Dragons Come Home

Panthers spoil Clinton’s party, 35-0

September 19, 2018 by Conner McCarty

The Dragon Statue at the Clinton High School Football Field blew smoke only one time on Friday night—to mark the end of regulation.

The Dragons (1-3, 0-1) were unable to muster up any points, and the visiting Powell Panthers (4-1, 1-1) left Clinton with a 35-0 victory. Powell’s offense featured a duel-quarterback threat that put up 274-yards and a touchdown on the Clinton defense.

“We have to go to work on the individual. When you are watching, you feel like we are in position, but we are still not making plays,” said interim Head Coach Jason Hamock on his secondary.

Powell started the game fast—after forcing a Clinton three-and-out, on a second down from their own 18-yardline, senior quarterback Walker Trusley found fellow senior wide receiver Riley Bryant on an out-route to the left.

Bryant found the sideline and raced to the endzone for a 82-yard touchdown. Senior placekicker James Hyman added the extra point, and the Panthers led 7-0 with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter.

The Dragons failed to get anything going offensively, and again, were forced to punt. Clinton’s offense would return shortly, after the Panthers fumbled a bad snap, and senior lineman Christian Hopper recovered. However, the Dragons would go three and out.

A junior Bryce Collins punt was downed at the Powell four-yardline, and after a holding call, the Panthers started the ensuing drive at their own two-yardline. On a second and seven from their own 17-yardline, senior quarterback Duece Shreve threw a quick-out to the right flat that was caught by senior wide receiver Riley Bryant. The senior found some space and reached Dragon territory, before being taken down at the Clinton 45-yardline, for a 38-yard gain. The Panthers would move the ball all the way down to the Clinton one-yardline, before junior running back Eli Owens powered his way off left guard for six. Hyman’s PAT capped off an impressive 12-play 98-yard drive, which took 5:42 off the clock. With 8:37 remaining in the second quarter, Powell led 14-0.



On the ensuing drive, the Dragons were forced to punt. Collins’ punt was downed at the Powell 30-yardline, and the Panthers’ offense went back to work. On a first down from the Clinton 49-yardline, Trusley found junior wide out Tyler Kirkess streaking down the Panthers’ sideline. The 45-yard pass would put the Powell offense in scoring position, at the Clinton four-yardline. Two plays later, sophomore running back Fernando Frances would punch it in from a yard out. Hyman’s extra point was good, and Powell went into the halftime break with a 21-0 advantage.



The Panthers would receive the second half kickoff, and would add to their lead. From the Clinton 41-yardline, on a third and two, Trusley handed off to Shreve on a jet sweep to the right. Shreve squared up and threw a strike down the Powell sideline to junior wide receiver Tyler Kirkess, for a 27-yard completion into the Clinton redzone. Two plays later, Bryant took a shovel pass off left guard into the endzone, from five yards out. Hyman’s kick increased the Panthers’ lead to 28-0 with 10:10 left in the third quarter.



Clinton’s offensive woes continued on the ensuing drive. A 14-yard draw play to senior Isiah Washington would put the Dragons in Powell territory. However, a fumbled snap on the next play resulted in a turnover, and the Panthers’ offense would start from their own 49-yardline.

On the first play of the drive, Shreve would complete a pass to Kirkess down to the Clinton 21-yardline, for 31-yards. The Panthers would move the ball down to the three-yardline, before Owens would power his way off left guard to paydirt. Hyman’s point after was good, and Powell led 35-0 with 6:33 left in the third quarter. Both teams would be scoreless through the fourth quarter.