Columbiana ousted by Steubenville CC

The Clippers led by seven before the Crusaders rallied and rolled, 56-21.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CARROLLTON -- The Columbiana High football team won't have fond memories of Steubenville Central Catholic's Zach Howrat or the Crusaders when the Clippers reflect on Saturday's Division VI Region 21 championship game.
The Crusaders tailback ran for two scores, caught two touchdown passes, threw an 82-yard touchdown and rushed for 167 yards as Steubenville Central Catholic won, 56-21, at Carrollton High School Complex.
Howart also recovered a Clippers fumble that set up another score.
"He's a good back," Columbiana coach Bob Spaite said of Howart. "But he's no better than some of the other backs in our league.
"I don't want to whine, but I'd like to play this team when we are healthy," Spaite said.
Four defensive starters out
Once reason for Howart's success might be that Columbiana was playing without four defensive starters: Chris McIntyre, Mackie McGarry, Tony Giannone and Jarrett Welton.
"We just didn't play very well," Spaite said. "I thought our kids fought back well -- that's just the way it goes.
"It's too bad it had to end this way," Spaite said.
Spaite was upset because he felt the Crusaders unnecessarily scored a couple of late touchdowns.
Despite the lopsided score, Columbiana looked like it might take control of the game in the second quarter after falling behind 14-0.
During an offensive first half, the Clippers and Crusaders produced an impressive 49 points.
The Crusaders jumped ahead on a 12-yard run by Howart and a 21-yard touchdown pass from J.J. Kuczynski to Shane Habig.
Clippers take lead
Then the Clippers got their offense untracked as Columbiana reeled off 21 unanswered points for a seven-point lead late in the second quarter.
Clippers senior quarterback Mike Welce led three consecutive touchdown drives and it looked like Columbiana had seized momentum heading into halftime.
Welce scored on a pair of 1-yard runs and fullback Joe Winters tacked on another 1-yard tally with 2:07 to go in the second quarter.
With the Clippers seemingly in control, the Crusaders regained their composure and put two scores on the board before the half expired.
Steubenville Central Catholic went 41 yards in six plays and scored on a 27-yard pass on fourth-and-8. Kuczynski threw his second touchdown pass to Jarred Gilham to tie the game.
Interception
One play later, the Crusaders defense picked off a Columbiana pass. Two plays later, they took the lead for good when Howart caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kuczynski.
"That was a key point in the game," Crusaders coach Greg Gahen said. "We told our team at halftime that the kids had to keep on working because Columbiana is an explosive team.
"Columbiana showed us what they could do in a short time in the second period," Gahen said.
The Crusaders put the game away early in the third quarter after recovering a fumble on the Columbiana 27. Howart scored on a 24-yard run.
Howart scored another touchdown on Central Catholic's next possession, taking a screen pass and racing 66 yards untouched into the end zone.
Welce was the Clippers catalyst as the senior completed six of 15 passes for 98 yards and made several nice runs. Winters gained 75 yards rushing on 16 carries.