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  • Claremore senior linebacker Tyler Cagle (48) and junior linebacker Gage Meisinger (20) wrap up Central running back DeAngelo Brewer (8) during the second quarter of Thursday’s 21-16 win over the Braves in District 5A-4 competition at Lantow Field. TIM RITTER

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  • Claremore senior defensive end Grady Caton (44) sacks Central quarterback Gerald Hardridge (11) on a huge fourth down opportunity in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. TIM RITTER

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  • Claremore linebackers Jordan Cunningham (21) and Baron Hope (23) wrap up Central running back DeAngelo Brewer (8) during the first half of Thursday's 21-16 win over the Braves. TIM RITTER

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October 19, 2012

‘Only the Strong Survive’

Defense, special teams lead No. 5 Zebras past Central, 21-16

Tim Ritter Sports Editor

CLAREMORE — It may not have been pretty to watch, but end result was another ‘W’ for the Claremore Zebras.

Claremore’s defense needed a huge stop in the closing seconds of Thursday’s District 5A-4 game in order to keep their home playoff hopes alive.

Jordan Cunningham knocked down a pass inside the Zebras’ 10 yard line on fourth down and Claremore held on for a 21-16 win over the Central Braves at Lantow Field.

“We escaped something tonight that might have cost us a lot more later on,” Claremore head football coach Rob Gilbreath said to his team at midfield following the win over Central.

The win improved Claremore to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in district play. Central dropped to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in district.

“I was proud of the way the kids fought in the second half and their at the end, found a way to win,” Gilbreath said.

Offensively, the Zebras were sluggish and had too many three-and-outs, according to Gilbreath.

“We thought like we could run on them, and thank goodness, we finished the game with a solid drive that got us points on the board,” Gilbreath continued. “When you start the game off with a fumbled snap, and then go three and out on the next series, that’s not fun to watch.”

Central’s defense held Claremore to 147 total yards.

The Zebras’ ground attack carried 30 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Derrick Reliford made his first varsity start and finished with 14 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Matt Whatley also carried 9 times for 33 yards, while Brycen Short had two carries for 10 yards and a huge fourth quarter touchdown to returned the lead back in favor of Claremore.

Defensively, Baron Hope had an interception and a blocked punt that set up a Claremore touchdown.

Claremore’s winning drive in the fourth quarter was aided by Whatley’s 10-yard pass to Caleb Webster and a clutch 24-yard pass to Hunter Garroutte that got the Zebras inside the Central 20-yard line.

A pair of runs by Short and James Chester got the Zebras to Central’s 3-yard line. One play later, Short bulldozed his way through the interior line blocking of Sean Pogue and Brett McClendon to put Claremore ahead 21-16.

Central scored twice in the third quarter on a 54-yard pass  and a 26-yard fumble return that put the Braves ahead 16-15 with 59 seconds remaining.

The Zebras, however, got a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter by Reliford, and then a 20-yard blocked punt return by Cunningham in the second quarter to send Claremore into halftime with a 15-2 lead.

 

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