Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Clay coach Derek Pennington knows a thing or two about coaching in big games.
As one of the best coaches in Michigan, where he led two different schools to greatness before moving to Ohio, Pennington coached in plenty of postseason games, and he's hoping to do the same with the Eagles.
But to qualify for the playoffs, Clay will have to win some tough games down the stretch, and a matchup with Perrysburg is a great opportunity for the Eagles to gain some valuable computer points.
Through six games, Pennington’s crew is 3-3 having defeated Bowsher, Bowling Green, and Southview. Their three losses are to Findlay, Napoleon, and Wapakoneta, who have combined to go 15-3 to start the season.
"We've kind of been up and down,” Pennington said. “The games we won, we've been able to limit mistakes, and games we've lost, we've had some turnovers and drive-killers. We're just trying to manage that, and we're playing a ton of sophomores right now. That's a challenge, (but) we're not making excuses. We're just trying to get better each day.
"We've got to win at least one of these next (few) games (against Perrysburg and Whitmer) and win our last game (against Northview) as well. Obviously, you try to win every game. I've coached in a lot of big games in Michigan, but that has nothing to do with Ohio.
"With great challenges come great opportunities. I'm just proud of our guys and how they've battled. We're playing a lot of sophomores. Hopefully our kids can rise to the occasion."
It was expected to be a rebuilding year for the club, which lost its fair share of good players. But the opportunity to get back to the playoffs is right in front of them.
Quarterback Landon Echelberry, who transferred from Findlay, is doing well filling in for last year's quarterback Mason Heintschel, who is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh.
Echelberry can throw and run, and one of his top backfield mates is RB Collin Greenawalt, plus there's WR Brodi Ostrander.
They'll face a Yellow Jacket defense that has allowed more than 13 points in a game just once, and that was in a 28-20 loss to Olentangy, one of the top programs in the Columbus suburbs.
Perrysburg, one of the top programs in northwest Ohio, if not the entire state, is 5-1 (1-0) is having another good season under Dirk Conner.
"We really wanted to beat Olentangy," Conner said. "But there are no moral victories. We're beating teams that we are expected to beat. The question is, are we going to be the team we think we can be?
"(Quarterback) Brady Maxwell is fantastic and he's coming into his own. (Wide receiver) Ethan DeVries has been tremendous, and he's playing at a high level. (Wide receiver) J.D. Zeeb has only played in three games It will be good to get him healthy. He has great speed. I like what our team is becoming."
Both teams are members of the Northern Lakes League's Buckeye Division, which is also home to Findlay, Whitmer, Anthony Wayne and Northview. Clay moved up into the bigger division after previously being a member of the Cardinal Division.
"Everybody in this business works year-round, in the weight room, and the goal is to win a conference championship," Conner said.
