HERINGTON — Coming off a strong road win versus Linn the week prior, the Clifton-Clyde football team went back on the road to face off with district opponent Herington, with the Eagles leaving victorious 48-0.
After a deep pass from the Railers on the first play of the game that put Herington down to the Eagles 14, the defense stood strong, and a sack forced a turnover on downs. Clifton-Clyde made their way down the field thanks to the ground attack, before Aekley Goeckel punched the ball in from a yard out to put the Panthers up 8-0. After forcing another Railer TOD, Goeckel hit Trenton Benne for a 16 yard touchdown to make it a 16-0 game early in the first quarter.
Herington tried to respond and take some momentum back through the run game, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Eagles and in just two plays. Goeckel hit Colt Germann for a 22-yard touchdown to make it 24-0 Eagles, which would be the score to end the first quarter.
The Eagle ground game remained hot going into the second quarter. After a Jacob Newton run put the Eagles at the one yard line, Goeckel scored to put the Eagles up 32-0. An onside kick gave the ball back to the Eagles, who quickly marched down the field before Goeckel scored his third rushing touchdown and made it 40-0. The Railers started the next drive near midfield, but the Eagles forced yet another TOD before marching down the field, with Benne capping the drive with a 10-yard run to make it 48-0. With one last drive to try to get into the end zone, Herington was held off the board as Clifton-Clyde won 48-0 after the game was called at halftime.
Goeckel went 6-9 passing for 84 yards and two touchdowns, and had 20 carries for 107 yards and three touchdowns. Newton had nine carries for 100 yards; Benne had three carries for 17 yards and a touchdown; Germann had three carries for five yards. Newton had three catches for 32 yards; Germann had one catch for 22 yards and a touchdown; Benne had one catch for 16 yards and a touchdown; Emitt Tiemeyer had one catch for 14 yards.
Cooper Pruser had 10 tackles and one sack; Benne had five tackles; Striker Affolter had five tackles and two for losses; Brody Knox had three tackles; Adam Jarvis had two tackles and one for loss; Germann and Goeckel each had one tackle.
