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.

• Express News article
• envision! PHOTOS

Valle rushes for a 1st down

Under the bright lights of a television broadcast, the Clark Cougar varsity football team lost to the Alamo Heights Mules, 28-10.

1st Quarter

The Cougars looked strong, beginning with Cristian Arellano’s opening kickoff return to midfield.  The Cougars then marched down to the redzone but could not convert a 4th and 1 on the one yard line.  On the next possession, the defense attacked as Sam Carter caused and recovered a fumble. The Mules, however, made up for their mistake on their next possession scoring, making it Mules 7, Cougars 0 with :58 to go until the 2nd qtr.

2nd Quarter

Using classic Clark ball control, mostly through the rushing of Brandon Valle, the Cougars took the kickoff and ran a 19 play drive, ending in a 6 yd. touchdown pass from Chase Jones to R’Mani Bettis.  With 5:32 left before halftime, the score was tied.  Following a Heights possession, the Cougars responded with a score.  With no timeouts left and the clock ticking down, Nick Gonsalves executed a perfect “fire drill” field goal attempt of 24 yds. as the buzzer sounded.  Going into the locker rooms at the half, Clark led 10 to 7.

3rd Qtr.

Alamo Heights passed. AH 21-Clark 10

4th Qtr.

Final Score: AH 28 – Cougars 10

• envision! Photos
• Express News article/photos
• Express News boxscore