Clyde comes through in clutch, beats Edison

CLYDE — In a game with just one turnover and one punt and the offenses moving the ball really well, big plays came at a premium. Clyde made them when it counted most in a 27-10 victory over Edison on Friday at Bob Bishop Stadium. Perhaps the play that served as a microcosm for the game came with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. With Clyde leading 20-10 and facing a third-and-10 at the Chargers 11-yard line, Jonathan Lantz bobbled a low snap before regaining control and tried to elude two defenders who nearly took him down. He was able to contort his body enough to allow him to sling it to Mason Flewelling, who caught the ball at about the 10 before breaking two tackles inside the 5 to score a touchdown. Mitch Newsome's third extra point of the game would close out the scoring, giving the Fliers a 17-point lead. Edison nearly answered and drove 65 yards, but the drive ended at the Clyde 9. A 26-yard field goal barely missed, leaving the Chargers three scores behind with just 11 minutes to play. "Forcing them to attempt the field goal, that was a big stop, even if they had made it," Clyde coach Ryan Carter said. "We didn't move the ball effectively on the next drive, but we took about four to five minutes off the clock." With the win, the Fliers improved to 2-5 and Edison fell to 5-2. Lantz completed 16 of 20 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. It was a much-needed win that keeps Clyde in the hunt for a playoff spot. "Our kids came out with great determination," Carter said. "We came to play tonight. We made plays when we needed to. We managed the clock and came up with some stops when we had to." Another big play came on the first drive of the second half, which saw Edison drive 44 yards in just four plays. But Cole Leimeister's pass was deflected twice, once by a player from each team before Joel Greenslade came up with an interception, killing the threat with 10:04 to play in the third quarter and giving the Fliers the ball at the Chargers 21. Clyde drove 79 yards in over eight minutes and scored on the Flewelling touchdown reception, converting three third downs in the process. It's been a tough season for the Fliers, perennially one of the top programs in the area, but they've persevered and found themselves with a chance to do something with three games remaining. "We've had some well-documented struggles. But the kids have come back after every game on Saturday and at practice on Monday and did everything we asked of them," Carter said. "That shows great character and what they're about." Another crucial play came with 18 seconds remaining in the first half when Clyde, facing a fourth-and-3 at the Edison 26, took its final timeout. Lantz found Cole Sengstock on a beautiful swing pass to the right that fooled the defense, and Sengstock fought for the final yards near the goal line to score the touchdown, sending the Fliers into the locker room with a great deal of momentum. The Chargers' only touchdown of the game came in the first quarter on their opening drive when Cayden Clere scored on a one-yard run to close out a 64-yard drive. Alex Davidson's extra point gave Edison a 7-6 lead. Davidson later kicked a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter. Edison 7 3 0 0 — 10Clyde 6 14 7 0 — 27 C — Adam Young 1 run (pass failed)E — Cayden Clere 1 run (Alex Davidson kick)C — Jonathan Lantz 50 pass to Dekin Crockett (Mitch Newsome kick)E — Davidson 42 field goalC — Lantz 26 pass to Cole Sengstock (Newsome kick) C — Lantz 11 pass to Mason Flewelling (Newsome kick)