C-L CLINCHES CLASS A PLAYOFF SPOT; SHARE OF KSAC TITLE WITH WIN OVER REDBANK VALLEY

Lions also tie KSAC's regular-season winning steak

STRATTANVILLE – It was a night of accomplishments for the Clarion-Limestone football team Friday night when the Lions beat Redbank Valley 29-8.

First and foremost, C-L (8-0 overall, 7-0 KSAC) clinched its fourth straight District 9 Class A playoff berth. Secondly, the Lions clinched at least a share of their second consecutive KSAC title. Thirdly, C-L tied Redbank Valley’s KSAC/Little 12/Southern 7 record of 25 straight regular-season victories. The Bulldogs set the mark from 1994-1996. The record goes back to games played from at least 1951 on.

"The District 9 playoffs were our first goal," C-L head coach Todd Smith said. "We did it. I think our guys are happy, but we certainly aren’t satisfied. We have other things we would like to accomplish.

"As far as the KSAC goes, that is another goal of ours. We would like to go down to Moniteau next week and get it to ourselves. As far as the winning streak goes, it is not really something we talk about. It is something that says something about our program over a number of years. It doesn’t have a lot to do with our team this year. I think it is something that is nice, but as far as it meaning a lot to our team I can’t say it does."

For the longest time it looked like Redbank Valley wanted to spoil C-L’s Senior Night party basically outplaying the Lions in the first half. Redbank Valley outgained the Lions 101 yards to 90 in the first half, but C-L had the better of the score thanks to a diving 15-yard touchdown catch from Brad Beggs on a pass thrown by Hayden Johnston with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

"C-L is a good team," Redbank Valley head coach Ed Wasilowski said. "We controlled them the first half, but we were kind of outmanned in the second half."

Redbank Valley’s best chance to score in the first half came with 7:13 left in the half when Brock Shaffer pushed a 33-yard field goal attempt wide left. The Bulldogs had been looking at a first-and-10 from the C-L 14-yard line but lost five yards managed to get no farther.

"I think that drive took some wind out of our sails," Wasilowski said. "Plus we had a couple of injuries coming into the game, and we had a couple of more tonight. I don’t think the kids recovered from that."

In the second half an Erik White interception helped set up the Lions first score of the half.

White picked off a Shane Reed pass at the C-L 45-yard line and returned it to the Redbank Valley 43. But a penalty on C-L’s first play put the Lions back at their own 46 facing first-and-20.

That was no problem thanks to a 2-yard run by Scott Davis, a 15-yard run by Johnston and a 7-yard run by Huwar. The 24 combined yards gave C-L a first down at the Redbank 29-yard line.

C-L then managed to get a first-and-goal at the 4-yard line, but where still at the 4 facing fourth-and-goal when it called time-out.

Following the time-out, Johnston can a quarterback option keeper four yards for the touchdown. Brendan Huwar’s two-point conversion run made it 14-0 with 3:23 left in the third quarter.

After forcing a three-and-out punt by the Bulldogs, C-L took over at its own 30-yard line.

After picking up a first down on two plays, Huwar broke loose for a 47-yard run to the Redbank Valley 8-yard line with Shane Reed making a touchdown-saving tackle.

That proved big four plays later when the Bulldogs stopped Huwar short of the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the one.

But Huwar not getting into the end zone actually ended up helping the Lions when Dave Eggleton tackled Skyler Smith in the end zone for a safety, the Lions second safety caused in as many weeks. The two-pointer made the score 16-0 with 9:56 left to play.

A nice return of the free kick by White set the Lions up at the Redbank Valley 46-yard line, and a 33-yard pass from Johnston to Tuffy Brooks put them at the 13-yard line.

But once again it looked like the Bulldogs defense would come up with a big stand forcing the Lions to go for it on fourth-and-6 from the 9-yard line. But Johnston lofted a pass into the corner of the end zone, and Beggs made his second highlight reel diving catch of the night to give the Lions a 22-0 lead with 7:59 left to play. The two touchdowns give Beggs 14 receiving touchdowns and 15 overall touchdowns on the season.

