By Greg gulas

sports@vindy.com

COLUMBIANA

They say that the biggest improvement in a team comes between the first and second weeks of the season.

If that is the case then Columbiana High has definitely improved from a week ago when they suffered a season-opening loss to Woodsfield Monroe Central.

Austin Barbato rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown while the Clippers racked up 387 yards as they easily defeated the Leetonia Bears, 41-0, on Friday.

“Monroe Central was an outstanding team so yes, I am definitely glad that we were able to get back on track tonight,” said Columbiana coach Bob Spaite.

“Leetonia features an excellent running back in Devan Miller and we were more than a little concerned about him.

“They were a little banged up but we were able to take him out of the game. I also felt that we had an excellent defensive game plan,” Spaite said.

Columbiana forced four turnovers; two interceptions and two fumbles, and scored off three of those Bears’ miscues.

It took just under three minutes into the game for Columbiana to get on the board as Barbato scored on a 31-yard scamper; that coming at the 9:03 mark.

“We had a good, hard week of practice so hopefully tonight’s performance will serve as a springboard for us,” said Barbato. “It’s definitely something positive for us to build on.”

Jeff Davidson then penetrated the Leetonia defense from 4 yards out at the 3:01 mark of the quarter allowing the Clippers to take a 14-0 lead.

When Nick Roncone scored the first of his two tallies at the 3:16 mark of the second stanza, Columbiana increased the margin to 20-0 heading at halftime.

Roncone, who rushed for 88 yards, also starred on defense as the Clippers limited Leetonia to 71 passing yards and just 103 total.

“Our offensive and defensive lines just kept it basic and simple tonight. We forced turnovers and capitalized on their mistakes while everything just seemed to go our way,” Roncone said.

On Leetonia’s first series after the intermission, Brandon Hocker raced 70 yards with a Bears fumble, and after the Davidson two-point conversion, the Clippers increased their lead to 28-0.

Trenton Solmen’s 35-yard dash to the end zone at 6:40 of the frame increased the Columbiana lead to 35-0 and when Roncone added his second score of the night, this time from a yard out with 39 seconds remaining, that rounded out the scoring on the evening.