Eckerson steps up for Dragons, throws for 214 yards, TD against Oak Ridge
-
Clinton’s Mason Eckerson replaced Jaylon Benjamin at quarterback after an injury. Eckerson finished the game completing 19 of 31 for 214 yards and a touchdown. - Dwane Wilder
-
Clinton High School honored former player Charles McRae by retiring his number before Friday night’s rivalry game against Oak Ridge. McRae played for the University of Ten- nessee, where he earned All-SEC honors, and was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. - Dwane Wilder
The weather cooperated with the Clinton Dragons on Friday as they faced rival Oak Ridge, but the visiting Wildcats did not.
On a clear evening when former Clinton, University of Tennessee and NFL player Charles McRae’s No. 72 was retired in a pregame ceremony, the Wildcats took a 21-0 lead in the first half and never looked back in a 42-13 win.
Oak Ridge improved to 2-0, having played a full game on Aug. 21, but the Dragons’ season and home opener on Aug. 23 against Heritage was declared a no-contest because of lightning.
Clinton Coach Jake Dawson said his players made a few “game-one miscues” against Oak Ridge.
“In the first half we didn’t play well; in the second half, I thought we played very well,” he said. “Obviously, the game got away from us a little bit. We had a special-teams miscue. I think we were a couple of tackles away from it being a closer game.”
Dragon starting quarterback Jaylon Benjamin scored a second-quarter touchdown against Oak Ridge before leaving with an injury on a sack early in the third period.
All-state receiver Bryson Maddox scored Clinton’s second TD on a pass from backup quarterback Mason Eckerson later in the third.
Benjamin’s injury was to be evaluated over the Labor Day weekend, Dawson said, adding that “Mason did a good job.
“I think we have some capable guys,” he said. “We’ll piece it together. Hopefully, Jaylon will be back quickly.”
Wildcat running back Damillyan Porter was the big standout for the visitors, finishing with 220 yards and three TDs on 15 carries.
Quarterback Blaine Stansberry went 9-for-16 for 199 yards and two TDs, both long ones to receiver Will Pressley. Adam Washington returned an onside kick 65 yards for an OR score.
Eckerson came off the bench to go 19-for-31 through the air for 214 yards and a TD for the home team. Benjamin went 5-for-10 passing for 61 yards. Ryker Armes opened the game with a 27-yard rush for the Dragons, but Clinton was outgained 207-55 on the ground by Oak Ridge. The Wildcats had the edge in total yards too, 406-330.
Maddox caught five passes for 150 yards and a score.
Teammate Austyn Phillips added a game-high six catches for 65 yards. Eight different Dragons caught at least one pass.
“We’re eight or nine deep at receiver, which is unbelievable,” Dawson said. “We have a bunch of talented guys. Whenever you have talent, it’s our responsibility as coaches to figure out unique ways to get the ball to them. We did a good job of that at times.”
Charlie Turbyville sacked Stansberry for an 8-yard loss, and Davontae Fortson and Jaxon Herrell combined on another for 5 yards.
Armes and Konner Baylis led Clinton in tackles with seven each, with Armes having a tackle for loss for 14 yards. Herrell added six tackles including 1.5 TFLs for 11 yards.
Braylen Hayden recorded six tackles and Fortson four.
There were no turnovers, although both teams put the ball on the ground a few times with errant snaps, and combined for 24 penalties.
Wildcat kicker Eli Pearson kept the Dragon offense backed up with five touchbacks. He made the first five extra points.
Clinton punted twice and Oak Ridge once before Porter scored on a 56-yard run with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. He added a 49-yard TD burst with 10:28 to go in the first half.
Stansberry and Pressley hooked up on a 55-yard scoring pass with 7:03 left in the half.
The Dragons, after two early first downs and four punts, did not move the chains again until their first scoring drive.
Maddox, in tight coverage, caught a 40-yard pass from Benjamin, and three plays later Benjamin bulled his way into the end zone from 10 yards out. A two-point pass failed, and Oak Ridge led 21-6 with 2:57 left in the half.
Stansberry completed a 36-yard pass to Malik Howard late in the half, but Pearson’s 32-yard field goal as time expired was wide left.
The Wildcat signal-caller found Pressley again for a 60-yard TD and a 28-6 lead with only a minute gone in the third quarter.
Benjamin left three plays afterward, following a sack by Wayne Gibson.
Eckerson found Maddox wide open at the 11-yard line for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 4:34 left in the third period.
Emmanuel Ortiz connected on the extra point to bring the Dragons to within 28-13.
Washington, however, scooped up an onside kick and found clear sailing for a 65-yard TD return and a 35-13 advantage.
Porter capped the scoring with a 37-yard run with 6:15 to play.
The Dragons open Region 2-5A play this Friday at William Blount.