"Brad has made great catches all year," Smith said. "It is not just that he has great hands, it is also his willingness to lay out for the ball. He is having a super year."

After stopping Redbank Valley on a fourth-down attempt from the C-L 36, the Lions proceeded to go on a 6-play drive to put the game away.

The big play was a 46-yard pass from Johnston to Beggs to the Redbank Valley 9-yard line. Huwar scored the touchdown on a 1-yard run with 3:42 left in the game.

Redbank Valley’s lone score came on the C-L junior varsity defense with five seconds left when back-up quarterback Jason Smith ran a quarterback bootleg 87 yards for a touchdown.

As the scoreboard indicated, the Lions dominated the second half outgaining Redbank Valley 257-52 in the half until the long run by Jason Smith.

C-L also shutdown Redbank Valley’s to receiver Tyson Truitt holding him to zero catches and negative nine yards rushing on one carry. It was the first time since at least his sophomore year he has been kept without a catch. The Lions also prevented Reed and the dangerous Redbank Valley return game from giving the Bulldogs good field position.

"We doubled team Truitt tonight," Smith said. "He is the guy who can really make a big play for them. We thought if we could take that away, it would be a lot more difficult for them to score. We were successful with that."

Johnston, Beggs and Huwar had big nights for the Lions.

Johnston was 10-for-18 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns while running 10 times for 58 yards and a score. He also made seven tackles on defense and intercepted a pass.

Huwar had 25 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown, while Beggs had four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Skyler Smith had 14 carries for 70 yards for Redbank Valley, while Reed was 4-for-13 passing for 46 yards and two interceptions.

Score by Quarter

Redbank Valley 0 0 0 8 – 8

Clarion-Limestone 6 0 8 15 – 29

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CL – Brad Beggs 15 pass from Hayden Johnston (Nate Tote kick failed), 1:56

Third Quarter

CL – Johnston 4 run (Brendan Huwar run), 3:10

Fourth Quarter

CL – Safety (Skyler Smith tackled in end zone by Dave Eggleton), 9:59

CL – Beggs 9 pass from Johnston (Pass failed), 7:59

CL – Huwar 1 run (Tote kick), 3:42

RV – Jason Smith 87 run (Jason Smith run), 0:05

Team Statistics

RV CL

First Downs 10 16

Rushes-Yards32-194 45-191

Passing Yards 46 156

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 4-13-2 10-18-1

Total Yards 240 347

Penalties-Yards 0-0 6-60

Punts-Avg 3-36.0 2-32.0

Fumble-Lost 1-1 1-0

Individual Statistics

Rushing – Redbank Valley: Skyler Smith 14-70, Shane Reed 9-39, Brandon Johnston 2-11, Tyson Truitt 1-(-9), Bryce Miller 2-(-1), Matt Steffy 3-(-3), Jason Smith 1-87. Clarion-Limestone: Brendan Huwar 25-113, Hayden Johnston 10-58, Brad Beggs 2-9, Scott Davis 3-1, Neil Reynolds 1-8, Cam Speer 3-(-2), Kaleb Klosky 1-4.

Passing – Redbank Valley: Shane Reed 4-for-13, 46 yards, 2 interceptions. Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston 10-for-18, 156 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Receiving – Redbank Valley: Brandon Johnston 3-32, Skyler Smith 1-14. Clarion-Limestone: Brad Beggs 4-77, Tuffy Brooks 4-65, Brendan Huwar 1-6, Erik White 1-8.

Interceptions – Redbank Valley: Tyson Truitt. Clarion-Limestone: Hayden Johnston, Erik White.

Fumble Recoveries – Clarion-Limestone: David Ferguson

Sacks – Clarion-Limestone Dan Jeannerat.