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Hunter Mayton kicks Clarke Prep past Fort Dale 9-7 It was a defensive struggle throughout and in the end a kicker redeemed himself with the game-winning kick as the Clarke Prep Gators inched closer towards a region title by beating Fort Dale 9-7 last Friday night in Greenville. The game was played in a quagmire as heavy rains had drenched the field during the week and just prior to game time, making it a muddy mess. Clarke Prep School placekicker Hunter Mayton, after earlier just missing a PAT that would have tied the score, came on and nailed a 30-yard field goal, with :09 seconds left in the game to put the Gators in front 9-7. The scoring drive, which started at the Gator 5-yard line, was set up when Ian Smith recovered the ball for CPS, halting a potential Fort Dale scoring drive. With just 3:27 left in the game the Gator offense moved down the field. Quarterback J.D. Powell hit a diving Chad Dickinson on the first play for a 32-yard pickup. Powell then hit completions to Tanner Tucker for 7-yards and Brett Bradford for 28-yards to get Clarke Prep into scoring position. The drive stalled at the Eagle 13-yard line when Mayton was called on to make the kick. The two teams traded possession throughout much of the first half with Fort Dale striking first. The Eagles got the ball on an interception and returned it to the Gator 15-yard line. Taking four plays, Fort Dale hit paydirt when Brian Mullins scored on a 3-yard blast. The kick was good and the Eagles had a 7-0 lead with 2:06 to go in the first half. The Gators took the ensuing possession and drove down to the Fort Dale 9-yard line before time expired, ending the drive. Midway through the third quarter Clarke Prep mounted their first scoring drive of the evening, starting at their own 41-yard line. Staying on the ground and behind the running of Taylor Becton and Brett Bradford, they moved inside the Eagle 10-yard line. QB Powell made the most of a broken play and kept the ball, scoring on a 9-yard run. The kick was just wide right and with 4:06 left in the third, Clarke Prep trailed 7-6. The Eagles did get the ball one more time after Mayton made the game-winning field goal, but time expired before a threat could be mounted. Powell paced the Gator offense by going 8-of-20 with 127 yards passing. Dickinson caught two passes for 62 yards while Tucker caught four passes for 34 yards. Defensively Taylor Becton led the charge with 13 solos and three assists. Dillon Rowell had 10 tackles and five assists. Jason Gates had nine solos and four assists. Tucker had six stops and a fumble recovery. The Gators improve to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in the region. They remain in region play this week as they host Taylor Road (0-4, 0-3) for homecoming as well.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Hamilton Field.
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