Wellington wins a close one over Clearwater 21-14
Nick Giefer was the game’s top rusher getting 117 yards Friday. Photos by Katie Ford.
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Wellington defeated Clearwater 21-14 in an exciting contest that probably shouldn’t have been as close as it was. It came down to one play with 1:13 to play, with Clearwater facing fourth down at the 13. A fade pass to the corner was broken up by defender Skylar Branam and Wellington held on for the victory.
“We knew it was going there, and we knew Skyler was the perfect guy to defend it,” said Jeremiah Meeks, Wellington’s head football coach. “It was a big win. But we still have a lot of work to do.”
As close as this game was on the scoreboard, the Crusaders more than doubled Clearwater statistically, gaining 422 yards to Clearwater’s 199. The Wellington defense was especially outstanding against the run, holding Clearwater to -28 yards for the night.
Wellington had a plethora of runners. Nick Giefer led the team with 17 carries on 117 yards.
Passing-wise, Dusty Bannister threw for 226 yards on 17 attempts. He did not throw an interception.
Wellington’s biggest problem was converting the fourth down. Four times, Wellington was stymied, giving Clearwater some of its best field position. Also, Wellington just had some bad luck. Like at the end of the first half, when Giefer caught a pass for 42 yards and nearly got to the end zone, only getting tackled at the 8. Normally, that would be cause for celebration, but the clock had expired and Wellington went into the locker room with no points.
Wellington also got some really bad news. After having good luck so far this season on the injury front, it appears Wellington may have lost star receiver Grady Norris, who went down with a wrist injury in the first half. He may be out for the season.
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Fans were in full force Friday.
The Crusaders may need to work on its opening kickoff coverage. Disaster struck for the second straight game before either team could put out their offenses and defenses.
After giving up a touchdown on the opening kickoff last week, the Crusaders fumbled the ball, and Clearwater recovered at the 14. The Indians would score two plays later from the 16 when quarterback Beau Roubideaux threw to Cooper Williams for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
After the two teams exchanged punts, Wellington got on the board when Bannister floated a 20-yard touchdown reception to the corner of the end zone to Carter Burnett to tie the game at 7 with 1:21 to play in the first.
Carter Burnett puts the Crusaders on the board with this leaping catch.
The Crusaders did some gambling early in the second quarter when Bannister and Branam could not convert on a throw on fourth down at the Wellington 36. Clearwater appeared to take advantage of its fortuitous field position when Clearwater receiver Bryson Snell was taking it to the end zone but fumbled, and the Crusaders recovered on a touchback.
Then Bannister hit G. Norris on a 54-yard touchdown throw to put Wellington in front 14-7 for the first time this season.
Grady Norris scores a touchdown late in the second quarter before getting injured.
Clearwater responded with a 51-yard halfback pass to a receiver and a 7-yard touchdown completion two plays later.
On the next drive, Wellington drove into enemy territory but was thwarted on fourth down. The two teams went into halftime, tied at 14.
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The defense came to play. Nolan Russell with a big tackle in the second half.
On its first offensive drive of the third quarter, Wellington capped it with a Milo Elder tight end pass touchdown at 7:32 in the third to put the Crusaders up 21-14. It would be the last score of the game.
After a Clearwater punt, Wellington drove the ball to the 25 but had its third fourth-down failure on an incomplete pass and the Indians took over. Wellington’s defense forced another Clearwater punt and eventually got to midfield.
On the next drive, Wellington was again cursed with another fourth-down failure when Bannister started running the ball on a quarterback keeper, but at the last minute decided to kick it only to see it get blocked.
Clearwater still could not do anything with the ball offensive,ly and Wellington regained possession of the ball. This time it would punt to Clearwater who got the ball with 8:34 to play and started an excruciating late-game drive.
For the next six minutes, the Indians would slowly move the ball downfield, usually getting the recommended yardage on long third and fourth down attempts. It would eventually get the ball to the 15-yard line, thanks to a lengthy Snell completion. Clearwater strangely rushed the ball, then missed a clear shot to the end zone on the right side. Wellington nearly intercepted the ball on third down, forcing Clearwater to throw on fourth down.
“It’s good to get this win,” Meeks said. “That’s a much better team than what we saw last year.”
Wellington is now 1-1 and will travel to Collegiate for the third consecutive week. It will have its hands full. The Spartans defeated El Dorado 60-7.
