CLAYTON -- Halloween remains a few weeks away. But Northmont HighSchool'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 sensationalquarterback Clay Belton would miss his third straight game with aninjured thumb on his throwing hand. From the hand cast before thegame, the lineup with John Nussman at quarterback to Belton'sclandestine pregame warm-up in Northmont's gym, only four people knewthat Belton would start. And Belton's presence help lead Northmont toa 27-7, mustwin defeat of Troy in a Greater Western Ohio Conferencematchup.
Troy coach Steve Nolan admitted he and his team were not ready forBelton.
"It was a little tricky. There was a little shock value," Nolansaid. "Obviously, we didn't handle it very well."
Belton received medical clearance to play Monday. But Northmontcoach Lance Schneider told only Belton, Belton's father and his ownfather, 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 werein 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 10catches for 140 yards, and Nate Wilburn-Ogletree eight for 100.Northmont's defense also returned to early form. The Trojans had 156yards on offense and just 44 rushing. Troy was averaging 332.
"Up front, we really dominated the line of scrimmage on both sidesof the ball," Schneider said. "That's not something you can normallydo against Troy. They ran around and hit people. That's the GangGreen defense I know and love."
The Trojans (5-2, 2-1) managed just two first downs in the firsthalf and generated just a third-quarter scoring drive despiteintercepting three passes and recovering three fumbles.
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