Benjamin throws for 374 in Central loss
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Clinton’s Ryker Armes (20) looks for running room against Central’s Nick Chittum (32) during Friday night’s weather-delayed matchup in Knoxville. - Dwane Wilder
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Clinton quarterback Jaylon Benjamin (5) fires a pass from deep in Dragons territory during Friday night’s game at Central. Benjamin completed 34 of 48 attempts for 374 yards and two touchdowns, but the Dragons fell to the Bobcats 51-21. - Dwane Wilder
The Central Bobcats hurt Clinton both on the ground and through the air Friday in a 51-21 victory over the visiting Dragons in a Region 2-5A game at Dan Y. Boring Stadium.
Multiple lightning delays pushed the kickoff back 69 minutes, then the contest itself lasted more than 3 hours and finished around 11:15 p.m.
Clinton quarterback Jaylon Benjamin went 34-for-48 passing for 374 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice. Receiver Bryson Maddox, who was down with an injury for several minutes in the first half, returned to the game and finished with nine catches for 151 yards and a TD and recorded a sack on defense.
Will Young reeled in seven catches for 146 yards and a score for the Dragons (0-4, 0-3). Austyn Phillips caught nine passes for 78 yards, and Cameron Anderson added six receptions plus a rushing TD.
Central (4-1, 3-0) maintained its tie for the region lead with Powell as Bobcat quarterback Kaden Long went 9-for-16 passing for 244 yards and four TDs and rushed 10 times for 132 yards and three scores. Receiver Javaston Badgett caught four passes for 184 yards and three TDs.
The Bobcats outgained Clinton 491 yards to 464, compiling balanced totals of 246 yards passing and 245 rushing.
Davontae Fortson blocked a punt for Clinton. Jaxon Herrell led Dragon tacklers with nine.
The Dragons received the opening kickoff against Central and Benjamin completed passes on the first nine snaps as Clinton moved from its own 10-yard line to the Bobcat 42 before punting.
A delay penalty backed up Central to its own 6, but on the first play Badgett came open at the Bobcat 45 and reeled in with one hand Long’s pass and outsprinted a Dragon defender to the end zone to complete a 94-yard TD. Owen McGaha’s extra point gave Central a quick 7-0 lead with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter.
The Dragons immediately responded with Benjamin completing passes of 41 and 24 yards to Young, who made a leaping catch in tight coverage on the longer play and zigzagged left to right on the shorter play to score. Emmanuel Ortiz booted the extra point to level the game at 7-7 with 5:07 left.
Fortson then blocked Braeson Gourley’s punt for Central on the next series, but the Dragons punted back to the Bobcats soon after.
Central drove 73 yards for a score, with Long breaking several tackles on a 55-yard TD run for a 14-7 lead with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Dragons drove to the Bobcat 18, and Ortiz lined up for a field goal. A bad snap and an incomplete toss by Ortiz ended the possession. Backup quarterback Mason Eckerson was under center for Clinton for most of that series after Benjamin was shaken up on a running play.
Jaedyn Harris’ 73-yard scamper set up a 1-yard TD run by Long moments later for a 21-7 Bobcat advantage with 7:27 left in the half.
Clinton drove 91 yards in nine plays for its second tally. Young caught a 28-yard pass to get the Dragons going, and Maddox added two receptions of 17 yards apiece, the last for a touchdown. A bad snap foiled the extra-point kick, but Clinton closed to within 21-13 with 4:09 to play.
Ortiz lined the kickoff off a Bobcat upback, and Charlie Turbyville recovered the live ball at the Clinton 35. The Dragons lost the ball on downs, though, at their own 40.
Central punted on its next drive, but Clinton again turned it over on downs. Kicker Devon Cole booted a 30-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bobcats a 24-13 halftime lead.
Central broke open the game with a 27-point third quarter. Long connected with Badgett on a 55-yard TD on the second play of the half for a 31-13 Bobcat edge.
Kaylin Chesney’s interception of Benjamin led to a 21-yard TD run by Long to put Central up 38-13.
The Dragons answered with a 21-yard scoring run by Anderson, and Benjamin’s two-point pass to Braylen Hayden pulled the Dragons within 38-21.
Central added a 30-yard TD pass from Long to Badgett and a 22-yard scoring toss from Long to Brayden Starnes before the quarter ended, with the Bobcats missing their final extra point.
Maddox caught passes of 46 and 12 yards on Clinton’s final drive before Corey Headrick intercepted Benajmin with 6:22 to go.
Clinton hosts Campbell County (0-5, 0-3) this Friday in another region matchup.
