Clyde cruises past Norwalk in finale

NORWALK — Calm and collected. That's how the Clyde Fliers football team got a big 34-0 win at Contractors Stadium against host Norwalk in an SBC Lake Division game and regular season finale. The Fliers (7-3, 2-2) should have done enough to earn a first-round playoff game in Division IV next Friday. Meanwhile, it appears the Truckers (2-8, 0-4) have also unofficially reached the Division III state playoffs despite the loss. Clyde struck first to open the scoring for the night. After Norwalk was forced to a three-and-out on their opening possession, the Fliers' Adam Young got into the end zone with a 5-yard run to put the Fliers up 7-0 to start the game after an extra point. The Flier defense didn't waste any time. They forced another quick three-and-out by the Truckers, which set up Clyde at midfield. After a few strong runs by Young, he eventually found the end zone again — this time from six yards out — for the second time in the opening quarter to extend the lead to 14-0. A Norwalk interception gave the Fliers another drive starting near midfield. Clyde slowly chipped away at Norwalk, but eventually it was Young who found a hole for his third TD. This time it was from 28 yards out, and though the extra point was no good, the Fliers were off and running with a 20-0 lead. But the Fliers weren't done. Late in the first half, the Fliers moved down the field in under two minutes with quarterback Brennan Wilson finding Mason Flewelling for a 7-yard TD pass and a 27-0 lead. Clyde's final touchdown came in the third quarter, as Wilson ran in a 6-yard TD to move the game into a running clock margin at 34-0. Young ran 15 times for 155 yards and the 3 TDs for Clyde, while Wilson was 10-of-13 passing for 90 yards with the TD to Flewelling — who caught four passes for 44 yards. For Norwalk, Nick Toth ran 10 times for 49 yards and Brady Singer was 3-of-12 passing for 12 yards. According to joeeitel.com, the Truckers have unofficially clinched the No. 15 seed in Div. III Region 10 and would face No. 2 Medina Buckeye (9-1) next Friday in a first-round game. The Truckers were last in the playoffs in 2020 when all teams qualified in the COVID-shortened season. They also reached the playoffs in 1974, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019. Clyde 14 13 7 0 — 34 Norwalk 0 0 0 0 — 0 CLY — Adam Young 5 run (Soper kick) CLY — Adam Young 6 run (Soper kick) CLY — Adam Young 24 run (kick failed) CLY — Brennan Wilson 7 pass to Jonathan Lantz (Soper kick) CLY — Brennan Wilson 6 run (Soper kick)