Clippers defeat Golden Eagles

United's head coach said Columbiana capitalized on his team's mistakes.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- Mike Welce ran for two touchdowns, passed for another and picked off an errant United aerial as the Columbiana Clippers routed the Golden Eagles, 34-0, in the Tri-County League opener for both schools Friday night.
"All I can say is Welce is a real warrior, plain and simple. At 5-foot-8-inches tall, there aren't many colleges that will come knocking for his services," Clipper head coach Bob Spaite said.
"He is as strong and physically tough as any quarterback that I have ever coached, and I have coached some very good quarterbacks. Overall, our kids played really well, and that is a testament to our assistant coaches. We have asked them to do a lot of different things this year, and each week they have responded. They did an unbelievable job with our game plan this week."
The Clippers (4-0, 1-0) had 304 yards of total offense on the night including 246 ground yards on 56 carries.
Count the Columbiana defense among those also playing inspired as they held United (1-3, 0-1) to just 123 total yards, 53 of those coming on 32 rushes.
United's woes
"I don't want to make excuses, but we got beat every way that you could get beat tonight," United head coach Jeff Sharkey said. "They capitalized on our mistakes, and that is the mark of a good team. Overall, they did a much better job of executing than we did. Mistakes really hurt us tonight."
The Golden Eagles committed five turnovers, two fumbles and three interceptions, while the Clippers weren't exactly flawless offensively, turning the ball over three times themselves, twice on interceptions.
Welce got the Clippers on the board first, scoring on a 6-yard run at the 4:58 mark of the opening period. When the kick failed, Columbiana had to settle for an early 6-0 margin.
The Clippers' Mackie McGarry then recovered the ensuing kick, setting up Columbiana's second score of the night. Welce would find Cory Guy from 3 yards out, and after Welce hit Jerrett Welton with the conversion pass, the Clippers built a 14-0 lead.
Clippers' strengths
"The offensive line blocked really well tonight for us," Welce said. "Our running backs ran hard, and the receivers ran great routes as well. I just tried to get the ball to them."
Clipper running back Joe Winters, who had a game-high 76 yards on the ground, then scored from 6 yards out a minute into the second quarter to increase the Columbiana lead to 21-0.
When Anthony Melone scored from 5 yards away and Josh Herold added the placement, the Clippers took a 28-0 lead to the locker room at intermission.
"United is an outstanding team; they just didn't play their game tonight," Spaite said. "Defensive coordinator Larry Baughman has been here for 20 years, serving under three head coaches, and his game plan tonight was superb. This was as good a first half and overall game that we have played this season."
Welce's 5-yard touchdown run at 2:57 of the third period then rounded out the scoring on the night.
The Clippers held a 15-4 first down advantage, holding a 66-45 margin in plays run from scrimmage.
Tarik Solomon led the Golden Eagles with 58 yards on 10 carries.