Flu season in Northeast Ohio is just around the corner. Is now the best time to get a flu shot, or wait?

Appearing on the 1590 WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show, Akron General phycisian Doctor Tim Brown says if you are in a high-risk category, people who go to the hospital often, the sooner you get a flu shot, the better.

But, Doctor Brown says if you are young, healthy and in your 20s, you could probably wait until October to get a flu shot.

Doctor Brown says usually, flu shots last between 4 or 5 months inside a patient's body. He says flu season usually peaks in Northeast Ohio in January and February.

So, Doctor Brown says getting a flu shot now would carry most people through the traditional end of the flu season. Doctor Brown says there is not enough evidence either for or against getting a flu 'booster' shot in 4 or 5 months.

Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell is a bit concerned about his offense heading into this Saturday's game on the road against Kansas State.

The Kent State offense managed only one touchdown and one field goal in their 20-12 loss to the University of Louisiana - Lafayette last Saturday night at Dix Stadium.

Hazell says the offense, may be 'checking down' their plays a bit too much, which slows down their tempo. He says they will have to change some things this week in practice so they can get into a groove running the football which will open up the play-action pass for the offense.

Hazell says those changed will allow the quarterback Spencer Keith to play behind the center instead of being in the shotgun formation on every down.

The first year head coach says while he likes his offensive line, they haven't done a 'great job' up front this season.

Hazell says he was most impressed with the play of his special teams this week and the defense. Hazell says they spent 30 minutes before practice talking about special teams.

As for the defense, Hazell says they created three turnovers in the Lafayette game, but were unable to take advantage of the miscues.

Junior co-captains Chad Barson and Scott Caldwell were each recognized nationally for their efforts Monday in leading The University of Akron men's soccer team to a 4-0 victory at Saint Louis last weekend.

Barson was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week while Caldwell earned like accolades from College Soccer News.

Barson, a defender from Lewis Center, Ohio, logged all 90 minutes at center back for the Zips (3-0-1), who posted their third shutout in four games Saturday. UA dominated SLU in nearly every category, limiting the Billikens to just four shots for the game (to the Zips' 21), including two shots on goal. For the season, Akron has allowed just one goal in nearly 400 minutes of play.

Caldwell, a midfielder from Braintree, Mass., played a key role in all four UA goals with a goal and three assists. Moreover, his strike in the 85th minute gave the Zips a commanding 3-0 lead and was of the spectacular variety, sailing over a wall of defenders from distance and tucking just under the upper-right crossbar.

After playing the last three games on the road, Akron will return to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field this weekend to host The University of Akron Tournament starting Friday at 7 p.m. versus New Mexico and continuing Sunday at 6 p.m. against Cal Poly.

The University of Akron women’s golf team will open its fourth season today when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., for the 2011 Chip-N Club Invitational at the par-72, 6,186-yard Country Club of Lincoln.

The Zips open a season at the event for the second-consecutive year. Akron finished tied for sixth place in the 2010 edition of the invitational after posting a two-round score of 618 (+42).

Joining Akron in the 16-team field will be Creighton, Florida Gulf Coast, Houston Baptist, Iowa, Lamar, McNees State, No. 80 Missouri State, No. 94 Nebraska (host), North Dakota State, Redlands Community College, No. 87 Sam Houston State, SMU, South Dakota, No. 20 Texas A&M and Wichita State. The Zips enter the event ranked No. 108 in the Golfstat rankings.

Akron opens the campaign following the most successful season in the program’s three-year history. The Zips finished 2010-11 with top-10 finishes in all 11 events, including the team’s first team title at the Third Annual Zippy Invitational (Oct. 11-12, 2010).

Three seniors will lead the way for Akron, including Kristen Hill, Amanda Butler and Katie Jenior. Hill is a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection (2009, 2010) and was named to the Golf World 50 Women’s College Players to Watch list for the 2011-12 season by Campus Insider blogger Ryan Herrington on Sept. 7. UA will also have the services of sophomores Sara Chaves and Whitney Graff, as well as freshmen Sara Johansson and Laura Murray.

Kathleen Ekey is heading to the LPGA Tour in 2012.

The Walsh Jesuit and University of Alabama graduate finished first in money earned on the LPGA Futures Tour this year to earn her LPGA Tour Card for 2012.

The Top 10 on the Futures Tour money list automatically qualify for the 2012 LPGA Tour.

Ekey won twice on the Futures Tour this year, at the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge in Marion, Iowa and at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic in Syracuse, New York.

Ekey's winnings on the Futures Tour amounted to $66,412. Her stroke average was 71.34, which was good for third among Futures Tour players.

She lists her hometown as Sharon Center, Ohio. Ekey played college golf at both Furman University and the University of Alabama.

