And That Makes 50!

As the lights heated up and the hot chocolate started to sell, the Colerain Cardinals were warming up to play the biggest challenge of the year, so far. The Cardinals came into the game with a lot more than the hopes of beating Sycamore; they were determined to beat Sycamore. The whole week leading up to the game everyone continued to call out the Cardinals, as if they already didn’t have anything to prove.

49 straight G.M.C. conference wins were on the line. The Cardinals wanted this one to not only say they beat the Aves, but to continue this dominance over the G.M.C. As Colerain took to the field the atmosphere in the stadium was as if the Aves were going to give Colerain a run for their money. But it wasn’t to be, Senior Eugene Clifford (Ohio State), would soon take over the game and crush the will of the Sycamore team. Some would say it could not be done, but the way Eugene plays, he made it possible. Eugene seemed to be everywhere on Friday night, making tackle after tackle and bringing in a key interception (pictured) and game changing touchdown.

As the streak has overcome many close game and some controversial calls, it still remains. The last team to beat Colerain was Lakota East in week 7 of the 1999 season. From that point on, no one from the G.M.C. has beaten the Cardinals. Also through the past 70 games verses public schools, Colerain has 69 wins, with the loss being to Upper Arlington in the 2000 state semi-finals.

Through the streak many great athletes have gone through the system. Approximately 21 D-1 scholarships have been produced since 1999; some of the notable athletes are Nick Davis DT (BGSU), Doug Monahan FS/WR (UC), Connor Smith OL (OSU), Dominick Goodman WR (UC), Cobrani Mixon LB (Michigan), and Terrill Byrd DL (UC).

The streak has gone through two US Presidents, and is approaching a third in 2008. The Cardinals have also have been featured in USA Today, The Sporting News, and on ESPN. Although it seems insignificant, the streak is what Colerain football is all about… perfection!