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Big second quarter keys CPS Gator 37-7 win in Mobile
An offensive explosion of 24 points in the second quarter keyed the Clarke Prep Gators to a 37-7 region win over the Warriors of Cottage Hill Christian this past Friday night in Mobile. The Gator defense actually set the tone for the game on the first Warrior possession. After driving down to the Gator 4-yard line, the Warriors had first-and-goal. CPS’ Matthew Wright wrapped up a fumble on the second play to snuff out the Warrior scoring opportunity. Neither team was able to get into the end zone in the first period but in the second stanza the Gator offense exploded. Following a Cottage Hill punt that buried the Clarke Prep offense at their own 3-yard line, the Gators started marching. On the first play fullback Josh Lear exploded up the middle for a 74-yard run down to the Warrior 23-yard line. On the next play tailback Heath Bradford went 20-yards to the 3-yard line. From there Lear scored. After Bradford ran in the 2-point conversion the Gators led 8-0 with 7:07 left in the half. Cottage Hill was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt. Again on the first play Lear found a seam and galloped 66-yards, giving the Gators a first down at the Cottage Hill 12-yard line. Bradford capped the drive with an 8-yard scoring run. He ran the 2-point conversion, increasing the Clarke Prep lead to 16-0 with 1:57 to go before the break. Three plays into the ensuing Cottage Hill drive Rob Dickinson stepped in front of a pass and intercepted it for the Gators at the 47-yard line. Quarterback Brendan Becton hit wideout Alan Baker with a rare 38-yard scoring pass two plays into the drive. Lear ran in the 2-point conversion and with less than a minute to play the Gators took a commanding 24-0 lead. Midway through the third quarter Dickinson picked off his second pass of the game to give the Gators the ball near midfield. Christopher Etheridge ended the 2-play drive with a 44-yard romp on the wingback trap. The kick failed but Clarke Prep added to their stranglehold 30-0. The final Gator scoring drive started in the third quarter and continued into the fourth quarter as they moved 70 yards on 18 plays with Cal Mullins finishing it off with a 2-yard run. Wesley Lambert kicked the PAT as CPS took a 37-0 lead with 5:28 left to play. Cottage Hill finally got on the scoreboard with a 50-yard run on the ensuing possession. The kick was good making the score 37-7 with 3:38 left. Clarke Prep recovered the on-side kick attempt and ran out the clock, preserving the win. The Gator ground game churned out 403 yards on 56 carries with Lear leading the charge with 172 yards on nine carries and a score. Bradford added 77 yards on 15 carries. Quintin Mann had 52 yards on eight carries. Etheridge had 49 yards on two carries and a TD. The Gator defense limited Cottage Hill to just 102 yards on the ground and 52 yards in the air. This Friday the Gators (3-3, 2-3) return home and hosts the Trojans of Meadowview (0-6, 0-5) in a region game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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