Cove falls to Clemens in OT thriller 67-66
TJ MAXWELL
The Cove Bulldawgs have been looking for that spark and they got it in the form of 540 rush yards from the fearsome running back tandem of senior Antonio Lealiiee and junior Kylan Herrera. The duo combined for nearly 400 yards and eight touchdowns in a relentless ground attack.
Unfortunately, it came in a loss a 67-66 overtime loss to the Schertz Clemens Buffaloes Friday night at Bulldawg Stadium for Homecoming. Neither team’s defense could make a stop as the two potent offenses combined for 20 scoring drives, more than 1,400 yards of total offense and 133 points in an offensive onslaught that showcased elusive Clemens quarterback Frank Harris and the pair of bruising backs from Cove.
“We both played a heck of a football game,” Cove head coach Jack Welch. “It was a great high school football game and the great thing about it is it doesn’t count for district.
End the end, Harris’ ability to keep the play alive cost Cove a chance at a win in their first non-district win. Harris scrambled many times on the night, not necessarily to run, but to free up his receivers in the secondary. His final two scrambles cost Cove the win as Harris found Jack Howard all alone in the corner of the end zone to pull within one and found Kamren Baker for the go ahead two-point conversion on a similar play to win in overtime.
“There were some pass plays when we had them in the hole and we’ve got to get better at that,” said Welch. “Knowing that you played a good football team gives you confidence. On the other hand, we have to continue to get better in all phases of the game.”
Only the halftime buzzer could stop the Cove offense. The Bulldawgs had 11 drives in the game and scored on 10 of them including a 34-yard touchdown run by Lealiiee that put Cove ahead 59-56 with just 1:16 remaining.
“We mauled them,” said senior offensive lineman Jacob Bonner. “We got on our blocks and the running backs ran hard.
“We were on an emotional high at the end of the game. It was fun. I haven’t seen that energy since we started.”
Clemens’ offense was unstoppable as well. The only Buffalo drive that didn’t result in a score was their first of the fourth quarter when the Dawgs made a stop on 4th-and-goal. The Bulldawgs drove 99 yards on their next possession to take a 53-49 lead.
A pair of missed extra points and a failed two-point conversion in the second half would come back to haunt the Bulldawgs. After the Dawgs scored to take a 59-56 lead on the long score by Lealliiee, a missed extra point would give Clemens the ability to tie the game on a field goal and they did just that. The Buffaloes’ Noah Taylor hit a 40-yard field goal to send the contest into overtime.
Three-consecutive runs by Lealliiee resulted in a touchdown for Cove and the extra point by Krystian Wheeler gave Cove the 66-59 lead with one more opportunity for the Buffaloes which resulted in the Clemens’ win.
Cove took back the lead with 3:04 left in the second quarter after relenting the lead late in the first. A 37-yard scamper by junior quarterback Caine Garner put the Dawgs up 34-28 after the conversion run by Lealliiee.
Clemens answered on their final possession of the half when Harris found Tommy Bush for a 27-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 70-yard drive.
The Dawgs were unable to answer as time expired.
Schertz also took the opening drive of the second half 74 yards on 11 plays to push their lead to eight, 42-34, with 8:28 left in the third.
Cove pulled within two on an eight-yard touchdown run by Lealiiee to pull the Dawgs within two, 42-40, but another 11-play drive engineered by Harris resulted in another score and nine-point Buffalo advantage, 49-40. Lealiiee finished with a game-high 283 yards rush yards and five touchdowns.
“He ran with authority,” said Welch. “It was hard to bring him down and that’s what you want to see.”
“It felt great,” Lealiiee said about his offense’s performance. “The (offensive) line was getting on their blocks and making holes for me. The offense looks ready for district.”
Back-to-back scoring drives by Cove put the Dawgs back on top 53-49. Senior Ra’shaun Henry scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Lea with 1:10 left in the third to bring Cove within three, 49-46. Lea entered the game in the second half after Garner left the game with an undisclosed shoulder injury.
Cove opened the game with a six play, 75 yard scoring drive capped by a 28 yard run by Herrera.
Clemens answered with a 55-yard scoring drive to knot the game.
Herrera again broke free from 19-yards out to put Cove back up 14-7 but a stellar run by Harris led to a 42-yard score for a 14-14 tie.
Herrera’s third touchdown run of the quarter put Cove back up 20-14, but the first of four missed extra points and two missed two-point conversions left them trailing after one 21-20 when Schertz converted a four-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Herrera finished with 120 yards and three scores on 10 carries.
The lead flip-flopped again to begin the second quarter. A 25-yard touchdown run by Lealiie put Cove on top 26-21 but a Kamren Baker touchdown run put Clemens back in control 28-26 with 4:38 left in the half.
Harris was 19 for 34 through the air for two scores and rushed 20 times for 184 yards and three more scores.
The Dawgs kick off District 12-6A play this Friday against Killeen Friday at Leo Buckley Stadium.
“I think we’re doing a good job getting our guys ready for district play and I think they’re ready,” said Welch. “I wish we had the win tonight, but we were real close and I’m really proud of our kids.
“There’s nothing wrong with rebuilding a program every few years, but I think we’re rebuilt now and we’re ready.”