By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
CORNER – The Springville Tigers took to the road Friday night in a homecoming of sorts for Jon Clements, the Tigers’ head coach.
Springville quarterback Brennen Archer with the handoff.
Photo by: Ron Burkett
Clements returned to his former home in Dora, Alabama to take on the Corner Yellowjackets in a non-region game to close out the 2024 season, but the homecoming was not great for the former head Jackets coach as Corner beat Springville
The Tigers started the game with the ball, but moved backward on consecutive plays to set them up for a punt from their own end zone. The Yellowjackets drove the ball down inside the Springville 10-yard line but the Tigers’ defense would stand tall and keep them out of the end zone. Corner kicked the field goal to make it 3-0 at the 5:57 mark of the first quarter.
The Tigers would find some success running the ball with Trigg Murdoch and Cade Gleason, but they tried to get the ball downfield and Brennen Archer had no time as the pressure from Corner sacked him and set up another Tiger punt.
Corner would take the ball at around the 50 and this time the Yellowjackets would drive down and score a touchdown to make it 10-0.
Another Springville drive would lead to another punt by the Tigers. The Jackets would once again find paydirt on the ground and Corner was rolling with a 17-0 lead.
With 1:12 left before the halftime break, the Yellowjackets would find the end zone again and go into the locker room with a 24-0 lead.
Corner started the second half with the ball but the Tiger defense stopped them and held them to a punt. On a long third down play, Archer threw to Murdoch, but the ball fell incomplete and the Tigers would punt again.
Springville would capitalize on the opportunity on a nice drive that ended with a Cade Gleason run from five yards out for the touchdown. Trigg Murdoch would catch a pass for the two-point play to make it 24-8 Yellowjackets.
Springville would once again stand tall and Archer and company would set up shop deep in their own territory, but a Murdoch fumble would give Corner the ball back with good field position, leading to another touchdown. The score would be 31-8 in the middle of the fourth.
The Tigers would hit a big pass from Archer to Gleason for 56 yards and a Springville touchdown on a play that they had been trying to hit all night. The score would be 31-14.
Corner would tack on another touchdown before time expired to make the final score 38-14.
“I’m proud of the kids for showing fight in the second half,” said Coach Jon Clements. “We had some guys step up tonight. Hat’s off to Corner. They have a great team who will continue to win. It was great to come back here and see a lot of friends. The Corner community is a special place and one that will always be a part of my life and I am thankful for that.”
The Tigers end the season with a 3-7 record.
Corner will move on to the playoffs next week.
