Titans Knock Off Clinton To Clinch D-7 Regional Football Title

Kadale Williams (1) carries the ball. He finished with 133 yards and a touchdown. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By David Rice | JTV Sports

Friday, November 10th (10:00PM):

What started off slow, turned into a 21-14 victory for the Lumen Christi Titans on Friday night at LCCHS.

A stop by Luke Smith on defense on 3rd & 5 forced a turnover on downs on 4th & 2. Kadale Williams returned this week after an injury in the district final for Lumen. Williams rushed for a 10-yard gain on a 3rd & 9. Then, an incomplete pass from Timmy Crowley to Williams forced an LC punt on 4th down.

Clinton started to gain momentum on offense, gaining two first downs including a 35-yard run by Nik Shadley. Shadley rushed for another pickup of 9 yards which set up for a one-yard touchdown by Bryce Randolph to make it 8-0 Clinton with 9:15 left in quarter two.

Lumen Christi responded on the very first play of the next offensive drive as Kadale Williams scored on a 46-yard rushing TD to make it 8-7. Clinton was forced to punt on 4th & 8, Gabe King returned it for the Titans and fumbled at the end of the play to give Clinton the ball back at the 24 yard line. 

After another punt and turnover on downs, it remained an 8-7 lead for Clinton going into the break.

Lumen Christi opened the second half with a 3rd & 11 after a penalty. Gabe King redeemed himself, picking up a 17-yard reception from Crowley to set up a first down. King added a 16-yard rushing touchdown minutes later to make it a 14-8 lead for the Titans on an 11 play drive that ate six minutes of the clock.

Just minutes later, two runs of 15 and seven yards by Kadale Williams set up an Issac Rehberg touchdown to put the game out of reach and make it 21-8 with 5:14 left.

Clinton opened up the next drive with a 25-yard run by Nik Shadley and an 18-yard pass to Jake Felts. But, an Aiden Pastoriza strip sack and fumble for the LC defense forced a 4th down. Cole Breitenwischer ran it in from a yard out for the Clinton Redwolves to make it 21-14 with two minutes left. 

Lumen recovered the onside kick to seal the victory and win their seventh regional title in the last eight seasons. Kadale Williams finished with 18 rushes for 133 yards and one touchdown. Gabe King rushed for 28 yards and one touchdown. Isaac Rehberg finished with nine carries for 44 yards and one score. Pierre Gray added 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

“We bounced back from two sub-par performances to defeat a physical team. Against an offense like that it take a quarter or quarter and a half to adjust to the speed” said LCCHS Head Coach Herb Brogan. Lumen Christi will play Millington at a neutral location next Saturday.