Clarkson/Leigh routs Mead

The Clarkson/Leigh Football Team won 54-16 at home over Mead Friday night.

The Patriots held a 30-0 lead after one, and outscored the Raiders 24-0 in the 2nd quarter to take a 54-0 lead into the locker room.

Mead won the 3rd quarter 8-0 to make it a 54-8 game at the end of three.

The Raiders also won the 4th quarter 8-0.

Tommy McEvoy had 183 yards rushing on 8 carries, including two scores. Travis Stanley added 130 yards rushing on 12 carries, including four touchdowns. Lance Paprocki totaled 97 yards on the ground on 8 carries, and scored once.

McEvoy and Carter Hanel had 9 tackles each while Cort Pokorney added 7.

Clarkson/Leigh had 464 yards rushing.

The defense gave up 204 yards of total offense, 113 coming on the ground.

Great effort by the Patriots, especially in the first half, and an even better win.

Clarkson/Leigh (5-2) takes on Emerson-Hubbard (5-2) on the road Friday night for the D2-2 District Championship.

The Pirates won 58-26 at Pender last week.

Head Coach Jim Clarkson discusses the keys to beating a solid Emerson-Hubbard squad. "Emerson-Hubbard has a very nice looking team, they are big up front and talented on the back end. We will need to stop their run game, they have a athletic and elusive QB and some hard running backs as well. Hopefully we can go on some long drives and keep the ball out of their hands."

I feel McEvoy is going to be the X-Factor in this game. Clarkson says McEvoy is a great all around player. "Tommy is a special talent. We are lucky to have a kid with his work ethic and ability. His athletic ability is obvious on the offensive side of the ball, but he is equally if not more valuable on the defensive side. He brings it play after play."

I look for him to have another big game and perhaps lead this team to victory.

The District Championship is on the line as is hosting a first round playoff game. Clarkson says all that matters to his team right now is winning the District. "To be honest the playoffs are secondary to us at this point. We have had a rough couple of years and our guys are really excited to play for a District Championship. Don't get me wrong if we can get a home playoff game with a win that would be gravy. Our players and fans would really like to host a playoff game, but the opportunity to get a District title is priority number one."

The Patriots have won five in a row while Emerson-Hubbard has won their last four. Clarkson says his squad has really played well together as of late. "The biggest difference is the team chemistry we have developed. The team has really come together over the last few weeks."

This should be a great game, and I think Clarkson/Leigh has a great chance to win it.

This is a totally different team than what it was at the start of the season, but the same could be said for the Pirates.

Both teams are playing much better Football than they were to start the season, and both squads have really come a long ways.

It should be a great game, and you can bet McEvoy, Stanley, Paprocki, and others will do everything in their power to lead this team to victory.

Clarkson/Leigh had 464 yards rushing against Mead while Emerson-Hubbard only gave up 39 yards rushing to Pender so something has to give Friday night.

It should be a great game between two teams who have earned it and come a long ways.