Defense shuts out Port Clinton in second half
PORT CLINTON — Vermilion scored 18 unanswered points and shut out Port Clinton in the second half Friday night to earn a 24-14 road victory at Tru-Lay Stadium.
The win improved the Sailors to 6-1 and handed the Redskins their first loss of the season, dropping them to 6-1.
Port Clinton struck first when the Redskins returned a punt for a touchdown, taking a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Vermilion answered late in the quarter when quarterback Drake Hooks connected with Mason Cooper for a touchdown with 42 seconds remaining. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the game tied 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Port Clinton regained the lead midway through the second quarter when Connell broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run. A successful 2-point conversion put the Redskins ahead 14-6 with 7:55 remaining in the half.
The Sailors responded.
Hooks scored on a quarterback sneak, and Dawson Coates converted the 2-point attempt to tie the game at 14 with 2:34 remaining.
Vermilion then grabbed the lead for good before halftime when Micah Smith returned a punt for a touchdown. Brody Marrow added the extra point, sending the Sailors into the locker room with a 21-14 advantage.
Neither team scored during the third quarter, but Vermilion recovered a punt and ended the period threatening at the Port Clinton 23-yard line.
Marrow provided the only points of the second half with a 27-yard field goal with 9:49 remaining, extending Vermilion’s lead to 24-14.
The Sailors’ defense made the advantage hold up, keeping the Redskins off the scoreboard throughout the second half.
Hooks completed 11 of 17 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also carried the ball 10 times for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Landon Mooney led Vermilion’s rushing attack with 73 yards on 14 carries. The Sailors finished with 130 rushing yards and 131 passing yards.
Smith led the receivers with four catches for 67 yards in addition to his punt-return touchdown. Cooper caught one pass for 26 yards, which went for Vermilion’s first touchdown. Coates added two catches for 28 yards, while Chase Jackson caught three passes for 10 yards.
Daniel Roy led Vermilion’s defense with 12 tackles. Isaac Kyser recorded nine, Mooney had eight and Hooks added seven.
The Sailors return home next week for their homecoming game against Huron.