Sometimes it's touchdowns, sometimes growing pains for Port Clinton sophomore Yarbrough

Wyatt Yarbrough demonstrated feathery touch to Josh Cornell, put the ball where only Romney Turner could catch it (albeit with one hand twisted awkwardly along the sideline) and utilized multiple arm angles to complete slants Friday in a setback to Vermilion.

Yarbrough's receivers plucked most everything they could touch with a glove, including a touchdown for Malakii Pinkelton (55 yards) for Port Clinton (2-5, 0-2) in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division. Josh Cornell rebounded from a drop with two touchdown receptions covering 84 and 56 yards, and Briar Rohrer (37) added another.

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Yarbrough, who is 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, often looked comfortable as the sophomore completed 15 of 26 passes for 357 yards in a 36-27 loss. Other times, he looked like a first-year starter who switched from defense last season.

"Stepping in as a sophomore, that's a tough position," Port Clinton coach Eric Leuthold said. "He improves every game. He's a tough kid. He finds a way, and he responds to adversity. He's a young sophomore who continues to grow."

He tossed two interceptions, although one to the end zone was meaningless with 15 seconds left. He took an intentional grounding penalty trying to avoid pressure.

He absorbed three sacks, including one for a turnover on downs as Port Clinton tried to add to a run of 20 straight points trailing 29-27 in the fourth quarter.

Turner had three catches, including the highlight-reel worthy sideline version during the possession. Yarbrough, who is mobile and will stand in for a hit, added a 12-yard run.

"The receivers are great," Yarbrough said. "If I put the ball out there, they're going to go get it."

Yarbrough has 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns, completing 67 of 131 passes this season. Even so, he isn't necessarily entrenched as Port Clinton's starter.

Returning senior starter Gabe Koskela, who played a limited role against Vermilion because of a shoulder injury after making his only quarterback start this season and tossing a touchdown in a 9-6 setback to Huron in Week 6, is firmly in the mix behind center. He and Yarbrough have basically been engaged in a season-long quarterback competition.

Yarbrough's mentality is to try to win the week, while doing what he's asked to do when he's asked to do it. Koskela can also play receiver.

"I knew I was next man up," he said of the offseason. "I was excited to be able to compete with Gabe, he's a great quarterback and a great athlete. Every week we compete, and he pushes me to be the best I can be."

Yarbrough played outside linebacker last season. He didn't get reps at quarterback, although Cornell said chemistry started to develop quickly at 7-on-7 camps.

"Making our reads was a struggle early," Yarbrough said. "I'm progressing and getting better. Our coaches really help pick us up when we play Port Clinton football and bond. Discipline, hard work and drive. We have a great program when we play Port Clinton football and play as a team."

mhorn@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Sometimes it's touchdowns, sometimes growing pains for Port Clinton sophomore Yarbrough