Clinton hosted North Lenoir in the first round of the NCHSAA 2AA playoffs on Friday night. The No. 1 seeded Dark Horses seemed to sleepwalk through the first half, committing three turnovers and trailing for most of the first two quarters. The home team finally came to life late in the first half and slowly pulled away from the pesky Hawks to secure the 36-13 first round win.

Clinton got off to a shaky start right out of the gate, fumbling the opening kickoff after a nice return to near midfield. The Hawks recovered the fumble but quickly returned the favor just three plays later when Clinton’s Kris Williams intercepted a Hawks pass, giving the Dark Horses their first offensive possession at their own 18-yard line.

After forcing a Dark Horse punt North Lenoir took over at their own 25-yard, pounding the Dark Horses with a persistent rushing attack. Stephon Swinson took the ball to pay dirt for the Hawks when he burst up the middle for a 58-yard score at the 4:48 mark of the first quarter, quieting the Dark Horse faithful and sending a message that they had come to play. After a successful PAT kick the Hawks held a 7-0 lead and all the momentum.

The Hawk score seemed to serve as a wake up call for the lethargic Horses, but after a couple of first downs the turnover bug hit again. Clinton fumbled the ball away once more, and the Hawks took over 1st and 10 at the Clinton 47-yard line.

The Hawks went for the knock out punch on the next play, inserting Michael Pollard into the game at quarterback for a long pass attempt. Once again Kris Williams was in perfect position and stepped in front of the Pollard heave, intercepting his second pass of the game and returning it out to the Clinton 30-yard line.

Each defense dug in over the next two possessions as the teams traded punts early in the second quarter. The Dark Horses finally got their offense in gear when they drove the ball deep into Hawks territory midway through the second quarter. Facing a 3rd and goal from the 9 yard line, Kris Williams fired a strike to Ryheem Skinner who made a nice grab at the one-yard line and plunged across the goal line to get the Dark Horses on the board. Chandler Perry’ PAT was blocked, leaving the Hawks with a slim 7-6 lead with 7:45 remaining in the first half.

The Hawks were unfazed by the Dark Horse rally, giving Clinton a steady dose of Stephon Swinson. The speedy senior once again breaking into the Dark Horse secondary and outrunning everyone to the endzone with his second score of the night, this one a 60-yarder at the 6:43 mark of the second quarter. The Hawks opted to go for the two point conversion, but the pass was high and wide of the mark, leaving the score at 13-6 in favor of the Hawks.

Clinton’s Trey Warren took the ensuing kickoff out to the 35 yard line, making a nice catch of the low knuckling kick. On the first play from scrimmage Kris Williams found a wide open Prentice Murphy for a 65-yard scoring strike, and after Chadler Perry tacked on the PAT kick the game was tied at 13 with 6:26 remaining in the half.

The Dark Horse defense stiffened, holding the Hawks to 3 yards on 3 plays and forcing a punt, giving the ball back to the Clinton offense with 3:10 remaining in the second quarter. Ryheem Skinner and Isaiah Page picked up chunks of yardage, pounding the Hawk defense with several nice runs. Page finished off a 69-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge at the 1:13 mark of the second frame to break the tie. Chandler Perry’s PAT kick was successful and Clinton held a 20-13 lead that they would take to the lockeroom for the halftime break.

The Hawks took the second half kickoff but the Clinton defense was all business as they quickly stuffed the North Lenoir running attack and force another Hawk punt. Things seemed to be looking up for the Dark Horses when the Hawk punter hit a short punt that rolled dead at the Clinton 34-yard line. The Dark Horses quickly moved the ball across midfield but just like in the first half, they couldn’t hold onto the ball fumbling to turn the ball back to the Hawks at the Clinton 49-yard line.

Not to be outdone, the Hawks offense committed their third turnover of the game, when Kris Williams, playing center field, intercepted his third pass of the night and picked his way out to the North Lenoir 45-yard line before being forced out of bounds.

Clinton once again called on their power running game, driving the ball into the redzone before the North Lenoir defense toughened and stopped the Dark Horses at the 6-yard line. On fourth down the Clinton coaches opted for a field goal attempt and Chandler Perry was true, knocking through the 23-yarder from the right hash mark to give the Horses a 10 point lead at 23-13 at the 3:27 mark of the third quarter.

After forcing another Hawk punt the Dark Horses took over on their own 37-yard line and wasted no time adding to their lead. Tyion Wright took a handoff and burst around right end for a 63-yard touchdown run down the Dark Horse sideline, extending their lead to 30-13 after Chandler Perry added the PAT kick 1:05 left in the third quarter.

Clinton’s defense seemingly figured out the Hawk’s running game, forcing the Hawks into 4th down and long. The North Lenoir punter bobbled the snap and a Clinton defender got a hand on the ball knocking it down at the Hawk 40-yard line to give the Dark Horse offense a short field. Clinton capitalized on the good field position when Kris Williams connected with Prentice Williams for a 25-yard touchdown pass to run the Dark Horse lead to 36-13 with 8:13 remaining in the contest. A low snap on the point after touchdown attempt resulted in holder Kris Williams being forced out of bounds at the 3-yard line.

The Dark Horse defense continued their second half domination of the Hawks forcing another punt on the ensuing possession. The Dark Horses drove the ball across midfield only to fumble it away once more, giving up a fourth turnover and sending their defense back on the field with less than 3 minutes to play.

The final three minutes of the game were plagued by a rash of personal foul and unsportsmanlike penalties on both teams that capped off a sloppy first round playoff game. After the game, Clinton head coach Bob Lewis, briefly summed up his team’s lackluster play. “We played a sloppy game, we weren’t ready to play. We went out and made more mistakes than we have made all year long and got away with it. North Lenoir came ready to play and we didn’t.”

Clinton’s defense was the difference maker in the second half, limiting the Hawks to 32 yards in the second half after North Lenoir had racked up 175 yards on the ground before half time. Kris Willliams intercepted three passes, running his pick total to 10 on the season. Mike Kramer had 14 tackles and Devonte Smith tallied 13 stops. Prentice Murphy added 9 tackles with a sack.

Offensively Ryheem Skinner had another big game carrying the ball 14 times for 139 yards and catching a 12-yard pass for a first half touchdown. Tyion Wright got 7 carries for 116 yards and a score and Isaiah Page gained 51 tough yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

Kris Williams passed the ball 5 times and completed 3 throws for 102 yards, each catch resulting in a score. Prentice Murphy caught 2 passes for 90 yards and two scores and Ryheem Skinner snared one pass for 12 yards and a score.

The first round win improves Clinton’s record to 12-0 and advances them to the second round of the playoffs where they will host South Granville. The 5th-seeded Vikings advanced to the second round with a come from behind, 24-20 win over Southwest Edgecombe. Kickoff for the second round match-up with the 8-4 Vikings is set for 7:30 p.m. at Dark Horse Stadium.

Clinton defenders, Isaiah Page, #26, A J Williamson, #3, and Mike Kramer, #44, combine to bring down a North Lenoir ball carrier during first half action on Friday night.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_DSC_8878.jpgClinton defenders, Isaiah Page, #26, A J Williamson, #3, and Mike Kramer, #44, combine to bring down a North Lenoir ball carrier during first half action on Friday night.

Clinton’s Prentice Murphy hauls in his second touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of the Dark Horses’ 36-13 first round playoff win over North Lenoir.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_DSC_8975.jpgClinton’s Prentice Murphy hauls in his second touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of the Dark Horses’ 36-13 first round playoff win over North Lenoir.
Clinton survives slow start, advance to second round

By Mike Carter

Sports Writer