Karns’ big plays stymie Dragons

November 2, 2022 by Dan McWilliams Special to The Courier News

Desean Bishop and Karns’ big-play offense were too much for Clinton as the host Beavers won 50-28 over the Dragons in the regular-season finale Friday.

Bishop rushed for 368 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries as Karns improved to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in Region 3-5A. A 28-point third quarter put the game away for the Beavers.

Clinton, despite four touchdowns from running back Jawan Goins, finished the season 5-5 overall and 0-5 in region games.

Dragon quarterback Joshuah Keith went 18-for-30 passing with two uncharacteristic interceptions, ending a long streak without a pickoff. Braylon Taylor was Clinton’s leading receiver with six catches for 45 yards. Jeremiah Lee added four receptions for 55 yards, and D’mon Marable had three for 60 yards. Marable also blocked an extra point and made several big hits on defense.

Clinton opened the game with a drive to the Karns 10-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs. Marable caught a 23-yard pass on the first play, Goins ran for 12 yards, and Keith for 16 more. Lee appeared to catch a 5-yard touchdown pass, but the play was wiped off by a penalty.

Karns responded with a 90-yard drive for a TD in only four plays. Bishop broke through the line and went 66 yards for the score. Blake Dawson’s extra point gave the Beavers a 7-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

Clinton went on another long drive that also ended on downs after the Dragons were sacked for the second time in the series. Goins caught a 10-yard screen pass from Keith for the biggest play of the drive, but a 12-yard loss after a bad snap derailed the drive.

Karns followed with another big play. After Clinton’s Derek Bean tackled a receiver for a 5-yard loss, Beaver quarterback Hayden Tarwater found wideout Tyson Taylor for a short pass down the right sideline that turned into a 57-yard touchdown. A bad snap on the extra point and Marable’s block left the score at 13-0 with 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

Elijah Batiste of the Dragons returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards, and Clinton scored on the next play. Goins ran off left end for a 15-yard touchdown scamper. Jacob Prewitt’s extra point shaved the Karns lead to 13-7 with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.

Karns’ next drive stalled at the Clinton 27-yard line. On the final play, Brandon Hollifield caused a fumble on a sack of Tarwater for a 15-yard loss. Gage Wergin recovered the bobble for the Dragons at the Clinton 27-yard line.

Clinton moved 73 yards in four plays for a score. Lucas Kendall caught a pass for 13 yards, and Goins ran 28 yards and 32 for the TD, breaking three or four tackles on the way to the end zone. Prewitt’s extra point gave Clinton a 14-13 lead with 5:41 left in the half.

The Beavers wasted no time as Bishop burst through the line for a 69-yard touchdown run. A two-point pass failed, but Karns led 19-14 with 5:20 on the clock.

An interception off a tipped pass and a 39-yard return by Walker Lockhart ended the next Dragon drive.

Karns drove five plays for a field goal as Dawson connected from 34 yards out for a 22-14 lead with 57 seconds left in the half.

Lee caught a 24-yard Keith pass to start the next Dragon drive, but a sack stalled the series as the half ended.

Karns drove 65 yards in six plays for a touchdown to start the second half. Bishop rushed for 35 yards, and Matthew Eldridge caught an 11-yard Tarwater pass for the TD and a 29-14 lead.

Another interception, this one by Desmond Lockett off another tipped pass, ended the next Dragon series. The Beavers, however, would punt.

A fumble at the Clinton 10-yard line curtailed the ensuing Dragon drive. Karns scored in three plays, all Bishop runs, as the standout Beaver back tallied on a 3-yard jaunt for a 36-14 lead.

A Lee 11-yard catch highlighted the next Dragon drive, but Clinton was forced to punt.

Karns went 66 yards in four plays for a score as the Beavers completed another short pass down the sideline that turned into a 55-yard touchdown. Taylor was on the receiving end of the TD that gave the home team a 43-14 lead.

The Dragons answered with a 28-yard pass from Keith to Marable and a 21-yard Goins TD run. Keith completed a two-point-conversion pass to Kendall to bring Clinton within 43-22 with 1:20 left in the third quarter.

Karns, though, struck quick as Bishop scored on an 80-yard TD run. Dawson’s point-after gave the hosts a 50-22 lead with 1:06 on the third-quarter clock.

Clinton closed out the game’s scoring as Goins ran for a 10-yard tally after Taylor caught a 9-yard Keith pass. A two-point try failed as the Dragons trailed 50-28 with 10:14 left in the game.

Karns, with backup running back Trystan Duke in the contest, ran off nearly 7 minutes before turning the ball over on downs with 3:09 remaining.

Clinton moved to the Karns 33-yard line, getting an 18-yard pass from Keith to Lee, before the Beavers’ fourth sack of the game ended the Dragons’ season.

Karns finished third in the region and earned a first-round playoff game this Friday at Walker Valley.