SUMMERTON – The Richard Winn Eagles brought a strong offensive game to Friday night’s contest against the Clarendon Hall Saints, but their defensive game wasn’t as strong. The Saints were able to get some big plays by the Eagles in the second half of the game and won their homecoming game, 50-34.
The Eagles had a strong showing in the first quarter, getting the first score on the board at the end of a drive when John Coleman ran 59 yards for the touchdown. Nic Stillwell ran in for the 2-point conversion and the score was 8-0 with 9:43 on the clock.
During their next possession, the Saints threatened deep in Eagle territory, but the defense was able to hold them out of the end zone.
As the quarter ended, Clarendon’s Tilton McCrea returned a punt 75 yards for a Saints’ TD. Daniel Pappas added the 2-pointer and the score was tied 8-8 with 11:12 left in the half.
The Eagles wasted no time in answering that touchdown with a scoring drive of their own, capped off with a Matt Taylor pass to Mitchell Gibbons for 22 yards and the score. Gibbons’ 2-point attempt was stopped and the score was 14-8 with 8:52 on the clock.
On their next possession, the Saints drove to the Richard Winn 15, where McCrea bulled across the goal line for the TD. The Eagle defense stiffened at the goal line and stopped the 2-point attempt and with 7:40 on the clock, the score was tied again, 14-14.
The Eagles started their next drive with the ball deep in their own territory at the 10-yard line, and behind some strong running plays and passes by Taylor, were able to drive to the Clarendon 13. Taylor’s pass from there to Mitchell Gibbons with 4:35 left in the half was complete for the TD. The 2-point attempt was foiled and the Eagles had the lead at 20-14.
The Saints answered on their next possession, booming from the Richard Winn 44 for the score. The Eagle defense again stopped the 2-point conversion and the score was tied a third time, 20-20, with 3:37 left in the first half.
After a disappointing series that was rife with penalties against both teams, the Eagles punted the ball away. The Saints took the ball deep at their 5-yard line and drove down field to the RWA 5, where McCrea got in for the score with 28 seconds on the clock. The 2-point conversion was no good and the score as the half ended was 26-20.
After all the homecoming smoke had cleared, the Eagles next drive from the second half kickoff fizzled and they lost the ball on downs to Clarendon at the Saints 36-yard line. The Saints had replaced quarterback Wes Keller with junior quarterback Dustin Way, and his experience showed as he flashed down the field for a 64-yard touchdown and then called his own number for the 2-point conversion. With 8:43 on the clock, the score shifted even further in Clarendon Hall’s favor, 34-20.
The Eagles returned the ball to their own 32 and put together a drive that was given steam by a pass from Taylor to Austin Knox for 12 yards and an 18-yard dash by Knox, setting up the run by Webb Yongue from the Saints 3-yard line for the score. The conversion attempt was stopped and the score was 34-26 with 1:58 on the clock.
The Saints returned the kick to their 36-yard line and their drive looked to be threatening another score against the Eagles, but was stopped short of the goal. An RWA fumble on the punt return was recovered by the Eagles, which led to a TD for Richard Winn. Webb Yongue added the 2 points and the score was tied once again, 34-all as the third quarter ended. The Eagles would score no more points this night.
The Saints took the ensuing kick at their 36 and drove to the Eagle 4-yard line. From there, Pappas ran it in for the score. Keller connected with Pappas in the end zone for the 2-point conversion and the score was 42-34 with 9:37 left in the football game.
The final stand of the night for the Eagles came in the middle of the last Clarendon drive, where a Richard Winn fumble put the ball on the Eagle 5 in a first-and-goal situation for the Saints. Refusing to go down easily, the Eagle defense stiffened, denying the Saints an easy TD. But finally the Clarendon offense was just too close for comfort as they recovered a fumble at the Eagle 3 and went in for the score. Pappas added the 2 points and the score was 50-34 with only 54 seconds left to play. After Clarendon intercepted an Eagle pass on the next RWA possession, Keller took a knee as the clock ran out.
The Eagles return home to host Christian Academy for homecoming this week. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
RWA: 8-12-14-0 – 34
CH: 0-26-8-16 – 50
First Quarter
RWA – John Coleman 59-run. Nic Stillwell 2-run. (9:43)
Second Quarter
CH – Tilton McCrea 75-run. Daniel Pappas 2-run. (11:12)
RWA – Mitchell Gibbons 22-pass from Matt Taylor. PAT failed. (8:52)
CH – T. McCrea 4-run. PAT failed. (7:40)
RWA – M. Gibbons 13-pas from M. Taylor. PAT failed. (4:35)
CH – D. Pappas 44-run. PAT failed. (3:37)
CH – T. McCrea 5-run. PAT failed. (0:28)
Third Quarter
CH – Dustin Way 64-run. D. Way 2-run. (8:43)
RWA – Web Yongue 3-run. PAT failed. (1:58)
RWA – Wyatt Adams 15-run. W. Yongue 2-run. (0:00)
Fourth Quarter
CH – D. Pappas 4-run. D. Pappas 2-pass from Wes Keller. (9:37)
CH – Cody Armstrong 2-run. D. Pappas 2-run. (0:54)
RWA CH
First Downs 12 13
Rushes/Yards 44-224 37-427
Passing Yards 177 33
C-A-I 10-17-2 2-7-1
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 5-1
Rushing: RWA – John Coleman 18-131, Matt Taylor 5-28, Austin Knox 16-55, Webb Yongue 5-10.
Receiving: RWA – A. Knox 2-32, W. Yongue 1-25, Mitchell Gibbons 4-63, John Coleman 3-25, Conrad Sharpe 2-32.
Passing: RWA – Matt Taylor 10-16, 177 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; John Coleman 0-1, 1 INT.
