Dragons’ region run hits first roadblock
Clinton’s Dragons burst onto the field with American flags flying before Friday night’s home game against Central. The patriotic entrance continued the team’s Patriot Day recognition, with Clinton honoring first responders and veterans in attendance. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Bobcats improved to 5-0 overall, and at 3-0 are in a tie atop the Region 2-5A standings.
Clinton (2-3, 2-1) sustained its first region defeat.
Dragon quarterback Mason Eckerson connected on a 19-yard TD pass to Austyn Phillips to pull the home team to within two touchdowns at 21-7 with 3:53 on the clock in the second period.
But Central drove downfield and scored on a 2-yard run by Lanier Badgett with 30 seconds left, and two plays after the kickoff, Sullivan Biddle intercepted Eckerson and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown as time expired to put the Bobcats up 34-7 at the half.
Phillips finished with a game-high nine catches for 63 yards.
Eckerson’s screen passes to playmakers Phillips and Will Young, which have resulted in big gains this season, were defended well by Central.
Young caught six passes for 32 yards, while Noah Gaylor recorded Clinton’s longest reception at 32 yards. Eckerson’s totals were 20-for-36 for 146 yards and a TD with two interceptions.
Charlie Turbyville led the Dragon defense with nine tackles. Ian Jacobs and Reed White made seven tackles each and Ziyer Oliver six. White and Jaxson Alcorn recorded a sack apiece.
The Dragons did not run often but ended up with only 9 yards on 14 carries.
Central quarterback Kaden Long rushed for 54 yards on the Bobcats’ first play from scrimmage after the opening kickoff, and finished with 87 yards on six carries.
Long completed 11 of his 14 passes for 173 yards and two TDs. Receiver JJ Sackie caught three passes for 67 yards for the Bobcats, and Rondell North and Corey Hedrick hauled in a TD pass each from Long. Badgett scored another TD rushing for Central, which won despite 15 penalties for 117 yards.
After Long’s big play to start the game, Badgett scored on a 2-yard run only 63 seconds in. Owen McGaha’s extra-point kick put the visitors ahead 7-0.
The teams traded punts before Clinton punted a second time. That led to a 13-yard TD run by Rashodd Layne that gave the Bobcats a 14-0 advantage with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
Central then stopped Eckerson for a 3-yard gain at the Bobcat 49 on a fourth-and-5 run. On the next play, Long hit Hedrick for a 51-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 10:27 on the second-quarter clock.
The Dragons responded with an 81-yard TD drive in 13 plays.
A roughing-the-passer penalty on Central nullified an interception, and Eckerson found Phillips for a TD moments later. Manny Ortiz kicked the extra point to make it a 21-7 game.
Badgett’s tally in the final half-minute put the Bobcats ahead 28-7, and Biddle’s pick-six quickly turned it into 34-7 as the extra point went wide.
Clinton turned it over on downs to start the second half as Eckerson was sacked twice. After both teams punted, Long found Sackie for a 47-yard pass and North for a 4-yard TD toss and a 41-7 lead with 3:09 to play in the third quarter.
That brought on the mercy-rule running clock. Reginald Houston intercepted Eckerson and returned it 25 yards with 8:56 remaining in the game.
Central backups then entered on offense, and Bentley Ethridge scored on a 6-yard run with 1:04 to go.
The Dragons go on the road this Friday to Campbell County (0-5, 0-3) in another region matchup.
