harlan with the win: Harlan 41, Clark 23
It was no easy night for either the Harlan Hawks nor the Clark Cougars, that's for sure! But the Hawks came out on top.
So, it kicked off like a real shootout. Clark wasted no time, with kicker Jack Hight getting things rolling for the Cougars with a 23-yard field goal. But Harlan’s Aldric Trotter wasn’t going to let that slide. He quickly connected with Payton Matthews for a 9-yard touchdown, and wow, did the Hawks fans come alive!
MOVING THROUGH THE GAME
Then, just when you thought it was going to chill, Clark’s dynamo...Xavier Canavis, showcased his skills. First, he pulled off an impressive 60-yard catch-and-run, and not long after, he sprinted 77 yards straight to the end zone. The first quarter wrapped up with Clark leading 17-13, and they seemed to be on fire. To be honest, I had to check the time more than once as I thought this quarter moved too fast.
The second quarter was all about the Hawks as they took control of the game. Dwayne Wingfield charged in with a 1-yard run to put Harlan back in the lead. Trotter showed off his versatility with a 15-yard dash for another touchdown, pushing Harlan ahead before halftime. By the time the whistle blew, it was 27-17, & the Hawks were just getting started.
Things slowed down a bit in the third quarter. Both teams tightened up their defenses, trading stops like it wasn't a big deal. Clark tried to rally, but Trotter’s pinpoint plays & Harlan’s solid ground game kept them at bay.
Harlan boosters pose for a quick photo before prepping the tunnel
ENG GAME AND SOME STATS
Then came the fourth quarter, and I'll tell you what...it was all about Dwayne Wingfield. With three rushing touchdowns in the game, he capped it off with another 1-yard score late in the quarter. Sure, Canavis added a 20-yard touchdown run for Clark, but by then, the damage was done. The Hawks strutted away with a solid 41-23 victory, securing their spot in the next round of the playoffs.
Breaking Down the Stats
Harlan’s offense was absolutely relentless! They piled up a whopping 457 total yards. Trotter really shined, throwing for 191 yards and a touchdown, plus rushing for 132 yards and scoring twice. The Hawks’ balanced attack was just too much for Clark, who, even with Canavis’ impressive stats (143 rushing yards, 77 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns), couldn’t keep up.
On the defensive front, both teams had their moments, with Clark snagging two interceptions & Harlan getting one. But what really made the difference was Harlan’s control of the game clock as well as their ability to capitalize when they got into the red zone.
Clark Cougar athlete during warm-ups
FINAL THOUGHTS
Harlan really showed why they’ve been the team to beat this season. They’re now sitting pretty at 10-1, flaunting the kind of depth and discipline that makes for a championship contender. As for Clark, finishing with a 6-5 record and making a spirited playoff appearance? That’s definitely something they can build on for the future.
Harlan Hawks pre-game work
What’s next for Harlan? A tougher test awaits, but if they keep playing like they did tonight, those Hawks will be soaring high for a while. Waiting on the McNeill vs Dripping Springs outcome.
You can check the rankings here: https://www.maxpreps.com/tournament/qcMm1sb_OUeNXAFEWVNdXw/hCEY8akVLkm0DLYu5Nz5LQ/football-24/2024-uil-texas-football-state-championships-2024-football-conference-6a-d2.htm
Well...we had a very much welcomed cold front move in (thank goodness I brought my hoodie) and I managed to get some good photos.
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Clark Cougars QB Isaiah Santillan on a lateral play
