LEES CREEK – Despite having two touchdown passes taken away from him, East Clinton’s Brendan Jenkins dominated Williamsburg Friday night as the Astros picked up a 35-7 win.
Jenkins rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns as East Clinton (2-4, 1-0) started its SBAAC National Division schedule with a victory.
The offensive line of Logan McPherson, Garrett Kier, Nick Mess, Cameron Yankey and Tristan Hall paved the way for 407 yards rushing for the Astros. EC ended with 487 yards on offense. Williamsburg had just 127.
“We thought they (offensive line) played well against Greenfield,” EC coach Jeremy Yankey said. “We felt we were a little more physical than them (WHS) but as the game went on, we were a lot more physical.”
The East Clinton defense was equally dominant with Wyatt Floyd (seven tackles) and Mess (six tackles) leading the way. Branson Smith, a freshman making his first varsity start, had two interceptions.
“Our defense played really well, especially as the game went on.” Yankey said. “The (Wildcats) just wore down. Our kids are in pretty good shape.”
East Clinton forced a turnover on its first defensive possession. Tristan Burkitt forced a bad pitch and Austin Rolfe recovered to put the Astros in business.
But Williamsburg came up with an interception on defense and thwarted the EC offensive.
East Clinton would not be denied the next time it had the ball. Patrick Dotson caught a screen pass on the right side of the field, cut back all the way to the left and gained big yardage. Brendan Jenkins capped the drive with a 24-yard scramble. Austin Arellano’s point after made it 7-0 EC with 5:59 to play in the first quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a solid drive and a Wyatt Lefker touchdown run at 11:20 of the second quarter to tie the game, 7-7. The big play in the drive was a pass to Cameron Hart who ran to the 1 yard line.
On the ensuing kickoff, EC’s Todd Wedding had a nifty 81-yard return for touchdown but a penalty on EC wiped out that score. The Astros drive ultimately ended with a sack.
Wedding did his best to set-up the next East Clinton score when he ran 47 yards to the Williamsburg 10. A couple plays later, Jenkins scored from the 9 and with the Arellano PAT it was 14-7 Astros.
Smith gave East Clinton another shot at moving the scoreboard when he intercepted a WHS pass inside the final minute of the half.
A Jenkins to Dotson 50 yard pass and run appeared to make it 20-7 but another EC penalty wiped out the call. Then an unsportsmanlike conduct flag was thrown to push EC further back.
The resilient Astros gave it another go when Jenkins connected with Wyatt Floyd on a 50-yard Hail Mary in the end zone as time expired but the officials deemed Jenkins was beyond the line of scrimmage on the pass and the teams went to the lockerroom at 14-7.
In the third quarter, East Clinton bulldozed the Williamsburg behind the five guys up front. Todd Wedding had a pair of TD runs and Jenkins added his third as the Astros piled up 21 points in the third period.
Prior to kickoff to start the game, Kaylee Rider was crowned Queen and Wyatt Floyd was crowned King during East Clinton Homecoming festivities.
SUMMARY
Sept 29 2017
@East Clinton High School
East Clinton 35 Williamsburg 7
EC 07.07.21.00…..35
WI 07.00.00.00…..00
First Quarter
EC-Brendan Jenkins 24 yard run (Austin Arellano PAT) 5:59
W-Wyatt Lefker 1 yard run (PAT good) 11:20
Second Quarter
EC-Brendan Jenkins 9 yard run (Austin Arellano PAT) 2:41
Third Quarter
EC-Todd Wedding 3 yard run (Austin Arellano PAT)
EC-Todd Wedding 6 yard pass from Brendan Jenkins (Austin Arellano PAT)
EC-Brendan Jenkins 20 yard run (Austin Arellano PAT)
Fourth Quarter
No Scoring
