Reading's Clinton Harmeyer and Timothy Kelly react to the loss. (Brandi Stafford photos) | ZOOM |

        XENIA — Missed opportunities in the second half proved to be the undoing of the Reading Blue Devils Saturday in the Division V state semifinals at Cox Field.

        The Blue Devils failed to score twice deep in Amanda Clearcreek territory in the fourth quarter which enabled the Aces to hold on for a 7-0 victory, denying the Blue Devils a shot at the state championship.

        Reading's first missed opportunity came early in the fourth when the Blue Devils drove to the Aces' one-yard line but failed to get it in on four attempts.

        On the first play, quarterback Zach Maxfield fumbled with receiver Charlie Vample recovering at the nine. Two plays later, Reading was back on the one but DeShawn Wynn couldn't score on a fourth down play.

Reading's Charles Vample is pulled down by Thad Helber. | ZOOM |

        “We have one of the best tailbacks in the state but they stuffed him,” Reading coach Ken Minor said. “It was a big pla
ut we had another chance to score later.”

        Minor was referring to a 45-yard pass from Maxfield to Vample that carried Reading to the Clearcreek one with less than three minutes remaining. But the play was nullified by a penalty.

        “The officials claimed that Charlie went out of bounds and came back in to catch it,” Minor said. “We thought Charlie was bumped out but they were right there. It was a judgment call.”

        Those were Reading's only two scoring opportunities in a game played on a slippery field and dominated by the Clearcreek defense. Clearcreek had allowed only two TDs in three previous playoff games.

Clearcreek's Paul Rose hits Reading's Adam Caldwell in the face after a play. | ZOOM |

        “Many people thought our defense couldn't stop Reading but we love challenges,” Clearcreek coach Ron Hinton said. “Our kids stepped up under poor playing conditions.”

        Despite morning rain, the playing surface was in good condition at the start. However, rain began to fall early in the second quarter, creating slippery conditions.

        “We felt that if we could keep Wynn from getting any 40 or 50 yard runs, we could win,” Hinton said. “I not sure what his longest run was but it wasn't any where near that.”

        Wynn, who was shadowed throughout the game by linebacker Dan Tooill, carried the ball 20 times, picking up a season-low 67 yards. His longest run was nine yards in the third quarter.

        This low output was a result of Clearcreek's superior speed that didn't allow Wynn or any of the Blue Devils' backs to go wide.

Shannon Hammonds dives at Clearcreek's Thad Helber. | ZOOM |

        Over all, Reading amassed 152 total yards, 85 rushing and 67 through the air while Clearcreek rushed for 200 yards and picked up 38 through the air on four-of- seven completions by quarterback Scott Hinton.

        The only score came in the second quarter when Clearcreek drove 66 yards in 10 plays with Nick Lee scoring on a four yard run.

        “I would have loved to play them on a dry field,” Minor said.“Our kids never gave up and the defense held in there the entire game.”

        Junior tailback Thad Helber paced Clearcreek with 124 yards on 24 carries with Lee picking up 63 on 10 carries.

        Clearcreek's defenders were up to the task in the first half, holding the Blue Devils to 51 total yards, 47 on the ground on 13 carries with Maxfield completing one of five pass for five yards.

        Wynn was ineffective. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound tailback, was held to 40 yards on 11 carries.

        The Aces offense controlled the clock and the ball.

        Running 34 plays while taking 14:49 off the clock, Crearcreek gained 163 yards, 143 on the ground on 31 carries with quarterback Scott Hinton completing two of three passes for 20 yards.

        Penalities thwarted Clearcreek's first drive of the second quarter that carried the Aces to the Blue Devils 14.

        Reading ....... 0  0  0  0—0

        Clearcreek ....... 0  7  0  0—7

        C--Lee 4 run (Tooill kick)

        Records: Reading 11-3, Clearcreek 11-3.

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