Published: September 29, 2008 09:51 am      

River Kings gut out win over Knights

CLINTON – Well, has everybody come down yet? Did anybody sleep on Friday night?

Clinton’s big 14-7 Homecoming win over Davenport Assumption on Friday was dramatic and much needed as the River Kings snapped a two-game losing streak and beat the Knights for the first time since 1988, setting off a joyous celebration among players, students and fans.

The win also rekindled Clinton’s hopes of qualifying for the Iowa Class 4A State playoffs for the first time since 1996. At 3-2, the River Kings will probably need to win at least one more game make the 32-team field.

The win, however, did not come easy.

Clinton struggled offensively for much of the game and trailed 7-0 until the fourth quarter.

This game was won on gutsy plays and resiliency as much as strategy and talent.

A prime example is quarterback Jake Mangler.

Mangler was knocked out of a 35-14 loss to Bettendorf a week earlier with a concussion and his status heading into the showdown with Assumption was questionable.

The Clinton junior entered the game on the River Kings third series and promptly threw a 17-yard completion to David Johnson to give the home team their initial first down of the game.

Mangler scrambled and scratched for yardage and showed poise in the pocket in completing 16 of 29 passes for 185 yards in the game. You never would have known he had suffered a concussion just a week earlier with the aggressiveness with which he played.

Another example would be the offensive line.

The unit struggled in the running game in the first half, but in the second half opened some holes and gave Mangler time to find open receivers.

As far as gutsy plays go, one need not look any further than the conversion attempt following the River Kings’ first score.

Clinton lined up to kick the game-tying point after touchdown, but a high snap to holder Tyler Redman botched the kick attempt.

Redman ran right, looking for an open receiver, could not spot one. He made a dash for the endzone and managed to get the ball over the goal line to give the River Kings the one-point lead.

All in all it was a game of two contrasting halves.

In the first half, Clinton struggled to move the ball and Assumption was finding holes in the Clinton defense.

After the intermission, the River Kings’ game plan began to work and the momentum of the game swung in their favor.

The offensive line picked up their play and the defensive line began showing up in the Knights backfield.

“In the first half, we were really disappointed with the way we were playing,” Clinton head coach Lee Camp said. “We just weren’t doing the little things right. We didn’t show up in the first half, but in the second half, the kids sucked it up and played hard.”

“We knew we were flat,” senior defensive back Shawn Winoski said. “We knew we had to come out and do what we did last week and play smash-mouth football.”

“In the first half it seemed like we were distracted, but in the second half we came out and played more focused,” senior Matt Murphy said. “In the first half we weren’t getting through and the stunting wasn’t working. In the second half, we were making holes and the linebackers were making plays, (Austin) Krick and (Ryan) Cassidy had huge games.”

This game was also a reverse of their performance against the second-ranked Bettendorf Bulldogs a week earlier.

In that game, Clinton hung with the Bulldogs and trailed 14-7 at the half and were matching them blow for blow.

In the second half, Bettendorf’s depth took over and led the way to the win.

Against Assumption, the River Kings showed the ability to bounce back from a lackluster start and rally against a quality opponent.

Based on their performance in the last two games, it is apparent that the River Kings are still young and learning to put it all together to play a complete game.

Another thing that is apparent, is that this Clinton team has the grit, determination and work ethic needed to win some ball games heading into the home stretch of their schedule.

For a complete video feature of Friday’s win over Davenport Assumption go Crunch at www.clintonherald.com