Hail Mary helps Streaks beat Sailors

VERMILION — Sandusky could've taken a knee at its own 35-yard line 22 seconds before halftime. The bands were warm and the burgers were hot, but why head to the locker room when you can do more crazy stuff? Frankly, a long and crazy first half couldn't have ended any other way. Strong-armed Sandusky backup quarterback Dale Johnson wound up at midfield and found 6-foot-5 Aa'Zoriyon Bonner in the back of the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown pass with no time on the clock. The successful Hail Mary capped an eventful first half and propelled the Blue Streaks to a 62-28 win Friday night. The Sandusky Bay Conference crossover lasted a couple minutes shy of three hours despite a late running clock that didn't always run. The game included more than 25 thrown flags from an officiating crew that stopped play several times to talk things over. The win was the third straight for Sandusky, which will take a 3-2 record into next week's home game against Tiffin Columbian. "Awesome to get another win and score in all three phases of the game," Sandusky coach Lucas Poggiali said. "But we have a lot to clean up." The Blue Streaks scored on Bonner's early 29-yard fumble return and Jamarion Alexander returned a kickoff 76 yards for a score. Amir Aaron provided the game's last points on a 71-yard punt return midway through the fourth quarter, nearly running over an official on his way to the end zone. But it was Bonner's incredible grab to end the first half that punctuated Sandusky's win. "I always tell coach if we need a big play, put me in," Bonner said. "Dale threw a good ball and I went up and got it." Held on, too. Bonner hit the end zone hard. "It really hurt when I landed on my back," he said. Vermilion, which ran the ball effectively in the first half, pulled to within 26-21 on Aaron Mathis' 1-yard run with 28 seconds on the clock, pumping up the Sailors' fans. But a 10-yard run by Alexander and a 7-yard pass from Jason Henlon to Aaron moved the ball to the Sailors' 48 with time running out. Sandusky called timeout with 3 seconds on the clock. Enter Johnson and six huge points. "That play brought everybody up in the locker room," said Bonner. "We came out strong in the second half." Johnson, a sophomore who just recently turned 15, had plenty on his long pass. "We knew Dale could get it there," Poggiali said. "It was a great way to end the first half, but we have yet to play to our potential. "Give Vermilion credit. They ran the ball and played hard. That coaching staff has transformed that program." The Sailors (3-2) ran 41 plays in the first half and used two Sandusky turnovers to make things close. Sandusky scored first on Henlon's 48-yard pass to Xander Young. Bonner's touchdown off a fumble made it 13-0 early. Vermilion's Cohen Mooney scored on a 1-yard run that was set up by Logan Peterson's 26-yard sprint before Alexander's kickoff return for a touchdown. Mooney carried 11 times for 39 yards and two TDs. The Sailors got close when Mathis found Keegan Fry for a 12-yard score on fourth-and-7 to make it 26-14. Mathis' late plunge cut Sandusky's lead to five before Johnson and Bonner struck. Alexander carried 15 times for 135 yards and Henlon threw three touchdown passes. The Sailors, who visit Norwalk next week, ran for more than 150 yards. Sandusky 20 14 15 13 — 62 Vermilion 7 14 7 0 — 28 S: Xander Young 48 pass from Jason Henlon (Will Thomas kick) S: Aa'Zoriyon Bonner 29 fumble return (kick failed) V: Cohen Mooney 1 run (Caleb German kick) S: Jamarion Alexander 76 kickoff return (Thomas kick) S: Alexander 31 run (kick failed) V: Keegan Frey 12 pass from Aaron Mathis (German kick) V: Mathis 1 run (German kick) S: Bonner 48 pass from Dale Johnson (Henlon pass from Dre' Campbell) S: Amir Aaron 9 pass from Henlon (Alexander run) V: Mooney 8 run (German kick) S: Henlon 1 run (Thomas kick) S: Bonner 3 pass from Henlon (Thomas kick) S: Aaron 71 punt return (run failed)