Ottawa-Glandorf quarterback Taylor Kuhlman (8) bulls ahead for a short gain during the Titans game with Clearview Friday night. The Clippers’ James Washington (3) tries to make a tackle to stop Kuhlman short of the endzone in the Titans 56-12 Division IV playoff win.
CLEARVIEW - Big plays happened all over the field for Ottawa-Glandorf Friday night.
Two plays, one defense and one offense, helped the Titans set an early tone in the Titans Division IV regional quarterfinal game with Lorain Clearview.
A big hit and a key run helped give O-G momentum as they rolled by the Clippers 56-12 at Tom Hoch Field.
The win sends the Titans (7-4) to a regional semi-final game against Marion Pleasant (10-1) this Friday at Findlay's Donnell Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Clearview saw its season come to an at 10-1. Pleasant was a 21-14 winner over Eastwood Friday night.
Clearview opened the game as Tony Williams took a pass 31 yards to the O-G 40.
That's where the Titans' Cody Warnecke stepped up. As the Clippers looked for star running back Anthony Hitchens to make plays, Warnecke stepped in and delivered a big hit on the junior tailback. The hit seemed to ignite the Titan defense as they stepped up their game pitching a shutout until the Clippers scored against O-G's number two defense in the fourth quarter.
"Cody Warnecke has done that all season," Titan coach Ken Schriner said. "He just seems to get the opportunity to hit someone. And to hit someone in the playoffs like that picked up the team. He is a big time player that has been playing well all season."
Warnecke finished the night with seven tackles, including a pair of sacks and he caused a fumble. Jeff Siefker led the Titan defense with 10 tackles, including a sack and Brian Schmiedebusch had seven tackles. Brent Kuhlman also had a pair of sacks.
Clearview was held to 184 yards of total offense as Hitchens was held to 86 yards on 19 carries, many of those coming late. Zach Anderson was 7-of-13 passing for 92 yards with a pair of interceptions.
"Everybody has tried to stop him (Hitchens) all year," Schriner said. "Our defense came to play tonight. We won the hitting game tonight."
While the defense set the tone with some big hits, the offense needed just one big play to get started.
After Clearview stuffed a pair of running plays to start the Titans first possession, Taylor Kuhlman gave O-G a big lift with a 52 yard run to the Clipper 14. Behind a steady diet of runs by fullback Cory Greve and Kuhlman the Titans needed just five more plays to reach the endzone as Greve bulled over from three yards out.
"It was an option and Taylor found a seam," Schriner said. "That really opened things up for us. Cory Greve threw a good block to open a hole and Taylor found it. It's a play we have used all year and it was another play we ran tonight."
Ottawa-Glandorf's ground game was key Friday night as they chewed up 307 yards of real estate as Kuhlman led the way with 126 yards on 11 carries and two scores. Jacob Lugo was limited to 58 yards on 10 carries, while Draven Delgado had 57 yards on 11 carries and Greve finished with 41 yards.
"The offensive line did a great job," Schriner said. "They came off the ball and opened the holes. They also did a good sealing the edges on the option for a couple of big runs by Taylor."
Ottawa-Glandorf had a golden opportunity to add to their lead after a nine yard punt by Clearview. However, the Clipper defense held as Kuhlman was unable to pick up a first down on fourth and four.
After the O-G defense held again, Kuhlman increased the Titan lead with a 48 yard scoring run.
"He definitely was a kid I worried about going into the game," Clipper coach Mike Collier said. "He is a great runner. I don't think he gets enough credit as a runner. He is a quick kid and their fullback hurt us as well. He is a big kid to bring down."
After another three and out by the O-G defense, the special teams increased the lead as Zach Buckland returned a punt 54 yards. Buckland picked up a bouncing ball, broke a couple of tackles then weaved his way through the Clipper defense.
After getting two offensive touchdowns on the ground, the Titans third offensive score came through the air as Taylor Kuhlman hooked up with Ryan Kuhlman for a 35 yard scoring strike to complete a three play drive.
The Titans offense had barely left the field when they were back in business after Buckland recovered a fumble on the kickoff return. O-G took advantage of the short field quickly as Greve took a pass 13 yards to the one before he capped a two play drive with a one yard run.
Greve put O-G up 42-0 at the half as he scored on a one yard run to cap an 11 play, 61 yard drive after Brent Sager recovered a fumble to halt the Clippers
only sustained drive of the first half.
The Titans took the second half kickoff and picked up where they left off in the first half as they went 75 yards in nine plays as Lugo followed Taylor Kuhlman around the right side and into the endzone.
O-G's defense came up big again as Brian Laubenthal picked off a Clearview pass. The Titans second team offense took over and covered 37 yards in nine plays as Delgado scored on a one yard run.
The Titans final score came on a safety when the ball was snapped over the quarterbacks head and out of the endzone.
Clearview avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter as Tony Williams hauled in a 35 yard pass from Zach Anderson with 5:14 left. Hitchens added a score with 2:13 left as he found the endzone from 23 yards left.
"We knew we would have to play four good quarters against this team," Collier said. "Unfortunately we didn't get breaks in the beginning. Field position was big as they were starting around the 40 and we were starting at the 20 all the time. They have a good defense and are tough to block. I think we were a little undermanned tonight. They were the better team tonight."
* * *
OGHS Clearview
18 First Downs 10
385 Total yards 184
307 Rushing Yards 76
78 Passing yards 108
8-4-0 Pass atts-comp-int 18-8-2
1-0 Fumbles-lost 3-2
4-30 Penalties-Yards 5-55
1-35 Punts-Avg. 4-29.3
Score by quarters:
Ottawa-Glandorf 14 28 14 0 - 56
Clearview 0 0 0 12 - 12
OG - T. Kuhlman three run (Croy kick)
OG - T. Kuhlman 48 run (Croy kick)
OG - Buckland 54 punt return (Croy kick)
OG - R. Kuhlman 35 pass from T. Kuhlman (Croy kick)
"Ads published on this site are not for republication in print or web media without the expressed written consent of both the advertiser and The Brown Publishing Company."
