Clear Fork Blanks Galion to Earn A Bye And Home Playoff Game In Week 12
BELLVILLE — Clear Fork closed the regular season with a shutout and secured an opportunity to begin its postseason at home.
The Colts defeated Galion 25-0 Friday, Oct. 23, finishing 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference. Clear Fork enters the playoffs with three consecutive victories and back-to-back shutouts.
The defense contributed directly to the scoring against Galion. A first-quarter safety put Clear Fork ahead, and Alekai Price returned an interception 7 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Between those defensive scores, Trey Sellers broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run and Nash Evans connected on a 29-yard field goal. The Colts led 12-0 at halftime. Alex Schlosser added a 21-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Schlosser finished with a team-high 66 rushing yards, followed by Sellers with 56. Marcus Hoeflich added 54 yards on 14 attempts as Clear Fork totaled 188 yards on the ground. Galion finished the regular season 5-5.
That combination of rushing production and defensive scoring gave the Colts several ways to build their advantage. It is also a useful formula to carry into November, when one turnover or a change in field position can decide a season.
Clear Fork followed its 43-0 victory over River Valley with another shutout, outscoring its final two regular-season opponents 68-0. Including the 20-14 comeback win at Highland, the Colts have an 88-14 scoring advantage during their three-game winning streak.
Across the regular season, Clear Fork allowed 99 points, an average of 9.9 per game and recorded three shutouts. The Colts scored 262 points, averaging 26.2.
Now comes a week to prepare while the identity of their next opponent is decided. Clear Fork earned the No. 4 seed in Division IV, Region 14, receiving a first-round bye. The Colts will host a regional quarterfinal in Week 12 on Friday, Nov. 6, against the winner of No. 5 Otsego and No. 12 Van Wert.
“The top four seeds in each region receive a first-round bye,” the OHSAA stated in its playoff announcement. Otsego enters the postseason 7-3 and will host 5-5 Van Wert on Friday, Oct. 30. The winner must then travel to the Valley.
For Clear Fork, the preparation starts with maintaining the defensive standard established over the final two weeks. Sound tackling, limiting explosive plays and forcing opponents to sustain drives should remain priorities regardless of which team advances.
Offensively, the Galion win demonstrated the value of spreading rushing opportunities among multiple players. Schlosser, Sellers and Hoeflich each supplied more than 50 yards, giving the Colts several options to move the ball.
The bye offers additional preparation time, but the challenge will be keeping the rhythm that produced three straight wins. Clear Fork can use the extra week to sharpen execution before focusing its final preparations on a confirmed opponent.
Neither potential visitor should be judged solely by its seed. Otsego brings seven regular-season victories, while a Van Wert win would send the Cougars into the Colt Corral with a road playoff victory already behind them.
Clear Fork has earned the rest, the preparation time and another home game. After consecutive shutouts to finish October, the Colts have a strong foundation for their November opportunity.
