Colts lose season, OCC finale to West Holmes, 28-17

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WEST HOLMES — West Holmes rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to beat Clearfork 28-17 on Friday in their 2016 season finale.

Clear Fork ends the year at 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference.

This is the final season for the Colts in the OCC. They will join a reshuffled Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference next season.

If you arrived late for this game, you missed a lot of the action. The first quarter was a thriller,

The Colts’ first points came on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery by sophomore Zack Homerick, who scrambled 48 yards with the turnover. The extra point by Chase Endicott was good and the Colts led 7-0 with less than 3 minutes gone in the first quarter.

After forcing a punt on the West Holmes’ next possession, the Colts quickly moved the ball into the red zone again. Stalling out on third and 18, the field goal team was sent out. Endicott squeezed the ball through the uprights from 36 yards out. It hit the uprights and bounced through and the Clots let 10-0.

West Holmes fumbled again on its next possession. This time Michael Chillemi jump on the lose ball. The Colts drive was stopped short, and this time Endicott’s kick, from 39 yards, was no good.

The Knights took over at their own 20-yard line and didn’t take long to reach paydirt. They scored on a 60-yard pass from Bridger Cline to Trenton Bridenthal with just 32 seconds to go in the quarter, cutting the Colts lead to 10-7 Clots.

The rest of the half was all West Holmes, which scored twice. The first touchdown came on a 57-yard run by Garrett Ervin. The PAT was no good, but West Holmes led 13-10.

The next points came with just 30 seconds left in the half. On four plays the Knights moved the ball 62 yards, the last 18 yards on another scoring pass form Cline to Bridenthal. West Holmes led 20-10 at the half.

The Colts started strong in the second half and Bryce Lyon would punch the ball in from a yard out, culminating an 80-yard drive. Following the extra point the Colts trailed 20-17.

But the Colts didn’t score again.

West Holmes’ next drive ended on a fumble at the 2-yard line recovered by Cameron McWatters. But West Holmes turned the tables fast, forcing a safety on the very next play, and the Colts trailed 22-17.

After the free kick the Knights again turned the ball over again, this time on an interception by Dylan Pugh, who returned it to the West Holmes 25. But the Colts couldn’t punch it in and turned the ball over on downs.

The last touchdown of the game was a 33-yard run by Shane Jones with 4:53 to go.

West Holmes finished the year at 2-8 overall and 2-4 in the OCC.

See more photos in our online gallery.

Clear Fork quarterback Jared Schaefer avoids pressure from a West Holmes tackler to deliver a pass in second quarter action from West Holmes on Friday night.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2016/10/web1_CF_West-Holmes_04-1.jpgClear Fork quarterback Jared Schaefer avoids pressure from a West Holmes tackler to deliver a pass in second quarter action from West Holmes on Friday night.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star

Clear Fork’s Zach Homerick races down the field for a Touch Down after picking up fumble in the first quarter during Friday night action.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2016/10/web1_CF_West-Holmes_01-1.jpgClear Fork’s Zach Homerick races down the field for a Touch Down after picking up fumble in the first quarter during Friday night action.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star

Clear Fork’s Ian McDanel runs away from West Holme’s Matthew Chanay and Shane Jones for some first half yardage at West Holmes on Friday night.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2016/10/web1_CF_West-Holmes_02-1.jpgClear Fork’s Ian McDanel runs away from West Holme’s Matthew Chanay and Shane Jones for some first half yardage at West Holmes on Friday night.
Walt Butler/Bellville Star

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