Courtesy Steve Lorenz

It’s a phrase that sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard.  It also is the only phrase to accurately describe the effort and outcome of a game where fans can feel good about what’s ahead for this year’s Clark Cougar varsity squad.  Despite their “48 minutes to play, a lifetime to remember” attitude , Clark fell short to Churchill  in the 2012 Gucci Bowl, 29-36.

A strong start by the Cougars showed why this season has playoff potential.

1st Qtr.

The Cougars took the opening kickoff and the o-line started blowing holes open.  Brandon Valle scored on a 23 yd. rushing TD down the left side with 1:41 burned off the clock.  The opening drive of 5 plays and 76 yds gave Clark a 6-0 lead. Churchill then scored making it 6-7.  On their 2nd possession, Presley Miller had a reception for 35 yds. and Brandon Valle once again bolted for 24 yds. for his 2nd TD of the night.  The Cougars led 12-7.  Churchill took the lead with another TD making it 12-14 and a bad snap on a Clark punt for a safety made it 12-16 at the end of the 1st.

2nd Qtr.

The defense began to flex its muscle when Sidney Wegert sacked the Chargers, stopping a drive and only allowing a field goal by the Chargers giving them a 12-19 lead.  Ryan Rogers also batted away a pass with 1:30 left before the half to force another Churchill field goal making the score 12-22.  Clark then moved the ball very effectively down the field but came up short on a pass to the end zone to add to their total.  The teams entered the half with Clark 12, Churchill 22.

3rd Qtr

Taking the kickoff, Churchill went 3 and out due to the Clark defense.  Austin Craig had two sacks on Churchill’s next possession and Jamie Smith, on 4th and 9 of the Chargers 2nd possession of the quarter, gave the Cougars the ball back with a great defensive play.  The Cougar offense, not to be stopped, had great plays from Valle, Alex Balfour, R’mani Bettis and finished up with a 28 yd. field goal from Nick Gonsalves to begin the 4th qtr and to cut the Charger lead to 15-22.

4th Qtr

If you left early, you missed the spirit of Clark football.  Down by 2 TDs with less than 4 minutes left in the game following a Charger TD,  Chase Jones found Presley Miller for an 11 yd. TD making it Clark 22-Churchill 29.  Churchill scored another TD with 2 minutes left but the Cougars would not stop.  On first down following the kickoff, Jones again found Miller for a 69 yd. TD pass and run reception, making it a 29-36 game with less than two minutes to play.  The onside kick failed but the Cougars proved that “48 minutes” was more than a slogan.  Though a loss, it was a great effort and served notice to District 27-5A that the Cougars are ready to make a run.

• Express News article/photos
• Express News boxscore
• Steve Lorenz PHOTOS
• KSAT highlights
• WOAI highlight
• KENS5 photos