Holmes runs for over 200 yds.

Despite scoring 36 points and Deandre Holmes 200 + rushing yards, it wasn’t enough to hold off the Stevens Falcons as Clark lost its third district game by a score of 36-49.

It looked like the football gods would smile on the Cougars when Daniel Durke intercepted a Stevens pass on their opening drive.  One play later, Clark returned the favor with a fumble and Stevens put points on the board first, leading 7-0 at the 7:45 mark of the 1st qtr.  The Cougars responded with a heavy dose of Deandre Holmes, including a burst of 30 yds. on their opening drive.  Clark tied the game when #33 scored from 3 yds. out with a little over two minutes left in the quarter.

The 2nd quarter was won by Stevens.  Falcon QB Mykkele Thompson made it a 14-7 game with ten minutes left until halftime.  Clark’s next drive stalled on a 4th and 5 and Stevens scored on a 17 yd. TD with 3:14 left before half.  Clark’s next offensive play was another fumble and Stevens made the Cougars pay with another TD, this time a 32 yd. pass to take a 28-7 lead with just two and a half minutes left before halftime.  Clark turned to their 2 minute offense and the result was a Cougar touchdown.  Deandre Holmes once again got the call from 13 yds. out and the teams went to the locker rooms with Clark trailing Stevens 14-28.

Clark opened the third quarter by driving the field for a touchdown at the six minute mark.  The Cougars converted a 4th and 2 and a 7 yd. pass from Deandre Holmes to QB Josh Kern pulled the Cougars withing a touchdown of the Falcons, 21-28.  That, of course, made it Stevens turn and Mykkele Thompson ran 41 yds for a TD, keeping Stevens ahead by a score of 35-21 with four and a half minutes left in the 3rd.  Once again the Cougars responded, converting a 4th and 5 with a nice reception by Taylor St. Charles from Josh Kern, setting the Cougars up on the Stevens 6 yd. line at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Cougars punched it in to start the fourth with Josh Kern’s 1 yd run to keep Clark within reach at Clark 28, Stevens 35.  Stevens, Thompson, scored again making it Cougars 28 Falcons 42.  The Cougars stalled on offense after a Josh Kern 34 yd. run and Stevens scored again to take a 49-28 lead.  Chase Jones took over at QB for Clark, had a nice 22 yd. run and finished the drive with a 7 yd. TD run, making the final score Clark 36, Stevens 49.

It was the first Stevens football victory over Clark.  The Cougars start to enter “must-win” territory to make the playoffs and avoid a losing season.  The Cougars have a bye week before facing Holmes.

• Express News article
• Express News boxscore
• envision! PHOTOS
• jupiterhill photos