.

"It was a great experience, a great school," Robiskie said before Wednesday's practice. "They gave me an opportunity to go on to Ohio State. The system really helps kids with the pro-style offenses and traditional defensive schemes. For kids trying to go on and play at the next level, it helps prepare them pretty well."

In his career, Robiskie caught 34 touchdowns and gained 1,885 yards and with all the individual accomplishments came a postseason berth. Robiskie helped lead the Tigers to a 9-3 record and 2 rounds deep into the 2004 postseason.

Chagrin Falls earned a No. 2 seed in Division IV, Region 13 in 2004 and posted a 26-8 first round win over Massillon Tuslaw. In the second round, the Tigers fell to the eventual state champion, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 42-13.

"We had a great group of seniors and made a good run at it," Robiskie said. "It's like anything else. Obviously, a big game brings more pressure and more excitement and the coaches did a good job to get us ready for it."

Though he has been removed from the program for five seasons, Robiskie has started to pay attention to the run the Tigers are currently on.

Chagrin Falls (14-0) will play the defending Division IV state champion, Kettering Archbishop Alter (14-0) in Saturday morning's state championship game at Canton's Fawcett Stadium. The Tigers were 20-14 winners against the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans Saturday night at Fremont's Don Paul Stadium.

As the Tigers continue final preparations, Robiskie offered 1 piece of advice: "Just keep doing what they've been doing."

PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC CONCLUDED PLAYOFF RUN

Robiskie was not the only Browns player whose alma mater was playing in a big game last weekend.

Offensive lineman Eric Steinbach was rooting for his high school, Providence Catholic, from afar as the Celtics played in the Illinois High School Association 6A State Championship Saturday afternoon from the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium.

The Celtics were defeated 34-17 by Cary-Grove High School.

When he was in high school, Steinbach was a part of four state championship teams and a 50-game winning streak.

"We've had a lot of experiences down there over the years," Steinbach said. "It's been a few years since the last time we've been down there, but it's great. Coach (Matt) Senffner retired and Coach "Cogs" (Mark Coglianese) now has taken over and he's doing a heck of a job.

"We had a nice little run," he added. "We won 50 in a row and then lost our last regular season game senior year and won the four games in the playoffs to win the state championship and created a nice little dynasty."