DarkHorses lost a close one at 4A Wilmington Hoggard tonight 24-21. Wilmington Hoggard who was a 4A eastern finalist last season has had a tough start this season 1-3, but they have played a very tough schedule and their losses have been close. They were primed to play the DarkHorses tonight .After a horrendous first half by the DarkHorses marred by way too many penalties, the DarkHorses found themselves down 24-7 at the half, but the DarkHorses came roaring out of the 2nd .half gate to take their initial posession down the field on an impressive drive to close the lead to 24-14 .Holding Hoggard scoreless in the second half was huge, with Skinner and company once again scoring in the 4th qtr to make the score 24-21, which was the final score. The DarkHorses had the chance with the ball a couple of possessions to potentially take the lead but mistakes and penalties seemed to thwart that, but they made an impressive second half showing. I've been following Clinton High School football for 40 years and this was by far the largest school Clinton HS has ever played. Hoggard had the numbers, but I believe our guys had the heart and the determination at the end, they just came up a little bit short. In retrospect ,the DarkHorses slow start might have been contributed to our having a bye week last week and a unbelievably soft opponent the week before. By tonight's second half there was no question what the level of play was going to be required and the Horses did it. They just came up a short. I feel certain Wilmington knows they were in a ballgame, in fact at the end they were fighting for their life. Proud of the DarkHorses for not giving up and playing hard till the end. More games like this pays dividends in the playoffs. The last time I felt like this was in 1996 and 1997 when the DarkHorses lost to 4A power Greenville Rose in two tightly contested games.The DarkHorses won State Championships both of those years
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