Josh Hertel and Ryan Willians accounted for six TDs for the Clippers.

By RYAN JONES

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BERLIN CENTER — Columbiana coach Bob Spaite said for a moment he thought he was reliving Thursday night’s college football game between Louisville and Middle Tennessee State.

“For a while I really thought I was watching a replay of that game,” he said. (If you didn’t catch the game, the teams combined for 100 points and more than 1,200 yards of offense). “Every time I looked up someone was zooming down the field for a score.”

And to be honest, Spaite wasn’t lying.

Western Reserve and Columbiana scored three touchdowns within 30 seconds of each other in the first quarter, and two within seven seconds in the second frame. They combined for 83 points and more than 900 yards of offense.

However, the Clippers got the better of the scoring splurges, and eventually pulled away for a 56-27 victory.

“I never thought we had them [Western Reserve] put away until about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter,” Spaite said. “When I knew there wasn’t enough time for them to score three touchdowns I began to feel relieved.”

Turnover helps Clippers

After intercepting Western Reserve’s quarterback Shane Ewing on the opening possession of the game, the Clippers marched 65 yards in seven plays and scored on a 4-yard plunge by fullback Josh Hertel.

The Blue Devils (1-2) answered back on the first play of their next possession when Ewing connected with Nate Lude for an 84-yard catch-and-run score to even the game at seven.

Not to be outdone, Hertel took a pitch 65 yards for a Clipper touchdown eight seconds after Lude’s score to give Columbiana a 14-7 lead.

Hertel, a senior fullback who totaled 179 yards rushing and four scores, found the end zone from 3 yards out to close the first quarter, and scampered 71 yards for another score in the second frame to put the Clippers up 28-14.

Western Reserve coach Mike Kopachy said he knew his team was going to be able to move the ball against Columbiana, but that his defense lacked mental focus and toughness.

“You can’t give up on defense what we gave up tonight and expect to win any games,” he said. “We’re putting our players in position to make plays, and they aren’t being made. It’s not that we are lacking the skill to make those plays. I’m thinking about having us practice tackling for three hours on Monday, and not even working on a defense scheme.”

Williams also sparkles

The Clippers rolled up 546 yards, including 412 on the ground. Quarterback Ryan Williams rushed for 115 yards and a score, and threw for 134 and a touchdown.

Spaite said Hertel and Williams have provided the senior leadership his team needs.

“Ryan [Williams] is one of the best quarterback I’ve ever coached,” he said. “Our wide receivers came into the year with no varsity catches between them-so it’s all the more important that Ryan is able to lead them.”

Ewing led the Blue Devils with 202 yards passing and three touchdowns, he also added 47 yards rushing on nine carries. Paul Arditi led Western Reserve with 88 yards rushing and Lude caught four passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

“We’ve got to get tougher, and to take pride in our defense,” Kopachy said. “Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We are the defending ITCL champs. We have a bull’s-eye on our back; everyone in our league is going to give us their best game.”