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.