Crestview won for the
fourth straight time over Columbiana, 33-29.

By ERIC HAMILTON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBIANA — When he was about to enter high school four years ago, Tony Britton had a choice between staying in the Columbiana school system or transferring to rival Crestview.

Friday night at Firestone Park, the senior was happy with his decision as he helped the Rebels accomplish something that has never been done: beating the Clippers four straight times.

The quarterback accounted for 313 all-purpose yards, including 185 on the ground, as Crestview knocked off playoff-bound Columbiana 33-29.

“It feels great to beat them four times in a row,” said Britton, who ran for a score and threw a TD pass. “This was a great experience. We played like a team tonight just like we did all year. We ended the season with three straight wins, so hopefully that will carry over to next year.

“I was just hoping the defense would get a stop there at the end. Then we got that interception and we were able to get it done.”

The fourth quarter featured four lead changes and some bruising running by both squads. The teams combined to rush for 661 yards, with Columbiana (338) out-gaining Crestview (323) by a narrow margin.

While Britton’s 185 yards sparked the Rebels, Columbiana’s Josh Hertel carried the load amassing 197 yards on 31 carries. Ryan Williams added 121 rushing yards.

“It was an up-and-down type of game,” said Crestview coach Paul Cusick. “It was a great game for the fans to watch, but for the coaches it was the kind that give you ulcers. Both teams played their hearts out.

“We kind of came in as the underdog tonight and I wasn’t sure how our kids would respond to that. We tried to tell them how important this game was to the community, but we weren’t sure if they understood that. But they showed us they did. It was a great way to finish.”

After Crestview (7-3, 5-2 ITCL Tier One) jumped ahead 19-7 at intermission, Columbiana staged a comeback, riding the efforts of Hertel and Williams.

Williams scored on a 20-yard run on the opening possession of the third quarter to close the gap to 19-14.

Crestview drove to the Clippers’ 17, but Josh Harold thwarted the march with an interception.

The Clippers went exclusively on the ground of the next possession, turning in an impressive 19-play, 93-yard scoring drive. Hertel and Williams touched the ball on every play but one. Hertel’s 2-yard score gave Columbiana its first lead at 22-19 with 9:32 left in the game.

The teams traded touchdowns on back-to-back drives and Columbiana nursed a 29-26 advantage with 5:31 remaining.

But Crestview completed the upset on a 12-yard touchdown run by Corey Hill to put the Rebels in front to stay at 33-29 with 2:52 left.

Columbiana (7-3, 5-2) drove to Crestview’s 28 with under 2 minutes to play, but a costly penalty and an interception by Cameron Reynolds on fourth-and-14 sealed the Clippers’ fate.

“It was a heck of a high school football game,” said Columbiana coach Bob Spaite, whose team will likely be on the road to start the Division VI playoffs next Saturday. “Neither team quit and both played so hard. I don’t think you can play any harder than we did in the second half.

“We are disappointed, because we wanted to win. But the kids understand that we didn’t have to win. I think we’ll bounce back next week against whoever we play.”