Clinton’s defense had one touchdown called back by a penalty, and the Red Devil offense also lost a score to a penalty as the visiting Devils’ playoff hopes took a serious blow in a 36-20 Friday loss at Chesnee.
Clinton wound up getting flagged 14 times for 119 yards, and just never could get momentum in the start-and-stop game of penalties and one fumble lost at a crucial point in the region contest.
Clinton falls to 3-4 on the season. Chesnee improves to 5-2 on the season.
Most important for Clinton is the 0-2 region record, with just 3 region games left to play. The Red Devils will try to right the ship this coming Friday playing host to Mountain View Prep – in the Coach Bill Rhodes tribute game – then hosting Landrum, and then hosting Woodruff.
Chesnee got back on track after last week’s 45-42 loss to MVP, which plays at Clinton for the first time ever on Oct. 16.
Clinton scored first on a Camden Gregory interception, but that was negated by an illegal block flag. The Red Devil offense stalled at the Chesnee 11 as the 1st quarter came to an end.
The touchdown that did stand for Clinton was a Graydon Watkins 78-yard pass reception from Owen Glenn. The PAT failed.
Chesnee bounced right back with a 69-yard score.
Damajia Crooks then scored for Clinton from 16 yards out – that score came off the board because of a holding call. That was less damaging, though, because Watkins scored again on a 29-yard pass reception.
Watkins caught 5 balls for 136 yards, as Glenn went 9 of 13 passing to tally 148 yards through the air.
Running was tougher for Clinton, 37 carries for 193 yards.
Chesnee ran the ball 34 times to gain 347 yards.
The Eagles soared to a passing score with just 2:34 left in the 1st half. Clinton’s final drive of the half stalled with 3 penalties – illegal block, illegal man downfield, and illegal procedure.
Watkins started the 2nd half for Clinton with a fumble recovery, but the Red Devils fumbled the ball back at the Chesnee 2-yard line. The Eagles put together a sustained drive to score again on a 63-yard run and, after a Clinton punt, found pay dirt again on a 73-yard run. Angelo Cromer, pictured, scored an early 4th quarter touchdown for Clinton.
But the Red Devil defense could not find a stop – Chesnee’s touchdown and successful 2-point conversion put the game out of reach with 4:15 left to play.
Chesnee out-gained Clinton, 425 – 341; and the Eagles’ 7 penalties cost them 64 yards.
A senior running back, Cromer led Clinton’s offense with 82 yards on 14 carries.
Clinton’s next opponent, Mountain View Prep, has bounced back from 3 consecutive losses to start the season, to win 3 consecutive wins – MVP defeated Landrum, 53-7, in Friday night action. The Red Devils’ final regular season opponent, Woodruff, lost 49-14 to Southside Christian, and plays at Chesnee this coming Friday.
