Eckerson throws for 318 yards, 3 TDs in shootout loss to Powell

October 29, 2025 by Dan McWilliams Special to The Courier News

Powell quarterback Deuce Rodgers ran for three touchdowns to break open a game that was close at the half as the Panthers beat Clinton 59-28 on Friday in the Dragons’ homecoming game.

The Panthers improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Region 2-5A.

DeZion Jackson returned two Dragon kickoffs for TDs, and Johonauan Moore ran for a 71-yard score as Clinton fell to 2-6, 1-5.

Dragon senior receiver Bryson Maddox, in his final home game, caught seven passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 32 career TD receptions.

Maddox broke J’Quan Thomas’ all-time TD catch mark of 29 with his score against South-Doyle the week before.

Clinton quarterback Mason Eckerson went 22-for-36 passing for 318 yards and three TDs with one interception against Powell.

Austyn Phillips caught five passes for a game-high 95 yards for the Dragons.

Will Young recorded the team’s other receiving TD as part of his four receptions for 82 yards.

Cameron Anderson rushed nine times for 60 yards for the hosts.

Clinton kicker Emmanuel Ortiz was perfect on four extra points.

Dragon defender Jaxon Herrell led the team with 11 tackles.

Charlie Turbyville added nine stops including a sack and another tackle for loss.

Noah Gaylor made seven tackles with a sack and an additional TFL.

Teammate Braylen Hayden matched him with seven tackles.

“I hate it for the seniors; the wheels kind of fell off a little bit,” Clinton Head Coach Jake Dawson said after the game.

“I am so proud of these guys — the way they play, the way they compete,” he said.

Rodgers led Powell on the ground with 12 rushes for 110 yards and three TDs.

The Panthers rushed 30 times for 265 yards and six scores.

The Dragons lost the ball on downs to begin the game.

Powell took over and went 77 yards in 12 plays for a score.

A Rodgers 18-yard TD pass to Tyric Thomas was nullified by one of the Panthers’ 14 penalties.

But Ory Vananda-Walker scored soon after on a 3-yard run.

Powell kicker Caleb Lanius made the first of his eight extra points for a 7-0 lead with 5:22 to go in the first quarter.

The Dragons tied the score after a 75-yard drive.

Maddox caught a 40-yard pass in two-on-one coverage.

And moments later, after a long rollout by Eckerson, Maddox reeled in a 16-yard TD catch while also being double-teamed. Ortiz made it 7-7 with 2:45 on the clock.

Ortiz boomed a touchback after a Powell penalty on the TD, but Moore broke through the Dragon line for his long scoring play and a 14-7 Panther advantage with 59.5 seconds remaining.

Clinton responded seven plays later with a 25-yard TD pass from Eckerson to Young.

The Dragon quarterback, who hit Anderson on a 21-yard pass to end the first quarter, was nearly sacked on the scoring play before finding Young open to tie the game 14-all at the 9:25 mark of the second period.

Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards for a score and a 21-14 lead.

The Dragons again evened the game after Young caught a 31-yard pass, and Maddox added receptions of 13 and 7, the latter for a score to make it a 21-21 contest with 5:22 to play in the half.

Powell went on the game’s longest drive, taking 5:02 off the clock, before Lanius connected on a 38-yard field goal with 19.7 seconds left in the first half as the Panthers took a 24-21 lead into the locker room.

A Gaylor sack was erased by a penalty to start the third quarter, and Rodgers zigzagged his way for a 35-yard TD run and a 31-21 lead.

Panther defender Joshua Kay forced a Dragon fumble, and William Taylor III recovered it.

Then Rodgers found Thomas for a 27-yard pass and scored again himself on an 18-yard play for a 38-21 edge.

A short Clinton punt set up Powell at the Dragon 19, and Rodgers scored on a 9-yard run to put the visitors ahead 45-21 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.

Kay later intercepted Eckerson and returned it 34 yards to the Dragon 38. Vananda-Walker scored on a 16-yard run for a 52-21 lead with 5:19 remaining in the game.

The Dragons used direct snaps to Anderson to gain 49 yards on the ground, and Ryker Armes tallied on a 7-yard run to make it 52-28 with 54.6 seconds left. Jackson returned the next kickoff 77 yards for a TD.

Clinton concludes the season this Friday at Halls.





Mason Eckerson

Photo courtesy Matt Hagen



Bryson Maddox



Jaxon Herrell



Braylen Hayden