Tuesday, September 30, 2003
The Rebels couldn't keep up with the speedy Clippers.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- The first half told the whole story of Friday's Columbiana-Crestview high school football game.
Although the Rebels scored the first time they had the ball, the Clippers scored every time they had the ball as Columbiana opened up a 28-7 lead en route to a 35-14 victory.
The Clippers (5-0 overall) share the Tri-County League lead with United 3-0 marks.
Crestview dropped to 1-5, 1-3.
Behind the play of scrappy sophomore quarterback Jordan Reynolds, Crestiew jumped out 7-0 as Reynolds' 21-yard score capped an impressive eight play, 72-yard drive.
Reynolds twice came up big during the surge, converting two runs into Rebel first downs. After that, it was all Adam Fast and the Clippers.
"We had to answer," Clipper coach Bob Spaite. "If we hadn't, I think we would have been in trouble."
Big touchdown
On a fourth-and-1 from the Crestview 36, Fast covered the distance as the Clippers tied the score 7-7.
"That first score was really big," Fast said. "Crestview had all the momentum until then. Then I think that second touchdown took the life out of them."
Following a strong punt return by Mike Welce, Fast again scored, this time from one yard out as Columbiana went ahead, 14-7.
"I knew they would answer," Crestview coach Paul Cusick said. "We had to respond to that and it took us too long. They are a senior team and basically team speed made the difference."
Fast scored once more and finished with 94 yards rushing and 66 passing.
Key plays
Drew Wagner came up big for the Clippers with a pair of plays that broke the Rebels' spirit.
Wagner's first effort, an interception at the Crestview 38, resulted in Chris Harman's 30 yard score for a 21-7 lead.
With Columbiana ahead 28-7, Wagner was holding for an Eric Birnesser 19-yard field goal attempt. A bad snap caused Birnesser to run for the end zone where Wagner found him for a 1 yard touchdown.
The Clipper offense was so impressive that they didn't punt until 6:39 remaining in the game.
"We seem to be playing with pretty good confidence on offense," Spaite said. "Hopefully we'll keep that up."
Cusick said, "We've got a young team and we're not getting any breaks. Plus, we've faced a really tough schedule to this point."