DDN
Belton's surprise return sparks Northmont win
By
Greg Billing
Staff Writer
Saturday, October 07, 2006
CLAYTON ? Halloween remains a few weeks away. But Northmont High School's football team pulled off some stunning trickery on Friday, especially in this day and age of Internet gossip.
The Thunderbolts fooled everyone into thinking sensational quarterback Clay Belton would miss his third straight game with an injured thumb on his throwing hand. From the hand cast before the game, the lineup with John Nussman at quarterback to Belton's clandestine pregame warmup in Northmont's gym, only four people knew that Belton would start. And Belton's presence help lead Northmont to a 27-7, must-win defeat of Troy in a Greater Western Ohio Conference matchup.
Troy coach Steve Nolan admitted he and his team were not ready for Belton.
"It was a little tricky. There was a little shock value," Nolan said. "Obviously, we didn't handle it very well."
Belton received medical clearance to play Monday. But Northmont coach Lance Schneider told only Belton, Belton's father and his own father, also a coach on the T-Bolts staff, that Belton would play. "This team just needed something to get them back in the mode we were in the first three weeks of the season," Schneider said.
Belton needed all of three passes to throw his eighth touchdown. That gave the Bolts (5-2, 1-1 GWOC North) a charge. He completed 20-of-36 passes for 253 yards and three interceptions. Brad Herr had 10 catches for 140 yards, and Nate Wilburn-Ogletree eight for 100. Northmont's defense also returned to early form. The Trojans had 156 yards on offense and just 44 rushing. Troy was averaging 332.
"Up front, we really dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball," Schneider said. "That's not something you can normally do against Troy. They ran around and hit people. That's the Gang Green defense I know and love."
The Trojans (5-2, 2-1) managed just two first downs in the first half and generated just a third-quarter scoring drive despite intercepting three passes and recovering three fumbles.