CLARION, Pa. --- It was yet another offensive showdown between Clarion and Gannon at Al Jacks Field, with the Golden Eagles coming out on top by a 34-33 score on Homecoming on Saturday afternoon. Miscues plagued both teams, but the Golden Eagles capitalized on Gannon's self-inflicted wounds for the win.
In a game where both teams committed turnovers and failed to convert on key sequences, it was Clarion who best took advantage of their opponent, scoring 14 points off Gannon turnovers and failed fourth down conversions. Conversely the Golden Knights scored just six points in those circumstances, and in fact committed another gaffe in that particular sequence with a missed extra point on their first touchdown of the game.
In fact, what turned out to be the winning touchdown for the Golden Eagles came on such a sequence. Gannon was driving into Clarion territory in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 27. Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Clarion 36-yard line, Ty Hurst missed Chazz Corley on the sideline, turning the ball over on downs to the Golden Eagles. Tyreeck Hall and Avante George helped the Golden Eagles reach Golden Knight territory, and Jase Ferguson ripped off a 36-yard run to enter the red zone.
After Ferguson's 15-yard touchdown pass to Davon Jones was negated by a holding call the Golden Eagles kept plugging, eventually scoring on a 15-yard dash by Hall to make it 34-27. Gannon scored on a Hurst-to-Corley touchdown connection with 1:37 left to play – the duo's third of the game – but a botched snap on the extra point kept it a one-point game.
Gannon had one last gasp after forcing a three-and-out on Clarion's next possession, but a deep punt by Ty Woods pinned the Golden Knights deep in their own end. Hurst threw three incomplete passes to start the drive and then served up an interception to Tarell Allen-Tooks, who took the ball back to the Gannon 5-yard line for the victory formation.
In the first quarter, it seemed unlikely the game might come down to the final drive at all, as Clarion shut out Gannon in the opening 15 minutes and scored two touchdowns themselves. Ferguson hit Tsirell Curry for touchdowns on back-to-back possessions in the opening period, giving the Golden Eagles a 14-0 lead, and the lead stretched to 21-6 after Ferguson found Curry on a 44-yard bomb early in the second to make it 21-6. Hurst established his own connection with Corley, though, hitting him for touchdowns in the first and second quarters to make it 21-13.
The Golden Knights pulled to within one point in the third quarter after a four-yard run from Donell Mason made it 21-20, but Clarion got that back after a 12-yard touchdown run from Avante George. Corley pulled Gannon even at 27-27 with a 39-yard score just six seconds into the fourth quarter before the teams traded touchdowns in the final minutes.
Both teams moved the ball well, but the Golden Eagles won the turnover battle with three interceptions of Hurst, including one apiece for Gabriel Laws, Tarell Allen-Tooks and Nassim Adams. Allen-Tooks was all over the field with 17 total stops and a TFL. Offensively, Ferguson completed 21 of 33 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and also carried 10 times for 67 yards. Curry had three catches for 79 yards and three scores.
