Arellano intercepts for the win

It was a sight Cougar fans had not seen all year and a night to remember.  Coaches jumping and hugging each other. Players with huge smiles across their faces.  A no-huddle offense, a successful passing game, a solid defensive effort.  And at the end of the night, a homecoming victory as the Cougars held on to defeat the Stevens Falcons 24-21 for the first win of the season.

1st Half

The Cougars fortunes looked good early on as they recovered a fumbled kickoff by Stevens.  The Cougars couldn’t convert that to points however.  On the Cougars next possession, using a no-huddle offense, Chase Jones completed a 16 yd. pass to set up the Cougars on the Stevens 18 yd. line.  On the next play, a Jones to Branden Valle TD reception made it Stevens 0 – Clark 7 with 6:17 left in the 1st quarter.

Stevens scored at the end of the quarter on a QB keeper and a 4th and 1 to tie it up 7-7 with 1:52 let in the 1st.  The 2nd quarter started sharp for Clark, when Jones found Presley Miller for a 36 yd. TD, making it Stevens 7 – Clark 14 at the 11:52 mark.  Stevens came back again before the half, with the teams going to the locker rooms tied 14-14.

2nd Half

Clark’s Nick Gonsalves kicked a 40 yd. field goal at the 8:52 mark in the 3rd quarter to once again give the Cougars the lead, 14-17.  A Clark fumble lead to a 17 yd. Stevens TD and the Falcons lead Clark 21-17 with 2:40 in the 3rd qtr.  Clark came right back, driving the ball and finishing up with a Valle 21 yd. rushing TD to give the Cougars the go-ahead score, 21-24.  Stevens had one last chance to win but on 4th and 7 the Cougars’ Cristian Arellano intercepted the ball, guaranteeing the Clark victory.

Jones finished up the night 11 for 15 and 1 int.  Miller had 92 yds. receiving along with Trenton Ford’s 92 receiving yards.  Valle led the Cougars with 91 rushing yds.

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