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Overcast Clarke wins overtime thriller
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Clarke's Greg Tamney plows ahead for some of his 150 yards in last Saturday's 26-18 Conference IV overtime victory. over East Rockaway.
Chavon McIntyre/Herald
A thrilling 26-18 overtime victory over visiting East Rockaway last Saturday gave Clarke its third straight win and kept it in the Conference IV playoff hunt.
In overtime, Clarke’s Gary Tamney converted on fourth down with a five-yard run to East Rockaway’s 10-yard line. Tamney followed with a 10-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion to provide the difference for the Rams. The Rocks were unable to counter, as Clarke’s Omar Rahman picked off an Andrew Bashford pass on third down to seal the win.
“It was a character win — being down and coming back in overtime,” Clarke coach John Boyle said.
Said East Rockaway coach Russell Pajer: “Clarke made some big plays when they needed to. Unfortunately they capitalized on our mistakes.”
Down 18-12 with less than seven minutes to go from its own 27-yard line, Clarke’s six-minute drive finished with a one-yard touchdown run by Gio O’Campo. A missed extra-point attempt kept the game tied and led to overtime. Tamney rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns. The Clarke running game, led by Tamney, O’Campo and John Chodkowski, amassed 320 yards.
“East Rockaway has some tough kids in there and a good run game,” Boyle said. “We knew we would have to score some points because they move the ball on every team.”
Down 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, East Rockaway put together three successful scoring drives to go up 18-12 at the half. Bashford put the Rocks on the scoreboard with a 33-yard touchdown pass to David Blessington. They got the ball back after a Clarke turnover and scored on a Brian Lantz goal line burst with five minutes to go in the half, putting them up 12-6.
A seesaw first half continued, as Clarke tied the game with a quick drive highlighted by a 28-yard run by Tamney and shorter runs from O’Campo and Chodkowski. Tamney capped it off with a 30-yard touchdown scamper, breaking four tackles on his way to the end zone.
With 2:30 left in the first half, the Rocks earned good field position, as sophomore Nick Ulip returned the kickoff 50 yards to the Clarke 23. They would score on a Joseph Barbaro run, and went ahead 18-12.
But never-say-die Clarke had more in the tank.
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