Jennifer Conners/Clarendon Citizen – Clarendon Hall Quarterback Hunter Hodges tries to move the ball during a loss to Wardlaw Academy.
Saints fall to Warlaw 52-18 in freezing loss
“We’re in it to win it,” is what the Clarendon Hall Saints’ banner read. But in order to win it all, they had to first beat the Wardlaw Academy Patriots in Johnston. The Saints lost to Wardlaw 52-18.
The freezing temperature seemed to slow the Saints seemed but not so for the Patriots. Wardlaw jumped out front quickly scoring twice in the first quarter. The Saints’ offense was just not clicking.
As the first quarter was winding down, Clarendon Hall finally got going, running the ball with success. The drive continued into the second quarter with the Saints driving 58 yards for a touchdown, ending with a 17-yard run by Cameron Cogdill.
Wardlaw quickly answered on three plays by scoring again. The Saints hopes stayed alive as they scored a second time on a nearly four minute long possession. Wardlaw answered again with another score and the Saints could not close the gap.
“We have not been run over all season long, but tonight we got run over,” said Coach Casey Connors. The Patriot’s offense made running up the middle on Connors’ defense look almost effortless, something that no other team has been able to do.
The Patriot’s defense held the Saints’ running game to a minimum as well. Waymon Hall who averaged well over a hundred yards rushing all season long, managed only 56 yards.
With the running game not working as hoped, Quarterback Hunter Hodges went to the air. He threw more passes tonight than in any other game all season completing six of 19 attempts for 141 yards. Hall had another 47 yards in receptions and a touchdown. Hodges also had 32 yards rushing and five tackles.
The Saints tallied 289 yards in total offense compared to Wardlaw’s 371 yards. This hundred yard difference doesn’t really equate to the 52-18 final score.
There were no big turnovers, as each team had one interception, almost one right after the other, and everything seemed to be sort of routine, except for the Saints not producing points on the scoreboard. Cogdill had two touchdowns and 43 yards rushing along with a team leading 13 tackles. Mason Miles also had a seven-yard reception and eight tackles. Justice Beach ran for 17 yards and brought in an interception.
Addressing the team after the game, Coach Casey Connors said, “Don’t hang your heads, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You have had a phenomenal season and I could not be more proud of each and every one of you.”
Conners described the team as the best group of players he has ever coached, and “no matter who the official title may go to, the Saints are a championship team,” said Connors. This was the most successful season that any Clarendon Hall football team has had in recent history. Even the two championship teams of the 1980’s didn’t have a better record.
Coaches Connors and Carlisle might be disappointed that they didn’t win this game, or the state championship, but they are not disappointed in their team. All the tears of disappointment shed tonight didn’t rival the tears of pride shed by all of the staff, parents, and fans as they realized the conclusion of a very successful season that leaves the Clarendon Hall family with much to be proud of.
