LEES CREEK — A strongly played game ended with East Clinton being defeated by McClain 42-0 Friday night at ECHS.

The Astros fall to 0-4 on the year. The win is the first of the season for the Tigers.

McClain has won 11 of the last 21 meetings in the rivalry.

The second football game of September came with the first sunny home football game of the season for a short-handed East Clinton squad as they went up against the previously winless McClain Tigers.

“We had several starters out due to illness and several more who missed practice time during the week because of it,” East Clinton head coach Steve Olds said. “Grady Boggs, Aiden Conger, Ethan Shepherd and Carson Jones all sat out against McClain. We were hit pretty hard last week and we are just now starting to get healthy again.”

Despite missing so many players, Olds knows it’s part of the game and his team will continue to play hard.

“We will keep fighting … it’s football and nobody feels sorry for us,” he said.

McClain scored first with a rushing touchdown and successful extra point at 7:32 of the first quarter.

Kylan Floyd recovered a fumble for East Clinton but the Astros were unable to move and had to punt. The Tigers moved to a first and goal and scored their second touchdown of the game to set the score at 14-0 with 1:24 left in the quarter.

The second quarter started with an Astro punt leading to the Tigers ball on the 36. From this came a touchdown by McClain with 9:52 left in the quarter leading the game to 21-0 in McClain’s favor.

After offsetting penalties caused a rekick, East Clinton was unable to move the ball and punted on fourth and seven. After a first down, McClain scored again on a 35-yard rush to push the lead to 28-0 with 4:47 to go until the half. Neither team scored the rest of the second quarter.

East Clinton opened the third quarter with a three and out punt giving the Tigers the opening for another running touchdown and extra point, setting the third quarter at 35-0 and continuing the rest of the game with a running clock.

Afterwards, it became Astro ball though not lasting long and eventually being taken over by the Tigers. Following this, there was a final McClain touchdown, setting the final score at 42-0 late in the third quarter.

East Clinton will travel to Hillsboro 7 p.m. Friday.

“Hillsboro is a good football team and they are in Division 3 now,” said Olds. “They are just a few plays away from being 4-0.”

With wins a priority, Olds said staying healthy is a close second. After this week’s game against the Indians, the Astros will begin SBAAC National Division.

“Once we get through this week then we will be playing schools more similar to our size,” he said. “We still feel like we can compete within our league, we just have to try and get there healthy.”

SUMMARY

Sept 13, 2024

@East Clinton High School

Tigers 42, Astros 0

McClain ^14^14^14^0^^42

East Clinton ^0^0^0^0^^0