Patriot FB Earns First Win of Season
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy: Kanyon Held, a senior at Leigh High School
Clarkson-Leigh hosted their first home football game of the season against the Elmwood-Murdock Knights on September 3, 2021, in Clarkson, Nebraska. This also marked the first time in several years a home game was hosted in Clarkson.
The Patriots took an early lead in the game off a 37-yd pass from quarterback Eli Hays to Mason Whitmore. Completing the two-point conversion after, the Patriots went up 8-0 until the second quarter.
Sophomore Dylan Higby added to the Patriots’ score in the second quarter, scoring on a 16 and a 46-yd rushing touchdown. The Patriots completed both two-point conversions, going up 24-0 going into halftime.
Elmwood Murdock reached the scoreboard first in the second half off a 1-yd rushing touchdown. They completed the two-point conversion, making the score 24-8. The Patriots responded back by scoring two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Higby again ran for a 65-yd rushing touchdown and a 29-yd rushing touchdown. After completing the two-point conversion after each touchdown, the Patriots went up 40-8 going into the 4th quarter.
In the 4th quarter, junior Drew Beeson added 6 more points to the Patriots’ total after scoring on a 4-yd rushing touchdown. The Patriots were unable to put in the two-point conversion. The knights responded by scoring a 50-yd rushing touchdown and a 73-yd rushing touchdown. After putting in both two-point conversions, the game ended 46-24 Patriots.
When asked about the game, senior Carter Hanel said, “I was proud of the way we played despite the injuries we had.”
Coach Matt Murren said, "Our defense set the tone for the game by bringing physicality. We were able to limit their offense to get going and force them into punting the football. Offensively we were able to make some adjustments as the game went along and open up some running lanes for our backs. It was a good performance coming off of our loss to Cross County in the opening week.”
Stats vs. Elmwood-Murdock
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Clarkson-Leigh 8 16 16 6 46
Elmwood Murdock 0 0 8 16 24
Player Stats:
(rushing yds, passing yds, receiving yds, tackles, assisted tackles)
Eli Hays - 14, 37, 0, 0, 0; Kanyon Held - 2, 0, 0, 5, 8; Mason Whitmore - 0, 0, 37, 4, 4; Carter Hanel - 0, 0, 0, 3, 4; Mitchel Beeson - 0, 0, 0, 6, 6 Kyle Kasik - 25, 0, 0, 0, 1; Trey Steffensmier - 0, 0, 0, 1, 2; Drew Beeson - 0, 0, 0, 3, 9; Dylan Higby - 210, 0, 0, 1, 0; Ryan Brichacek - 55, 0, 0, 0, 0; Jase Indra - 6, 0, 0, 0, 0; Korbin Lemburg - 0, 0, 0, 2, 0; Kyle Holmberg - 0, 0, 0, 1, 0; Garret Stodola - 0, 0, 0, 1, 0