STRATTANVILLE, Pa. (D9Sports) – Clarion scored three consecutive touchdowns in the second half after falling behind upset-minded Clarion-Limestone, 14-6, Friday night to win the Black & Blue Brawl Trophy over the Lions, 25-20.
(Photo by Bruce Lux)
It was the 14th straight win in the series for the Bobcats (4-0).
“I give our kids a lot of credit for coming back in the second half, and to (C-L head coach) Dave (Eggleton) and his staff for the job they did preparing,” said Clarion head coach Larry Wiser.
Clarion-Limestone took a 14-6 lead on their second snap of the second half when quarterback Brenden Makray hit Kyle Kerle down the near sideline for a 70-yard bomb that extended the Lions 8-6 halftime lead just 49 seconds into the third.
Spencer Miller was the Hager Paving Player of the Game. Photo by Kyle Yates. Check out more of Yates’ work at www.facebook.com/YatesPhoto
Clarion’s quarterback Spencer Miller answered using his legs to score from 38 yards out just five plays later capping a 56-yard drive. While the 2-point conversion failed, Clarion was back within two, 14-12.
Two Bobcat possessions later they began on the Lions’ 44-yard line thanks to a short punt.
Colton Rapp broke free for the only time in the game scoring from 44 yards and giving Clarion its first lead of the football game at 18-14 after three quarters.
Keeven Weaver’s 44-yard interception return 6:27 remaining in the ball game gave the Bobcats a 25-14 lead.
“Spencer (Miller), Colton Rapp & Keeven Weaver all came up huge in the second half, they made big plays offensively and defensively,” said Wiser.
Weaver’s interception was the second of three in a row by Clarion’s defense and marked the third straight game the Bobcats scored on defense.
Clarion-Limestone was able to respond as the Lions put together a seven-play, 55-yard drive that saw Makray hit Riley Hummell from 19 yards out with 2:47 to play.
C-L quarterback Brenden Makray. Photo by Kyle Yates. Check out more of Yate’s work at www.facebook.com/YatesPhoto
Logan Minich however, recovered the Lions’ onside kick attempt.
But the Bobcats lost six yards on three plays and punted the ball back to the Lions with two minutes left.
Clarion-Limestone started at its 8-yard line after a good kick by Miller, and Makray and the Lions’ offense were able to pick up two first downs before a holding and a block in the back penalty put C-L in a fourth-and-long were Makray was sacked for a 1-yard loss by a host of Bobcats ending the game.
Being the underdogs, the C-L controlled the first quarter gaining five first downs to Clarion’s zero.
Makray miss-fired on his first two pass attempts but then proceeded to complete eight in a row. He connected with Colby Himes on a 7-yard strike six seconds into the second quarter that put C-L ahead 8-0 following a 12-play, 80-yard drive.
C-L limited Rapp to just 75 yards on 18 carries, while Miller led the Bobcats with 80 yards on just nine attempts.
Colton Rapp had a touchdown for the Bobcats. Photo by Kyle Yates. Check out more of Yates’ work at www.facebook.com/YatesPhoto
“We played our hearts out tonight, we just made a few errors and there were some things we didn’t capitalize on,” said Clarion-Limestone head coach Dave Eggleton. “We had a really good showing, but it wasn’t enough tonight.”
The Bobcats answered in time when Camden Boggess scored from three yards out with 37 seconds left remaining in the first half.
Clarion was penalized eight times for 63 yards in the first half and also lost a fumble after it penetrated as deep as C-L 9-yard line.
“The penalties did hurt us in the first half, we didn’t make any major adjustments at halftime we just settled down a bit,” said Wiser.
Makray led C-L throwing for 234 yards and three touchdowns but was also intercepted three times. Kerle had four grabs for 124 yards and the score.
C-L’s Colby Himes had a first-half touchdown for the Lions. Photo by Kyle Yates. Check out more of Yate’s work at www.facebook.com/YatesPhoto
Story by Shane Lux
Clarion 25 Clarion-Limestone 20
Clarion – 0 6 6 13 – 25
C-L – 0 8 6 6 – 20
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
CL – Colby Himes 7 yd pass from Brenden Makray (Austin Newcomb rush), 11:54
CA – Camden Boggess 3 yd run (pass failed), :37
Third Quarter
CL – Kyle Kerle 70 yd pass from Makray (rush failed), 11:11
CA – Spencer Miller 38 yd run (pass failed), 9:41
CA – Colton Rapp 39 yd run (pass failed), 2:03
Fourth Quarter
CA – Keeven Weaver 44 yd interception return (Archer Mills pat), 6:27
CL – Riley Hummell 19 yd pass from Makray (rush failed), 2:47
Team Stats
CA CL
First Downs 14 14
Rushes-Yards 42-167 25-54
Passing Yards 117 234
Comp-Att-Int 6-13-0 19-36-3
Total Yards 284 288
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 12-88 4-30
Punts-Avg. 4-42.7 4-34
Individual Stats
Rushing: Clarion – Spencer Miller 9-80, Colton Rapp 18-75, Sterling Conner 2-(-1), Camden Boggess 9-29, Keeven Weaver 1-4. Sam Minich 1-(-2), Team 1-(-1), Brendan Zerfoss 1-(-17). Totals: 42-167. Clarion-Limestone – Austin Newcomb 6-10, Riley Hummell 3-23, Chris Peace 9-38, Ayden Wiles 1-2, Brenden Makray 6-(-19). Totals: 25-54.
Passing: Clarion – Spencer Miller 6-for-13 117 yards. Clarion-Limestone – Brenden Makray 19-for-36 234 yards, 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions.
Receiving: Clarion – Conner 2-36, Keeven Weaver 2-48, Boggess 1-0, Thomas Wurster 1-33. Clarion-Limestone – Riley Hummell 6-65, Colby Himes 2-19, Ayden Wiles 3-12, Austin Newcomb 3-19, Kyle Kerle 4-124, Chris Peace 1-(-5).
Interceptions: Clarion – 3 – Thomas Hearst, Spencer Miller, Keeven Weaver.
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