CHS 2017 football season gets under way
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Marc Rogers
jmarre@frontier.com
CLINTON — The start of the Coach Nick Blackburn era has begun.
In his first head coaching gig, the Maroons were away from home at Villa Grove and were leading in the fourth quarter with a minute left when the Blue Devils struck on a fluke play for a touchdown (TD) and the win by 5 points.
But, Coach Blackburn has stressed discipline, hard work and team confidence. Thus, in their first home stand on Friday, September 1, the team was ready for a worthy foe in Braidwood’s Reed-Custer High School.
The reports were that the Comets had a fair offense and a very strong and stingy defense. So, the Maroons were prepared for a battle. Clinton was able to score first on a 40-yard pass from Ty Berter to Clayton Welch for 6as the extra point failed.
Shortly thereafter, the Comets fired back with a 52-yard pass by their quarterback Josh Loomis for a TD and an added extra point to put Reed-Custer up by one at the half.
The third and fourth quarters were all Maroons as Bryson Carson overwhelmed the Comet defense and scored on a one yard run in the third and an 18-yard run in the fourth. The final TD had an extra point added on to bring the final score to Maroons 19, Comets 7.
Ty Berter was 5 of 6 passing for 61 yards and 1 TD. Bryson Carson had 21 carries for 111 yards and 2 TD’s and was named player of the game. For Reed-Custer, their quarterback Josh Loomis was 11 0f 18 for 147 yards and one TD. The Comets amassed a total of -4 yards rushing on the night.
Coach Blackburn would not speculate on the upcoming match-up with powerhouse Tuscola in a conference game this week other than to say the team had to work diligently this week and he told them in the post game huddle to remember the Reed-Custer game and how it feels to believe you can win.
Also in the huddle, Coach Blackburn was presented with the game ball in remebrance of his first win as a head football coach.
Another recognition given at the game was the Rodney Goodwin Award in remembrance of an outstanding football player lost in a tragic auto accident. The senior football player best exemplifying the traits of Rodney is awarded the #49 jersey for the season. This years honor was given to Luke Shobe.
Maroons 6 0 6 7 19
Comets 0 7 0 0 7
