Washington spoils McClain’s homecoming

GREENFIELD — It was a perfect night for football and homecoming festivities for the McClain Tigers Friday night, but the visiting Washington Blue Lions put a damper on the game, winning a slugfest 42-27 at McClain Field.

McClain (0-1, 3-3) hung with the Blue Lions (1-0, 4-2) for three quarters, trailing by a 28-21 score heading to the final stanza, but a costly pick-six interception caught by Washington’s Matthew Colflesh early in fourth quarter sealed the deal for the Blue Lions.

Turnovers were the main difference in the contest, with the Tigers committing seven in the game with four lost fumbles and three interceptions.

“Our kids were really gritty tonight, and they played hard, probably the hardest we’ve played since I can remember,” McClain head coach Keith Penwell said. “But the big difference in the game was those four fumbles, which happened mostly inside the 30, and that gave them several short fields to work with.”

McClain’s sophomore quarterback Hudson Lovett had another stellar performance, completing 21-of-46 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed another 35 yards while spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. 

“Hudson was just Hudson again tonight,” Penwell said. “Hudson always wants the ball, and you will never hear him say he doesn’t want the football. That’s just his nature. I know he had those three picks, but they were bringing people from everywhere. He’s still really young, only a sophomore, so I thought he played really well overall.”

The Tigers also showcased their talented crop of young receivers, led by junior Leiland Bond, but the other six are mostly sophomores, all of whom were on the other end of those throws from Lovett.

“Our receivers are really young too, but they keep improving every game,” Penwell said “Leiland (Bond) is really good at going up and getting those 50-50 balls. Gavin Anderson and Hunter Peabody, both sophomores, are fantastic receivers who run good routes and can catch a football, so kudos to both of them, they played their hearts out tonight.”

Washington also showcased some young talent in sophomore quarterback Sam Pfeifer, who also had an outstanding game both running and passing.

Pfeifer’s two main targets were junior Aden Osborne and senior Noah Haithcock, who are two of the most talented players and receivers in the Frontier Athletic Conference. Haithcock and Osborne accounted for five of the Blue Lion touchdowns in the game, four receiving and one rushing.

“Pick your poison with those two,” Penwell said. “The Haithcock and Osborne kids are both really good. I think Osborne is the real deal, he’s a heck of an athlete and I’ve been super impressed with him, but we also knew the Haithcock kid was dangerous too, he’s very tall and can run, very athletic and he got us a couple times tonight. Like I said, pick your poison.”

Washington scored first after a McClain fumble when Pfeifer hit Haithcock for a 27-yard touchdown pass and catch at the 8:00 mark of the opening quarter. Following the PAT conversion, it was 7-0 Blue Lions.

McClain answered on its next offensive possession with a 19-yard touchdown throw from Lovett to Bond who made the first of his two (50-50 ball) catches in the game going over the top of the defender making a spectacular catch in the endzone. After a successful PAT by McClain, it was 7-7 with 3:46 remaining in the first period.

Washington regained the lead with just seconds remaining in the opening quarter when Pfeifer found Haithcock again, this time a 6-yard scoring toss on a slant over the middle. The PAT was good, and the first quarter ended with the Blue Lions on top 14-7.

Just like in the first quarter, McClain answered quickly with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Lovett to Dalton Rowland at the 11:17 mark. The play was set up by a huge run from senior tailback Jordan Bell. The PAT was blocked, and Washington led 14-13.

The Blue Lions kept the first-half fireworks going moments later when Osborne scored on a 6-yard run at the 8:11 mark of the second, and after another successful PAT, it was 21-13 Washington.

This is a crucial point of the game when both teams turned the ball over. McClain fumbled on their first play of its next offensive possession, but the Tiger defense came right back and got a big interception in the endzone by Hunter Peabody that saved another potential touchdown.

The McClain defense, led by Noah Sponcil, stepped up big again later in the quarter and stopped the Blue Lions inside the Tigers’ 35-yard line.

McClain looked like they might score just before the half when they put together another good offensive drive, but penalties doomed the Tigers, and the half ended with Washington leading 21-13.

The third quarter saw the McClain defense force a Blue Lion punt, but another costly fumble on the kick gave Washington great field position on the Tigers’ 39-yard line.

After the Blue Lions quickly drove to the McClain 13-yard line, it was Sponcil who came up big for the Tigers, recovering a fumble and ending another potential scoring opportunity. The rally was shortlived because McClain gave the ball right back on a miscommunicated snap that caromed off Lovett’s knee, and Washington recovered deep in Tiger territory.

The Blue Lions got a little breathing room on its next offensive play when Pfeifer hit Osborne on a 30-yard touchdown reception at the 6:05 mark in the third, and suddenly it was 27-13 Washington.

McClain looked like they might answer after Lovett moved the Tiger offense down the field with two big throws to Anderson and Peabody, but another interception by the Blue Lions at the 1-yard line ended the scoring threat.

The Tigers pulled off a safety two plays later, cutting the deficit to 28-15, and at the end of the quarter made it interesting again when Lovett connected with Bond for another unbelievable circus catch in the endzone that pulled the Tigers to within seven points 28-21 as the third quarter ended.

Washington put the game away after the aforementioned pick-six interception for touchdown by Colflesh with nine-minute remaining in the game.

McClain was able to get the huge homecoming crowd excited late in the game when Lovett threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, this one a 13-yard missile to Eli Douglas, making it interesting again 35-27.

The Blue Lions finished off the scoring in the game on Haithcock’s second touchdown catch of the night, this one a 17-yarder with just 3:07 left on the game clock.

“We’re tired and kind of beat up, but our kids put it all out there tonight,” Penwell said. “You could tell our offensive line was a little tired there in the second half, but we still did some nice things on offense tonight. We got behind early, and with the turnovers it was just hard to overcome, but I’m really proud of our kids’ effort tonight.”

McClain (3-3) travels to Jackson (4-2) next Friday, Oct. 3 for their Week 7 game.

Stat leaders for McClain: Receiving: Anderson (3 catches, 93 yards, all in the 2nd half), Douglas (2 catches, 29 yards, 1 touchdown), Rowland (1 catch, 39 yards), Bond (3 catches, 53 yards, 2 touchdowns), Peabody (68 yards receiving), Issac Morgan (48 yards receiving).

BOX SCORE
WCH    21 00 07 14 — 42
MHS    13 00 08 06 — 27