Clouse, Warriors wallop Pirates

SYCAMORE — The Mohawk Warriors racked up 403 total yards on their way to a 56-14 non-conference home win against Cardington-Lincoln Friday night.Mohawk quarterback Andon Clouse had 250 passing yards and five touchdowns in the first half as the Warriors led at the break, 42-0."We got a lot of young guys stepping up in their roles for the first time," Mohawk coach Eric Daniel said. "We told them it's not always going to be simple and easy. We want you to do it when it's hard. We need to establish a run game better."The opening drive of the game saw Mohawk (1-1) drive 52 yards down the field only to turn the ball over on downs at the Cardington 4-yard line when Clouse's pass fell incomplete.The Warrior defense forced a three-and-out and a 27-yard punt out-of-bounds by the Pirates' James Bradley gave Mohawk short field to work with for their first scoring drive.On the first play back on offense, Clouse tossed a deep pass down the middle to a wide open Levi Tiell for a 29-yard TD reception. Aden Patrizi's point-after-try was good and Mohawk led 7-0 halfway through the first quarter.Mohawk then successfully attempted an onside kick, and Tiell recovered the ball at the Cardington 27.A sack by Pirates' linebacker Lleytin Hentorn gave Mohawk a third-and-17 scenario when Clouse found Rhett Leeth on the right hash for a 34-yard TD pass. The Warriors led 14-0 with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter.On the ensuing drive, Ralston dropped back to pass on fourth-and-4, felt pressure, and scrambled up the middle for just enough to move the sticks. Mohawk's defense stiffened from that point—forcing a Pirate punt that was downed at the Warrior 27.Mohawk's Clouse found senior receiver Jagger Ekleberry on a flag route over the middle. Ekleberry then cut across the field while eluding defenders as he cut up the left sideline for a 73-yard scoring strike. The Warriors took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter.After another three-and-out by the Mohawk defense, the Red & Black faced third-and-11 when Clouse tossed it to Tiell—who then turned outside for a 30-yard gain to the Cardington 11. The next play, Clouse scrambled and tossed a ball near the right corner of the end zone for Tiell. Tiell tipped the ball up in the air and was able to still to grab it as he fell to the ground for the 11-yard TD catch. At the 8:38 mark in the second quarter, the Warriors led 28-0.Another stellar defensive three-and-out, and a 23-yard punt return by Tiell set Mohawk up in Pirate territory with 28 yards between them and the goal line.A seven-yard keeper by Clouse moved the chains on a third-and-5, and three plays later, Clouse found Ekleberry in the end zone for an 11-yard TD. The Warriors led by 35 with 4:25 left in the first half.Mohawk was able to get the ball back a little over two minutes later, and after an eight-yard run by Patrizi, Clouse connected with Tiell for 15 yards and then Ekleberry for 27 yards to get down to the Pirate 5-yard line. Patrizi punted it in from there and the Warriors road a 42-0 lead into halftime.Mohawk's defense instantly picked up where it left off, forcing a turnover on downs when Ralston was sacked by Parker Hill and Kasey Coffman on fourth down.The very next play, Patrizi ran it up the middle then bumped outside to the left for a 28-yard TD roughly four minutes into the third quarter—making the score 49-0 in favor of the Warriors.With the second string on the field, Cardington's Dillion Donkin sprinted 60 yards to start off their next drive. A face mask penalty by Mohawk put the Pirates with a third-and-2 that they converted when Donkin ran for eight yards. Ralston kept it up the middle for a four-yard TD to get Cardington on the board, 49-7.On the next drive, on third-and-15, Warrior freshman QB Liam Martinez threw a deep ball down the right sideline to classmate Chance Collene who tipped the contested ball over the defender to himself and was able to dash the remaining ground for the 71-yard TD connection.Cardington's offense was able to put together a seven-minute running-clock drive where the Pirates went 65 yards in 10 plays to score. A 21-yard end around by Lleytin Henthorn put Cardington in the red zone. Three plays later, Ralston kept it for a 12-yard TD run up the middle. The PAT capped the scoring at 56-14.Mohawk's 403 yards was comprised of 321 passing yards and 82 rushing yards.Clouse was 11-of-13 for 250 yards and five TDs—which was all in the first half. Ekleberry had three catches for 111 yards and two TDs, and Patrizi led the Warriors in rushing with 53 yards and two TDs on seven carries.Cardington-Lincoln (0-2) gained 145 total yards—all on the ground.Donkin led the way with 84 yards on eight attempts. Ralston had 50 yards on 23 rushes.