NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FINAL:

A: The following 14 cryptic clues, which all have a characteristic in common, are listed in alphabetical order by answer. Interlock the answers to these 14 clues into the smallest crossword-style grid possible.

Once you have created the grid, use the path directions provided to derive a sentence. Starting with the letter at the intersection of 1 Across and 1 Down, use each compass direction listed to travel to the next letter, passing over any blank spaces in the process.
Add the two digit solution you obtain to the obvious two digit number that you come across during your journey for your final answer.

1) Your orientation within the grid remains the same, i.e. if the next compass direction indicates North, you should always proceed directly upward in the grid.
2) The grid does not wrap around, so any direction that would have you ‘fall off’ the grid means that you should check your work for errors.
3) The final grid is square, and the extents of the words determine the grid size. For instance, if your final crossword is 13 X 13, there will be at least one letter each in row one, in column one, in row thirteen, and in column thirteen.
4) The smallest grid, for the purposes of this puzzle, is the one with the least number of blank squares.
5) Only one letter per crossword square.
6) Each word, when placed in the finished grid, will contain at least two checked (that is, it is part of an answer reading across and another reading down) letters.
7) Certain parts of the question can provide additional hints; even letters, long phrases and some words can too, if you look carefully enough.

Cryptic Crossword Clues:
1. Hanging around, head out, gone fishing
2. Idiotic, like me telling German “No”
3. Treebeard, Quickbeam beginning to enter into agreement
4. Act of gaping unusual on Haiti
5. Break down, tearing up over thankless person
6. Molten tin logs!
7. South American tree bark extract article is taking headline of poison, which moved back
8. Heads northeast after moving point relating to system control, in a sense?
9. Person telling me story about future
10. Wise man with gaming system for 7 foot Russians
11. Prophet to have a vision, for example, from passage
12. Destroys small and medium coals
13. Rev. Spooner’s grain chips have twists and turns
14. Unusual choker without left, right side

Path: SE,E,S,NE,NE,S,SW,SE,E,NE,NW,W,E,SW,E,SW,E,S,S,NW,S,NW,NW,S,S,SE,N,E,N,W,S,NW,E,N,W,E,NW,SW,W,N,E,E,SW,W,S

Z: Half of the difference between the two years that appear on this coin