SBC Winners: Fliers sent record, 67-0

Enterprise sports writer

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

Clyde did everything right Friday night in their game with Oak Harbor, and the Rockets should have never gotten off the bus as the Fliers rolled to a 67-0 win, which set a new school scoring record.

The previous record was 66 points scored against Lakeside in 1959.

The win also gave the Fliers their second straight outright Sandusky Bay Conference title and a home game this Saturday against Big Walnut, who won last year's state title and knocked the Fliers from the playoffs.

Two schools, Bellevue and Tiffin Columbian - who butt up against the Clyde-Green Springs school district, also made the playoffs in the same Region 10 as the Fliers and could offer the Fliers a reasonable close playoff game if the local team gets by Big Walnut.

Huron from the SBC and Eastwood whom the Fliers defeated earlier in the season also made the playoffs in a different division.

"Going into the season we knew that we had some things to do in order to get into the next season (playoffs)," Coach Marc Gibson said. "Winning an undisputed league championship was one of our goals, and it was something that we had complete control over.

"To get into the playoffs," he said, "you have to hope that the teams you play can win enough games to get you enough points to get you into the playoffs, because that's something that you have no control over. In your own head to head matches you do have control and that's something that we took care of this year and last.

"Winning the league title again is a tribute to my kids, and the coaches on my staff," he added.

"I couldn't be prouder of them.

"Winning out like this also gives us momentum and confidence going into next week," Gibson said. "I feel that the traveling is part of the playoff experience, and it gives your kids a chance to see other schools and other parts of the state.

"At the same time it's nice to play at home too and to reward our fans. We have the greatest fans in the world. When we went to Tipp City last year, we had as many fans at the game as they did.

"This year they won't have to travel so far at the start. Win or lose the fans here support their team, and they always have."

Friday's game

On Friday night, the Fliers rolled up 599 yards of offense in the game to 129 for Oak Harbor and 28 first downs to seven. Even six penalties for 86 yards couldn't slow the Fliers down.

Even when the Fliers looked like they were doing wrong, it turned out right against the Rockets. On their first possession of the game, Alex Gillett threw an interception at the Oak Harbor four-yard line. The Rockets promptly fumbled the ball back to Jarad Branski at the Rocket 13-yard line where Gillett ran it in on the next play for a 7-0 lead with Jordan Colson's kick.

The Fliers made the score 14-0 on their next possession as Tyler Ludrowsky scored from three yards out with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter and Colson's kick. Kyle Smetzler then intercepted a pass, and the Fliers took over at their own 13-yard line. Four plays later Gillett ran it in from eight yards out, and the Fliers went up 21-0 with the Colson kick.

On the Fliers' first possession of the second quarter, Gillett hit Kade Kramer with a 49-yard, touchdown pass and with the Colson kick, it was 28-0. Gabe Gilbert then intercepted a Rocket pass at the Oak Harbor 35, and six plays later Kramer ran it in from the two to make it 34-0.

The first half scoring ended with the Fliers up 41-0 when they drove 70 yards in 11 plays with Gillett scoring from the two and Colson's kick.

Gillett, who rewrote the Flier passing record book, is now starting to rewrite the rushing book too.

The senior rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns to break Matt Guhn's season rushing record.

Kade Kramer led all rushers with 166 yards and had two touchdowns. Caleb Lynch had 127 yards and two touchdowns. Gabe Gilbert had 21 yards, Tyler Ludrowsky 20 yards and a touchdown, Ethan Brown had 12 yards and Logan Garcia had 10 yards and a touchdown. Jake Scott led Oak Harbor with 34 yards.

"That rushing record has to go to my linemen and the other backs blocking for me," Gillett said.

"Everyone has done a great job all season long of blocking for me, and that's the only way that I could do it. So far this year we've had one little hiccup, and everything else has went just fine."

On the passing side, Gillett was 4-of-11 for 99 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Gilbert caught two passes and Kramer and Ludrowsky each had one with Kramer's being a touchdown. Steve Young of Oak Harbor was 5-of-16 for 52 yards with three interceptions.

The Fliers traveled 62 yards in two plays to open up the second half scoring as Gillett ran for 31 yards and then Kramer ran for 31 yards to score to go up 47-0.

"It's great to win the SBC two years in a row," two-way lineman Branski said. "I'm so happy right now, because we've worked so hard for this.

"The coaches worked our butts off," Branski added. "It's a great feeling seeing those guys running for the end zone knowing you made a block to get them there. Shutouts are one of our top defensive goals every year and that zero on the scoreboard means we accomplished that goal today and it will help us to carry that feeling into the playoffs."

The next Flier score came on a 1-yard run by Garcia to cap a four-play, 51-yard drive. Colson's kick made it 54-0 with 4:59 to play in the third quarter.

Brandon Flores then got the Fliers the ball back with an interception, and Lynch capped the 20-yard drive with a 2-yard, touchdown run to make it 60-0 with 1:57 still left in the third quarter.

Lynch then made it 67-0 on the Fliers' first play of the fourth quarter with Colson's kick on a 70-yard, touchdown run. With 11:31 still remaining in the game the Fliers practically had to lay down to keep from scoring again.