With the score tied at the end of regulation, Rich Kern and his junior high boys could have settled for a tie against visiting Le Sueur-Henderson on Thursday.
But for the Clippers, with just one win on their season, a draw would have left them empty.
So, the two teams each had chances from the 10 until one team pulled ahead and the other didn’t. Defenses prevailed after the first two go-arounds, but the Giants went from the ground to the air in their second try and scored both the TD and the point after on passes to the end zone.
Taking to the sky too, quarterback Sam Ternes connected with Chase Bock in the end zone on the Clippers' next attempt, but with a sack on the PAT, the Giants prevailed 32-30.
It was an emotional loss for the Clippers, but Kern said the experience is something the young Clippers can take to the bank.
“We did a lot of great things tonight. Special teams, our defense. Coach (Charlie) Haugen was mixing guys in, so a lot of players got to play tonight. There were just a lot of great experiences here. They learned as players; we learned as coaches. Being down and then coming back to tie to go to overtime. Plus they are a pretty big school with lots of big guys. I told them at half time, no pun intended, but we were facing giants.”
With the game tied at 8-8, the Clippers surged just before the intermission Garrett Heldberg scored on a 45-yard catch and run, and Ternes converted the point after on a keeper to put the Clippers in front 16-8.
With just half a minute left in the half, the Clippers caught the Giants off guard with an onside kick. Miles Tomaszewski booted it perfectly, and Garet “Frank” Peterson fell on the ball for a Clipper recovery.
Taking advantage, Ternes went right back to Heldberg, this time for a 40-yard catch and run (photo above) that put the ball on the LSH 4. Penalties took the Clippers forward and then backward, but from the 5-yard line, Ternes once again went to Heldberg, this time in the end zone for a touchdown.
With Aiden Domras running left, the Clippers converted the PAT for a 24-8 advantage.
But the second half was all Giants.
Starting out at the 50 after the second half kickoff to start the, they drove the rest of the field and added the 2-point conversion with a run to pull within 8, 24-16. While the Clipper offense moved the ball, it didn’t come up with the key play it needed. Meanwhile the Giants scored again on a 22-yard run with 5:48 remaining. With the PAT run, it was all even at 24.
After the kickoff, Ternes kept the ball for 13 yards, and Zayden Linder hauled in a Ternes throw for 20 more and a spot on the LSH 35, but the Giants came up with a big pick with 18 seconds left to send the game into extra innings.
Down 8-0, the Clippers tied the game when Ternes ran a bootleg right. Domras ran in the extra point.
The talented junior high Clippers, who are now coming off a trio of excellent efforts that fell just short, will look for their second win on the Janesville artificial turf this coming Tuesday.
Seventh grader Richard Jordan was held up on this play.
Clipper defenders on the gang tackle.
Zayden Linder gains ground after hauling in a Sam Ternes toss.
Zander Linder eyes up a deflected ball. Covered tightly by the Giants is Garrett Heldberg.
Jack Shouler takes a Sam Ternes handoff. Creating the hole is Marshall Heldberg.
Despite being jerked backwards, Garrett Heldberg managed to haul in this Sam Ternes throw.
Aiden Domras on the run.
This pass was just out of Zayden Linder’s reach.
Jack Shouler eyes up a Giant defender.
Clipper defense in the OT scrum.