Post Messenger Recorder -

Clinton. A surname oft-referenced with political overtones. However, on this evening, it was the Cougars of Clinton, Wisconsin, that played host to the Knights of NGM as both teams opened the 2022 WIAA high school football season. Opening Night is always a special time of year. As the field lights flicker and then reach full lume after 10 months in repose, there is an awareness that summer is fleeting and football is here...the definition of bittersweet, I suppose.

NGM’s freshman kicker Ethan Seffrood had the honor of kicking off the season, quite literally. His well-placed kick to #2 of the Cougars was nervously bobbled, and by the time the young man could right himself he had a face mask full of NGM’s senior A.C. Strok, who promptly whirly-gig-tackled him on their own 30-yard line. It was a good start for NGM.

Each team had trouble finding a rhythm with their first offensive series. After some back-and-forth it was the Cougars senior quarterback, Peyton Bingham, calling his own number on a 27-yard sprint to the end zone. Sans a kicker, he called his own number again on a successful 2-point pass conversion and it was Clinton 8-0 at the 5:57 mark in the first. The home team kept the pressure on with an immediate onside kick, a 15-yard blooper that resembled a lob wedge at Edelweiss more than it did a kick. They recovered, and three plays later it was running back Delroy Vernon Jr. bolting in from 16 yards out for their second touchdown of the quarter. A failed extra point attempt made it 14-0 Clinton at 4:02 left to play, still in the first quarter. All momentum was with the Cougars.

Another blooper onside kick, but this one was controlled by NGM. And this is where NGM now showed some mettle. A lesser team could have folded their tent and gone home, but junior quarterback Max Marty used his legs on a sustained drive, scoring on a run from 15 yards out. The extra point kick was narrowly wide right of the uprights. Score now 14-6 at the 11:07 mark of the second.

Clinton’s Bingham had his own agenda. He brought his team right back, capping a drive with a 37-yard touchdown strike to his wideout, Sawyer Weisensel, and a 20-6 lead. Of course, another blooper followed but was covered by a swarm of NGM players. Max Marty led an inspired drive with his running and short passes, making good on two 4th down conversions. AND THEN IT HAPPENED - Marty hit wide receiver A.C. Strok in stride with a 45-yard bomb...touchdown NGM! Seffrood’s kick was true and NGM was right back in it, 20-13 with 1:02 left to play in the half. NGM’s senior linebacker Jackson Eyler closed out the half with a sack, one of his team high 9 tackles, and both teams headed to the locker room.

NGM would get the ball to start the second half, again via a recovered blooper onside attempt, this one recovered by freshman Luke Burton. A stalled offensive series and punt put Clinton deep on their own 10-yard line. Unable to move on the ground much past mid-field, Bingham threw a long pass on fourth down that was deftly broken up by NGM’s sophomore defensive back Andrew Sarbacker. Another stalled NGM offensive series and a punt mishap gifted the ball to the Cougars on the NGM 18-yard line. Quarterback Bingham called his own number four times in succession, finally running in for a score. At 1:11 left in the third, it was now Clinton 26-NGM 13. Surprise! The Cougars kicked yet another blooper, this one caught again by Burton with a fair catch signaled (some quick thinking by the freshman in his first varsity game).

Closing out the third quarter, Max Marty hit A.C. Strok on a 23-yard strike. Opening the fourth, A.C. Strok left his defender flat-footed somewhere nearest Beloit as a 40-yard spiral sailed just past his outstretched fingertips. The sigh from the Clinton faithful was as palpable as it was audible, realizing they had just avoided a would-have-been 26-20 score and serious momentum shift. But it wasn’t to be. NGM could no longer move the ball and Clinton came back with two final scores by Bingham on a keeper for 6 and another for 2. With 6:58 to play, the scoring was over. But that would not stop the Cougar kicker from trying just one more blooper! I guess he really needed the practice. Final score: Clinton 34-NGM 13.

It should be mentioned that NGM came into the game missing five starters. Give credit to Clinton as their line play on both sides of the ball made the difference for most of the evening. With three players listed over 300 pounds, and one “man-mountain” at 6’6” and 380 pounds...you get the picture.

Next up is the rivalry game as Belleville, fresh off of their shellacking of Cambridge, comes to the NGM field this Friday. “Katy bar the door” - I cannot conjure up any good reason why anyone would want to miss this game!

Game time is 7:00. See YOU at the game.