Queen City edges Linden-Kildare, 32-28, in Cass County Clash

Queen City traveled to Linden last Friday night to take on the Linden-Kildare Tigers in the seventh installment of the Cass County Clash.

The Bulldogs won last year’s contest and looked to keep the coveted Cass County Clash hammer in its trophy case at QCHS.

The game was tight throughout and the score was knotted at halftime 16-16.

The second half was a shootout as well but the Bulldogs prevailed in the end by a score of 32-28.

The Clash certainly lived up to its name.

Although the two teams have been playing one another for close to 70 years on and off, the Cass County Clash billing began in 2013.

QC won that inaugural game 21-6 but L-K took the hammer home that next year after a 34-28 victory over the Bulldogs.

QC won that next year 36-34 and retained possession of the hammer, but the Tigers won the next two meetings 66-48 and 41-17.

Those two wins coupled with the two teams not playing each other for two years, the Tigers kept possession of the hammer for four years altogether.

The Bulldogs now have a 2-game winning streak against L-K which is only the second time in the rivalry that has happened.

No doubt everyone present for the barnburner is looking forward to next year’s meeting already.

First Quarter

Queen City put points on the scoreboard first after Bulldog QB Clint Wiley hit Rylee Green for a touchdown with just under nine minutes to go in the first frame.

After a successful 2-point play the Bulldogs led 8-0.

L-K answered just over a minute later as Jay Birmingham got loose for a 55-yard touchdown run.

Aiden Hernandez converted the extra point field goal and cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 8-7 with just over seven minutes left in the opening quarter.

Neither team crossed the goal line again in the first quarter of play.

Second Quarter

L-K scored the next nine points in the game.

A ball snapped through the back of the endzone by the Bulldogs gave L-K a 9-8 lead with 8:47 left in the first half.

At the 5:42 mark Birmingham struck paydirt on a 5-yard burst into the endzone, and after a successful PAT by Hernandez the Tigers led 16-8.

The Bulldogs scored at the 1:58 mark after Jeremiah Drayton scored from 10 yards out. Green ran in the 2-point try and the score was tied at 16-all going into halftime.

Third Quarter

The only score of the third quarter was a Tiger TD from Ja’Kyric Nard who bolted in from 13 yards out.

The PAT was no good but L-K was up 22-16 with just under seven minutes left in the third stanza.

Fourth Quarter

The final quarter made it worthwhile as the two teams traded scores.

Drayton scored again for QC with 9:32 showing on the clock and after another successful 2-point play the Bulldogs were up 24-22.

L-K scored near the seven minute mark after a 62- yard pick-6 by Rollie Patterson. The 2-point PAT was no good but the Tiger were back on top 28-24.

The Bulldogs scored the decisive touchdown after Delvon Federick galloped into the endzone from 20 yards out.

The PAT was good and QC had a 32-28 lead with 50 seconds left in the game.

L-K couldn’t muster up another TD and the game ended with the Bulldogs on top 32-28.

Birmingham rushed for 111 yards and QB Jonathan Owen accrued 59 yards on the ground to go with his 44 through the air.

Defensively the Tigers were led By Tae’ Shun Mitchell with six tackles and five assists. Patterson had tackles and three assists with an interception returned for a TD.

Drayton had 110 yards rushing for QC with three scores and Federick added 50 yards and a touchdown.

Clint Wiley was 10-of-20 for 131 yards and a touchdown, Brayden Wiley added 36 receiving yards and Rylee Green recorded 50 receiving yards and a touchdown.

L-K’s Head Coach Kyle Freeman had this to say about the Tigers’ effort last weekend.

“We felt like we were one or two plays from taking a two-score lead and winning the football game,” Freeman said. “Down the stretch we needed a crucial fourth down stop and just couldn’t take advantage of it. With this being the first game we’re happy overall with how the team performed. Of course we’ll take a look at things and adjust moving forward.”

“I believe the team responded well when Queen City would score, I believe the defense played better as the game went along and I feel we did a good job of moving the ball against them,” Freeman added. “We have a young team and some of the underclassmen surprised folks during the game. If we hadn’t lost a few guys to cramps during the third and fourth quarter in key situations the outcome could have been different.”

QC Head Coach Eric Droddy had this to say after the Bulldogs won a great contest.

“I was extremely proud of how the guys persevered through adversity in that game,” Droddy remarked. “We were hit with it several times in the game and responded very well each time. I was worried about some of our youth and experience in those situations and they really came through.”

“When we fell behind in the fourth quarter I was really ok, Droddy said. “I knew we had plenty of time to get a score and knew we could make one more stop. Defensively we had made stops the last three series.”

L-K travels to Clarksville this Friday night and QC will travel to Union Grove to take on the Lions.