Dragons almost catch a Wildcat

Oak Ridge pulls away in the final canto for the win

October 17, 2018 by Fred Strohl

Despite the Clinton Dragons’ 45-28 home loss to the Oak Ridge Wildcats last Friday, the home finale was probably the best performance of the season to date for Coach Randy McKamey’s team.

“We played like a good football team, but we lost to a good football team,” said McKamey of the Dragons, who play their final two regular-season games on the road – Friday at Campbell County and Oct. 26 at Karns.

“It looked like we might get blown out at the beginning, but we began to move the ball well and our defense was great until near the end when we ran out of gas.”

McKamey noted the Dragons were playing a No. 2-ranked team in the Wildcats following last week’s outing at No. 1-ranked Fulton, resulting in a loss, and his team has faced multiple challenges over the two-game stretch.

Still, McKamey said the Dragons worked hard in preparing for the Wildcats and his team responded well.

“We got good field position on kickoffs from Cody Parker, who ran back several long kickoffs that got our offense motivated,” McKamey said. “We also had good blocking on the offensive line, which helped us move the ball well. Oak Ridge has a good defense, but we did well against them. Our defense great stops all night.”

Following Tyrell Romano’s 18-yard touchdown run and Camden Miekodaj’s extra point to give Oak Ridge a 7-0 lead, the Dragons accomplished a 72-yard scoring drive in eight plays – including a long run by quarterback Luke Harrison – before Harrison carried the ball across the goal line from the one.

Noah Grumbach’s extra point tied the score at 7-7.

A 24-yard touchdown run by Oak Ridge quarterback Hebert Booker and Miekodaj’s extra point put the Wildcats up 14-7.

After the Dragons lost the football with a fumble during their next possession, the Wildcats took advantage of the turnover with a 16-yard TD run by Calen Thompson. Miekodaj’s extra point increased the Wildcats’ advantage to 21-7.

Dragons Parker and Luke Johnson set up the next score with a key defensive play when Johnson stripped the football from a Wildcat back and Parker pounced the on the ball for the recovery.

The Dragons then marched 31 yards in five plays as Harrison scored from one yard out on a keeper. The extra-point attempt went wide as Oak Ridge was ahead 21-13.

After Clinton’s defense held Oak Ridge on a four-and-out possession, the Dragons put together an impressive 73-yard drive with 14 plays culminating in Andrew Shoopman’s one-yard scoring run.

Isiah Washington ran the ball in for two points as the teams were tied 21-21 with 1:14 to go before halftime.



The Wildcats took the lead on the last play of the half when Miekodaj booted a 22-yard field goal as Oak Ridge was up 24-21.



The Ridgers took the second-half kickoff and put together a nine-play, 56-yard drive before Kai’Reese Pendergrass scored from the five. Miekodaj’s extra point boosted the Wildcats to a 31-21 advantage.



The Clinton offense drove 55 yards on the next possession as Harrison connected with Washington on a 35-yard pass play where the latter maneuvered his way between two defenders as he caught the ball just before crossing the goal line with 2:14 left in the third quarter. Grumbach’s extra point pulled the Dragons to within 31-28.



Oak Ridge began to dominate late in the quarter as Romano caught a five-yard TD pass from Booker. Jack Replogle’s two-run conversion run increased the difference to 39-28.



Parker took the ensuing kickoff and got to the Clinton 34. The Dragons ran four plays, electing to go on fourth down, but the run was short as the Dragons got as far as the Wildcats’ 34 with nine minutes to play.



Romano’s two-yard run with 6:58 left -- followed by Replogle’s two-point run on a busted extra-point kick attempt resulting from a misplayed snap – made the score 47-28.



A 52-yard punt return by Pendergrass finished the Oak Ridge scoring with five minutes remaining. Miekodaj’s extra point brought the final score to 54-28.



Harrison complete three of six Clinton passes for 51 yards and the touchdown. Booker completed six of eight Oak Ridge passes for 72 yards and a score.



Washington finished with 48 yards with two receptions, including the TD. Pendergrass caught three Oak Ridge passes for 41 yards while Romano finished with two yards for 15 yards, including the score.

Clinton’s Josh Breeden rushed 16 times for 58 yards, Harrison kept the ball five times for 52 yards and two scores, Washington gained 48 yards on 14 rushes and Shoopman ran six times for 16 yards and a score.



Offensively for Oak Ridge, Booker carried nine times for 94 yards and a score, Romano finished with nine rushes for 68 yards and two TDs, Jordan Graham carried seven times for 48 yards, Pendergrass scored a touchdown with three carries for 39 yards and Thompson’s three carries amounted to 21 yards, including a score.



Statistics:



First downs: Clinton 12, Oak Ridge 19



Rushes-yards: Clinton 47-179, Oak Ridge 34-279

Passing yards: Clinton 51, Oak Ridge 72

Comp.-Att.-Int: Clinton 3-7-1, Oak Ridge 6-9-0

Total plays-yards: Clinton 230, Oak Ridge 351

Penalties-yards: Clinton 3-23, Oak Ridge 6-47

Turnovers: Clinton 2, Oak Ridge 1

Time of possession: Clinton 27:55, Oak Ridge 20:05