Record-setting boot
Ortiz becomes Dragons’ all-time leading scorer among kickers
Clinton’s Hayden Ferguson fights through the Knoxville West defense for extra yardage after a catch during Friday night’s home game against the Rebels. Ferguson caught three passes for 38 yards in the Dragons’ 41-3 loss. (photo:Tony Cox )
Clinton fell to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in region games. West improved to 3-4, 2-2.
The highlight for the Dragons came in the first quarter as Manny Ortiz knocked home a 34-yard field goal to give him 105 career points, breaking Garrett Zody’s school record for a kicker.
Hayden Ferguson of Clinton then intercepted a pass on West’s first play from scrimmage, but the Dragons could not score again.
Clinton struggled with fumbles in the slick conditions, and penalties, while allowing six sacks.
West scored 27 points in the second quarter and added 14 more in the third to break the game open.
Dragon running back La’Dainian Pendergrass led the home team in rushing with 12 carries for 79 yards.
Clinton quarterback Mason Eckerson went 12-for-17 through the air for 116 yards. Austyn Phillips caught a team-high five passes for 23 yards, and Ferguson added three catches for 38 yards.
West outgained the Dragons 354 yards to 188.
Rebel running back Wytier Nelson finished with 129 yards and two second-half touchdowns on eight carries.
West quarterback Jack Harrison rebounded from the interception to finish with 136 yards and two TDs on 5-for-7 passing.
Receiver Silas Monroe caught both scoring tosses. West kicker Addison Cline kept the Clinton offense backed up with five touchbacks.
The Dragons opened the game with a 59-yard pass from Eckerson to Phillips to move the ball to the Rebel 14-yard line, but an ineligible-receiver-downfield penalty nullified the play. Brenden Hayden caught a 19-yard pass on the drive, Ferguson reeled in one for 16 and Pendergrass ran for 14 to keep the chains moving, but additional penalties forced Clinton to settle for a field goal as Ortiz made his record-breaker with 6:29 to go in the first quarter.
Ferguson’s interception set up the Dragons at the West 44, but Clinton turned the ball over on downs moments later.
Harrison hit Monroe for a 45-yard TD pass with 10:27 remaining in the first half, and the first of five extra points by Cline put the Rebels ahead 7-3.
Dragon punter Isaiah Williams boomed a season-high 48-yarder, but West—as the rain began pouring harder—scored two plays later on a 71-yard TD pass to Monroe for a 14-3 lead.
Dead-ball penalties on each team occurred on the next Clinton drive, which ended on downs at the Dragon 44 after a fake punt did not gain enough yardage.
West scored four plays later on a 5-yard run by Dominique Bingham. The extra-point snap was fumbled, leaving the score at 20-3 with 1:56 to play in the half.
Clinton was facing a fourth-and-11 at its own 19 soon after and tried to execute a quick kick, but Eckerson was tackled at his own 12. Maddox Moffitt then ran in a 12-yard TD with 28.8 seconds left to give the Rebels a 27-3 lead going into halftime.
Nelson took the first snap of the third quarter and ran 60 yards for a score and a 34-3 advantage. He scored again with 11.6 seconds remaining in the period on a 28-yard run.
Late defensive highlights for the Dragons included Davontae Fortson tackling a West runner for a 5-yard loss, and on the next play Charlie Turbyville punching out the ball for teammate Ian Jacobs to pounce on.
Clinton has this week off before non-region foe South-Doyle visits Oct. 16 on homecoming night for the Dragons.