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Vindicator Fall Athletes: Mitch Davidson
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There have been plenty of dual-threat quarterbacks to pass through Columbiana High School, but Mitch Davidson has proven to be a once-in-a-generation kind of talent who altered how the Clippers play the game.
“We completely changed our offense,” Davidson said. “We used to be an option team that ran the ball all the time. Once I came up into my sophomore year, we pushed our offense into being a spread team and we started throwing a lot more. We had guys that could catch and it was just something we did.
“I think they saw how comfortable and better I was in the shotgun rather than under-center stuff, so I think they figured I’d do well in the spread and all of our guys fit that offense.”
That level of comfort translated to a season in which Davidson led the area in passing yards with 2,735, rushed for another 1,137 and accounted for 46 total touchdowns with only one interception. It was a season-opening 44-37 victory over Western Reserve that showed Davidson he and the Clippers’ offense were a potent unit. Davidson threw for 302 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner with 22 seconds left to play.
“It was at that point I knew we had something good going — something special,” Davidson said. “It was just how our team fought the whole game coming down with [22] seconds left. We knew we could win the game if we absolutely needed to at the last second.”
A three-year starter, the Clippers had two losing seasons with Davidson at the wheel, but this year the offensive resurgance pushed the team to a 9-2 record with an first-round playoff loss to Cuyahoga Heights, 28-21. With Davidson already owning all of Columbiana’s passing records by the end of his sophomore season, the next milestone is a deep playoff run.
“I’m looking to make a better run in the playoffs, we have to make sure we win some games,” Davidson said.