Crestview's defense tough in 10-0 win over Clippers

Shayn Danks had three interceptions for the Rebels.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WATERFORD -- It was a night Crestview High's Shayn Danks will never forget. The Columbiana Clippers would just as soon erase it from their collective memories.
Danks picked off three passes and the Crestview defense shut down everything the Clippers threw at it, coming away with a 10-0 win to keep their postseason hopes alive.
"The whole defense played a part in those plays," said Danks, who never had more than one interception in a game. "The pass rush was outstanding and I just ended up in the right spot at the right time."
Another interception and a fumble recovery gave the Rebels a 5-1 edge in turnovers. Columbiana also muffed a punt which was recovered by the Rebels.
By the end of the first period, the Rebels held a 72-to-13 edge in total offense and 6-1 in first downs.
Still, the Rebels couldn't score as Columbiana's defense came up big on fourth-and-2 at the 11.
Big drive
Later, Crestview began what would be the only touchdown drive of the night. A 26-yard scamper by Corey Hill put the Rebels in great shape, and when Tony Britton could not find a receiver on second-and-13 from the Columbiana 15, he took matters into his own hands, running untouched down the right sideline for the touchdown with 6:45 remaining in the first half.
Mackie McGarry's interception thwarted Crestview's next challenge, but on the next play Danks got his first pick.
With 47 seconds remaining, Columbiana showed a spark, gaining 24 yards on a run and a pass. Then at the Rebel 20 with just seconds remaining, Danks came up with another pick, this one at the 6.
& quot;He's been back there for three years now," said coach Paul Cusick of Danks. "He knows what to do and he does it well."
Once more the Clippers defense did their job to start the second half, holding Crestview on fourth-and-goal from the 1, but Columbiana couldn't get past its 16 before Craig Noel set the Rebels up again in good position, recovering a fumble inside the 20.
Putting it away
The Rebels were stopped, though, and forced to punt. Columbiana moved the ball a few yards but another Danks interception put the Rebels in good shape once more, and they made it count, as Cameron Reynolds kicked at 27-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with :36 remaining in the game.
For Crestview, stopping Columbiana's Joey Winters was the main concern and the Rebels held him to just 31 yards on 12 carries.
"We knew he was their guy," Cusick said of Winters, "and we didn't want him to beat us."
"They came out to play and we came out to play," said Winters. "I guess maybe they came out just a little more. They had more points."
"All the credit goes to Crestview," added Clippers coach Bob Spaite. "They executed and we didn't. All night we had to get something going but we couldn't get out of the hole. That's a credit to their defense."
Both teams now are hoping for the playoffs.
"It's still there for us. I think," said Spaite.
"We've been stressing one week at a time, but we still knew that with two losses we couldn't have a third," said Cusick.