Second Half Comeback Falls Short, Concordia Drops Road District Game to Clay Center

Trailing 28-0 at halftime on Friday, October 7th, the Concordia High School Football team fought back to make it a ten-point difference with 10:50 left in the game.  But two fourth quarter scores for the Clay Center Tigers allowed them to walk away with a 41-26 victory over the Panthers in Class 3A District 5 play.

The loss drops Concordia to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in district action, while the Tigers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the district.

The opening half was controlled by Clay Center who scored touchdowns on four of its five first-half drives.  The Tigers opened the game with a 4-yard touchdown run by Junior Brody Hayes on their first drive, and ended their second possession with a 46-yard touchdown run by Sophomore Owen Craig.  Hayes scored another touchdown on an 11-yard run late in the second quarter, while Senior Quarterback Mark Hoffman added a 3-yard score with eight seconds left in the first half.

Early in the third quarter, Concordia forced a three-and-out and the first Clay Center punt, highlighted by Senior Michael Ashland darting through the Tigers' offensive line for a tackle for loss, one of two tackles for loss for Ashland on the night.

Concordia responded with a 9 play, 75-yard drive ending on a 16-yard touchdown run by Junior Quarterback Braeden Primeaux.

Another three-and-out by the Panthers defense led to the second punt of the game for Tigers Sophomore Cole Pladson.  Concordia Senior Alec Francis showed off his speed and returned the punt 49-yards to the Clay Center 21-yard line.

On the next play from scrimmage, Primeaux scrambled 21-yards for his second touchdown of the night.

An onside kick was then recovered by Concordia Junior Ashton Dooley at the Clay Center 36.

Primeaux then engineered an 8 play touchdown drive.

First, facing fourth-and-1 at the Tiger 14, Primeaux kept the drive going with a successful quarterback sneak.

Two plays later, Primeaux hit Junior Wide Out Joey Henderson for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 10 points early in the final frame.

Clay Center answered with a quick 4 play scoring drive.  Hoffman covered 44 yards in two pass plays to reach the red zone, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run for Junior Carter Long pushing the Tigers' lead out to 34-18 with 9:30 remaining.

The Panthers offense then turned the ball over on downs and Clay Center scored again on a 7-yard touchdown run by Hayes with 4:20 to go.

Concordia reached the end zone one final time when Senior Running Back Stryker Hake scored on a 25-yard catch-and-run from Primeaux, capping off a 7 play, 69-yard drive.

Primeaux punched in the two-point conversion run to make it 41-26 with 1:36 to play.

Primeaux finished the night 12-of-22 for 158 yards and two touchdowns.  He also led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns and was named our Nex-Tech Wireless MVP of the Game.

Hake totaled 15 carries for 67 yards to go along with 2 catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.  The two-way starter also led the Panthers in tackles, registering 10 tackles including five solo stops, and was named the recipient of our H&R Block of the Game.

Francis made three grabs for 49 yards.  He also finished the game with 4 carries for 25 yards.  Henderson caught the ball 2 times for 27 yards and a touchdown, while Senior Tight End Chayton Alquist-Pennell had 2 catches for 23 yards.

Concordia returns to action on Friday, October 14th when they travel to Beloit to face the 4-2 Beloit Trojans in a non-district tilt.  Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Trojan Field and the game can be heard on 1390 KNCK, 98.3 FM and NCKToday.com.