Dragons grounded in 61-13 finale at Heritage
Clinton’s Jaxon Herrell (11) caps off a 12-yard reception with a stiff arm to a Heritage de- fender while trying to find running room on the on the short side of the field. (photo:Tony Cox )
The game was the regular-season finale for both teams, but Clinton (3-7) had already qualified for the playoffs.
The Dragons, who finished as the No. 3 seed in Region 3-5A, will travel to face Region 4 runner-up McMinn County (5-5) in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Friday.
Clinton and McMinn County will meet in the opening round in Athens for the second-consecutive year.
Heritage, founded in the late 1970s, set a single-game record for points scored. The Mountaineers (5-5) kept their starting offensive players in the game until they scored their final touchdown with 8:58 remaining.
The last time Clinton allowed at least 61 points was in a 71-43 loss to Anderson County in 2016. The 48-point loss was the Dragons’ worst since a 67-6 home defeat against Powell in 2013.
Clinton quarterback Jaylon Benjamin connected with Bryson Maddox and Ryin Jones on two long touchdown passes.
Benjamin completed 13 of 32 passes for 196 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Dragons did not record a first down rushing.
Maddox led Clinton receivers with four catches for 83 yards, while Aalijah Davidson had three receptions for 14 yards.
Will’Quis Young returned three kickoffs for 49 yards, and Ryker Armes returned two for 44 yards. Travian Bounds recorded a sack for the Dragons’ defense.
Heritage outgained Clinton 417 yards to 214. Mountaineer quarterback Gaven French completed 15 of 20 passes for 275 yards and five touchdowns, connecting twice on 60-plus-yard TDs to Ethan Bryant and on two shorter scoring throws to Teagan Ruehling.
Heritage running back Thomas Bowers carried eight times for 118 yards and three touchdowns, adding a catch and an interception. Cole McCampbell sacked Benjamin twice.
The Mountaineers opened the game with a 64-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 34-yard TD run by Bowers. Bladimir Artiga’s extra point gave Heritage a 7-0 lead with 10:48 left in the first quarter.
A coffin-corner kickoff pinned the Dragons at their own 3-yard line. After two incomplete passes and a 2-yard loss on a rushing play, Blane Collins was called on for the first of his seven punts.
Kicking from his own end zone, Collins punted the ball 29 yards, which Dylan Burgess returned 25 yards to the Dragon 5. On the next play, Burgess handed off to French and tossed a TD pass to Ruehling. Artiga’s kick extended the lead to 14-0 with 9:30 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts before Clinton recorded its first first down on an 11-yard pass from Benjamin to Jaxon Herrell. Each team punted again, and after Maddox caught an 18-yard pass, Benjamin was sacked by McCampbell, leading to another Clinton punt.
Heritage scored again early in the second quarter when French connected with Bryant on a 65-yard touchdown pass, putting the Mountaineers up 20-0 after a failed two-point conversion with 11:49 left in the half.
Clinton responded with a 63-yard scoring drive in five plays. Maddox was wide open down the left sideline when Benjamin found him for a 47-yard TD. Emanuel Ortiz’s extra point cut the deficit to 20-7 with 10:01 remaining.
Heritage answered quickly. French completed a 32-yard pass to Ruehling, and a personal foul moved the ball to the Dragon 12. Three plays later, Ruehling slid into the end zone on a 7-yard pass. Artiga’s kick extended the lead to 27-7 with 8:16 left.
Clinton attempted a fourth-and-2 conversion from its own 27, but failed. Although Clinton’s Lucas Butz tackled Bryant for a 10-yard loss on the next play, Heritage responded with a 12-yard screen pass to Burgess and a 26-yard TD pass to Bowers. Artiga’s kick put the Mountaineers up 34-7 with 5:34 left in the half.
The teams traded punts again before Connor Wheeler intercepted Benjamin with 1:03 left. Bowers then ran 47 yards for a touchdown, giving Heritage a 40-7 halftime lead after a missed kick.
Mercy-rule timing began in the third quarter. Bowers intercepted Benjamin on Clinton’s first drive, returning it 38 yards to the Dragon 15. Three plays later, Bowers scored on a 1-yard run. Artiga’s kick put Heritage ahead 47-7.
Following a Clinton punt, French completed a short pass to Bryant, who took it 60 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 54-7 after the extra point.
Armes returned the ensuing kickoff 28 yards, and two plays later, Benjamin connected with Jones for a 53-yard TD. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 54-13 with 11:49 left.
Heritage recovered an onside kick at its own 47. Jackson Caylor began the drive with a 20-yard rush and finished it three plays later when French hit him for a 23-yard TD. Artiga’s kick provided the final margin.