by Lorain — The Vermilion Sailors scored 28 of their 42 points in the first quarter in their 42-0 win over the Clearview Clippers.
Vermilion wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On just the second play of the game, junior running back Isaac Kyser broke off a huge 46-yard touchdown run to open the scoring at 7-0.
Vermilion wouldn’t need to wait long to get back on the scoreboard thanks to a costly Clearview mistake. On the ensuing kickoff following the Vermilion touchdown, Clearview did not field the kickoff, potentially thinking it was going to roll out of the back of the end zone, which many kicks did. However, this one did not, and Vermilion recovered the kick at the Clearview one-yard line. On the next play, sophomore running back Landon Mooney ran into the end zone to extend the Vermilion lead to 13-0.
On the next Vermilion drive, the Sailors elected to do something they did not do much in the contest: throw the football. The Sailors as a team attempted only 10 passes all night, with three of those attempts coming on this possession. Quarterback Drake Hooks completed all three passes for 64 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior Chase Jackson to extend their lead to 21-0.
Following another Clearview punt, the Sailors were on the move again. Kyser found more success on the ground, rushing for 27 of his 123 yards on the possession. Vermilion capped off the drive with a touchdown from Hooks on a quarterback sneak to extend the Sailors’ lead to 28-0.
Despite the 28-point lead, the Sailors still wanted more. Two possessions later, they were back driving. Kyser rushed for 34 more yards before backup quarterback, sophomore Peyton Mooney, ran the ball in on a quarterback sneak from two yards out to extend the Vermilion lead to 35-0, which the Sailors took into halftime.
The Sailors added one more score in the second half when Hooks found junior Micah Smith through the air to make the score 42-0, the game’s final score.
The Clearview Clippers, despite being shut out, showed some promise. While junior quarterback Joe Stephens’ stats will not jump off the page, his poise and leadership can be something Clearview can be excited about. Sophomore running back Khalil Howard rushed for 54 yards on nine carries, including three carries of more than 10 yards, and is someone Clearview football fans should keep an eye on in the future.
With the win, the Vermilion Sailors improve to 2-1, including winning their last two games following a season-opening loss. They will look to make their winning streak three when they host the Elyria Catholic Panthers next week.
The loss puts the Clearview Clippers at 0-3 on the season. They will look for win number one when they hit the road to Sullivan to take on the Black River Pirates.
Player of the Game — Vermilion’s Drake Hooks
The senior captain at quarterback completed six of his seven passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He also added nine yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown. He showed why his teammates named him a captain and will need to keep playing at this level if the Sailors want to continue their recent success.
