Anyone hear about this? I know it was mentioned on a few shows on ESPN. Most bizarre football game I have ever seen. It was like watching a real life video game. I'll never forget it.
SHELBY Ohio has hosted some historic high school football games in more than 100 years of epic action.
Even in that rich, storied history, it's unlikely there has ever been a game quite like Friday night's shootout at W.W. Skiles Field. Tiffin Columbian and Shelby's offenses unleashed their full arsenal at each other, landed haymaker after haymaker and lit up the scoreboard at an unprecedented pace.
When the smoke cleared, Tiffin Columbian had a surreal, 83-82 Northern Ohio League overtime victory that would've made either school's head basketball coach pleased with such production.
Shelby freshman Brennan Armstrong scored on a 1-yard plunge to begin overtime and the PAT gave the Whippets a short-lived, 82-75 margin.
But Tiffin Columbian's Cliff Miller scored his 10th touchdown of the night on an 8-yard run. Tornadoes' coach Brian Colatruglio, probably tired of watching his defense, decided to put the game in his best player's hands and went for two and the win. Miller barely squeezed into the end zone to cap an incredible show.
Shelby drops to 2-6 overall, 1-4 in the Northern Ohio League. Meanwhile, Tiffin Columbian kept its playoff hopes alive by improving to 5-3, 3-2.
The contest was crucial to Tiffin's playoff hopes, while the improving Whippets were simply looking to find their confidence after a rugged start to the season. This was Shelby's third heartbreaking defeat of the season, the second in two weeks. Last week Ontario edged the Whippets on a two-point conversion in the final two minutes.
Not surprisingly, at least a couple of state records were in play.
Unofficially, this contest tied the state record for most points scored by two teams combined at 165. According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the state record was established on Oct. 5, 1923 when Medina and Spencer combined for 165 points, although no final score is listed.
Also, Toledo Waite beat Ada 162-0 on Oct. 15, 1921. However, those games were in regulation, while this contest went to overtime.
Miller ripped off somewhere between 436 and 516 yards rushing. There were conflicting reports. Six of his TDs came in the first half, and four after intermission, including a kick return. His scoring total of 62 points tied for third in state annals with Howard "Tick" Hamilton, of Bellville, on Nov. 10, 1939.
Erastus "Tunk" Simmons, of Medina, has the state record with 78 points scored on Oct. 5, 1923 vs. Spencerville.
Whatever the tally, Miller's rushing total did not approach a state record, as Williamsburg's Jason Bainum ran for 532 yards to set the Ohio all-divisions record against Batavia Clermont Northeastern on Sept. 28, 2001.
Twitter blew up across Ohio as fans tuned into find the game online to follow the final tense moments.
Could anyone blame either defensive coordinator if they missed Saturday morning's film session?
SHELBY His football team lost a game, a historic one its true, but Shelby coach Erik Will couldnt be disappointed with his squads effort on Friday night.
The Whippets fell to Tiffin Columbian 83-82 in overtime during a contest that tied a state record for most points scored by two teams combined.
I am so proud of my guys, Shelby coach Erik Will said. I love those guys.
Everyone at W.W. Skiles Field had to love the competitive spirit shown by both squads during a shootout that has drawn national attention. The two teams combined for 1,390 yards and 165 points.
According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the state record was established on Oct. 5, 1923 when Medina and Spencer combined for 165 points, although no final score is listed. Also, Toledo Waite beat Ada 162-0 on Oct. 15, 1921. However, those games were in regulation, while this contest went to overtime.
The individual star of the night was Tornadoes running back Cliff Miller.
The game was tied at 75 at the end of regulation. Shelby scored first in overtime on a 1-yard run by Brennan Armstrong. The Whippets kicked the extra point. Tiffin then answered on Millers 8-yard run, then won the game with his two-point conversion plunge.
Miller, who came into the game with 831 yards rushing, compiled 516 yards on 28 carries and scored 10 touchdowns among his 62 points. One of his touchdowns was a 70-yard kickoff return. Fantasy football owners everywhere would love such production.
Millers 10 touchdowns are the second most scored in an Ohio high school game. His 516 rushing yards are the third most in a single game.
Tiffin finished with 565 yards rushing and 185 yards passing for a total of 678 yards. Shelby had 712 total yards, 370 on the ground and 342 through the air.
The Whippets scored first on a 5-yard run by Dylan Shaffer. Tiffin answered with two touchdowns, a 65-yard run and a 5-yard run by Miller. The Tornadoes led 14-6 after one quarter.
On the first play of the second period, Miller found the end zone on a 2-yard run, then scored on a 74-yard run and a 70-yard kickoff return to take a 35-12 advantage.
The Whippets responded when Shaffer scored on a 19-yard run and a 7-yard pass from Brennan Armstrong to Carter Brooks. Then Shaffer scored on a 6-yard run to cut the advantage to 35-26. Tiffin increased its halftime lead to 48-26 on touchdowns by Brandon Rhoades and Miller's 99-yard touchdown run, giving him six touchdowns in the first half.
Armstrong scored on a 5-yard TD run with 9:51 showing in the third quarter to make it 48-32 but Miller raced 45 yards to make the score 55-32. Armstrong threw a TD pass to Cody Stine, but Miller rambled 37 yards to increase the margin to 62-39.
Armstrong took off again and scored on a 45-yard run to make it 62-47 with 2:47 to play in the third quarter.
Tiffin (5-3 overall, 3-2 Northern Ohio League) opened the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass to Derek Dryfuse from Stone Simmons, before Shaffer scored on a 9-yard run to get Shelby within 68-54.
Thirteen seconds later, Miller ran 61 yards for a 75-54 lead. Armstrong ran for a 17-yard TD, threw a 28-yard TD pass to Tanner Orr and a 40-yard TD pass to Orr. A 2-point conversion pass to Cody Stine tied the game at 75-75 and sent the game into overtime.
Shelby (2-6, 1-4) countered Miller with three players gaining over 100 yards rushing. Armstrong had 159 yards rushing, Orr had 106 and Shaffer had 105. Shaffer scored four touchdowns as did Armstrong. The freshman added four TD passes and more than 300 yards in the air.
The two NOL rivals now stand at 30-30-1 in the series.
