Late score, defensive stand lifts Clinton over Cedar Rapids Washington, 20-17

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids Washington had opportunities.

The Warriors weren’t able to capitalize at crucial moments, while Clinton converted chances into decisive points late in the game.

Clinton’s Ethan Carpenter scored the game-winning touchdown and the following conversion with 3:09 remaining and the River Kings’ defense prevented points in the final minute for a 20-17 victory over Washington Thursday night at Kingston Stadium.

The Warriors were unable to find the end zone from the 3-yard line and missed a game-tying field goal in the final seconds.

“Everybody sees us not executing there at the end but it’s not that,” Washington Coach Eric Addy said. “It’s early on when we're not converting and settling for field goals instead of touchdowns. Throughout the game where we're not executing, getting stops and getting off the field on down and distances. Penalties and shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Quarterback Grady McGuire rushed for a 7-yard TD, giving the Warriors a 17-12 lead with 2:03 to go in the third. The score remained the same with Clinton taking over at its 19 with 8:31 left.

The River Kings (2-1) conjured up its longest, and most impressive, drive. They covered 81 yards on 14 plays, resulting in a 2-yard TD run from Carpenter. He lunged in to score the ensuing 2-point conversion try, putting Clinton up, 20-17.

“We were so confident,” Carpenter said. “Personally, I wasn’t thinking at all. My head was in the game and I was running as hard as I could.”

Washington put itself in position to regain the lead. Keegan Waters returned a short kickoff to the River Kings 45 with three minutes on the clock. Nicholas Riley’s 19-yard run was followed by a 23-yard dash by McGuire, who stepped out at the 3 before diving for the front right pylon.

Clinton’s defense secured two tackles for loss in the next three plays, thwarting a go-ahead touchdown and Washington with a 32-yard field goal to tie it.

The Warriors rushed for 251 yards and thrived between the tackles but opt to run to the edge for the final three plays.

“We tried to stretch the perimeter, thinking they're going to take the inside away,” Addy said. “Tried to get the perimeter, didn't work, weren't able to execute on the outside.”

Washington let the clock tick down to six seconds left and Clinton countered with a timeout to ice kicker Logan Barton. The kick was slightly wide right and Clinton knelt out the last second for a second straight win.

“Everyone in the team came together,” Carpenter said. “We got the (win).”

Addy said the focus will be on the turn of events of the last five minutes but the previous 43 minutes played the same impacted.

“Now, we got to be able to execute better throughout the game, but our guys played their tails off,” Addy said. “Can't fault the effort.

“We got a chance to win it there. We didn’t execute all across the board, me included. We just got to be better.”

Barton accounted for the game’s first points with a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter. Washington posted a 10-6 halftime lead, receiving a 33-yard TD run by Riley. McGuire’s scoring run capped the Warriors’ scoring.

McGuire finished with 112 rushing yards and 41 passing. Riley added 110 yards on the ground.

Carpenter churned out 145 yards on 25 carries and three TDs, including 88 yards after halftime.

Carpenter ran effectively from the wildcat scheme, running for a 1-yard score in the second quarter. He hauled in a screen pass left for a 24-yard TD, making it 12-10 Clinton with 5:26 to go.

“They put me at QB and we just were running it,” Carpenter said. “They have full confidence in me when we run up the middle.”

Addy said the loss will send the entire team back to the drawing board. The Warriors (1-2) will break down video and return to work on Monday. He is optimistic the Warriors will rebound.

“We told the guys that now it’s a real true test if we're going to be able to stay together or if we're going to point fingers.

“I think we have a tough team that's going to be able to rally and stay together. We have great senior leadership and then we're just going to figure it out.”

CLINTON 20

C.R. WASHINGTON 17

AT KINGSTON STADIUM

CLIN CRW

First Downs 17 19

Rushes-yards 39-193 39-251

Passing yards 93 41

Comp-att-int 13-18-0 2-7-0

Total yards 286 292

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0

Punts-avg. 3-33.3 2-54.0

Penalties-yards 4-35 6-50

Clinton 0 6 6 8 -- 20

C.R. Washington 3 7 7 0 -- 17

CRW – FG Logan Barton 25

CLIN – Ethan Carpenter 1 run (kick blocked)

CRW – Nicholas Riley 33 run (Barton kick)

CLIN – Carpenter 24 pass from Konnor Schroeder (pass failed)

CRW – Grady McGuire 7 run (Barton kick)

CLIN – Carpenter 2 run (Carpenter rush)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Clinton: Carpenter 25-145, Maddux Cooley 5-24, Schroeder 6-23, Jay Dodd 1-3, Nolan Eggers 1-2, Team 1-(minus 4). C.R. Washington: McGuire 17-112, Riley 14-110, Keegan Waters 4-30, Bonfils Iranzi 1-7, Kobe Sindt 1-1, Terryion Montgomery 2-(minus 9).

PASSING – Clinton: Schroeder 13-18-0-93. C.R. Washington: McGuire 2-7-0-41.

RECEIVING – Clinton: Cooley 7-36, Cooper Belitz 2-27, Carpenter 2-26, Marshall Johnson 1-8, Dodd 1-(minus 4). C.R. Washington: Iranzi 1-31, Riley 1-10.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com