Aaron scores 4 TDs to lead Blue Streaks

SANDUSKY — Amir Aaron returned a punt for a touchdown last year against Vermilion. The Sandusky senior did that and more Friday night against the Sailors at Strobel Field. Aaron changed the complexion of a tight SBC crossover game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown — both coming early in the third quarter. Sandusky rode that momentum to a 36-20 win over Vermilion. "The first one I kind of jogged through so coach said hit the hole hard so I hit the crease and ran my fastest," said Aaron. The punt return for 6 followed a Keelan Lockhart sack that forced a Vermilion 3 and out. Aaron was never touched on the return. "I did have to stiff-arm my teammate to throw a block," he said. Aaron's kickoff return came with 11:22 on the clock in the thid quarter. The punt return for a touchdown came at the 9:34 mark of the third. Aaron, one of 18 Blue Streaks honored on Senior Night, also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass and ran 7 yards for a score. The Blue Streaks won their second straight game to improve to 2-3 while the Sailors dropped to 4-1. Afterward, the Blue Streaks sang Happy Birthday to head coach Jamaris Brown, who turned 31 on Friday. "It was a big day for me personally, but I was focused on the game and I wanted their focus to be on the game," Brown said. "I like that they're still coming together and fighting for each other." Brown was not impressed with Aaron's opening kickoff return, and a bit of advice might have led to two scores. It did go for 29 yards, but he wanted Aaron to hit the hole hard. "He's one of those guys that when they come around, you better use them," Brown said. "Hopefully he gets some colleges to look at him because he can play at that next level." Aaron's kickoff return that gave the Streaks the lead for good followed a 77-yard touchdown run by Vermilion's Logan Peterson that gave the Sailors a 14-10 lead after one play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Peterson ran right, cut it upfield and went all the way on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. "We did what we wanted to do coming out of the half and took the lead and settled in, then giving one up on special teams is a killer," Vermilion coach Bill DiFucci said. Aaron's big punt return gave Sandusky a 22-14 lead, but the game was still there for the taking. The Streaks went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jason Henlon threw a perfect fade pass to Aa'Zoriyon Bonner in the left corner for the touchdown and a 29-14 lead. An 82-yard run by Makyveon Lately set up the Streaks' last touchdown — a 7-yard run by Aaron on a quick pitch from Henlon. Lately carried 12 times for 134 yards and Sandusky totaled 208 yards on the ground. Vermilion's Peterson carried 14 times for 142 yards. The Sailors' leading rusher, Evan Kuhns, played only on defense. "Kuhns was dealing with a knee injury during the week. We knew he was gonna be available and we tried to keep him on one side," DiFucci said. "Defense was our primary focus because of the backfield action we have." Sandusky took a 3-0 lead when Will Thomas nailed a 30-yard field goal after the Streaks drove 45 yards on their opening drive. The Streaks took over on the Sailors' 38 early in the second quarter and had first-and-goal after a 19-yard run by Lately. On third-and-goal, Henlon rolled left before finding Aaron in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard score. Henlon completed nine of his first 10 pass attempts and finished 13 for 17 for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Vermilion quickly answered. Helped by a facemask penalty on Sandusky (one of five Blue Streak penalties in the second quarter), Peterson scored on a 26-yard run. Sandusky had a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown by Bonner with 11 seconds left in the first half negated by a holding penalty. The Blue Streaks outgained the Sailors 162-72 in the first half. Sandusky travels to Tiffin Columbian next week. Vermilion hosts Norwalk. Vermilion 0 7 7 6 — 20Sandusky 3 7 12 14 — 36 S — Will Thomas 30 field goalS — Amir Aaron 3 pass from Jason Henlon (Thomas kick)V — Logan Peterson 26 run (Zeke Dunn kick)V — Peterson 77 kickoff return (Dunn kick)S — Aaron 99 kickoff return (kick blocked)S — Aaron 52 punt return (kick failed)S — Aa'Zoriyon Bonner 4 pass from Henlon (Thomas kick)S — Aaron 7 run (Thomas kick)V — Aaron Mathis 11 run (pass failed)