Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
ADAMS TOWNSHIP — Cooper Carmack’s interception sealed Clinton-Massie thrilling 21-17 win over Division II powerhouse Harrison Friday night at Frank Irelan Field.
Big performances from the defense and quarterback helped the Falcons improve to 3-2 on the season. Harrison is 4-1.
“It was a team effort,” a jubilant Clinton-Massie head coach Dan McSurley said after the game. “You saw that team, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. That’s why there’s divisions in high school football, we were way outsized. I think the spirit and the heart of our team won that game and I’m so proud of our kids.”
McSurley said an opening quartet of games has prepared his Falcons for this game and the rest of the season.
“We’re a banged up group,” he admitted. “We’re on a five-game gauntlet, probably one of the toughest Division IV schedules in the state. We’re banged up, we’re gonna heal, and this team’s gonna go a long way I believe. We came a long way tonight and I’m so proud of this team.”
The game didn’t exactly begin the way the Falcons planned, as on the first play from scrimmage Harrison running back Cole Koops broke a 57 yard rush all the way to the Massie 8. The Falcons defense learned quickly, though, stuffing the Wildcats at the goal line forcing the field goal, which was punched through for the early 3-0 lead.
The Falcons offense didn’t start much faster, only mustering eight yards on a fast three and out. The punt set Harrison up for a long, nearly six minute drive in which the Cats converted on two fourth downs on their way to a Dickie Engel QB keeper touchdown, add on the point after, and the Falcons found themselves down 10-0.
On the ensuing drive, the offense began to wake up with QB Kaden Zantene gaining for eight on first down and Logan Chesser busting off a 13 yard run for the Falcons initial first down of the contest. A few plays later, Zantene hooked up with backup quarterback Jack Elkins on a 35-yard deep shot, setting up Chesser’s scoring run to bring the Falcons within three early in the second.
“I’m so proud of that kid (Zantene) … he played his butt off,” McSurley said. “We’ve had a lot of criticism, he’s taken a lot of abuse, some from people in our own community, and I hope that just shut them all up.”
The Wildcats remained unfazed, though, running their own play action deep shot on the first play of the following drive, but Cooper Carmack was able to save the touchdown, getting a last second pass break-up. Later in the drive, Tristan Trampler was able to break up a third down pass and force the punt.
Later in the period, the Wildcats moved the ball well, but the Falcons defense came up big again, sacking the quarterback on back to back plays stopping Harrison in its tracks. CM burst through on their next play from scrimmage with a 42-yard Peyton Warren rush into Cats territory. But penalties again hurt the Falcons, as they punted with just a minute remaining in the half.
Harrison drove all the way to the opposing 30 where a try for three with 3.4 seconds left was attempted. Trampler was able to hit the edge and block the kick. Carmack proceeded to pick it up and run all the way to the 5 yard line where he was tackled, ending the half.
Opening up the second half, the Falcons drove the ball with relative ease, even after a 57-yard TD run from Zantene was called back for holding. Nothing was going to stop CM, though, as Zantene hit a hole for a 37-yard run a few plays later. That led to a 25 yard Eli Muterspaw touchdown run to make it 14-10 Falcons.
Despite the Falcon defense getting the Cats to an early third down, Harrison was able to pick it up and began moving in chunks. A late facemask set them up in CM territory where Preston Flick took an end around the distance for the 17-14 lead. Then, Muterspaw came up big again, first running for 13, then on the next play going the distance to put Massie back on top 21-17.
The Wildcats responded with a nine-play drive getting to the redzone, but the Falcons defense made a huge play once again as Hunter Monds forced and recovered a fumble from Engel. CM went three and out, but a stellar punt pinned Harrison deep in its own territory. After a sack on second down led to a third and long, the visitors ended up two yards short on the completion and elected to go for it. The only problem proved to be the noise in Frank Irelan stadium, as Harrison’s linemen jumped moving them back five and forcing a punt.
The Falcons were able to chew up a lot of clock, but the Cats were able to get the ball back with 2:49 to go. Harrison opened with a 39-yard completion, but two plays later, pressure got through, and Carmack was able to jump up and pick the pass off in the air to secure to the victory.
SUMMARY
Sept 20, 2024
@Frank Irelan Field
Falcons 21, Wildcats 17
SCORING
H^10^0^7^0^^17
CM^0^7^14^0^^21
FIRST QUARTER
H-Landen Anderson 23 yard field goal
H-Dickie Engel 3 yard run (Landen Anderson PAT)
SECOND QUARTER
CM-Logan Chesser 2 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT)
THIRD QUARTER
CM-Eli Muterspaw 25 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT)
H-Preston Flick 9 yard run (Landen Anderson PAT)
CM-Eli Muterspaw 67 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT)
FOURTH QUARTER
No Scoring
STATISTICS
TEAM
Harrison: 22 first downs, 39-241 rushing, 12-20-1 passing, 133 yards, 1 INT; 11-80 penalties, 1-1 fumbles lost
Massie: 14 first downs, 38-306 rushing, 2-4-0 passing, 43 yards, 0 INT; 5-32 penalties, 0-0 fumbles lost
INDIVIDUAL
RUSHING
Harrison (39-241) Cole Koops 25-184, Preston Flick 5-28-1, Dickie Engel 8-16-1, Josh Adelsperger 1-13-0; Massie (38-306) Eli Muterspaw 10-120-2, Kaden Zantene 7-89-0, Peyton Warren 10-63-0, Logan Chesser 5-20-1, Tristen Trampler 1-8-0, Nolan Phipps 5-6-0
PASSING
Harrison (12-20-1) Dickie Engel 12-20-1, 133 yards
Massie (2-4-0) Kaden Zantene 2-4-0 43 yards
RECEIVING
Harrison (12-133-0) Kyle Davidson 2-48-0, Josh Adelsperger 6-40-0, Preston Flick 2-23-0, Cole Koops 2-22-0; Massie (2-43) Jack Elkins 1-35-0, Brady Russell 1-8-0
DEFENSE
Massie: Nolan Phipps 3.5, Cooper Carmack 2, Brady Russell 4, Andrew Smith 0.5, Mason Martini 2, Peyton Brewer 9.5, Ty Martin 2 (1 sack), Cash Mounce 1 (1 sack), Jack Elkins 3, Dillon Mounce 1, Ty Clutter 9, Hunter Monds 2, Tristen Trampler 4.5, Bret Gray 1
INTERCEPTIONS
Massie: Cooper Carmack 1
