Woodmore finished what it started on Friday night, beating Gibsonburg 45-14 to complete an undefeated regular season — the Wildcats’ first perfect run through a regular season since 1995 and only the second in program history — and claim the outright Sandusky Bay Conference title.
Senior Lucas Caldwell powered the finale, rushing for 208 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries, including scoring runs of 79 and 44 yards. Caldwell added two sacks on defense, while Wesley Kayser caught two touchdown passes from Calvin Lipstraw, returned an interception for a score and picked off a second pass, and Luke Karchner returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown.
Woodmore was not the only area team hoisting a trophy after Week 10. Fremont Ross routed Bowling Green 42-7 to capture the outright crown in the Northern Lakes League’s Cardinal Division with an unblemished conference record, as Ben Waggoner and quarterback Breylen Garza each rushed for two touchdowns and Mason Englund returned a punt 40 yards for a score.
Bellevue likewise wrapped up an outright league title, beating Vermilion 28-7 for the Northern Ohio Conference Bay Division championship behind an unbeaten league run. Caden Cramer caught a touchdown pass from Ike Brown and ran one in from 52 yards, and Brown added two more scores on the ground.
In Port Clinton’s 49-27 victory over Sandusky, Beckett Mizener rushed for four touchdowns and quarterback Landon Leis ran for two more. And Clyde delivered the area’s most lopsided result, shutting out Norwalk 69-0 in the NOC Lake Division as Linkin Mullins rushed for 157 yards and three scores on only 12 carries and Trenton Elfring threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns while adding two rushing scores.
Lakota rounded out the area’s big nights with a 41-13 win over Northwood in the SBC, getting 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries from AJ Gosche, who also caught a touchdown pass from Nick Elchert, while Graham Harmon ran for 122 yards and a score on 10 tries.
All of the area’s winners now await the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs, which open Friday, October 30. For Woodmore, the perfect regular season buys a high seed and a home crowd in Elmore — and a chance to turn a historic autumn into a deep November run.
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY