His former team dug itself into a 35-0 halftime deficit in a 50-14 Greater Buckeye Conference loss, but it was his night as the Blue Streaks honored the greatest player to ever come through Sandusky.

Last night, Pace became the first player in Sandusky's 107-year history to get his jersey, No. 75, retired in a special dedication at halftime.

''When I heard it, I was excited,'' Pace said. ''Anytime you're honored in that respect, and it hasn't happened in 107 years, to be a part of Blue Streak history forever is always special. It's something I cherish. It's always fun any time you come back to your home and visit your family. To be here and to be honored is always special also.''

Pace doesn't get to make it back to Sandusky as much as he would like, but he enjoys his time when he does.

''I'm a little older now and have a family,'' he said. ''I probably don't come home as much as I used to. I try to come a couple times a year.''

The loss wasn't what the Blue Streaks anticipated on Pace's dedication night. Findlay came out and scored five touchdowns in the first half to go up 35-0, dominating every aspect of the game.

Matt Alexander scored two TDs, while Ryan Kuhlman, Chris Schneider and Tom Miller also added scores in the first half for Findlay.

The second half was more of the same as Findlay went up 50-0 before Sandusky found the end zone. Aries Irby broke off an 11-yard TD run and Martel Brown nabbed a 7-yard TD reception from second string quarterback Richie Niehm to make the score more respectable.

Pace smiled when his Blue Streaks scored, while he reminisced with former players and faculty. Pace, now an All-Pro tackle with St. Louis Rams in the NFL, was a 1994 graduate who earned All-Ohio and All-America honors while playing for the Blue Streaks.

He then went to Ohio State, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Outland Trophy in 1996. He won the Lombardi Award in '95 and '96, as the nation's best college lineman. Pace was the first-overall selection in the 1997 NFL draft and helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2000.

Pace also said why he was enjoying his week off.

''The older you get the more you enjoy the bye week,'' he said. ''Anytime you get a week off about midway through the season is always good to get re-energized for the upcoming games. We're 4-2 and we're just trying to make a run. We got the meat of our schedule coming up. We just got to take it game by game and hopefully we got some wins and get into the playoffs.''