The city of Akron is planning to offer leaf pick-up for homeowners once autumn begins.

Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville says there is enough funding in the Treasury to cover the cost of the program this year.

But, Sommerville says there are questions about the future of the leaf program for 2012 and beyond.  Sommerville says that's because of a cutback in funding from state and federal sources.

Sommerville says the city has to constantly look at ways to trim the budget or look at ways to increase revenues.  Sommerville says the leaf program is just one of many programs operated by the city of Akron that are constantly under the microscope.

No date has been set for when the 2011 Leaf Program in the city of Akron will begin.

Ubaldo Jimenez threw six effective innings, Luis Valbuena homered and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 7-3 on Sunday.

Valbuena also singled twice and scored two runs as the Indians collected 14 hits. Trevor Crowe had three singles, and Jason Donald and Lonnie Chisenhall added two hits apiece.

Jimenez (3-2) issued five walks, but allowed just two runs and three hits. The right-hander, who was acquired from Colorado at the July 31 trade deadline, struck out two.

White Sox starter Zach Stewart (2-4) yielded three runs and seven hits over five innings in his first outing since he tossed a one-hitter at Minnesota last Monday.

Before the game, the Indians activated Travis Hafner from the Disabled List. Hafner, who had been out since August 21 with a strained right foot, was in the starting lineup and batted fourth. Hafner is hitting .281 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs in 82 games this season.

Hafner went 1-for-4 in the game with a walk.

The Indians are in third place in the AL Central, 11 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The first game in the Pat Shurmur era as head coach of the Cleveland Browns did not go as planned.  Too many penalties, too many mistakes and the Browns were ‘quick snapped’ at the end of the game.  It all adds up to a 27-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at Browns Stadium. 

Shurmur said “We made a season full of mistakes in the first quarter.  We made seven penalties in the first quarter.  No excuses.  I don’t care if you’re a rookie, been in this thing 12 years, I don’t care if it’s you’re last game.  There’s a lot of unforced errors there.”

The Bengals jumped on the Browns in the first quarter.  Cincinnati stopped the Browns on their opening drive of the game, forcing a punt.  The Bengals took over on the Cleveland 41.  Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton directed the Bengals to the 6 yard line where the drive stalled.  Mike Nugent came on and kicked a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Cincinnati jumped out to a 10-0 lead on their next series of downs.  The Bengals moved 41 yards in seven plays.  Dalton hit tight end Jermaine Gresham on a crossing pattern from two yards out.

The Bengals stretched the lead to 13-0 on their next possession.  Mike Nugent finished off the drive with a field goal from 47 yards.

The Browns needed a spark, and they got one from Josh Cribbs.  Fielding the kickoff 8-yards deep in the end zone, Cribbs returned it 51 yards to the Browns 43 yard line.  In four plays, the Browns were in the end zone.  Colt McCoy hit tight end Benjamin Watson with a 34-yard TD pass to close the gap to 13-7.

The spark was felt by the Browns defense as well.  They forced the Bengals into a three-and-out and the offense got rolling.  A nine-play, 90 yard drive by McCoy ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to Evan Moore.  The biggest in the drive was a 56-yard hook-up between McCoy and Mohammed Massaquoi. 

The half ended with the Browns holding onto a 14-13 lead. 

Cleveland extended the lead to 17-13 on a 20-yard field goal by Phil Dawson early in the third quarter. 

It was all Cincinnati in the fourth quarter.  Cincinnati back-up quarterback Bruce Gradkowski caught the Browns defense napping.  He ‘quick-snapped ‘ the play and unloaded a 41-yard touchdown pass to rookie A.J. Green, who beat defensive back Joe Haden to give Cincinnati a 20-17 lead. 

Gradkowski came on in the third quarter to replace Dalton, who suffered a right wrist injury.

The Bengals wrapped it up with 1:49 to go on a 39 yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson to make the final score 27-17.

In his post-game news conference, Shurmur said “There’s a lot of things we have to learn from this.  I’m disappointed for the team, and for the players.  But, I told them that this will only be fatal if we let it be.  There’s plenty of things to clean up.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Cincinnati 10 – 3 – 0 – 14 = 27

Cleveland   0 – 14 – 3 – 0 = 17

FIRST QUARTER:

Bengals – Mike Nugent 24 yard field goal 8:20

Bengals – Jermaine Gresham 2 yard pass from Andy Dalton (Nugent Kick) 2:22

SECOND QUARTER:

Bengals – Nugent 47 yard field goal 11:30

Browns – Benjamin Watson 34 yard pass from Colt McCoy (Phil Dawson kick) 9:17

Browns – Evan Moore 2 yard pass from McCoy (Dawson Kick) 4:14

THIRD QUARTER:

Browns – Dawson 20 yard field goal 8:36

FOURTH QUARTER:

Bengals – A. Green 41 yard pass from Bruce Gradkowski (Nugent kick) 4:28

Bengals – Cedric Benson 39 yard run (Nugent Kick) 1:49

The Wadsworth Grizzlies made it three victories in a row as they won the battle of Medina County, beating the Medina Bees 23-6 at Ken Dukes Stadium.
 
