Falcons overpowering in Regional Final
By Brett Barnes
In a world full of extremes, it is often times best to “Not Believe the Hype.” However, with the Clinton Massie Falcons, the hype proved to be the truth. Billed as an overpowering football team with strength and speed, Clinton-Massie put both on display Friday night in the Division IV Region 16 Final game defeating the Milton-Union Bulldogs 35-7.
M-U came into the contest clicking on all cylinders offensively and defensively, but it took very little time for Massie to set the tone. Taking the opening kickoff, C-M drove methodically down the field chewing up big chunks of yardage with its renowned power running attack. The 8-play drive ended with a 1-yd plunge by running back Baley Wolfe. The extra point made it 7-0 just minutes into the contest.
M-U threw an interception on its first possession, and it looked as if the Falcons would score again, but the M-U defense bowed its back and on 4th and 2, the Bulldogs held giving them much need momentum.
Unfortunately for M-U, they had to punt again this time pinning Massie back on its on 16-yard line. Three plays netted a -1 yard and C-M had to punt. The Bulldogs looked to have great field position trailing by one score. The Clinton Massie punter dropped the snap, and it looked as if the Bulldogs would block the punt or tackle the punter near the goal line. They did neither. Somehow, the punter escaped and in a blink of an eye had run 89 yards for an impromptu 14-0 Clinton Massie lead.
Tyler Brown brought life to the next Bulldog drive and looked as if he might score with one man to beat, but he was tripped by the safety at the Massie’ 20-yd line. M-U lost 5 yards on its next two plays, and Massie took over on downs after two straight incompletions.
On the next Massie drive Wolfe struck again on a beautiful option play, scoring from 59-yards away. After another Bulldog punt, Massie struck again on a 20-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs ran to the locker room down 28-0. Clinton-Massie had 264 total yards while holding the Bulldogs to 91 yards.
The third quarter was all M-U. Massie had -1 yard in the quarter while M-U put up 102 yards. On the second possession of the third quarter, Kenton Dickison found David Karns in the corner of the end zone to cut the lead to 28-7.
That was as close as it would get, however, and Wolfe added icing to the cake when he took a handoff, eluded a defender, and sprinted 60 yards for his third touchdown of the game and a final score of 35-7.
Milton-Union ends the season as regional runner –up for the first time since 2006.
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