TRI-COUNTY LEAGUE Clippers clinch title in win over Leetonia

Columbiana completed an undefeated season with a 26-21 win.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- The Columbiana football team accomplished a lot with its 26-21 victory over rival Leetonia Friday night at Firestone Stadium.
The Clippers (9-0) finished the regular season undefeated, won its first Tri-County League championship since 1997 and clinched a Division V playoff berth.
Not bad for a night's work
This will be Columbiana's third playoff berth in school history -- the other two coming in 1994 and 1997. Both times, the Clippers competed in Division VI.
"This is a special group," explained Columbiana coach Bob Spaite. "We don't have any stars on this team, we just have a bunch of good players. The best teams don't always have the best individual players. This team has a lot of chemistry and these kids deserve a lot of respect."
Fast leads Clippers
Quarterback Adam Fast provided Columbiana with the spark it needed to rally from an early 7-0 deficit. The senior excelled mostly through the air completing 11-of-16 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 53 yards and a score.
"This is one of the best feelings I've ever had," said Fast. "We accomplished a few of our team goals tonight and we stepped up and made plays when we needed to. It's great to finish unbeaten, because not many teams have in school history."
Leetonia, which was fighting for a Division VI playoff spot, came ever-so-close to crashing the Clippers' party. After two straight losses, the Bears played like the team that was once 6-1 and in the playoff hunt.
After a scoreless first quarter, Leetonia got on the scoreboard first, when Aaron Merrill barreled in from one yard out on the first play of the second quarter. Jon Williams' kick made it 7-0.
Columbiana answered on its next possession. A seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive culminated in a 29-yard scoring run by Mike Welce. The point after kick was true and knotted the contest at 7-all.
Took first lead
The Clippers grabbed their first lead of the game and the momentum right before halftime. Fast went to the air on the scoring drive, which was keyed by a 31-yard pass to Austin Couchenour. Two plays later, Fast connected with Andrew Peacock for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the first half. The point after kick gave the Clippers a 14-7 advantage at intermission.
Columbiana attempted to pull away in the fourth quarter, building a 20-7 lead after a two-yard TD run by Fast with 10:46 left in the game.
But Leetonia wouldn't go away.
Quarterback Matt Custer broke loose for a 39-yard TD run on first down to cut the Clippers' lead to 20-14.
The Clippers got the points right back, as Fast and Couchenour connected again, this time for a 68-yard touchdown to pad the advantage to 26-14 with 7:52 left in the contest.
Bears rally again
Leetonia rallied again, as Custer raced 7 yards up the middle to bring his squad to within 26-21 with 1:06 left. Leetonia attempted an onside kick, but Columbiana recovered and ran out the final seconds to secure the win.
"Unless you've played or coached in this game you can't understand the Columbiana-Leetonia rivalry," said Spaite. "Leetonia will never quit on you. Hats off to them; they played well tonight, but our kids didn't do too bad either.
"We're excited about the playoffs but we'll enjoy this one tonight and tomorrow and find out who we play next week, and get to work getting ready for Week 11."