CLYDE — A back-and-forth affair swung in the favor of the home team in the second quarter Saturday. In so doing, it meant the end of Yates Center High’s storybook football season.
The Wildcats kept pace with their hosts from Clifton-Clyde until a tough two-minute stretch saw the Eagles turn a 16-12 lead into a 30-12 advantage by halftime.
Yates Center responded valiantly in the second half, but could get no closer than eight in a 42-28 defeat.
The loss, coming in the Kansas Eight-Man, Division I playoffs, ends Yates Center’s record at 7-4.
The 2013 season featured the Wildcats snapping a 23-game losing streak and a 23-year playoff drought. Tuesday’s memorable 38-36 win over West Elk was the Wildcats’ first playoff victory in 30 years.
“The kids have a lot to be proud of,” Yates Center head coach Ben Wiehn said. “Hopefully, they’ve laid the foundation for something special.”
With both teams repeatedly making key fourth-down conversions through the first quarter and a half, Clifton-Clyde held a 16-12 lead courtesy of its successful two-point conversions. The Wildcats missed on both of their extra-point attempts.
Yates Center looked to catch the game’s first defensive break when Clifton-Clyde was staring at fourth and eight at the Wildcat 33. The defense seemingly had Eagle quarterback Caleb Gelino pinned for loss, before Gelino’s nifty cutback eluded one would-be tackler. He then broke through the arms of another before rambling 18 yards for a first down.
The Eagles scored four plays later to increase their lead to 24-12.
The Wildcats followed with a three-and-out — the first of the game for either team — and Gelino nearly muffed the punt return but corralled the ball as the Yates Center defenders converged. He evaded two tacklers, then burst between the rest of the Wildcats on the way to a 63-yard touchdown return.
Suddenly, the Eagles led by 18.
“I was only disappointed in how we started,” Wiehn said, particularly on defense. “Our focus wasn’t where we needed it to be.”
THE WILDCATS didn’t go away quietly, even though their final drive of the half ended on a fourth-down fumble at the Eagle 13.
Instead, Austin McNett took the second half kickoff the full 80 yards for a touchdown to cut Clifton-Clyde’s lead to 30-20. The momentum continued to favor the visitors when Yates Center forced the Eagles’ first punt of the game.
Then disaster struck — again.
The Eagles’ Max Schwab forced a fumble while sacking Yates Center’s Caleb DeNoon deep in Wildcat territory. The ball trickled into the end zone where Schwab pounced on it for a touchdown and a 36-20 lead.
Again, Yates Center responded, even after another drive ended deep in Eagle territory.
The Wildcats forced another three-and-out, then tackled Courtney VanCampen as he scrambled in the Eagle backfield in a futile attempt to launch a rugby style punt.
Mikey Bruner scored on the next play — his second touchdown of the game — and suddenly the Wildcats were back within a touchdown at 36-28.
But, it was not to be.
Clifton-Clyde converted yet again on fourth down when Austin Biggerstaff scored from 24 yards out on fourth-and-two with 1:42 left in the third.
The Wildcats came up empty on their last three drives, despite recovering a fumble and stuffing an Eagle fourth-down attempt in Clifton-Clyde territory in the last eight minutes.
Yates Center converted only 2 of 11 third-down attempts and 3 of 7 on fourth down, including unsuccessful attempts on the last four fourth-down tries. Clifton-Clyde was 6 of 12 on third down and 3 of 5 on fourth.
“I told the guys that out of 100 plays in a game, there are five that decide who wins,” Wiehn said. “They beat us out on four of those plays. That punt return and defensive touchdown really were the difference.”
Wiehn praised his team’s effort and determination, throughout the second half, even after falling behind. He also lauded the Wildcat faithful who trekked across the state to take in the game.
The Yates Center fans filled the visiting grandstands, and then some, with several lined up along the sidelines as the game progressed.
BOTH OFFENSES were clicking early.
DeNoon found Trevor Chism on a 16-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-five midway through the first quarter for the Wildcats first score. Bruner raced 16 yards to the end zone on another fourth-down conversion midway through the second.
DeNoon led the Wildcats with 79 yards rushing on 14 carries while completing 4 of 11 passes to four receivers for 38 yards and another touchdown. Bruner had 60 yards on seven carries. Chism had a 16-yard touchdown catch. Robert Arnold hauled in a catch covering 14 yards.
Wiehn noted many of the same players will suit up for Yates Center’s basketball team over the winter.
“With the success we’ve had in football, and with our (state-qualifying) cross country team, I fully expect these guys to earn a substate championship in basketball,” he said. “They’re a special group of kids.”
Biggerstaff’s 153 yards highlighted Clifton-Clyde’s 300-yard rushing effort. VanCampen added 94 yards; Gelino 71.
With the victory, Clifton-Clyde (9-2) will host undefeated Osborne (11-0) Friday in a state semifinal game. Osborne defeated Marais des Cygnes Valley, 68-52.
By the numbers
Yates Center 6-6-16-0—28
Clifton-Clyde 8-22-12-0—42
CC — Biggerstaff 8 yd run (VanCampen run)
YC — Chism 16 yd pass from DeNoon (run failed)
CC — VanCampen 1 yd run (Biggerstaff run)
YC — Bruner 16 yd run (run failed)
CC — Ohlde 3 yd pass from Gelino (VanCampen run)
CC — Gelino 63 yd punt return (run failed)
YC — McNett 80 yd kickoff return (DeNoon run)
CC — Schwab fumble recovery in end zone (run failed)
YC — Bruner 9 yd run (DeNoon run)
CC — Biggerstaff 24 yd run (run failed)
YC CC
First Downs 8 16
Rushes-yds 33-156 61-301
Passing yds 38 3
Total Offense 194 304
Passing 4-14-0 1-4-0
Fumbles-lost 4-1 2-1
Punts 2/36 1/37
Penalties 3-13 7-56