If you missed the opening kickoff, you missed one of the biggest plays of the game.
 
Medina’s Will Hiteshue kicked off to start the game.  Wadsworth’s Jack Snowball grabbed it at the six yard line, went up the middle, veered to the right and found himself in the clear at the 30 yard line.  Snowball put on the jets and aimed towards the right pylon.  Snowball outran the defense and made it into the end zone for a 7-0 lead after just 17 seconds.
 
“We practiced that return throughout the week.  The scout team kept kicking to us and we just made our blocks.  It was great blocking by our up front wedge,” said Snowball. “It was the first time that I ever returned a kickoff for a touchdown.”
 
The next time Wadsworth got the ball, the offense did what they do best, run the football.  
 
Eight rushing plays by the Grizzlies covered 76 yards.  Quarterback Jon Kuss covered the last 28 yards on a sweep around left end and went into the end zone untouched.  Before Medina knew what hit them they were down 13-0 eight minutes into the opening quarter.
 
Medina took the kickoff and Walter Bailey took it back to the Wadsworth 49 yard line.  But, a holding penalty on Medina brought the football back to their 25 yard line. 
 
That would be a common theme for Medina throughout the game.  The Bees were whistled for eight penalties; seven flags were of the major variety and most came at critical times of the game.

 
The Wadsworth defense forced Medina into a three-and-out and marched down the field again.  The 10-play, 51-yard drive stalled out at the 7 yard line.  Luis Escudero kicked a 24-yard field goal to give the Grizzlies a 16-0 lead in the early part of the second quarter.
 
Medina had a chance to get on the scoreboard before halftime.  A 55-yard pass by senior quarterback Mason Schreck to Bailey set Medina up at the Wadsworth one-yard line. 
 
But, Medina couldn’t get into the end zone.  Laterian Brown was stopped for no gain; Schreck lost four yards on a quarterback sweep.  On third down, Brown was stopped for no gain.  On fourth down, Schreck hit senior tight end Kenny Kaminski with a swing pass.  The Wadsworth defense tackled Kaminski at the 5 yard line ending the Bees threat.
 
In the second half, Wadsworth erased any doubt on who would win.  On their second possession of the half, Wadsworth took advantage of a short field.  They started the drive at the Medina 34 following a facemask penalty on the Bees.  Nick Miller scored a TD on an off-tackle play to give the Grizzlies a 23-0 lead. 
 
Medina scored early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by Brown to complete a 12-play, 71 yard drive.  Following the TD, Medina tried an onsides kick, but Wadsworth recovered.
 
Wadsworth head coach Greg Dennison knew it was going to be a tough game.  “We knew they were going to be good.  We’re just happy to get out of here with a win.”
 
Snowball carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards.  Jon Kuss had 14 rushing attempts for 81 yards.  Kuss completed 2 of 3 passes for 27 yards.  Tight end Nick Seme caught both passes. 

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur is one of many Americans who remembers what he was doing on September 11, 2001.

“Absolutely, it’s one of those event in life, it’s such a devastating tragedy and I do remember it," said Shurmur.

"I was actually in Philadelphia. I was sitting at my desk and we we’re getting ready at the time to play Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay. At the time I was a tight end coach so I had to do a lot of computer work and I was actually drawing up runs for the scouting report. I had a little TV on the end of my counter and our secretary, Carol Wilson, walked in and she said, ‘Turn on the TV.’ She had thought at the time, and I think it was first reported, that a small airplane had crashed into the tower. I’ll never forget it because when she walked into my office to tell me, we turned on the TV and then Carol Wilson and I actually saw the second plane on TV hit the second tower. It was very real for us in Philadelphia being so close to New York City. We had people in the organization that had loved ones in the tower working in New York City. It was just a very tough day for all of us, especially for those of us who were not only in New York City, but on the east coast. Then I think what happened there was, as the information started to trickle out, that it was a very devastating attack, then our thoughts kind of drifted away from game planning for Tampa Bay, the players were coming around and then the information spread that the game was going to be canceled that week. I’ll never forget it.”

Shurmer says it's kind of strange to talk about 9/11 with the players because many of them were so young when the event took place.

“I think as we get older, if we were able to experience it, I have children that probably don’t know much about it as well, " said Shurmur.

"I know they’re being educated on it now I’m sure this week in school. But, it’s one of those events in life that you’ll never forget and it’ll be something that we’ll educate the people that come after us about.”