Trojans fall in a nailbiter to Claysburg-Kimmel 41-34

By rscaife
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Updated: September 29, 2018

By Kenny Varner

MOUNT UNION- This is why they play the game.

Coming into Friday’s contest against visiting Claysburg-Kimmel, the Mount Union Trojans we’re suffering through a 0-5 season while the Bulldogs came in a sparkling 4-1 record.

For much of the contest, the game belonged to the Trojans.

Trailing 21-14 going into the fourth, the Bulldogs’ offense came alive and rallied for 27 points to take home the 41-34 victory over the spunky Trojans.

“Just another day at Claysburg. We’ve been saying all year that we have to do everything the most complicated way,” joked Bulldogs coach Matt Bilchak. “I was proud of how the kids battled back. We had some struggles early on and get some stuff going and Mount Union’s record is not an indicator of how good of a football team they are. I think a couple bounces another way and it could have went the other way.”

Going into the final stanza, Claysburg got the comeback attempt started as it marched down the field, capping things off with a one-yard run by Corey Chamberlain.

However, a blocked attempt on the PAT still saw the Bulldogs trailing 21-20.

The Trojans were going to do everything they could not to let this one slip away as quarterback Quinton Posey busted out of the backfield and up the middle for a 51-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 28-20 with the successful PAT.

On the following possession, Claysburg-Kimmel continued to heat up offensively as they went down the field once again. It would a Chamberlain to hook up for a 32-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Harr.

While attempting the 2-point conversion, the Bulldogs were unsuccessful trying to take it up the middle.

Turnovers and penalties hurt the Trojans in the final minutes.

After having their lead cut to 28-26, Mount Union saw a crucial turnover change to momentum late in the game.

RJ Heisel picked off a Posey pass down the middle, taking it down to the 31 of Mount Union.

One play later, the Bulldogs cashes it in to take the lead on a Chamberlain to Zach Claycombs pass. The two-point conversion was successful as Harr ran around the outside for the 2-point conversion, making it 34-28 with 2:22 left.

Mount Union tried to get back on the board minutes later but another Heisel interception proved to be devastating for the Trojans as Heisel once again picked off Posey and ran it all the way for a 32-yard TD, upping the lead to 41-28.

The Trojans weren’t going away without a fight as it scored with 25 seconds left, ending the scoring at 41-34.

“That’s one thing I can say about our kids. They never give up. We have to clean stuff up there,” Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh said. “The conversation we had yesterday is the same one we had at the field at the end of the game. We need to clean things up at practice because mistakes are killing us. The first half went well. There were a few mistakes there but they weren’t able to capitalize on it. “

In the first half, it was a complete role reversal as the Trojans were ahead by a touchdown in a half that was full of drama from the first kick off until the final buzzer.

Claysburg-Kimmel opened the game and quickly marched down the field.

It took eight plays for the Bulldogs to cash it in.

But even as they were looking to score, the amount Union defense forced them to a 4th and one at the nine.

But on fourth down, Zach Claycomb was able to blaze his way around the end, making it 7-0 with the Wyatt Bell kick.

But this week, the Trojans has an answer to the early score.

Sitting on its own 30, Mount Union quarterback Quinton Posey lifted a pass to Ethan Carbaugh on a streak. Posey hit Carbaugh in stride for the 70-yard touchdown hook up, tying things at seven.

The scoring continued into the second after the Trojans were able to hold the Bulldogs on their next possession.

Mount Union fullback Klayton Willoughby got things rolling as he put his team on the seven yard line after a 30-yard run. A play later Willoughby got his number called again and blasted his way into the end zone. With the successful PAT by Trevor Skopic, Mount Union led 14-7.

But Claysburg-Kinmel didn’t accidentally get to 4-1 on the year without being able to bounce back.

And bounce back they did as the Bulldogs went on a 7-play drive this time and Joseph Noah took it in from 4-yards our, tying the game with 4:00 left.

That would be more than enough time for the Trojans to get its offense going one more chance before the intermission.

It took only 11 plays but with 42 ticks left on the clock Posey found Carbaugh once again. Carbaugh got the ball down to the one, setting the stage for teammate Willoughby.

Willoughby went in standing from the one, giving Mount Union the 21-14 advantage.

The Trojans also won the toss and deferred to get the ball in the second.

With the win, Claysburg-Kimmel improves to 5-1 while Mount Union falls to 0-6.