Local Sports

Columbiana has East Palestine’s number

COLUMBIANA - With East Palestine and Columbiana battling for one of the last playoff spots in Division VI, Region 21, a Friday win was critical. It also provides the winner with a slim chance at a share of the EOAC league title.

The Columbiana Clippers responded with a physical, hard-fought 31-12 victory over their neighboring rival, East Palestine, extending their current winning streak to four straight. The win also improved the Clippers’ record to 7-2 on the season and 4-1 in the league.

"It was a very important win; obviously we needed it to make the playoffs. I'm really proud of our line and our entire team for stepping up in the second half," senior running back Danny Mangiarelli.

"The offensive line and those three backs did a great job," said Clippers Bob Spaite. Those seniors, three horses in the backfield that do a great job. The offensive line is unbelievably unselfish. Especially with the weather, they knew what it was going to take."

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 5-4 on the year, 4-2 in the EOAC. They also suffered their second consecutive loss to the Clippers in the rivalry.

"I'm not disappointed in the way our guys played," Bulldogs head coach Rick Shepas said. "We have improved over the course of the season. We have gotten a lot better defensively."

The Clippers rode the backs of their offensive line in the contest as they churned out 371 yards on the ground, with Danny Mangiarelli rushing for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jensen Nordquist added another 108 yards on the ground and a 67-yard score to help jump-start the Clippers offense.

"They are the best offensive line in the league, and I stand by it," Mangiarelli stated. "They are awesome."

However, it was the Bulldogs who controlled the early play in the contest as they utilized their speedy skill players to grab a 12-0 advantage in the first quarter. RJ May raced 52 yards down the left sideline, followed by a 33-yard pass from quarterback Clark Rutledge to Calvin Hoffer at the 6:24 mark of the opening frame to grab a 12-0 lead.

"(Columbiana) have their line play and senior-laden offensive line. We have great talent at skill, and I think that showed up in the first half, for sure. I thought we could have had a couple more scores in the first half," Shepas said.

Following their opening possession in which the Clippers fumbled deep in Bulldogs territory, they struggled to get their power rushing attack going. But when Jensen Nordquist blew past the Bulldogs’ defense for a 67-yard scoring run, it seemed to wake up the Clippers’ offense.

"Give credit to them. They came out ready to play. Coach Shepas does a great job with those guys," Spaite said. "We knew we couldn't give them anything, and we did. We made a mistake in setting the end, and they got the pass when our defensive back slipped and fell. You learn from it."

Just before halftime, Clippers senior kicker Geoffrey Malcomson booted a 26-yard field goal from the right hash mark to make it 12-10 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Clippers holder Hayes McCoy made a tremendous catch on a wide snap to get the ball down for the kick.

"We talked about not getting down on ourselves and keeping our composure," Mangiarelli said about the halftime discussions.

But in the second half, the Clippers offensive line took control of the contest as Mangiarelli scored three rushing touchdowns while they milked the clock. Mangiarelli scored on a 6-yard run at the conclusion of a 16-play drive and add the conversion to make it 18-12 in favor of the Clippers with 3:03 left in the third quarter.

"We didn't come out and do what we wanted to do with that first drive on our first possession. That kind of set the tone for how the second half went," Shepas said. "If we could have come out and gotten a couple first downs and started moving the football, and put some pressure back on them."

"We challenged them at halftime," Spaite said. "We hung our heads a little bit, but it was a great lesson in humility, and it was a great lesson in overcoming adversity. I'm very proud of them."

Mangiarelli sealed the game away in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard run with 8:32 remaining in the game to push the Clippers’ advantage to 24-12. That score came at the close of a 65-yard, 9-play drive.

Mangiarelli closed the scoring with 4:08 remaining in the contest as he plowed into the end zone from 8 yards out to reach the 31-12 final score.

The Bulldogs wrap up their regular season next Saturday when they travel to Mineral Ridge to tangle with the Valley Christian Eagles. The Clippers will host Lisbon next Friday for their final regular-season game.

EP:12-0-0-0 -- 12

CO:0-10-8-13 -- 31

SCORING

E - RJ May 52 run (Kick Failed)

E - Calvin Hoffer 33 pass from Clark Rutledge (run failed)

C - Jensen Nordquist 67 run (Geoffrey Malcomson kick)

C - Malcomson 26 field goal

C - Danny Mangiarelli 6 run (Mangiarelli run)

C - Mangiarelli 3 run (Malcomson kick)

C - Mangiarelli 8 run (Malcomson kick)

TEAM STATS

EAST PALESTINE

First downs: 14; Total yards: 215; Rushing-yards: 19-114, Passing: 101; Comp-Att-Int. 7-21-0; Punts 0-0; Fumbles-Lost 0; Penalties-Yards 4-21

COLUMBIANA

First downs: 30, Total yards: 376, Rushes-yards: 37-371, Passing: 5; Comp-Att-Int. 2-5-0, Punts 0-0, Fumbles-Lost 1, Penalties-Yards 9-137

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING--East Palestine, RJ May 8-70, Clark Rutledge 8-55; Columbiana, Danny Mangiarelli 28-187, Jensen Nordquist 8-108, Devin Brode 11-62

PASSING--East Palestine, Clark Rutledge 7-21-0; Columbiana, Hayes McCoy 2-5-0

RECEIVING--East Palestine, RJ May 2-36, Calvin Hoffer 1-30; Columbiana, John Parks 1-9, Devin Brode 1-6