The Clinton Prairie Gophers defeated the Bulldogs of Clinton Central with a dominant defensive performance to win the Corn Bowl 32-0.
“It’s a big win for our kids,” Clinton Prairie coach Kurt Schlicher said. “Anytime you go on the road and you’re able to shut an opponent out, that says a lot about your players. Credit goes to our assistant coaches; our defensive guys had a really good game plan.”
It’s back-to-back shutouts for Clinton Prairie, after they beat Frankfort 50-0 a week ago. The last time Clinton Prairie held opponents scoreless in back-to-back games was in 2008 under coach Shaun Wines.
The Gophers not only won the Corn Bowl trophy but also won the county, beating both Central and Frankfort. The Gophers have won the county four years in a row.
It was a slow start for both teams. On the first possession, the Bulldog defense looked strong, sacking Clinton Prairie quarterback Brady Allen twice, including one that forced a fumble and set up Central with great field position.
On the very next play, however, the Gopher defense punched the ball free and gave their offense the ball back.
“Turnovers hurt us week one against Frontier,” Schlicher said. “It’s been an emphasis in practice, trying to create turnovers. We do a lot of drills in practice each week, trying to punch the ball out from different angles and from behind.”
On the ensuing drive, the Gophers marched down the field and drained much of the first quarter clock, but their drive stalled out, and Prairie was forced to punt.
Clinton Central got some strong runs by Amrin Barrett to put them in the red zone on their second possession, but a fumble on the snap gave the Gophers the ball back.
Clinton Prairie capitalized on the turnover and drove down the field with a balanced attack. Passes to Alex King, Braiden Jarboe and Trenden Kaser, and a flurry of runs by Hunter Cooper put the Gophers on the eight-yard line, where Jarboe scampered in for the first score of the game.
“Hunter Cooper runs the ball like a freight train at times,” Schlicher said. “He runs hard, and he’s able to create some space. We ran some quick passes outside, and I thought our blocking on the perimeter was very good. Kye Jacobs, Braiden Jarboe and Alex King, you know, blocking for each other out there, in space, makes a big difference.”
On the next drive for Clinton Central, the Bulldogs got down the field quickly with an 11-yard catch and a 25-yard run by Luke Shelley. With first and goal from the three, the Bulldogs ran it four straight times and couldn’t punch it in, turning it over on downs at the one.
“They got it down to the one, and we took a time out to try and keep everybody composed,” Schlicher said. “I told them, ‘one play at a time, try not to think about where the ball is,’ although you have to be aware, that’s part of the strategy. You can’t give them a yard; it’s not first and ten, it’s third and goal, and Hunter Cooper makes a great play. The key there is that we were able to build a wall, and the Hunter got him from behind.”
That fourth-down stop was named the Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union Play of the Game.
With the stop, the Gophers drained the rest of the clock and took an 8-0 lead into halftime.
On the first drive of the second half, the turnovers continued for Central as Mennen tried a pitch to Barrett, and the Gophers jumped on it.
Gaige Kuzmicz snuck into the end zone a few plays later to push the lead to 16.
Kuzmicz and Brady Allen have split quarterback duties this season, and both have found success.
“We don’t go in saying we’re going to give this series to Gaige or Brady,” Schlicher said. “We’re just letting it flow. Both kids, I have to compliment, both are incredibly unselfish. That’s what makes great teams: when you have unselfish kids. They want to win, and they’re not necessarily worried about stats. I don’t know the quarterback stats, but if we compare them, my guess is they’re pretty close.”
The stats look nearly identical, as Allen has completed 26 of 40 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown this year, while Kuzmicz is 18 of 26 for 267 and five scores.
The Gopher defense continued to dominate in the second half, forcing two more Bulldog fumbles.
Clinton Prairie added two more scores with Gaige Kuzmics finding Trenden Kaser and Braiden Jarboe rushing for his second score of the night.
Clinton Prairie closed it out for a 32-0 victory and has now won seven straight over the Bulldogs.
The Farmers Bank Player of the Game went to the entire Gopher defense as they forced four turnovers and held Clinton Central scoreless.
The Bulldogs will try to rebound on the road next week against Sheridan, while Clinton Prairie will get a week off unless they can find an opponent to fill Friday’s open slot.
Watch the entire game archived on Hoosierland TV by clicking below.
Listen to the full interview with Kurt Schlicher on Inside the Huddle by clicking below.
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