The Fliers exacted some revenge last Friday night when they traveled to Huron to take on the Tigers in their final Sandusky Bay Conference game of the season.
Last season, the Tigers edged out the Fliers in overtime at Clyde High School, 7-6.
This time around, things were quite different, as the Fliers pounded the Tigers, 42-14, to clinch a share of the SBC championship and all but clinch a playoff berth.
Winning the conference was something important to the team, according to Coach Ryan Carter.
“Winning the SBC was great for this group of kids,” he said. “They have put in the time and effort and really wanted this bad.”
Coming into the season the Fliers were a young team, with only two of which are returning seniors on the offensive line, which had many wondering how the team would fair during the season.
Earning a share of the conference title not only answered those questions, but also gave the team’s seniors a positive note to end their career on.
“It feels good to win an SBC title,” junior quarterback Lucas Niceley said, “but especially for those seniors that this will be their last year.”
The Fliers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, just 1:13 into the game, when Nicely connected with Zach Rieman for a 65-yard touchdown pass.
The Tigers, who have struggled all year long, winning just two games, showed some signs of life shortly there after.
Huron quarterback Kyle Kovach hit short passes to Francesco Gioffre and Conor Fortune for touchdowns from seven and five yards out, respectively, to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
The lead was short-lived, though, and the Tigers didn’t crack the end zone again.
Frank Sewell tied the game in the opening quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run.
After that, the Fliers were off and running, as the points began to pile up.
Just a few minutes into the second quarter, Rieman returned a Huron punt 46 yards for a touchdown. Sewell capped of the first half scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run to push the Clyde lead to 28-14.
The Fliers struck again early in the second half, when Nicely found Rieman on an 84-yard touchdown pass just 1:03 into the third quarter. Nicely then capped off the scoring for the game when he ran in for a touchdown from one yard out in the fourth quarter.
The Fliers put together 315 yards of total offense on the night.
Nicely completed 7 of 13 pass attempt for 181 yard, two passing touchdowns and another rushing TD. Sewell rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries and two TD, while Rieman had four catches for 149 yard and two touchdowns.
The three have led the Fliers offense all season long, something Nicely attributes to the trust all three have in each other.
“We do have a connection between us,” he said. “We all trust each other and the rest of our offense. We don’t care who scores, as long as we are winning at the end of the game.”
After giving up two early touchdowns to the Tigers, the Fliers’ defense stepped up and held Huron scoreless for the other three quarters. Clyde sacked the Huron quarterback four times and held the Tigers to 234 yards of total offense.
The Fliers can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Vermilion this Friday night. Clyde still has a chance to host a playoff game, as well, with a win.
The Fliers and Sailors have never met before, which is something the Clyde players are looking forward to, according to Carter.
“Playing Vermilion for the first time will be fun and different,” he said. “It’s a home game so our kids are excited.
“Now we have to get ready for the second season. It starts this week. We need to win to get a home game and also for positions. So it’s just as big as last week.”
Kick off Friday night is set for 7 p.m.
