Clyde offense stalls after first quarter in road setback to Perkins

Clyde's Abe Morrison
Clyde's Abe Morrison

Perkins put Clyde in the same hole two years in a row.

The Fliers scored 13 points in the first quarter Friday, before the offense was stymied in a 24-13 setback in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division game at Perkins. Clyde lost to the Pirates to start conference play last season, before winning four straight to share the crown with Bellevue.

"It's not going to get easier," Fliers coach Ryan Carter said. "That was a good team. It will be a good team the rest of the way. We have to make some kids understand, it will be tough every week."

Perkins (5-1) rushed for a score to take the lead for good at 14-13 early in the second quarter. The Pirates intercepted a pass and tossed a touchdown on third-and-5 from the 15 in the third quarter.

"They established the run game," Carter said. "We had to help on the back end and they ran the ball well. The defense played pretty well. We didn't put pressure on them offensively."

Clyde pounced on momentum as Austin Carter recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. Abe Morrison rushed 17 yards to the 4 and Jay Plummer ran in with only 17 seconds gone.

Morrison plowed in from the 1 for a 13-7 advantage with 2:38 left in the second quarter. Landon Bailey returned a kickoff to the 50 before Cole Schwochow caught a pass on third down.

Morrison rushed 19 yards to the 21, before a Perkins' penalty on fourth down. Chancey Miracle caught a pass to help set up Morrison's touchdown.

"We got off to a good start," Carter said. "You can't rely on turnovers. You have to move the ball."

Clyde's Zander Burroughs knocked a pass away to force a field goal to cap the scoring early in the fourth quarter.

The Fliers turned the ball over on downs at Perkins' 29 in the second quarter and at the 38 while trailing by eight in the third quarter.

"We had opportunities and we didn't make plays," Carter said. "We didn't make enough plays on offense. That's what happens."

Carter knows a rebound is possible, with a new group. Perkins was a second loss last season as well, before Clyde ultimately won two playoff games.

He also knows it's a steep climb out of the hole.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Clyde suffers Lake Division setback to Perkins on road