Sandusky secures share of GBC with win over Ross

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

SANDUSKY

Rather than walk off winners, the Blue Streaks stayed on Strobel Field Friday night and celebrated with their fans as co-champions of the Greater Buckeye Conference.

Sandusky beat Fremont Ross 30-0 and received the help it needed from Findlay — a 20-17 win over Napoleon — to earn a share of the crown and bragging rights against its biggest rival.

“It feels tremendous,” Sandusky coach Mike Franklin said. “It’s a credit to the kids, it’s a credit to the seniors, it’s just a fantastic way to send the seniors out. We knew we were capable of playing well in big games, and we just had to do that this year.”

The championship is Sandusky’s first of any kind since 1994, and its first in the GBC. The win raised the Streaks’ record to 5-5 — their first .500 record since 1999 (6-4) — and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Little Giants.

Friday’s game played out in an eerily similar way as the 2008 matchup, which ended in heartbreak for the Blue Streaks.

Sandusky seniors hope to make mark for future

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

SANDUSKY

At the front of every Sandusky football player’s mind Friday against Fremont Ross is getting a win to possibly earn a share of the Greater Buckeye Conference title.

A Sandusky win plus a Findlay win against Napoleon could accomplish that.

However, a win could accomplish even more. With a victory, the Blue Streaks will finish with their best record since 1999 — the last time they finished over .500 with a 6-4 record — and snap a four-game losing streak to the Little Giants.

That, Sandusky coach Mike Franklin said, would be the perfect sendoff for his senior class.

“We’re just looking to send our seniors out the right way,” Franklin said. “That’s what’s most important — our seniors’ last game at Strobel.”

Sandusky, Fremont play last conference game at Strobel

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

SANDUSKY

After losing 30-0 at Napoleon in arguably the biggest game of the season, there’s still hope for the Sandusky Blue Streaks.

If they beat Fremont Ross at home Friday and receive some help — a Findlay win over Napoleon — the Blue Streaks can clinch a share of the Greater Buckeye Conference title. That, coach Mike Franklin said, would be a perfect way to send his seniors off.

“Well, obviously we’re disappointed with our finish from last week,” Franklin said. “We’ve done some good things in the conference and if things fall the right way we can still get a share of the conference.

“The biggest thing this week is it’s our seniors’ last home game. Obviously it’s disappointing we won’t play Fremont Week 10 (after next year). What’s more important is it’s our seniors’ last game at Strobel, so we’re focused on that.”

Edison goes the distance for win, Norwalk falls to powerful Madison

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

ATTICA

With two four-year letter winners on the outside, there wasn’t a question where Edison would  feed the ball in Game 5 of the Division II semifinals against Lexington at Seneca East High School.

Emily Stewart and Cami Shine took control when the Lady Chargers needed it most and won the deciding game and the match, 25-20, 18-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-11.

Shine had five kills in the final game and Stewart had four — going over 1,000 for her career in the match — and Amanda Blodgett sent an ace over the net for the winning point as Edison advanced to the finals.

“They’ve been go-to for four years, basically,” Edison coach Sean Hoover said. “They’ve worked their way in to being solid, all-around players. Emily had a great night tonight and we just hope everybody can continue that Saturday.”

Will head injuries be the end of football?

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

Breaking news: football as we know it is about to change.

In fact, some of us could see the sports’ existence end entirely during our lifetime. At least that’s what some people would like you to think.

And why, you ask? I’ll tell you.

Concussions.

Dowell delivers win for Huron

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

CASTALIA

For the 12th straight year, the Battle of Bogart Road went to the school by the lake as Huron defeated Margaretta 21-7 Friday at Margaretta Stadium.

Margaretta coach Rock Farlow and Huron coach Tony Legando called it a frustrating night as the seemingly simple plays went awry. The only constant was Derek Dowell, who rushed for 206 yards on 24 carries and scored all three of the Tigers’ touchdowns.

“In this type of game, you need someone that can carry the load like that,” Legando said of Dowell, whose 127 second-half yards proved to be the difference. “I’m very proud of the offensive line getting it done. (Derek’s) a good football player, and he works it hard. He’s got a good cast up front that gets it done for him.

Huron led 7-0 at halftime and missed an opportunity to build upon that lead, going three-and-out on the first drive of the third quarter. Margaretta took over at its own 21 and slowly crept downfield, eating up 6:27 of the clock on 15 plays and scoring on a 1-yard dive by Bryce Fredrick to even the score.

That’s when Legando decided to go back to his strength: Dowell.

Perkins stuns Clyde in sectionals, advances to play Norwalk

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

NORWALK

In a decisive fifth game Wednesday between Clyde and Perkins that saw four lead changes, four ties and a largest lead of three points, the Lady Pirates outlasted the Lady Fliers, 25-20, 25-17, 18-25, 20-25, 15-13.

Jessica Rule tipped a ball past the Clyde defense for the winning point — one of her 20 kills on the night. In the regular season, Clyde swept both meetings in three and four games each, respectively.

“I’m very proud of our team,” Perkins coach Beth Sage said. “We’ve shown sporadic signs of greatness all season. Tonight we put it all together.”

Howard runs over Margaretta

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

MILAN

Every team has a player they rely on to make the big play — changing the momentum of the game with one run or pass.

Two of them went head-to-head Friday as Edison and fullback Dylan Howard played Margaretta and quarterback Devin Jones. Howard got the best of the matchup, racking up 263 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 28-20 win.

Edison coach Jim Hall said Howard’s performance on the ground got the rest of the team motivated as the Chargers (7-1, 4-1 Sandusky Bay Conference) struggled to develop any kind of significant lead over the Polar Bears (2-6, 2-3 SBC) all night.

“This is his third year as our fullback and he’s done this in the past,” Hall said. “We really feed off of that. The kids get excited when he’s doing that because they know that makes our offense go.

“It was good to get him going, get him some big runs.”

Ferber, SMCC finish first at SBC meet

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

HURON

St. Mary Central Catholic cross country coach Ron Leech refused to celebrate Saturday at the Sandusky Bay Conference Championship after he saw his Panthers cross the finish line.

He wouldn’t allow getting his hopes up, waiting until the results were in his hand. When the standings arrived and he saw St. Mary in first with 52 points — 12 ahead of Oak Harbor’s 64 — he couldn’t have been happier.

“Team-wise, all week we talked about running strong, fast and smart,” Leech said. “And running the last third of the race with your heart.

“It was a great effort by the whole team. Obviously Brian (Ferber) and Michael (Gallagher) — great job by those two. But my three freshmen really stepped up today. They did a great job of packing up in there and that won the meet for us.”

Rockets run to girls crown

Chris Gates | Sandusky Register

HURON

The Oak Harbor Lady Rockets carved out their own little dynasty Saturday, running away with their third Sandusky Bay Conference Championship in four years.

Oak Harbor finished with a meet low of 28 points — well ahead of second placed Edison (71) and the rest of the eight-team field.

All five runners contributing to the 28-point finish crossed the finish line in the top 10.

“We’re very excited,” Oak Harbor coach Gina Warnke said. “We’ve been working hard all season with high expectations and goals. We ran real well, real low and tight, and that’s what helps win races.

“We’ve done well this season — (I) really can’t complain.”