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Clarke Prep downs Monroe 27-18 The Clarke Prep School Gators overcame 11 penalties and three turnovers to beat the Volunteers of Monroe Academy 27-18 last Friday night for a big region win on the road in Monroeville. The Gators jumped out to a big lead and then held off the feisty Volunteers to improve to 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in the region. The two teams traded possessions in the first quarter with one potential scoring drive for the Gators ending with a fumble at the Volunteer 27-yard line. Just before the end of the frame Clarke Prep's offense began a drive that started at their own 14-yard line. Facing third-and-three, quarterback J.D. Powell dialed up wide-out Chad Dickinson for a 79-yard scoring pass and run. Hunter Mayton tacked on the point-after touchdown to give the Gators a 7-0 lead with 1:06 left in the period. Monroe Academy's offense took the ensuing possession and started a steady march downfield. The drive was halted at the CPS 6-yard line when Randy Nichols recovered a fumble for the Gators. From there Clarke Prep set up shop. After Taylor Becton ripped-off a 36-yard run, followed by a 10-yard burst from Bret Bradford, the Gators had the ball on the Volunteer side of mid-field. Becton fought daylight through the middle of the Monroe defense and scored on a 29-yard sprint. The kick failed but Clarke Prep had a 13-0 lead that held up through the end of the first half. In the second half Clarke Prep's Chad Dickinson boomed a 42-yard punt that buried Monroe Academy at their own 7-yard line. On the first play the Volunteers attempted a backward pass that went into their own endzone. Clarke Prep's Mark Lear fell on the loose pigskin. The try for two came up short but the Gators increased their lead to 19-0 with 7:52 to go in the third period. Monroe answered right back on the ensuing drive when they scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass. The conversion failed but the Volunteers were on the board, trailing 19-6. The score remained that throughout the rest of the third quarter but the fourth frame saw a flurry of action from both teams. The Gators scored on their first possession of the frame when Powell connected with tight end Grant Newton for a 6- yard touchdown. Bradford ran in the 2-point conversion to make the score 27-6 with 9:28 left to play. Monroe then converted a turnover into points after they recovered a fumble at the CPS 40-yard line. The drive ended with an 11- yard TD pass. The try for two was no good, but the Vols had cut into the lead 27-12 with 6:15 left to play. Monroe hit paydirt one final time with a 5-yard TD pass and after the conversion failed, the score was 27-18 with just over 2:00 left to play. The Gators recovered the onside kick, but were forced to punt. Monroe took the ball and moved to the CPS 17-yard line when time expired. Just before time ran out there was a point where three plays were ran without the clock running. Almost a full minute of time elapsed before the clock started. The mistake did not effect the outcome of the game, luckily for the Gators. Becton led the Gator rushing attack with 126 yards on 20 carries and a score. Bradford added 121 yards on 16 carries. Powell was 6-of-8 passing for 141 yards and two scores. Chad Dickinson caught two passes for 87 yards and a score. With the win Clarke Prep improves to 2-0 in region play with a tremendous battle coming this Friday when they travel to Greenville to take on Fort Dale (3-0, 2-0). The Eagles edged Faith 21- 20 last week in Mobile. Since both squads are unbeaten, the winner of this match-up will likely have a leg up in the race for the region title.
Game time is 7 p.m.
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