SHELBY — Nathan Zehner may have been bloodied but Shelby’s tough-as-nails defensive end was unbowed.
The Whippets had just put the finishing touches on a dominant 28-14 win over defending Division IV state champ Clyde in a Region 14 semifinal game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested and as coach Rob Mahaney addressed the team, Zehner removed his helmet to reveal a forehead streaked with blood and smeared with dirt.
“I’m hurting,” Zehner said through several deep breaths.
Shelby’s playoff opponents know the feeling.
The second-seeded Whippets (9-0) will host No. 5 Van Wert (8-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday for a regional championship and a berth in next week’s state semifinals. While the high-powered offense led by career rushing king Owen Fisher steals most of the spotlight, it’s Zehner and the defense that has Shelby in the regional final for the fourth time in program history and third time since 2016.
In three playoff games, Shelby has allowed 53 points, or 17.7 points a game. Those numbers are slightly skewed because Firelands scored 16 points against Shelby’s junior varsity defense in the fourth quarter of a 49-26 win in the regional quarterfinals. The first-stringers have allowed 37 points.
A 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior, Zehner anchors the defensive line. He began to raise eyebrows when fellow senior defensive end and sack artist Marek Albert was sidelined with a collarbone injury during a Week 1 win over Ontario. Albert, who had 15 sacks last fall, didn’t return until the playoff opener against Rossford.
“Getting Marek back helped us a lot,” Zehner said. “We have three pretty good ends on the field all at the same time. Our pass rush and our run (defense) is pretty solid.”
Zehner has 49 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles, and has been a terror since Albert’s return in Shelby’s playoff opener against Rossford. His strip sack in the end zone was recovered by fellow defensive end Caleb Baker for a touchdown, sending the Whippets to a 32-13 win.
“Teams were able to double-team Nate because Merek was not there,” Mahaney said. “If Marek was there, I thought Nate would have played even better.
“Nate is that lunch-pail kid. He shows up and does his work.”
Zehner doubles as a guard along Shelby’s offensive line. He has helped clear the way for Fisher, who broke the school’s career rushing record in the regional quarterfinal victory over Firelands.
“Our O-line pushes hard,” Zehner said.
Zehner will have to be at his disruptive best Saturday when Van Wert invades W.W. Skiles Field. The Cougars upset top-seeded Bellevue 41-22 last week with quarterback Owen Treece rushing for four touchdowns and throwing for two more.
“Senior year, this means a lot to me,” Zehner said. “I’ve been there once my freshman year but it’s not nearly the same as this year.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.”
