LEES CREEK — A fourth quarter rally fell short and East Clinton was defeated by Summit Country Day 22-18 Friday night at ECHS.

The first Friday of September came with a damp start to the football game, but who can regard that as bad when at the very least we did in fact start on time.

The Astros started the game with the kickoff, leading to a run, pass for a first down for Summit. From this first down came a 35-yard pass touchdown for Summit. With a fumbled snap, Summit was successful with a pass for a two point conversion.

Following a touchback, East Clinton started its first drive at the 20 with five consecutive first downs, the running the ball on all plays. After, the Astros were able to secure a touchdown at 13.8 seconds left in the first on a six-yard run by Dameon Williams. With a failed two point conversion, East Clinton ended the first quarter down 8-6.

Owen Roberts came up with a tackle for loss on the next drive and closely followed by a long pass broken up by Ethan Shepard. The defense forced a turnover on downs to keep the score 8-6. From this change came a 25 yard plus run by Clayton Kimmey giving the Astros a first down but the Astros fumbled the ball back to the Silver Knights.

From there Summit was unable to do anything on offense despite a first down and late hit personal foul. Kimmey had another pass breakup for the Astros defense on that drive. The East Clinton offense put together four first downs on the drive but were unable to put any points on the scoreboard, ending the first half at 8-6.

East Clinton opened the third quarter with a couple first downs on offense but fumbled and Summit took over. A 30-yard pass play put the Silver Knights on the move. Kylan Floyd had a couple tackles on the drive but Summit converted a fourth and one at the 15 then stretched its lead on a 15 yard run by Keller Minton, 15-6.

It remained 15-6 going to the fourth quarter but the Silver Knights but Minton threw 20 yards to Alex Bajorek for another Summit touchdown and a 22-6 lead.

The Astros, though, were not going down without a fight.

With the ground game in high gear, East Clinton rushed for 345 yards on the night, Conger finished off a 71-yard drive with a five yard scoring run to get EC within 22-12.

Fumbles by both teams took time off the clock but the Astros were back on offense following another defensive stand.

Kimmey capped another EC scoring drive to pull the Astros within four, 22-18, with 3:13 to go in the fourth quarter.

With Summit trying to hold on and East Clinton trying to take the lead, play was intense and fans were holding their breath from the edge of their seats.

The Astros got the ball back with 66 seconds to go in the fourth. Driving from their own 20 to the Summit 11, the Astros were in position but with three seconds to go a fourth down pass fell incomplete.

East Clinton had three ball carriers go over 100 yards on the night — Dameon Williams at 137, Aiden Conger at 103 and Clayton Kimmeywith 105.

The defense was effective as well, allowing 246 yards.

But three turnovers and six penalties offset East Clinton’s effectiveness.

SUMMARY

Sept 7, 2024

@East Clinton High School

Silver Knights 22, Astros 18

SCD^8^0^7^7^^22

EC^6^0^0^12^^18

First Quarter

SCD: Walters 36 yard pass from Minton (Minton pass to Fry)

EC: Dameon Williams 6 yard run (Run failed)

Second Quarter

No Scoring

Third Quarter

SCD: Minton 15 yard run (Reder PAT)

Fourth Quarter

SCD: Bajorek 20 yard pass from Minton (Reder PAT)

EC: Aiden Conger 6 yard run (Run failed)

EC: Clayton Kimmey 2 yard run (Pass failed)

STATISTICS

TEAM

EC: 22 first downs, 415 total yards, 58-345 rushing, 2-7-0, 70 passing; penalties 6-60, turnovers 3

SCD: 12 first downs, 246 total yards, 27-130 rushing, 8-14-0, 116 2 TD passing; penalties 3-35, 1 turnover

INDIVIDUAL

PASSING: EC- Aiden Conger 2-7-0, 70 yards; SCD- Keller Minton 8-14-0, 116 yards, 2 TD

RUSHING: EC- Dameon Williams 23-137-1, Aiden Conger 19-103-1, Clayton Kimmey 16-105-1; SCD- Dillon Minton 19-51-0, Keller Minton 7-66-1, Cayleb Walters 1-13-0

RECEIVE: EC- Clayton Kimmey 1-35-0, Barrett Beam 1-35-0; SCD- Cayleb Walters 5-58-1, Colt Fry 2-2-38-0, Alex Bajorek 1-20-1

TACKLES: EC- Barrett Beam 5 (1.5 TFL), Owen Roberts 4 (1 sack, 2.5 TFL), Aiden Conger 4 (1 TFL), Kylan Floyd 4; Clayton Kimmey 1; Grady Boggs 3; Ethan Shepard 2; Dameon Williams 3; Jade Griffith 2 (1 TFL); Carson Jones 2 PD; Xander Brabson 1; Alex Edison 1; Bryce Wilson 1

UP NEXT

Who: East Clinton vs McClain

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: East Clinton High School

TIGERS RESUME

2024: 0-3

Last Week: A 30-7 loss to unbeaten Paint Valley

Inside Info: The Tigers have struggled in recent years, posting just one winning season (6-5 in 2023) since 2012. Owen Sykes was expected to be the top runner for McClain but he was injured in the opener and missed last week’s game, according to a story in the Highland County Press. McClain had 108 yards against Paint Valley.

Series: Since 1972, the teams are even at 10 wins each.

Last Meeting: McClain won 22-6 last year in Greenfield. The Tigers have won the last three meetings. East Clinton’s last win was 26-7 in 2019.