On Friday the 13th things took an ominous turn for the West Greene football team in the second quarter as Eagleton Academy found the endzone four times in the period en route to a 37-.15 win that spoiled homecoming night.
“The wheels kind of fell off of it,” West Greene coach Evan Monrow said. “We loose a quarterback that had come in and given us life. We have to go back to what we were doing. It shrinks our playbook quite a bit. (Austin) Franklin gave us a spark there with the punt return and they learned really quick not to kick to him, and defensively we played well we just couldn’t get out of our own way. We did a good job against the run; it was when their quarterback pulled it down we lost containment and the kid just went and made plays. Let’s get healthy and get ready for Unicoi.”
The West Greene defense was playing lights out in the first quarter, forcing a fumble on the Royals’ first possession and a three-and-out on the Royals second possession. Gaberial Steinbach got off a decent punt that backed up Austin Franklin to his 40-yard line. Franklin fielded the ball near the right hashmark, reversed field and out ran everyone else to the endzone for a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. Kendal Caldwell added the extra point and the Buffaloes had the early lead 7-0 at the 6:51 mark of the first quarter.
The Royals then went on a 14-play drive that covered 66 yards and 6:11. The drive stalled at the Buffaloe 13-yard line and the Royals sent out Steinbach to attempt a 30-yard field goal. The kick was good and the Royals were on the board with 40 seconds to play in the first quarter at 7-3.
The early portion second quarter was pretty quiet with the two teams trading punts and neither able to move the ball much, then with around six minutes left in the half things started to turn against the Buffaloes. Royal quarterback Nathan Clemmer hit Navaar Macdonald-Risner on back-to-back pass plays before Clemmer scampered 47 yards to the Buffalo one yard line. Clemmer then scored on the next play. Steinbach was good with extra point and the Royals had taken the lead 10-7 with 5:44 to play in the first half.
The Buffs once again went three-and-out and punted. After the punt it didn’t take Clemmer and the Royals to extend that lead to 17-7 when Clemmer hit Macdonald-Risner on a deep sideline pattern for 65 yards and the score.
On the first play after the ensuing kickoff West Greene’s newly named quarterback Austin Brown was picked off by Easton Britton. Britton returned the interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Steinbach’s PAT made the score 24-7 with still over four minutes left in the half. Brown was shaken-up on the play and did not return.
The Royals quickly got the ball back and picked up a couple quick first downs. The Buff defense then came up with a couple negative plays and looked as if it would get into the locker room without further damage, but Clemmer found a wide open Wyott Matossian for 39 yards and a touchdown with just 36 seconds showing on the clock. The half ended with Eagleton leading 31-7.
The Buffaloes went back to Franklin at quarterback with the loss of Brown and went back to basics running the ball with Skylar Shelton. Shelton had a couple good runs picking up the Buffs first first-down of the game, then another, but the drive stalled on a failed fourth down attmpt.
West Greene’s defense was back to playing like they did in the first quarter and forced a punt. After the change of possession Shelton had back to back three yard runs to setup third down and six at their own 25-yard line. Franklin zig zagged his way through traffic before finding his way to the sidelines and beat everyone to the goal line for a 75-yard touchdown run. West Greene went for two and Franklin hit Braden McCamey in the flat to close the gap to 31-15 with 3:45 to play in the third quarter.
Eagleton once again found the endzone while eating up seven minutes of clock. Clemmer threw his third touchdown pass of the evening to Nathaniel Cope from five yards out, the PAT was off the mark to bring the score to 37-15.
Neither team would score or threaten again, and the game ended with the Buffs on the short end of a 37-15 score.
Monroe had said earlier in the week that Clemmer may be the best quarterback his team might see all year long and he did not disappoint, Clemmer was 18-of-23 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 119 yards on 11 carries. Franklin led the Buffs with 76 yards rushing and a score, he also had the big punt return for another score.
Prior to the game Ava Brown was named West Greene’s homecoming queen.
