Bethel-Tate Tigers use defense to beat Clermont-Northeastern Rockets 18-14

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David Burnworth | October 2, 2022

On Thursday night I made my first trip to Clermont Northeastern high school to take in the contest between the host school Northeastern and league foe Bethel-Tate Tigers. Last season I also took this matchup in(https://pafootballnews.com/news/tigers-shoot-down-the-rockets-43-14-benbowenbe-cneathletics-betheltsports-coachjeffessig/). In that game the Tigers used a big offensive night in the win along with a tight defense. This season though the offense was put on the back-burner as their defense took center stage.

Nolan Darnell would get the night started for the Tigers with a hard 14-yard run, shortly after he followed by a 27-yard run that showed some raw power by the Junior. Facing a fourth and nine a little later on the drive, the Tigers went to the air with Cameron Snider finding talented Junior Jordan Essig for a 22-yard touchdown to make this a 6-0 game, with 9:10 left in the opening quarter.

Darnell would be active on the defensive side of things for the Tigers starting with his tackle for a five-yard loss on the Jake Mott. Defense continued to shine in this one but this time it came from the Rockets when C.J. Boothby made a nice little move to pick off the Tigers pass. Still, in the first at the 5:14 mark, Darnell was at it again with a sack on Josh Groeber for a loss of twelve. That sack was followed by another one this time Caleb Lanigan would do the deed for the Tigers. The Tigers special teams got involved in the fun when Talon Armacost recovered a block put to give the Tigers the ball just five yards away from another score. Darnell would haul in the five-yard throw from Snider. The point after kick from Snider was blocked keeping this a 12-0 game, with 3:03 left in the quarter.

The Rockets offense finally ignited on their next drive needed just three plays to go the 57-yards needed to cross the goal line. Boothby running a counter avoided the entire Tigers defense to go 46-yards for the score. Conner Yeager nailed the point after kick to make this a 12-7 game as the game entered the second quarter.

Getting things started in the second quarter was a Snider to Troy Harris 57-yard pass. Although there would be zero points in the half there were some plays that stuck out. Darnell would show more toughness on a nice 11-yard run. The Tigers ground game would also get a big 17-yard run from Armacost he later followed that with a fighting hard 7-yard run.  For the Rockets it was a 7-yard sack on Snider by Chase Holtzclaw.

Darnell would pick up a 16-yard run at the 10:39 mark of the third quarter but a fumble was recovered by the Rockets defense ending any hopes of another Tigers score. After quickly disposing of the Rockets offense, the Tigers would get two runs totaling 33-yards by Darnell. The second run would also go for a touchdown to make the score 18-7 with 8:33 left on the third quarter clock.

The Rockets would get a run of close to 10-yard from Jake Mott, where it took six defenders to bring him down. From there the drive ended as the Tigers defense held strong again. Once back on the field Snider found Essig for a 50-yard gain that looked to have gone for a score but the whistle blew as he was called for stepping out of bounds. The drive ended with another pick from Boothby.

The final stanza would start with a pick by the Rockets Mitchel Braden on a tipped pass. Boothby picked up 10-yards on a nice catch and run, with 11:05 left in the game. The drive would come to a close when Groeber found Grant Brown all along for the touchdown making this an 18-14 game. In the final 10:38 of this one we were treated to a 16-yard run from Armacost, another pick by Boothby, and then another nice run of 27 yards by Darnell.

UNOFFICIAL STATS

Tigers

59 plays

434 yards

Passing, 13-42  TD’S 3 INT’S

Rockets

57 plays

133 yards

Passing, 7-18 1 TD

Here is the link with all of the pics
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10225685442277261&type=3

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