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High-flying Columbiana overwhelms Springfield
Davidson, Clippers offense were practically flawless
By ERIC FORTUNE
NEW MIDDLETOWN
Columbiana quarterback Mitch Davidson says a bad Week Two loss to Crestview changed how the Clippers have approached this season.
“Our attitude has changed completely,” Davidson said. “We’ve taken every game since then [Crestview loss] seriously.
“It could be the last game of the year for us and we keep playing with that mindset. We keep striving to get to the playoffs.”
Offensively, the Clippers were nearly flawless in Friday’s 49-24 victory over Springfield. The Clippers scored on their first six possessions.
The Clippers (6-1, 1-0 Inter Tri-County League White)) finished with 474 yards of total offense and punted just once.
Davidson was his usual efficient self with 273 yards through the air and 94 yards on the ground.
“I think the last couple of weeks our offense has been picking it up,” Davidson said. “We haven’t turned the ball over.
“I think that has been helping us out. Everyone is just playing as well as they can right now. Nobody is stepping down and we’re moving forward and just gelling from there.”
The Tigers (3-4, 0-1) took an early 3-0 advantage midway through the opening quarter on Patrick Flora’s 33-yard field goal.
Their lead was short-lived as the Clippers’ up-tempo on offense produced Tanner Pearl’s 1 yard run to make it 6-3.
That up-tempo offense is what Columbiana coach Bob Spaite feels his team has to do to be successful due to a lack of size.
“For us to be successful, we have to be [speedy],” Spaite said.” We just have to. That’s the way we play. That’s what we have to do. We’re very blessed.
“We have in my opinion and in my heart of hearts as good of a quarterback as there is around.”
A fumble on the ensuing possession by the Tigers saw the Clippers start at the Tigers’ 35.
Davidson found Jake Ward on a 14-yard pass four plays later to make it 14-3.
“The only thing about playing tempo as my defensive coordinator likes to say is sometimes it puts our defense in a bind because we’re giving their offense so many possessions,” Spaite said. “It’s just one of those things.
“We’re just going play with the hand that has been dealt.”
The Clippers never surrendered their lead despite the Tigers getting the score as close as 14-10 at the 9:42 mark in the second quarter.
The next two possessions for the Clippers resulted in touchdowns while the Tigers punted and missed a field goal to make it 28-10 at the half.
The Clippers will look to continue their efficiency on offense against undefeated Lisbon.
“We’re not big enough to stand in and slug it out with anybody,” Spaite said. “Honestly, next week will be a real challenge for us because they’ll try to bloody our nose and play football in a phone booth and play keep away.
“That’s what they’ll do. That’s no secret. [Jim] Tsilimos is a great coach. You don’t win a state championship, have his record, or been around as long as him and not play to your strengths. It will be an interesting test of wills.”