Mistakes doom Bears again in loss to Clinton

HONEA PATH — Belton-Honea Path coach Wayne Green told his team it couldn’t turn the ball over against Clinton like it did when the Bears had three interceptions in a loss to the Red Devils earlier this season.

Unfortunately for the Bears, they didn’t get the message.

B-HP threw another trio of picks, lost two fumbles and turned the ball over on downs twice in a 39-13 loss to Clinton on Friday in the second round of the AAA state playoffs.

Green’s bunch got up early, but the Red Devils (9-3) ran off four touchdowns in the second quarter and turned the game over to the running backs in the second half to keep B-HP (9-3) at bay and end the Bears’ season.

“I think it’s real obvious that if you make that many mistakes against a football team like that you aren’t going to have a chance to win,” Green said. “When you turn the ball over on offense and they get it, they keep it so long.”

After the Bears jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a 19-yard touchdown run by Nino Woolridge, the Red Devils answered with a 75-yard drive, picking up six first downs and capping the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run by Shakeil Bates.

After B-HP running back Charles Lindsey fumbled on a run and it was recovered by Clinton, a 33-yard pass set up a 1-yard rushing score by Taviouzie Booker to give the Red Devils a 12-7 lead with 9:10 to play in the second quarter.

Clinton struck again after the Bears turned the ball over on downs and Red Devil quarterback Grant Templeton found Ryan Underwood for a 54-yard touchdown pass to go up 19-7 with 2:22 to play.

After Spence was sacked on a fourth down with 38 seconds left in the first half, Templeton hit Kenny Cook for a 51-yard passing score the next play to take a 26-7 lead into the locker room.

“We got behind so quick it took us out of some of the things we wanted to do,” Green said. “We end up throwing the football more than we wanted to. You’ve got to play those guys on even par. If you get behind those guys right there, they’re not going to give up a big play and when they get the ball they’re not going to let you get it back.”

Clinton came out in the second half with a ground attack that totaled 138 yards and ate much of the clock behind a strong offensive line and bruising tailbacks.

“(Clinton was) the most physical team I’ve ever played,” said B-HP senior receiver Jacob Tavernier, who was a bright spot with seven catches for 139 yards. “They do the small things the right way and don’t make many mistakes.”

The Red Devils all but ended the game with 1:37 to play in the third quarter when Bates scored on a run from 19 yards out that was set up by an interception to give Clinton a 32-7 lead.

After Woolridge returned a punt 52 yards to cut the lead to 29, Clinton tacked on another score on a 41-yard touchdown run by Glenn with 4:35 to play to seal the season-ending loss for the Bears.

“We didn’t accomplish some of the goals we set at the beginning of the year but this has been a tremendous group of seniors,” Green said. “We competed hard here but we just got beat by a better football team.”

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