The Clarksville football team faced a 44-8 first half deficit and was unable to complete the comeback in a 64-26 loss at Riceville in the first round matchup of the 8-Player playoffs, as aired 104.9 KLMJ on Friday.
Riceville rushed for 332 yards in the game, which began with a sprint to a 24-0 lead on four plays in the first quarter. Riceville forced a Clarksville promising drive to the Wildcats 11 yard line into a turnover on downs and drove for another touchdown to begin the second quarter to go up 32-0. The Indians ended the shutout with a 15 yard touchdown reception by John Stauffer on a 3rd & Goal that made the score 32-8 with 4:28 to go before the half. The Wildcats added two more scores on a kickoff return and rushing touchdown for a 44-8 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Nathan Moon helped spark the offense with two rushing touchdowns of seven and 26 yards, the Wildcats found the endzone once for a 52-20 lead heading to the fourth. Camden Behrends ended a Wildcats drive into the red zone with a Indians interception to begin the fourth. Kaiven Kielman concluded the Indians scoring with a 22 yard rushing touchdown in the fourth, Riceville scored a rushing touchdown and had a pick-six in the quarter to put the game away 64-26.
Clarksville Head Coach Darren Bohlen on battling through an early deficit and gaining playoff experience.
“We got off to a slow start, gave up 24 points early and we couldn’t really recover from that and you’re not going to in a playoff situation. Our kids showed their resiliency and they came back in the second half and played really hard. That’s kind of the team that we are in that second half,” says Bohlen. “I don’t know if it was nerves, but for some of these guys this was their first experience in the playoffs. We got some young guys playing and I think that had a lot to do with it. Riceville had some good seniors. The experience factor was against us. I think in the second half we turned it around a little bit, and I think it’s gonna be a good springboard for next year.”
Nathan Moon rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns. John Stauffer and Kaiven Kielman added a touchdown apiece to lead the Indians.
Clarksville ends the year at 6-4 overall.
