CLYDE, Ohio —The Clyde Fliers are heading to the championship game.

It’s only the third time in school history. They won it all back 1995. 

This year’s team struggled. They were 6-4, until making a playoff run, and now the Fliers are in the show.

“Wherever we go, we know we are going to have a big fan base… it’s all over social media, it’s all over the schools, all over town, so I’m expecting a big crowd Saturday, and you can tell the excitement through the whole city,” said Ryan Lozier, Clyde quarterback.

The team is guided by senior quarterback Ryan Lozier. 

Head football coach Ryan Carter has known Ryan and the Lozier family his whole life.

He says Clyde is a small town, so people here are very connected through football.  

“I played with his Dad in high school… he was a grade ahead of me, his love for the game comes from the parenting and the family he grew up in,” said Carter. “The first year I did football here, he was my ball boy, traveled to all the games with us, and now I have his little brother Elliott as my ball boy, and he travels to all the games with us, so it’s been a great experience with his family.” 

The senior quarterback has always had a love for football.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t even begin to tell you, when he was little he played with checkers and you had your offense and your defense, and he would talk to the checkers and tell them which way to go, and then he would play with farm animals in his little kit, from flag football on, that’s all that kid has ever talked about, this is a dream come through,” said Mike and Renae Cleveland, Lozier’s grandparents.

Making it to week 15 means you’ve made it the state regional championship.

The Clyde quarterback has been there before as a ball boy, and now he’s attempting to bring home a title. 

Lozier says it’s a surreal feeling. 

“I was actually on the sideline the last time we were in the final four and we won a regional title, so now that we are here now, ya know, it’s been fun,” said Lozier. “I played JV my first two years and I started the last two years, so it’s definitely been a dream for a long time.”

Win or lose, this is Lozier’s last week as a Clyde Flier, so he’s exploring his options. 

“I wanna go to college, I’m gonna major in special education and hope to coach again one day,” said Lozier.

This Saturday, the Clyde Fliers will play against Newark Licking Valley for the state championship down in Canton, Ohio.