Whippets fall in double overtime Clyde hangs on for 42-35 win in quarterfinals
Daily Globe Sports Editor
CLYDE — Shelby saw its postseason run halted with a 42-35 double overtime loss to Clyde Friday evening at Robert Bishop Stadium during a Division IV, Region 14 quarterfinal game.
The Fliers (10-2) got the ball first in the second overtime and on the fifth play Mike Daniels bulled his way into the end zone from five yards away and Macoy Dickman booted the extra-point kick.
The Whippets (9-3) had a shot to tie the game, but Marshall Shepherd’s pass on the first play of the red and gray possession in the second overtime was picked off in the endzone by Kaiden Olson.
Clyde is now 3-1 alltime versus Shelby and all of them have been played in the postseason. Their reward for winning is a date against defending state champion Van Wert which throttled Wauseon 53-20.
The Whippets pulled ahead 35-28 in the first overtime when Shepherd threaded a 20-yard pass to Andre Hill. Shepherd then booted his fifth PAT kick of the night.
Three plays later the Fliers knotted matters at 35-all on a 17-yard pass from Jaden Cook to Griffin Noftz on third and seven.
“Dre makes that play in overtime, then we give them that play on third and long. Football is the greatest game in the world, sometimes it’s the toughest in the world,” said SHS coach Rob Mahaney in describing the momentum swing of overtime.
Clyde finished the evening with 473 yards in offense and bulled their way to 293 on the ground and were led by Daniels with 263 on 39 totes.
In the third meeting in as many seasons, Shelby generated 393 yards. Shepherd was 31 of 56 for 346 yards and wrapped a brilliant senior season with 4,367 yards. His top catchers this fall — Hill and Bowman finished with 160 and 146 receiving yards, respectively, on a combined 28 catches.
The Whippet ground game struggled against the home team, gaining just 47 yards with Skyler Winters nabbing 29 on six totes.
“Our kids fought against a team that was the No. 2 seed and winner of the Sandusky Bay Conference. Our kids fought tooth and nail all the way. I couldn’t be more proud of the kids’ effort and to be the coach of this team,” said Mahaney.
Three plays into the game, Clyde had the ball at the visiting 43 following an interception. Shelby was able to escape any harm by forcing a punt. The Fliers also started inside the 50 on the second try and turned the ball over on downs.
The Whippets would finally get going on their third possession which started at their own 15. Seven plays later, and two snaps after they converted fourth-and-one on their side of the field, Shepherd would fire a pass downfield to Hill for 50 yards and the score.
Clyde answered by covering 65 yards in nine play with the final 10 one a run into the endzone by Daniels that made it 7-7 with 10:39 on the second quarter clock.
SHS would move in front 14-7 with a 65-yard 11-play march. The score was a 31-yard bomb on third and goal to Issaiah Ramsey from Shepherd at the 6:56 juncture. Prior to that catch the red and gray had a pair touchdown passes negated by holding calls.
The Fliers would punt the next two times they had the ball and Shelby took over at their own 33 with 2:29 until halftime. The visitors would punt six plays later and the hosts would get the ball at their own 47 with 16 seconds showing on the clock.
CHS wasted no time in going to the air with Cook. He completed a 33-yard strike to Brady Wilson and then fired a pass to Noftz for the score to tie matters at 14-apiece with 0:02 on the timer.
“Maybe we got a bit too conservative offensively and they got a cheap one before halftime,” reflected Mahaney on the wild finish to the opening half.
Behind a punishing running game to open the second half, Daniels carried the ball seven straight times as Clyde went 60 yards. He scored on a threeyard run to make it 21-14 with 9:16 on the scoreboard.
The Whippets would pull even with a 14-play, 65-yard march. The final three yards were a pass from Shepherd to Blaine Bowman on a fourth-and-goal situation that made it 21-21 with 3:16 on the clock in the third period.
“We came out of the locker room after the half and they scored and we came back and battled all the way to the end,” said the red and gray coach.
Right before the end of the stanza, the Fliers nosed ahead 28-21 on a four-yard TD pass from Cook to Andrew Kauble.
SHS continued to claw their way back, this time going 61-yards in 12 plays. The score was a five-yard pass from Shepherd to Bowman with 9:28 left.
Shelby had the ball back two plays later when Cook mishandled the snap and Caleb Baker recovered the fumble for the red and gray. The Whippets would be unable to capitalize and punt the ball away to the CHS six.
Clyde would drive from their six to the SHS 20 before turning the ball over on downs with 1:48 left.
Neither team threatened as the game went to overtime.
For 15 seniors, it was the end of the line for their careers, which included three Mid Ohio Athletic Conference championships and three playoff runs.
“What our seniors have done for the program is phenomenal. Our seniors had a heck of a career. This one will be tough to swal- low for a while, but they gave everything they had — four quarters, 48 minutes and then some. One break, here or there, and we win this game,” said Mahaney.
At Robert Bishop Stadium
Shelby ...... 7 7 7 7 7 0 —35 Clyde ....... 0 14 14 0 7 7 —42
Shelby — Andre Hill 50-yard pass from Marshall Shepherd (Shepherd kick)
Clyde — Michael Daniels 10-yard run (Macoy Dickman kick)
Shelby — Issaiah Ramsey 31-yard pass from Shepherd (Shepherd kick)
Clyde — Griffin Noftz 20-yard pass from Jaden Cook (Dickman kick)
Clyde — Daniels 3-yard run (Dickman kick)
Shelby — Blaine Bowman 3-yard pass from Shepherd (Shepherd kick)
Clyde — Andrew Kauble 4-yard pass from Cook (Dickman kick)
Shelby — Bowman 5-yard pass from Shepherd (Shepherd kick)
Shelby — Hill 20-yard pass from Shepherd (Shepherd kick)
Clyde — Noftz 17-yard pass from Cook (Dickman kick)
Clyde — Daniels 5-yard run (Dickman kick)
Sh Cl
First downs ..................... 25 25 Rushing yards ................ 47 293 Passing yards ............... 346 180 Total yards .................... 393 473 Pass (co-at-int) ....... 31-56-1 13-22-0 Penalties-yards ............ 7-90 10-105 Punts-average .......... 4-39.8 3-27.0 Fumbles-lost .................. 0-0 1-1