The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Firelands cruises behind ‘D,’ run game
Firelands’ first drive against Clearview Sept. 18 was its worst of the night.
After starting the game with a 25-yard gain that was negated by a penalty, the Falcons went backward thanks to another penalty and a fumbled snap and punted the ball away to Clearview. Following the punt, the Clippers took over at its 39-yard line eager to try to take an early lead.
The Falcons’ defense had other plans. On Clearview’s first rushing attempt of the game, Clippers’ running back Tyler Green was lit up and fumbled, with the loose ball being scooped up by Firelands’ Donald Crawford. Eight plays later, Weston Strader ran into the end zone from one yard out to give Firelands a 7-0 lead.
That lead only ballooned as the night went on, as Firelands (4-0) defeated Clearview, 55-0.
After Strader got the Falcons on the board, the Firelands defense got on the board again, in an unconventional way. After a Falcons’ drive ended at the goal line on an interception on fourth down, the Falcons’ defense forced another Clearview fumble, only this time Alex Angle scooped the ball up and took it five yards into the end zone to make it, 14-0.
“The defense bailed the offense out there,” Firelands coach Ryan O’Rourke said.
“It was one of those situations where you go for it on fourth down or kick a field goal and make it two scores. We made a decision that kind of backfired, but they bailed us out.”
After forcing a threeand-out on the Clippers next possession, the Falcons blocked a Mason Argenti punt that was returned 23 yards into the end zone by Corey Newark. Through 11 minutes of game time, the Falcons had forced three turnovers and scored on offense, defense and special teams.
“These kids take to what we want to do every week and coming in we knew we’d have an opportunity to try to block a punt,” O’Rourke said. “We had a good opportunity with them backed up and we went for it.”
The Falcons added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, with by quarterback Kyle Ransom finding Caden Bomback on a 20-yard touchdown throw before Stader added another one-yard touchdown run. Firelands ground game set the tone on offense, as the Falcons finished with 301 yards rushing as a team. Ransom finished 4-for-5 passing for 66 yards to go along with one touchdown and one interception.
“As a former quarterback you’d want to throw the ball a little more, but you see what we can do up front. So we’re going to take what they give us,” O’Rourke said.
The Falcons added another defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 19-yard interception return from Crawford. Ethan Tester added a one-yard touchdown run at the end of the quarter for the final score.
The shutout was the Falcons’ third shutout of the season. The only points they’ve allowed this season came on a Black River field goal.
“We’re a very confident team right now,” Angle said. “Our defense is playing really well and we’re clicking on both sides of the ball. We value coming out and making plays early and we did that tonight.”
The Clippers best chance to score came halfway through the third quarter when they took the ball to the Firelands 27 before the drive ended on a sack by Jack Valerius on fourth down.
“We’ve been pretty dominant the whole season and we’ re looking forward to keepingit up ,” Valeriuss aid .“We’ re just always looking forward to not letting our opponents put points on the board.”
Kirk Mitchell led Clearview (2-2) in rushing with 23 yards while Robert Davis finished 10-20 for 76 yards and two interceptions. The Falcons defense forced five Clippers turnovers in what was another weekly display of dominance.
“Creating turnovers in their territory is another way to grab momentum,” O’Rourke said. “Our kids played really and I’m just happy for them. They’ve gone from being 4-6 last season to being 4-0 this season.”