Oak Harbor rallies to beat Port Clinton, win SBC Bay

OAK HARBOR — Oak Harbor wanted to end its 37-year run in the Sandusky Bay Conference on top, and it did so in dramatic fashion Friday night, holding off Port Clinton 25-21 in the regular-season finale. With Port Clinton leading 21-18 and 11:37 to play in the game, the Rockets (9-1, 5-0 SBC Bay) drove 70 yards in 10 plays and scored on a 15-yard run by their workhorse, Carson Ridener, who darted to his left and found the pylon to give Oak Harbor the lead for good. The Rockets converted two third downs, the first on third-and-6 from their own 47-yard-line — which came via an 8-yard pass from Michael Lalonde to Ridener; and the second on a third-and-3 from the Redskins 26, which came via an 11-yard run by Jaqui Hayward out of the Wildcat formation. On the next play, Ridener scored the touchdown. Oak Harbor forced Port Clinton (5-5, 2-3) to punt on the ensuing possession with 5:12 remaining, and converted two third downs — both on runs by Hayward — before punting after nearly running out the clock. But Zach Clune's kick was deflected and recovered by the 'Skins at their own 47 with 19 seconds to play. Cam Gillum completed two passes to Adam Thorbahn and then Demetrious Skoufos, getting the ball to the 27 with four seconds to play, but Gillum was sacked and fumbled the ball on the final play, sending the Rockets into a frenzy and ended PC's season a why shy of the playoffs. "We talked all week about there being a lot on the line — an outright SBC title and a home playoff game," said Oak Harbor coach Mike May. "We had our best week of practice, and the guys came ready to play. "I want to compliment Coach (Eric) Leuthold and his staff for the job they did. They had their kids ready to play. It was a great game." There was a key sequence in the final seconds of the first half that illustrated the back-and-forth nature of the game. Thorbahn caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Gillum on a fade route to give Port Clinton a 15-12 lead with 24 seconds left in the second quarter before the ensuing squib kick was picked up by Tyler Thompson, who had trouble securing the handle before running 65 yards for a touchdown. After securing the ball near the left hash mark, Thompson darted to his right and picked up several key blocks before racing down the sideline for a touchdown with 12 seconds on the clock, putting Oak Harbor ahead 18-15 at the half. Ridener had 112 yards of total offense — he carried the ball 16 times for 76 yards and caught five passes for 36 yards. Lalonde completed 15-of-20 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, Hayward caught five passes for 66 yards and rushed for 29, picking up some key first downs in the process. Hayden Buhro caught three passes for 62 yards and a score. Gillum was 25-of-33 for 192 yards and a touchdown, Thorbahn caught 13 passes for 101 yards and a score and Dagan Meyers ran 14 times for 76 yards and two TDs. Port Clinton got on the board first when Meyers scored on a 3-yard run with 7:57 to play in the first quarter, but the Rockets answered, scoring on a beautiful 52-yard pass from Lalonde to Buhro, though the kick was missed, leaving the 'Skins with a 7-6 lead. Judson Overmyer caught a 4-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 to play in the first half to give Oak Harbor a 12-7 lead. The win gives the Rockets a home playoff game in Division V Region 18, but where they'll be seeded remains to be seen. Oak Harbor came in ranked eighth with 14.80 points. Port Clinton may have, unofficially, made the playoff field even with a loss based off second-level points. The teams will play each other next season in the nonconference slate, but it's the only team from the SBC that the Rockets will play. "I have a ton of memories from being in the SBC. I remember talking to Jim Hall and Sam Hohler before those games (and reminiscing)," said May, now in his 15th season. "There have been some great coaches and great teams, and that's why it meant so much for us to win the last (league title)." Port Clinton 7 8 6 0 — 21Oak Harbor 612 0 7 — 25 PC — Dagan Meyers 3 run (Landon Witte kick) OH — Michael Lalonde 52 pass to Hayden Buhro (kick failed) OH — Lalonde 4 pass to Judson Overmyer (pass failed) PC — Cam Gillum 20 pass to Adam Thorbahn (Gillum run) OH — Tyler Thompson 65 kickoff return (kick blocked) PC — Meyers 5 run (pass failed) OH — Carson Ridener 15 run (Fulton Krupp kick)