Freshman quarterback’s late sport heroics leads Clayton Valley to gusty street win over Liberty

BRENTWOOD – When Clayton Valley senior quarterback Tyson Lovett left the sport with an harm late within the second quarter of Friday’s sport in opposition to Liberty, the Ugly Eagles didn’t panic.

The East Bay college rallied round freshman quarterback Javale Jones who led Clayton Valley on a 10-play, 78-yard game-winning drive within the ultimate minutes of the fourth quarter that ended with an 18-yard landing move to tight finish Logan Knapp to beat Liberty 21-17 on the street.

“For a freshman, I’ve never seen anything like that,” mentioned Clayton Valley head coach Nick Tisa. “He solely bought 40%, possibly even 30%, of the reps throughout the week. However he mentally prepares like he’s getting in at any level.

“We talk about next man up and that just affirms what we do here at Clayton Valley.”

Clayton Valley’s Logan Knapp (7) catches a move ultimately zone for a landing in opposition to Liberty within the fourth quarter of a highschool soccer sport in Brentwood, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Clayton Valley would go onto defeat Liberty 21-17. (Picture by Anda Chu)

In primarily two quarters of play, Jones accomplished 4 of 6 passes for 45 yards and a rating whereas including 18 yards speeding.

“It was my time to shine,” Jones mentioned. “I had to step up for Tyson when he went down and get this win.”

Star Liberty working again Jaxon Bell scored his two touchdowns within the first half – a 50-yard scoring seize and 39-yard sideline burst to the home – to provide Liberty a 14-6 lead at halftime.

The Brentwood college bought the ball to begin the third quarter, however Clayton Valley’s protection compelled a vital three-and-out to stifle Liberty’s likelihood to increase its lead.

On the following possession, Clayton Valley marched down the sector in 12 performs that was capped off by a four-yard landing run by senior working again Justin Underwood.

“Man, I just saw a really big hole,” Underwood mentioned of his landing run.

With the Ugly Eagles down two factors, Clayton Valley trotted out what appeared like its area purpose unit.

Nevertheless it was only a disguise as Clayton Valley shifted all however two gamers to the left sideline. When the ball was snapped, Logan Remington threw a display screen move to Knapp who ran behind a wall of blockers to transform the two-point try to tie the rating at 14 with slightly below 4 minutes to go within the third.

However after a quiet begin to the second half, Liberty discovered its rhythm once more within the fourth quarter.

The Lions strung collectively a stable nine-play drive that ended with a 21-yard area purpose by kicker Cody McGlasson that gave them a 17-14 with 3:36 left within the sport.

Liberty kicker Ezekiel Carreno (60) and place holder Jaxon Bell (2) rating a area purpose in opposition to Clayton Valley within the fourth quarter of a highschool soccer sport in Brentwood, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Clayton Valley would go onto defeat Liberty 21-17. (Picture by Anda Chu)

With Clayton Valley needing a rating, the offense turned to Jones to make performs. Up till Clayton Valley’s ultimate drive, the offense had but to finish a move. Jones’ first two makes an attempt fell incomplete within the third quarter.

On a vital third down and lengthy, Jones accomplished a 14-yard throw – the primary completion of the night time – to tight finish Tony Keck to maintain the drive alive.

Minutes in a while one other third-down try, Jones discovered Keck once more, this time for seven yards that put Clayton Valley in Liberty territory.

Clayton Valley discovered itself in one other third-down state of affairs, needing 9 yards to get a primary down. The Lions appeared to have made a cease as Jones scrambled a yard in need of the first-down marker, however a late hit by a defender incited a penalty marker for pointless roughness and moved Clayton Valley’s offense right down to the 18-yard line.

The decision was met with boos from the house crowd as many on Liberty’s sideline believed there was no malicious contact after the play.

“I didn’t see the hit out of bounds, but my coaches told me it was kind of ridiculous because if anything he was helping (the quarterback) back up,” mentioned Liberty coach Mike Cable. “But they threw the flag. There should be no contact there, especially in a situation like that. So you can’t complain about the call.”

On the very subsequent play, Jones made the play of the night time.

Scrambling to his left, Jones appeared like he was going to tuck the ball and attempt to run down the sideline. However on the final minute, he noticed Knapp working open at the back of the tip zone and threw it the place solely the 6-foot-4 tight finish may seize it.

“I saw the defensive ends crash outside,” Jones mentioned. “I felt the pressure and I stepped up and Tony Keck was just wide open. I had to give him the ball.”

Clayton Valley head coach Nick Tisa celebrates their 21-17 win over Liberty in a highschool soccer sport in Brentwood, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Picture by Anda Chu)

Down 4 factors Liberty had simply over a minute to march 56 yards and rating a landing to win the sport, however Clayton Valley’s protection made certain that didn’t occur.

The Ugly Eagles compelled a fumble that was recovered by junior Alec Hernandez with 40 seconds left.

Ball sport.

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