Resilient Colts Return Home, Host River Valley

BELLVILLE — Clear Fork showed at Highland that it can finish a game when the pressure rises. Now the Colts must bring that same focus to an opponent still searching for its first victory.

After rallying for a 20–14 road win in Week 8, Clear Fork returns home Friday to face River Valley in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Colts enter at 6–2 overall and 3–2 in the MOAC. The Vikings are 0–8, but Clear Fork cannot afford to treat their record as a promise of an easy night.

With two regular-season games remaining, the Colts have too much at stake to let their attention drift.

Their comeback at Highland helped strengthen their postseason position. Clear Fork sits third in Division IV, Region 14 in the Oct. 13 computer ratings with 15.6 points, behind Shelby and Ottawa-Glandorf and ahead of fourth-place Sandusky Perkins.

That position adds importance to Friday’s game. The Colts have put themselves in a strong spot, but protecting it requires finishing the regular season with the same urgency they showed last week.

At Highland, Clear Fork refused to let a difficult stretch become a second consecutive defeat.

Alex Schlosser opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown run, but Highland answered with 14 straight points. The Colts entered the fourth quarter trailing 14–7, facing the possibility of another frustrating loss.

Instead, they responded. Marcus Hoeflich found Quentin Rinehart for a 35-yard touchdown with 9:38 remaining to tie the game. Nash Evans then delivered the winning score on an eight-yard run with just 1:01 left.

Evans finished with 161 rushing yards on six carries, while Hoeflich added 75 yards on 15 attempts. Rinehart turned his lone reception into the touchdown that helped change the game.

The result was more than another win. After falling 28–21 to Shelby in Week 7, Clear Fork avoided allowing that disappointment to carry into the following week, answering adversity on the road with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Friday presents a different test: maintaining that intensity when the records suggest the Colts should have the advantage.

River Valley has already demonstrated why it cannot be dismissed. The Vikings pushed Highland into double overtime on Oct. 2 before losing 34–33. That performance came against the same opponent Clear Fork needed a late comeback to defeat.

The Vikings followed with a 27–10 loss to Galion, leaving them winless but still capable of making an opponent work.

For Clear Fork, the priorities are straightforward. Establish the running game, protect the football and finish drives. Defensively, sound tackling and disciplined assignments can prevent River Valley from gaining confidence through big plays.

An early lead would help, but the Colts must keep executing after they get it. Turnovers, unnecessary penalties and missed assignments are exactly the openings a team seeking its first victory needs.

Clear Fork closes the regular season at home against Galion next week. Before looking toward that finale or the postseason, it must take care of the opponent directly in front of it.

At Highland, the Colts showed the resilience to recover. Against River Valley, they need the discipline to keep moving forward.