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Lemasters’ kick lifts Tigers

COLUMBIANA –Three quarters weren’t enough to separate the Wellsville Tigers (2-3, 2-3) and Columbiana Clippers (2-3, 1-3) in a conference battle on Friday. After both teams were scoreless in the first half of an old-fashioned defensive battle, the second half offered much of the same.

With seven seconds left in the game, Wellsville kicker Casey Lemasters trotted out to the field to kick a potential game-winning 25-yard field goal. After Columbiana coach Bob Spaite called a timeout to make Lemasters think about the kick, he admitted that his nerves were building up.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence in myself,” Lemasters said. “But I did have a lot of confidence in my team. I know those guys have my back, so that helped me a whole lot.”

After lining up the kick for the second time, Lemasters booted it through the uprights to propel the Tigers to their second victory on the season. For Lemasters, it wasn’t just the biggest made field goal of his life. It was also his first.

“Casey has been a soccer player on the Wellsville soccer team for the past four years, but they disbanded the program because there wasn’t enough participation,” Wellsville coach Robert “Moose” Ramsey said. “He comes to practice and puts his heart and soul into everything he does for us. When it came time to send him out, there was no question about it.”

Despite the heroic kick from Lemasters, Ramsey praised the effort from the defense as well. The Tigers forced and recovered two critical fumbles from the Clippers.

“We were coming hard at them all night long,” Ramsey said. “We had a great scheme against a great offense. We released a lot of pressure, and our defensive backs were up to the challenge, and they played well.”

Penalties plagued Tigers all night, accumulating 10 of them for 94 yards, but Ramsey was proud of how the team continued to bounce back.

“Our three losses have come from teams that have a combined record of 11-1,” Ramsey said. “Our guys haven’t given up on us, and we haven’t given up on them. Their hearts were in that game tonight.”

Isaiah Greathouse led the Tigers offensively with 66 rushing yards on 15 carries.

The Clippers had their own miscues, as they tallied eight penalties for 60 yards. Spaite was proud of the effort from his team and took responsibility for the offensive performance.

“The lack of execution falls directly on me,” Spaite said. “When we fail like we have, that is directly on me. I’m the offensive coordinator and head coach, and we’re not functioning efficiently. That’s on me.”

Despite a poor offensive output, the Clipper defense played well, highlighted by Collin Schick, who had two interceptions. Spaite believes that despite the loss, the Clippers can learn a lot from this game.

“These kids fight their rear ends off,” Spaite said. “I have great kids, and these guys battled. It’s not a lack of heart or talent. It’s a lack of execution. And you can’t take anything away from Wellsville. They played hard all night.”

The Clippers will look to bounce back against Lisbon, while Wellsville hopes to get another victory against East Palestine next Friday.

WELLSVILLE: 0-0-0-3–3

COLUMBIANA: 0-0-0-0–0

SCORING

W–Casey Lemasters 25 field goal

——

W C

First downs 9 10

Total Yards 188 324

Rushes-yards 26-92 32-136

Passing 96 188

Comp-Att-Int 12-20-2 10-18-0

Punts 4-31 3-32

Fumbles-Lost 0 2-2

Penalties-Yards 10-94 8-60

——

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Wellsville, Isaiah Greathouse 15-66; Columbiana, Tony Kocanjer 14-75

PASSING–Wellsville, Troy Carter 12-20-96-2; Columbiana, Kocanjer 10-18-188-0.

RECEIVING–Wellsville, Valen Krzyston 4-31; Columbiana, Ethan Cross 4-97.

INTERCEPTIONS–Columbiana, Collin Schick 2.

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