Clouse leads Comets in homecoming game against BHRA
By Fred Kroner
The Oakwood Comets scored the game’s first and last touchdowns on Saturday (Sept. 25) in their homecoming game.
Gaven Clouse, who rushed for a team-high 236 yards on 31 carries, opened the scoring in the first quarter, exploding for a 71-yard scoring burst.
He also added the two-point conversion.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin scored the next 42 points and emerged with a 42-14 triumph.
“We played well, but they played even better,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “We had the lead early and a chance to put them down.”
After the Comets’ first score, Young intercepted a pass, but Oakwood was unable to take advantage.
On the first B-H/R-A scoring down, the Blue Devils needed to convert a third-and-18 play.
Also before halftime, Oakwood moved inside the B-H/R-A 30-yard line, but came up empty.
“We’d get inside the 30, but couldn’t push it in,” Craig said. “We’d have a good drive and then have a false start or somehow find a way to lose yards.”
Austin McDaniel hauled in a 6-yard scoring strike from Josh Young in the final quarter to complete the scoring in a Vermilion Valley Conference contest.
Clouse had a season’s high for rushing yardage.
“Gaven puts in the time to get those yards,” Craig said. “It was nice to see the offensive line open holes for him.”
Young was 3-for-6, throwing for 27 yards. He has filled in the past two games for the injured Dalton Hobick, who is hoping to play this week.
Oakwood (1-4) returns to action on Friday (Oct. 1) at Westville (4-1). The game will be the first one played on Westville’s turf field at its all-new athletic complex west of the high school.
It will be the Tigers’ first home football game since 2019.
“Westville is a very physical team and it’s always a war when we play them,” Craig said.