Defense, special teams lift Vermilion past PC

PORT CLINTON — Defense and special teams. Neither facet is glamorous, nor do they receive much of the accolades, but both are integral to winning football games. In Vermilion's 24-14 victory over Port Clinton, the Sailors' defense came up with a crucial stop in the red zone midway through the third quarter and two key plays on special teams that came later in the game proved to be the difference. With Vermilion (6-1, 1-0 NOC Bay) holding a 21-14 lead midway through the third quarter, the Sailors' defense turned the Redskins (6-1, 1-1) away after running back Jace Cornell had a 60-yard run to get the ball to the Vermilion five-yard line. Two plays netted just two yards and Port Clinton quarterback Cameron Lanier was sacked for a 10-yard loss back at the 13 on third-and-goal, ending the threat. Redskins kicker Adam Fitt barely missed a 30-yard field goal that had enough distance but sailed just wide to the left, leaving the Sailors with a seven-point lead. However, Port Clinton was primed to get the ball back and forced Vermilion to go three-and-out. But, Morrow's punt hit a trailing Port Clinton player and the Sailors recovered the ball at the Port Clinton 44 with 2:37 to play in the third quarter. Vermilion drove 35 yards in 10 plays with the possession stalling at the 9. Morrow's 27-yard field goal cleared the crossbar, pushing the lead to 24-14 with 9:49 to play. "We talk about how one play could be the (difference) in a win or a loss," Vermilion coach Bill DiFucci said. "That (recovery) put us on the right trajectory. "That field goal made it a two-possession game. We actually talked to Brody last night about the importance of his role. He's (normally) a soccer player, and he does a lot for us." After falling behind by 10 points, the Redskins drove 34 yards to the Sailors' 36. But, quarterback Cameron Lanier fumbled the ball away on fourth-and-1, which Vermilion recovered with just over seven minutes to play. Port Clinton was unable to seriously threaten on its final two possessions. Late in the first half, with the score tied at 14, Port Clinton went three-and-out. Fitt's punt bounced a few times before Micah Smith took it at the 30. He immediately raced to his left and turned right before racing down the sidelines and cutting it back inside the Port Clinton 45. Smith switched directions two more times before going untouched into the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown with 1:25 to play in the second quarter. That was part of a spurt that saw the Sailors score 18 unanswered points after falling behind 14-6. "We talk about playing solid in all three phases of the game," DiFucci said. "We take a lot of pride in our defense. We held a very good team to zero points in the second half. Our defense bent but it didn't break. And (Micah's) return for the touchdown really gave us the spark that we needed. He's electric. "Last season, this game went to five overtimes, so special teams could've made a difference there. That's how important special teams are." Vermilion did miss an extra point following its first touchdown and allowed Dylan Reynolds to return a punt 33 yards for a score to get the Redskins out to a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. But Port Clinton had its miscues in the kicking game, too, as Fitt had his extra point blocked. With just under eight minutes to play in the first half, Cornell took an inside handoff, waited for his blocks to develop and found a hole that he was able to get through before racing untouched for a 44-yard touchdown. That broke the tie and gave Port Clinton a 12-6 lead. On the extra point, a high snap to Dylan Reynolds, the holder, forced him to run to the right, and he managed to get inside the right pylon for the two-point conversion. The teams traded possessions before the Sailors drove 82 yards in eight plays, the key sequence coming when Smith caught a beautiful 42-yard pass from Drake Hooks on third-and-11 from the 17. Three plays later on second-and-8 from the Port Clinton 29, Landon Mooney took a double handoff and ran for 13 yards, giving Vermilion a first down. On second-and-1 at the 7, Hooks somehow scored on a quarterback sneak. "Smith made some great catches on the sideline routes," DiFucci said. "We're a run-heavy football team, and we also like to get the ball outside to our playmakers. Everyone has played a role in our success." Micah, Dawson Coates, Mason Cooper and Chase Jackson proved to be instrumental in helping move the offense down the field throughout the game. The conversion attempt saw Mooney take the ball out of the Wildcat formation, briefly going left before handing it to Dawson Coates. Coates went around the right end for an easy score as the defense was completely fooled, tying the game at 14. Vermilion 6 15 0 3 — 24 Port Clinton 6 7 0 0 — 14 PC — Dylan Reynolds 33 punt return (kick blocked) V — Mason Cooper 26 pass from Drake Hooks (kick failed) PC — Jace Cornell 44 (Reynolds run) V — Hooks 7 run (Dawson Coates run) V — Micah Smith 70 punt return (Brody Morrow kick) V — Morrow 27 field goal