Clements rallies to beat Elkins
Rangers score four unanswered TDs to top Knights
September 22, 2007
By STEVEN THOMSON
Down by 14 points late in the first half, Clements responded with four unanswered touchdowns to defeat Elkins 35-21 in a District 23-5A matchup Friday night at Hall Stadium.
Elkins was having its way in the second quarter, using big blocks by its offensive line to open holes for Broderick Thomas. The Knights' quarterback ran for 116 yards and two scores in the first half.
Thomas scored on a 3-yard run in the first period, then came back with a 49-yard romp that staked Elkins to a 21-7 lead with 5:21 left in the second quarter.
Clements began its comeback with a 60-yard drive in seven plays. A 32-yard option pass from wide receiver Kyle Hoke to Walker Dille set up a 9-yard touchdown run from Chris Lenoir with 2:43 remaining.
"That gave us a big lift," Clements linebacker Matt Heitzer said. "Now we're only down seven. We felt like that if we come out in the second half and hold their offense like we did, our offense was going to go down and score multiple times."
Elkins took advantage of an interception by Jacob Stiebel to begin the third period with good field position. The Knights moved to the Rangers' 14 before failing on a fourth-and-3 option run.
Clements took the initiative and scored on three of its next four possessions. Lenoir was unstoppable, running for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the second half alone.
Lenoir finished the game with 241 yards and three scores.
"We came out in the first half, and we weren't clicking on all cylinders," Lenoir said. "As the game wears on, we keep pounding the rock. We know that we have the ability and the strength to wear teams down in the second half and the fourth quarter."
Big defensive plays put Elkins in a hole near the end of the third period. The Knights had to punt from their own end zone, giving Clements the ball at Elkins' 24.
Five plays later, Heitzer scored on a 4-yard run up the middle.
Elkins had another short drive halted as the fourth period began.
Lenoir paced Clements on a game-clinching 62-yard drive, carrying on six of the first seven plays before scoring from 8 yards out.
Elkins amassed 245 yards of offense in the first half, with Thomas running for 116 yards and throwing for 78 yards.
