Information from WYSH Radio
After a disastrous start that included two interceptions, one of which was returned for a score, and falling behind 21-0 after the first quarter, the Clinton Dragons staged a comeback that will be talked about for years to come as they rallied for a heart-pounding 45-42 triumph over the visiting Morristown East Hurricanes on Friday.
The Hurricanes dominated the first quarter, taking the first possession of the game the length of the field in a drive that lasted 5:05 and scoring on a one-yard Bryson Stephens plunge.
The next drive resulted in a rare mistake by senior quarterback Tyler Thackerson that resulted in an interception.
One play later, the Hurricanes’ Frank Rogers galloped 71 yards to give Morristown East a 14-0 lead.
With :08 to go in the opening quarter, Thackerson threw another pick that was returned 41 yards for a score by Chase Cole, and at the end of the first, the stunned Dragons were down 21-0.
Clinton lit up its portion of the scoreboard with 7:18 to go in the second quarter on a Thackerson-to Cameron Washington touchdown pass that covered 12 yards.
On the Hurricanes’ next play from scrimmage, however, Stephens broke loose for a 61-yard score of his own on the ground and Morristown East led 28-7 with 6:50 to play.
From that moment on, though, Clinton woke up and joined the evening’s festivities in earnest, scoring the game’s next three touchdowns.
Thackerson tucked the ball down and took off for a 60-yard score 34 seconds later, and with 1:30 to play in the second, Thackerson capped another Dragon drive with a one-yard run.
Following a fumble recovery by Jayven Booker, Thackerson found Beau Crisp from 22 yards out for a score to make it 28-27, but the extra point hit the crossbar and skittered off, leaving the Dragons down by one at halftime.
Dylan Noe threw a beautiful 22-yard score of his own to Jesse Tipton to open the third quarter that was answered by a second Thackerson-to-Crisp 22-yarder, with a Thackerson run for two points tying the game at 35-35 with 4:18 to play in the third.
The Dragons took their first lead of the game early in the fourth on a Deonta Duncan four-yard run, and Garrett Zody, who had his share of struggles in week one, kicked a 30-yard field goal with 3:33 to play to put Clinton up 45-35.
The ‘Canes scored again with 2:31 to play on a Noe touchdown pass to Grant Sliger and had a chance to win the game after pushing their way down the field following a fourth-down stop on defense, but Noe mishandled the final snap of the game and his 35-yard heave in to the end zone was over the head of his intended receiver, and the Dragons celebrated the improbable, thrilling, home-opening win.
Clinton improved to 1-1 while Morristown east fell to 0-2 on the season.
See a scoring summary and stats on WYSH Radio here.
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