Landon Leis thought he would be the backup quarterback this season, maybe play a little on special teams.
Instead, the Port Clinton sophomore will make his second postseason start at quarterback Friday, Nov. 7, at Genoa. Leis unexpectedly took the reins when Wyatt Yarbrough suffered an injury to start the season.
Leis knows there were doubts about whether he could step in for Yarbrough, including within the program. Support from coach Eric Leuthold and receiver Gavin Cornell went a long way.
“The biggest challenge was hearing other people’s opinions of me,” Leis said. “I wasn’t fully confident — I had to build that up. I didn’t think I’d be where I’m at right now. Coach pushes me. He encourages me and keeps me confident.
“I remember things Gavin has said, ‘Playing quarterback is hard.’ It’s a new role. I hadn’t played quarterback with them on varsity. It’s a whole new world. Stats wise or team wise, I’m helping my team win.”
He completed 129 of 261 passes for 1,748 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He grew more comfortable as the season progressed.
“Talking to my teammates,” he said. “I’ve become a better leader. At quarterback, my footwork and what goes through my head on a play. It feels great, everybody pushed me to get better. The coaches believed in me and Coach Leuthold definitely believed I could do it.
“It feels great to play varsity football with my teammates.”
He went from unexpected starter to cementing his status as much more than a place holder in a 29-28 victory over Vermilion in five overtimes in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division.
“We were down seven in the fourth quarter with under two minutes left,” Leis said. “A long throw to Christian (Miller) helped set us up in the red zone. It was like 60 yards to set up a score. That was our best win of the season, the way we persevered.”
Port Clinton (7-4) shut out Edison 35-0 in the first round of the postseason. Port Clinton beat the Chargers 21-17 during the regular season in the Bay Division.
Leis rushed for one score and tossed a touchdown last week.
“I threw it to Christian for 25 yards,” he said. “It was our third play on offense. It was a go ball. I love throwing to Christian since the seventh grade. I trust him. The coaches preach to start fast. It was 7-0 in the first 45 seconds and we never looked back.
“That can ignite a team.”
Yarbrough has returned in a role on defense with a few snaps at receiver. He forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass.
“He helps me, he’s really smart,” Leis said. “He understands what I’m thinking. We can connect and he helps us at that position.”
Port Clinton won only three games last season.
“Everyone knew there could be a jump,” Leis said “We knew we could be way better; our talent, our athletes, our coaches. It happened way before the season. Everybody is committed and connected because we knew it was possible.
“Last winter, we had Sunday throwing sessions — technique and timing. There was stuff for the linemen. All through spring and into summer, and two-a-days. We wanted to be good then and we wanted to make the playoffs. As the season started, we could see it happening.”
Port Clinton wanted to show people it was a different team. Leis took it a step further by taking decisive command after he’d been an afterthought.
“We all have a lot more to prove,” he said.
mhorn@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Landon Leis tightens grip on reins as Port Clinton football notches 5OT win over Vermilion
Reporting by Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
