Wyer's 167 receiving yards not enough in 41-20 loss to William Penn
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Opening up Heart of America Conference North Division play, the Clarke University football team almost rallied all the way back down 21-0 at halftime against the Statesmen of William Penn, but fell short 41-20 Saturday afternoon at Dalzell Field.
After being down 21-0 at halftime, Clarke received the opening third-quarter kick and after a pair of Kenyon Williams completions, the Pride was in striking distance of the endzone. On the drive's third play, senior running back Craig Elmore ran around and through multiple Statesmen defenders for Clarke's first score down 21-7.
Only playing the second half, Elmore would rush 11 times on the day and 104 yards on the ground for an average of 9.5 yards per attempt.
A 42-yard touchdown run by William Penn's running back Destynd Loring put the Statesmen back up three scores at 28-7 late in the third quarter. Loring would rack up 159 yards on 19 carries and two total touchdowns.
Answering back and building momentum, the Pride would score the next two touchdowns as Williams found Jaquan Graham from 15 yards out to cap off a seven-play, 75-yard drive. On their next possession, Williams would hit Jayden Wyer on their first play from scrimmage for an 86-yard bomb to get the Dalzell crowd on their feet and cut the score down to 28-20 with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter.
Wyer would be the Pride's leading receiver on the day with his six-catch, 167-yard performance.
Coming in to play quarterback in the second half for CU, Williams would put up a 10-17, 212-yard day with those two passing scores.
Eight points would be as close as Clarke would get and William Penn would put up two more touchdowns, including a 25-yard strike from Sterling Ramsey II to Lukas Hamilton from 25 yards out.
The Ramsay II and Hamilton connection was clicking all afternoon as Hamilton caught 13 balls for 121 yards and one score. Ramsey II threw for 242 yards on 24-39 and two passing scores.
After having a difficult time moving the ball in the first half, the Statesmen finished with a 34-13 first-down advantage and had possession of the football for almost twice as long with a 39:48-20:12 edge.
Leading in tackles for the Pride, sophomore Camden Schoor finished with nine total from his secondary role. Making eight tackles, linebacker Rondell Juba and senior defensive back Johel Gonzalez were often around the football.
Four players recorded sacks today for the Pride as Steele Fredricks, Trey Hayes, and Israel Hernandez each had one and Charles Jones made 1.5. Getting rewarded for the other half of one of Jones' sacks was Tarance Gordon.
The Pride will host the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats next Saturday, Oct. 21st beginning at 1:00 P.M. CST.