Congratulations, Falcons ... and thank you
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Watching Clinton-Massie head coach Dan McSurley raise his arms in victory after having the Gatorade bucket dumped on him, then seeing the Falcon seniors celebrate with the state championship trophy for Division IV, made a lot of people's days.
Their 46-36 victory over St. Clairsville Friday afternoon in Canton brings statewide respectability to the league … and for that, I (and hopefully the rest of the league) say thank you and congratulations.
Thank you to the Falcons, who finish 15-0, for the way they represent the league in the trenches on the gridiron, especially this season as Division IV State champions.
Only seeing the Falcons once or twice during the regular season yearly and once during the summer, I can't say I'm an expert on the Falcons by any means, but I do know enough to have a lot of respect for not only for Coach McSurley and his coaching staff, but for his players as well. They are class acts every time I need to speak with them.
They've lived the high school football dream, and they respect the game … so for that alone (respecting the game), they've earned my respect.
This team was totally relentless this season, and even though I'm a fan of passing the football, the way this team blocked on the offensive line and made holes for their great rushing game … it was simply amazing to watch, read about and listen to on a weekly basis.
Speaking of their play … how about the goal line stand by the Falcon defense around the 9:00 mark in the fourth in the state title game?
That is the stuff that wins championships.
What about the record-breaking day by junior running back Bayle Wolf, as he left the game with an injury, only to return to reach the end zone a total of five times?
Wolf even sealed the game on defense by intercepting the ball. The kid can play football, and he will be back next year to add to his 2,000-plus yard season this year and over 1,000-yard season from his sophomore year.
Here's a quick snapshot at what this team has accomplished this season.
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They've earned the 11th consecutive trip to the state playoffs (unheard of in this area), many All-Ohio players (including Trent Smart as Associated Press Div. IV Defensive Player of the Year), they've become the highest scoring team in the history of Ohio high school football, they dominated the SCOL en route to their sixth league title, they completely dominated the regular season, they bull-rushed their way to the state title game in dominating fashion in the playoffs and they set their goals and accomplished every one of them.
In the 10-game regular season, the Falcons outscored their opponents 606-46, and in the playoffs, they outscored their opponents 206-84.
Scoring over 800 points in 15 games is also unheard of.
This past summer, I had the chance to interview some of the Falcon senior leaders following their first two-a-day practice. Even then, it was easy to see they only had one goal in mind, but they knew with that goal, they had to work for it and nothing was going to be given to them.
The players let it be known they have one goal, and that is to be in the state championship game, and to win it. Nothing else.
"Our goal is to win state," CM senior QB Tyler Uetrecht said after their first two-a-day practice. "Our goal is to beat everybody and have no letdowns. As captains of this team, we have to show and lead by example. We have to communicate and work together, and if we do that, we can have more potential than any other team out there, but we have to keep working at it and put our hearts into it."
They did.
During that same interview, Duane Sowers said about where he and his teammates wanted to be at season's end: "I want to be in the state final and bring it (the championship) back to all these people who have followed us since the beginning."
Late in the fourth quarter, Sowers was in the backfield of St. Clairsville, making a difference and making life miserable for their quarterback.
Goal accomplished. I don't know if they remember saying any of that or that interview on that hot summer day, but I do … so to the entire team and to Mr. Sowers, I say … Bring that trophy home, Mr. Sowers … you and your community have earned it.
Again, thank you Falcons, and congratulations.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
Their 46-36 victory over St. Clairsville Friday afternoon in Canton brings statewide respectability to the league … and for that, I (and hopefully the rest of the league) say thank you and congratulations.
Thank you to the Falcons, who finish 15-0, for the way they represent the league in the trenches on the gridiron, especially this season as Division IV State champions.
Only seeing the Falcons once or twice during the regular season yearly and once during the summer, I can't say I'm an expert on the Falcons by any means, but I do know enough to have a lot of respect for not only for Coach McSurley and his coaching staff, but for his players as well. They are class acts every time I need to speak with them.
They've lived the high school football dream, and they respect the game … so for that alone (respecting the game), they've earned my respect.
This team was totally relentless this season, and even though I'm a fan of passing the football, the way this team blocked on the offensive line and made holes for their great rushing game … it was simply amazing to watch, read about and listen to on a weekly basis.
Speaking of their play … how about the goal line stand by the Falcon defense around the 9:00 mark in the fourth in the state title game?
That is the stuff that wins championships.
What about the record-breaking day by junior running back Bayle Wolf, as he left the game with an injury, only to return to reach the end zone a total of five times?
Wolf even sealed the game on defense by intercepting the ball. The kid can play football, and he will be back next year to add to his 2,000-plus yard season this year and over 1,000-yard season from his sophomore year.
Here's a quick snapshot at what this team has accomplished this season.
[[In-content Ad]]
They've earned the 11th consecutive trip to the state playoffs (unheard of in this area), many All-Ohio players (including Trent Smart as Associated Press Div. IV Defensive Player of the Year), they've become the highest scoring team in the history of Ohio high school football, they dominated the SCOL en route to their sixth league title, they completely dominated the regular season, they bull-rushed their way to the state title game in dominating fashion in the playoffs and they set their goals and accomplished every one of them.
In the 10-game regular season, the Falcons outscored their opponents 606-46, and in the playoffs, they outscored their opponents 206-84.
Scoring over 800 points in 15 games is also unheard of.
This past summer, I had the chance to interview some of the Falcon senior leaders following their first two-a-day practice. Even then, it was easy to see they only had one goal in mind, but they knew with that goal, they had to work for it and nothing was going to be given to them.
The players let it be known they have one goal, and that is to be in the state championship game, and to win it. Nothing else.
"Our goal is to win state," CM senior QB Tyler Uetrecht said after their first two-a-day practice. "Our goal is to beat everybody and have no letdowns. As captains of this team, we have to show and lead by example. We have to communicate and work together, and if we do that, we can have more potential than any other team out there, but we have to keep working at it and put our hearts into it."
They did.
During that same interview, Duane Sowers said about where he and his teammates wanted to be at season's end: "I want to be in the state final and bring it (the championship) back to all these people who have followed us since the beginning."
Late in the fourth quarter, Sowers was in the backfield of St. Clairsville, making a difference and making life miserable for their quarterback.
Goal accomplished. I don't know if they remember saying any of that or that interview on that hot summer day, but I do … so to the entire team and to Mr. Sowers, I say … Bring that trophy home, Mr. Sowers … you and your community have earned it.
Again, thank you Falcons, and congratulations.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.