High school football: Clearview in (Ayden) Cruz control thanks to senior's all-around play

Ayden Cruz and his Clearview Clippers teammates paid their dues the past two years but he's helping reap the benefits this season. The Clippers, who are off to a 5-1 start, won only three games total the last two seasons seasons as veteran Coach Mike Collier patiently waited for this group to mature. Cruz, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior safety and wide receiver, was one of those players Collier knew would eventually make a difference. "We saw some tough times coming," said Collier, in his 17th year as Clearview's coach. "It didn't help with the COVID situation and the construction (new field and locker facilities) and not having a home (field). "I've bragged on them the past few years for the ability to face adversity and not really complain." "We envisioned this right from the beginning of the season," Cruz said. "All the hard work we put in over the offseason. Definitely were looking forward to this kind of outcome." Clearview's great football tradition may have hit a little bump in the road but Collier and Cruz knew the Clippers would bounce back. Overall, Clearview ranks third in the county in playoff appearances, trailing only Avon Lake (24) and Elyria Catholic (19) with 18 trips to the postseason. The Clippers finished runner-up in the state in 1972 and 1978. With the exception of the 2020 COVID year when all teams made it, Clearview last appeared in the playoffs in 2018. Right now, the Clippers are sixth in Division V, Region 17 as they prepare to visit Firelands in a key Lorain County League game tonight. "We really wanted this kind of outcome to happen last year but sometimes God has a different timeline of things," Cruz said. "Right now, He's giving us the benefit of everything." Cruz has played an integral part of a stout defense that has posted a pair of shutouts and held two other opponents to one score. Take away the Lakewood game, a last-second 41-40 loss, and the Clippers have outscored their opponents 200-26. But even in defeat, Collier felt his team learned something and got closer as a team. The Clippers have reeled off four straight wins since. "We're competitors and can't stand to lose," Collier said. "We definitely drew the positive from it. I think our senior group really had outstanding leadership. They pulled everybody back together. I feel we're a tighter group even after that game." "All of us talk about it every single day," Cruz said of the Lakewood loss. "We could be 6-0. It would look better on our record. It kind of humbled us a little bit and kind of showed we're human. We don't like to lose at all but it did help bring us together a little bit." Cruz does it all for Clearview. On offense, he's caught 25 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. On special teams, he's on the field for everything, blocking two punts and two field goal attempts, but it's his defense that really stands out. Cruz has 40 tackles, 34 solo, with 12 tackles for loss. He's also intercepted three passes. "I just try to do the best I possibly can do to help out the team," Cruz said. "Ayden's had a great run," Collier said. "Kind of what we anticipated his senior year being. Great job leading. Very intelligent guy on the field. He's able to see things happening before they actually happen so that gives him that extra step. He doesn't come off the field too often." Cruz is a student of the game. Collier likes the fact he understands what the opponent is trying to accomplish — especially when he's lined up at his safety position. Cruz blocked two John Hay punts to lead Clearview to a 34-6 win. On a third punt attempt, Cruz nailed the punter for a huge loss. "It comes off of watching film," Cruz said. "I sit there and watch film as much as I can, every second that I do have the opportunity. Watching (John Hay's) film, I was able to see some keys that enabled me to get a jump off the ball and get around some people who I felt I could beat." As for Firelands, Collier hopes his team is up for the challenge. The Falcons are 3-3 but with two impressive wins in a row — 38-14 over Black River and 33-14 over Brookside. Two of Firelands' losses have been to undefeated Edison and Columbia and the third was to Poland Seminary (5-1). "We talked about what our goals were going into the season," Collier said. "Trying to challenge for that LC8 is definitely on top of it. This is a great opportunity. Firelands is a tough football team. They went neck and neck with Columbia. We know we have our challenges ... but our kids are excited about it." Clearview's schedule is make-or-break at this point. After traveling to Firelands this week the Clippers are at Columbia the next game. "Our focus right now is to go 1-0 every single week," Cruz said. "Don't want to look ahead. We just want to focus on our opponent that's next." Contact Tim Gebhardt at (440) 329-7135 or timothygeb@msn.com.