The Clinton Red Devils will experience a character test this week as they seek to move on from a disappointing loss to a previously 0-4 team, the Batesburg-Leesville Panthers.
The Red Devils will be on the road for the next two contests -- both in important-for-the-playoffs Region contests, before coming back home for a game and evening that will honor a legendary Clinton coach and teacher.
Clinton failed on a 4th down pass at the goal line in overtime, falling 35-28 to Batesburg-Leesville Friday night at The Pit.
The Devil offense scored 4 times in the first half and never found the end zone again.
Clinton falls to 3-2, as this was their final non-region game.
B-L’s 1-4 record is deceiving, as the Panthers lost to Mid-Carolina, ranked #6 in AA; Saluda; Strom Thurmond, ranked #1 in AA; and Gilbert, ranked #10 in AAA. The Panthers are coached by former Laurens Raiders mentor, Greg Lawson.
B-L scored on its first possession of overtime.
Clinton countered with a 9-yard Cam Croft run but could not manage the 1 additional yard that could have sent the game into double OT or given the Red Devils the chance to win with a 2-point conversion.
Angelo Cromer scored, but it was called back for holding, and then Clinton was called for illegal procedure. After a 5-yard pickup, on 4th and goal from the 16, Clinton’s goal line pass was incomplete.
The Red Devils outgained the Panthers, 454 to 368; but in the 2nd half, most of that was between the 20s.
“I told them at halftime,” Clinton Football Head Coach Corey Fountain said, “we needed to come out and make sure that they didn’t get any hope, and we didn’t do that. We let them hang around. We didn’t execute when we needed to execute. We weren’t disciplined, penalties really killed us (12 for 97 yards) all night long.”
Clinton broke out on top – on an Angelo Cromer 43-yard scoring run and a Damajia Crooks screen pass catch and score. The Red Devils then gave up a B-L 72-yard scoring catch and run. Clinton bumped up the read to 21-6 on a Camden Gregory scoring run on the Red Devils first possession of the 2nd quarter.
B-L scored again on a 42-yard quarterback draw.
Cromer’s kickoff return set Clinton up well in B-L territory, but the Panthers held on a 4th and goal play. The Panthers punted, and Clinton senior QB Owen Glenn made them pay with a 29-yard scoring run.
Up 28-13, the well went dry for Clinton.
The Panthers scored three 4th quarter and overtime touchdowns to win the game – the second score was aided by a Clinton roughing the passer penalty (on an incompletion on 4th and 4).
Batesburg-Leesville scored the game-tying points with 20 seconds left in regulation.
Cromer ran for 125 yards (9 carries) and Glenn added 97 yards (6 carries) for the Red Devils. Their 41 running plays went for 331 yards, and Glenn added 123 on 7 of 12 passing. B-L’s yardage was 202 rushing and 166 passing (one reception going for 72 yards).
Before this game, the #4 ranked team in AA, Clinton starts Region 2, AA, play on Friday at Southside Christian (3-2 with a bye this week), and stays on the road Oct. 9 at Chesnee. The Oct. 16 game will be played in tribute to the late Bill Rhodes
