COLUMBIANA Clippers working hard to advance

Steubenville Catholic Central is a first-time opponent of Columbiana's.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBIANA -- When three defensive starters were injured in its first postseason game, Columbiana's chances of winning the second game took a major hit.
But the Clippers (11-1) juggled players around to find suitable substitutes and, again, relied on the play of quarterback Mike Welce to pull out a 26-24 victory against Mineral Ridge last Saturday.
"I've never had anything like that happen to me in my life," Columbiana coach Bob Spaite said of three broken bones within 15 minutes of each other in the Mathews game a week earlier. "And that's without a hit."
Done for season
Spaite was referring to Chris McIntyre, Mackie McGarry and Tony Giannone. McIntyre played center-defensive tackle; McGarry, middle linebacker and tailback and Tony Giannone, middle linebacker and wideout. All are done for the year.
McIntyre was a two-way starter, while McGarry and Giannone started defensively and played extensively on offense.
In 2004, McGarry was an all-Tri-County League linebacker.
McGarry broke a tibula, McIntyre a fibula and Giannone shattered a thumb joint.
McGarry and McIntyre got their cleats caught and twisted their legs within about three plays of each other. Later, Giannone got his thumb caught in a pile.
Against Ridge, not only did Welce gain 166 yards on 18 carries, score two touchdowns and throw for another, but the 5-8, 180-pounder caused a fumble early in the game. As free safety on defense, Welce ended with 12 solos and 10 assists.
"We've stressed capitalizing on turnovers," Spaite said of the fumble that middle linebacker Josh Hertel recovered.
The juggling
"He stepped up immensely," Spaite said of Hertel's play against Ridge. Hertel, a sophomore, took over one of the linebacker spots held by McGarry and Giannone. Halfback J.D. Beck moved to guard to fill in for Tyler Best, who occupied McIntyre's center spot.
The other linebacker void caused by the McGarry-Giannone injuries was filled by Jerrett Welton, who moved from free safety.
Hertel also started at linebacker earlier this season when Giannone broke his wrist.
"He's a converted free safety from last year," Spaite said. "We moved him to linebacker this year. He's undersized, but he has a big heart, like most of this team."
Both players and coaches seem to agree that Welce is the team's catalyst.
"I've said 100 times," Spaite said, "he might be one of the toughest I've coached."
Along with Welce, Columbiana's backfield will enjoy the company of FB Joey Winters and TB Beau Papania. Cory Guy is the Clippers' leading receiver with nearly 30 catches.
Intangible component
While the physical factor is paramount, there's one intangible component that makes the team tick.
"The kids have a tremendous belief in themselves," said Spaite. "They overachieve. They bought into everything we've asked them to do."
Columbiana has been to the regional finals once before, in 1994, when only four teams per region qualified after 10 games.
"This is the first time in the history of the school that we won two playoff games," Spaite said.
In their 1994 appearance, the Clippers lost the regional final to Beallsville, 35-34, at Steubenville's Harding Stadium.
Columbiana's next opponent is Steubenville Catholic Central.
It's a first-time meeting.
If you think Welce is tough as nails, how about Central's head coach, Gregg Bahen?
"I know him well," Spaite said. He's an ex-Marine."
The Clippers will have their work cut out against Central, a typical private school team with players from different areas.
Talent magnet
"They're disciplined, hard-nosed and non-sensical," Spaite said. "Their quarterback is from Edison and their tailback is from somewhere else."
Although they have no common opponents, Spaite concedes that the Crusaders' schedule is tougher than his team's.
"They're 7-3, but those losses were to Bellaire, St. Thomas Aquinas and Warren JFK. They didn't lose to the Sisters of the Poor. They're playing some good people."
At the same time, Spaite isn't shortchanging Columbiana's competition.
"We've got an excellent schedule for a Division VI school because the Tri-County League we play in has excellent football," he said. The Clippers played three playoff teams -- Crestview, Mineral Ridge and Lutheran West -- during the regular season and two other TCL teams, Lisbon and Leetonia, just missed getting in.
"Our schedule got us ready to play," he said.