Dragons rip Beavers
Clinton rallies from eight-point hole for region victory
Clinton’s Austyn Phillips stiff-arms Karns’ Jax Ewing as he fights for extra yardage after hauling in a quick pass. Phillips caught nine passes for 108 yards, including a long of 17 yards, as the Dragons battled past the Beavers 21-14 on Thursday, Sept. 10. (photo:Tony Cox )
The win evened the Dragons’ record at 2-2, but more importantly gave them a mark of 2-0 in Region 2-5A games.
Clinton has won its first two region contests for the first time since 2010.
Quarterback Mason Eckerson increased his rushing touchdown total to nine after scoring three times against the Beavers (1-3, 1-1).
That included the game-winner with 5:38 to play. He also was a crisp 19-for-25 passing for 223 yards, leading an offense that did not put the ball on the ground, throw an interception, or have to punt.
Austyn Phillips caught nine passes for the Dragons for 108 yards, and Will Young added eight receptions for 98 yards.
Eckerson paced Clinton runners with 38 yards on 16 carries. Charlie Turbyville added 36 yards on eight handoffs, often running in heavy traffic when he got the ball.
Evan Jacobs led Clinton’s defense with nine tackles. Turbyville, White, Phillips, and Torpedo Rodriguez made six stops apiece.
Karns did not complete a pass in the game, with its only two tries ending in a 15-yard sack by Young and a 1-yard sack by Reed White.
Beaver running back DeMarcus Jones toted the ball 29 times for 163 yards and a TD.
Karns opened with a 61-yard drive for a score. Jones capped the series with a 1-yard run for a TD, and Jett Truax kicked the extra point to put Karns ahead 7-0 with 5:37 to go in the first quarter.
Clinton answered in less than two minutes, with Young turning a screen pass from Eckerson into a 42-yard gain, and Phillips taking another screen for 17 yards. Eckerson scored the TD on a 2-yard run. Tyson Ritter blocked Manny Ortiz’s extra point, leaving Karns up 7-6 with 3:43 on the clock.
Jason Bourne then returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and Truax’s kick gave the Beavers a 14-6 lead with only 13 more seconds taken off the clock.
The Dragons turned the ball over on downs twice. Karns punted once and also lost possession on downs.
With 12 seconds to go in the first half, Young appeared to score on a 58-yard pass, but a holding penalty nullified the TD.
Clinton lost the ball on downs to open the third quarter, with Ritter tackling Eckerson for a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-15.
The Dragons forced a punt, took over at their own 24, and drove 76 yards in seven plays for a score.
Phillips caught a 16-yard pass, and Young went 32 yards on another Eckerson toss, making a diving grab at the 1-yard line. The Clinton quarterback scored on a run on the next snap. Eckerson then completed a two-point conversion pass to Young to tie at 14-14 with 10:27 left.
Colton Jenkins tackled Jones for no gain after the Beavers went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 34. Clinton took over and sccored in six plays. Brendan Hayden caught a 13-yard pass for one first down, and Eckerson scored TD No. 3 on a 3-yard run. Ortiz’s extra point gave the visitors a 21-14 lead.
Clinton forced a punt and ran the clock out after Phillips made a diving catch for a first down and Eckerson gained 4 on a draw to move the chains again.
The Dragons return home this week to host the Central Bobcats in another region game.
