MECHANICSBURG - Of all the fun numbers Roman Clay piled up in his three years as Lancaster Catholic's starting running back - and he had a lot of them - these numbers might be the most impressive:
36-5.
That was the Crusaders' record with Clay in the backfield as a full-time starter, from his breakout sophomore season, to his All-State junior season, to his record-smashing senior season, which came to a close Friday night, when No. 1 seed and undefeated Bishop McDevitt pinned a 27-7 loss on Lancaster Catholic in a District 3 AAA semifinal game.
Four of those losses - to Erie McDowell, Penn Manor, Wilson and McD - came this season. The Crusaders went 16-0 and won the state title last fall, one year after going 11-1, that loss to Wyomissing in the district semifinals.
Clay closed out his career against McD with - unofficially - 97 yards and a TD. He also had an 81-yard TD jaunt called back in the fourth quarter because of a holding call - and he did it on a gimpy ankle; he spent a good chunk of this week hobbling around in a walking boot.
Unofficially, he finished this season with 2,440 yards, giving him 5,883 career yards - No. 1 in L-L League history.
VIDEO: Roman Clay chats with Patriot-News' Eric Epler after loss to McD.
VIDEO: Roman Clay at Media Day in August, previewing this season.
Chatted with Clay after the loss to McD and put a bow on his career and the legacy he and the Crusaders' seniors will leave behind at Catholic High.