Clarksville, TN – Win and they ‘re in.
The formula was simple for the Clarksville High Wildcats football team to earn a spot in the playoffs Thursday night. With their postseason fate in their own hands, the Wildcats capitalized on turnovers to defeat the Springfield Yellow Jackets, 23-7, and advance to the playoffs.
A solid performance by the Wildcats on both sides of the ball was helped out by three Yellow Jacket fumbles. After a strong start which put them ahead 7-0 early in the game, the Yellow Jackets offense got sloppy and eventually stalled.
Conversely, the Wildcats offense picked up momentum as the game progressed. The Wildcats relied on their ground game, running multiple options, to eat up yards and the clock.The Wildcats rushed for 157 total yards with three rushing touchdowns. Brevon Johnson led the charge with 62 rushing yards. Kauthar Adamson rushed for 50 yards in the second half . Timon Hobson rushed for 44 yards including two touchdowns.
The first score of the game was a 20-yard touchdown run by Springfield’s Alan Gardner. The run came at the end of the Yellow Jackets 9-play, 55-yard opening drive that included a fake punt which converted a fourth down and 15.
Gardner rushed for 79 yards in the game. His touchdown was the Yellow Jackets only score. The Wildcats did not respond until the second quarter. It took them 11 plays to drive 44 yards and score. Quarterback Kyle Sickel rushed in the end zone from one yard out with 6:38 remaining in the second quarter.
The Yellow Jackets first fumble occurred on the ensuing offensive drive and set up the Wildcats in Yellow Jacket territory. The result was a 12-yard scramble by Hobson for his first touchdown with less than 90 seconds until halftime.
The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over again with another fumble before halftime. It set up a 33-yard field goal attempt that was missed by the Wildcats.
Down 14-7, the Yellow Jackets opened the second half by recovering a well executed onside kick. However, another fumble kept them off the scoreboard.
The Wildcats took advantage of their own fumbles to score as well. After recovering the Yellow Jacket fumble that ended their first offensive drive of the second half, the Wildcats marched all the way to the Yellow Jackets one-yard line when Johnson fumbled the ball trying to stretch for the end zone.
When the Yellow Jackets took over with first down and 10 on their own one-yard line to start the fourth quarter, the Wildcats tackled Gardner in the end zone for a safety and took a 19-0 lead. A short kick after the safety put the Wildcats right back in to Yellow Jackets territory. It took only five plays before Hobson dashed 18-yards for his second touchdown of the game.
Despite finishing with back-to-back losses, the Yellow Jackets will advance to the playoffs as well with an 7-3 (4-3 District 10-AAA) record.
Box Score
Clarksville High 23, Springfield 7
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
Clarksville High Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
Springfield Yellow Jackets | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |