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Schaible FG gives Findlay share of GBC title

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October 30, 2009

By BRUCE HEFFLINGER
hefflinger@crescent-news.com

NAPOLEON " It took "the best kick of my life" by Eric Schaible to prevent Napoleon from an outright Greater Buckeye Conference title.

With everything pointing to overtime, Schaible overcame trecherous field position along with windy and rainy conditions to connect on a career-long 43-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining to give Findlay a 20-17 victory. The results left Napoleon, Findlay and Sandusky tied for first in the GBC with 4-1 records.

"That was the best I hit the ball in my life," Schaible said. "It would have been good from 50 or 55."
It was his second field goal of the fourth quarter, the first from 35 yards out with 10:10 to play that tied the game at 17-17.

"From the kick to the hold to the snap, to get it down and kick it without slipping is amazing," Findlay coach Mark Ritzler pointed out.

All were executed and the Trojans (5-5) held on to earn a piece of the GBC for the second year in a row.

"I certainly tip my hat to him," said Napoleon coach Tory Strock of Findlay's senior kicker, who earlier in the game had a 70-yard punt. "He had the wind but you've got to execute the snap, the hold, the plant.

"They just made a couple more plays than we did. I tip my hat to them. Mark Ritzler is a class act and his kids played with class."

A 38-yard pass from Matt Spragg to Zach Crawford put the Trojans in position for what proved to be the winning field goal.

"We got a big play by Zach when we needed," Ritzler said. "He went up and made a play for the ball. And to throw it that far on that field says something for Mark."

Spragg, a 6-2, 204-pound junior quarterback, was impressive in the poor field conditions, hitting 13-of-19 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, a 24-yard strike to Dylan Blunk less than three minutes into the game for a 7-0 lead.

Napoleon countered with a strong running attack to deadlock the game on a 1-yard sneak by Nick Rettig, capping off an 89-yard, 15-play drive that ate up 7:31 on the clock.

"Our kids responded in a big way," Strock noted. "I didn't know if we'd be able to rush the ball tonight, they're big, aggressive and fast. I couldn't be more proud of our effort."

But special teams hurt the Wildcats. In addition to the kicking of Schaible, Findlay was able to get special-team points in the opening half when Devin Dennard blocked a Napoleon punt and Alex Henry scooped up the ball and ran to paydirt from 11 yards out for a 14-7 lead with 1:02 left in the half.

"Special teams were key," Strock admitted. "They're called special for a reason."

The Wildcats managed a 32-yard Clint Detmer field goal at the close of the second quarter, set up by a 35-yard Brandon Hummer run.

Taking the wind to start the second half, the Wildcats controlled the field position before John Weaver gave the hosts their first lead of the game on a 5-yard run off tackle behind blocks by Skylar Davis and Hummer with 1:54 left in the third.

But with the wind advantage in the fourth quarter, Findlay was able to score the points needed on the leg of Schaible.

"We thought we'd come out and set the tone right away," Strock said of the decision to take the wind to start the second half. "If the rain came we wanted to do as much damage in the third quarter as we could and get the lead."

Unfortunately for Napoleon, the Trojans were able to muster the two field goals to counter what the Wildcats did with the wind in the third quarter.

"I hurt the most for our kids, they played with a lot of guts and passion tonight," Strock concluded. "I'm sick we couldn't bring home the title for them, but I'm excited to get going for the playoffs."

The Wildcats can't dwell long on the loss with a playoff game on tap Friday night. Napoleon will find out its first-round opponent Sunday.

FINDLAY NAPOLEON
First Downs 12 18
Rushing Yards 28-101 53-262
Passing Yards 166 43
Total Yards 267 305
Passing 13-19-0 6-12-0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties 6-40 2-10

Findlay 7 7 0 6 - 20
Napoleon 0 10 7 0 - 17
Findlay - Blunk 24-yard pass frm Spragg (Schaible kick).
Napoleon - Rettig 1-yard run (Detmer kick).
Findlay - Henry 11-yard blocked punt return (Schaible kick).
Napoleon - Detmer 32-yard field goal.
Napoleon - Weaver 5-yard run (Detmer kick).
Findlay - Schaible 35-yard field goal.
Findlay - Schaible 43-yard field goal.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Findlay - Alexander 9-25; Henry 10-35; Kupferberg 2-18; Spragg 7-13. Napoleon - Hummer 24-142; Weaver 12-43; Detmer 6-39; Rettig 10-38.
PASSING: Findlay - Spragg 13-19-0-166. Napoleon - Rettig 6-11-0-43; Detmer 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Findlay - Crawford 4-71; Blunk 5-53; Romantic 2-31; Ramsey 2-11. Napoleon - Bloom 2-25; Detmer 2-12; Fisher 1-6; Weaver 1-0.




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