North Lima - In a game that was a tale of two halves, the Clippers and Raiders combined for 30 points in the 1st quarter, and added another 17 in the second when the Clips led 27-20 at halftime. However, the Raiders would score two touchdowns in the last four minutes of the contest to prevail 34-30.
The game started off at a fast pace with the Raiders scoring on a 1-yard run by Hunter Spitz following a 56-yard scamper by quarterback Jack Dawson. The Clippers answered with a 31-yard filed goal by Josh Harold to cut the lead to 7-3.
South Range would score again a minute later on a 53-yard touchdown run by back Nick Golec to put Range back up 14-3. Once again, the Clippers answered right back on a 57-yard touchdown run by Brian Warchol to make it a 14-10 game. Warchol would finish with 150 yards rushing and a touchdown. But not to be outdone, Golec would take the ensuing kickoff back 96-yards to score another touchdown and put the Raider up 21-10.
The Clippers would continue to fight back. This time it was a powerful 72-yard run by sophmore back Nick Roncone as he plowed over and through would be Raider defenders on the way to the score midway in the second quarter. The Clips would score again just 2:35 before the half with a 1-yard plunge by Grant Crider to put the Clippers up 24-21. They would add to the lead with a second Harold kick as he booted a 30-yard field goal as the first half ended.
After a flourish of scoring in the first half, the second half became a defensive struggle. The Clippers would finally get on the scoreboad with a third Harold kick. This time it was a 41-yard kick with 8:12 left in the game to put Columbiana up 30-21.
At this point the Raiders came alive. They would hit a 49-yard screen pass to Spitz to set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Raider back-up quarterback Vince Miller to receiver Kyle Seaver. The score at 4:05 cut the Clippers lead to 30-28. The Raiders would turn up their defensive pressure when Columbiana got the ball back. After a short punt the Raider took over at the Clips 44-yard line, and used 7 plays to score the winning touchdown with only 0:42 second left in the game. After a 17-yard pass from Dawson to Seaver got the Raiders to the Columbiana 4-yard line, Dawson would take it into the endzone to win the contest.
"We needed to make a play, and we didn't make a play, bottom line. That's what it's been all year, you got to catch the ball or knock the ball down, or something. I thought maybe, maybe I could get three touchdowns on them, I thought maybe. I was hoping we could hold them to two. I thought we would be pushing it to get 21 (points) on them. I was really looking for 17 points, and try to hold them to 14. Yeah, it turned into a shootout didn't it? It was entertaining, fans got they're monies worth," Coach Bob Spaite.
The Raider beat Columbaian 34-30 in a game that was very reminiscent of a playoff atmosphere. The Raider keep pace with Crestview who rolled over Springfield 41-7. Both the Rebels and Raiders are tied for first in the ITCL Upper Tier with identical 5-1 records.
McDonald meanwhile has clinched the Lower Tier title with a 21-13 victory over the Leetonia Bears. Congratulations to coach Williams and his Blue Devil team!!! With a win next week against Lowellville they could have a perfect 10-0 regular season.
Western Reserve bounced back from back-to-back losses with a convincing 41-7 victory over Lowellville, and Wellsville blasted the Sebring Trojans 54-6. With both the Devils and Tigers victories, they remain tied for second place in the Lower Tier.
In other games, United remained in second place in the Upper Tier with a 46-14 win over Lisbon, and East Palestine beat Mineral Ridge 38-16. Southern locked up a winning season with a strong 55-22 win over the Jackson-Milton Blue Jays.
Unless something unforseen happens, we should have first place co-champs in the ITCL Upper Tier, and at least five teams qualifying for the OHSAA playoffs. Make sure to check with ITCLFootball.net for an update on all ITCL playoff contenders.