Plumlee leads Central Arkansas Christian’s first-half surge past Clinton

Central Arkansas Christian 49, Clinton 14

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Jackson Plumlee led a succession of quick scoring drives as Central Arkansas Christian built a commanding first-half lead and defeated Clinton Friday night on homecoming at Mustang Mountain.

The Mustangs’ 49-14 victory was the final score repeatedly announced on the KHPQ broadcast. CAC scored seven first-half touchdowns and led 49-7 at halftime before Clinton held the Mustangs scoreless in the second half.

CAC improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in 4A-2 play. Clinton fell to 0-5 and 0-2. Hayden Jones supplied both Yellowjacket touchdowns and finished with 71 rushing yards, according to the Clinton broadcast’s postgame report.

The Mustangs needed only two plays to cover 62 yards on their opening possession. A 38-yard run set up Plumlee’s 24-yard keeper through the middle with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter.

Clinton’s response began with its defense. After the Yellowjackets punted, Keegan Rose recovered a CAC fumble at the Mustangs’ 15. Jones moved the ball near the goal line, and penalties against CAC helped keep the possession alive. Jones scored from one yard with 5:28 left, and Dereck Infante’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Plumlee quickly put CAC back in front. On third-and-two from the Mustangs’ 48, he kept the ball, broke through the middle and outran the defense for a 52-yard touchdown with 4:03 remaining.

The Mustangs scored again before the quarter ended. Plumlee rolled right and completed a pass to Hoover Brogdon, who escaped a tackle and stayed along the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown with 43 seconds left. The extra point made it 21-7.

Plumlee’s next touchdown required him to reverse field. Pressured as he rolled out, he escaped to the right behind a wall of blockers, then cut back across the field on a 47-yard scoring run with 10:18 left in the second quarter.

The broadcast credited Plumlee with another rushing touchdown, this time from 29 yards, with six minutes remaining. After CAC intercepted a Clinton pass near midfield and returned it into Yellowjacket territory, Plumlee found Brody Vantilborg for a 34-yard touchdown on the next play with 5:40 left.

Vantilborg added a 38-yard touchdown run with 1:16 remaining. The Mustangs converted their seventh extra point to complete the first-half scoring.

Clinton opened the second half with a 66-yard touchdown drive. Jones broke through for a 12-yard gain, and Manny Lopez’s counter carried the Yellowjackets inside the 10. Jones finished the possession with his second touchdown, and Infante’s kick made it 49-14.

The Yellowjacket defense forced punts on CAC’s next two possessions, with Jones breaking up a pass on the second of those series. Clinton’s offense continued moving the ball at times but lost two second-half fumbles, preventing the Yellowjackets from cutting further into the deficit. Rose added a late tackle for no gain as CAC ran out the clock.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Central Arkansas Christian — Jackson Plumlee 24-yard run (kick good), CAC 7, Clinton 0. 11:30.

Clinton — Hayden Jones one-yard run (Dereck Infante kick), CAC 7, Clinton 7. 5:28.

Central Arkansas Christian — Jackson Plumlee 52-yard run (kick good), CAC 14, Clinton 7. 4:03.

Central Arkansas Christian — Hoover Brogdon 42-yard pass from Jackson Plumlee (kick good), CAC 21, Clinton 7. 0:43.

2nd Quarter

Central Arkansas Christian — Jackson Plumlee 47-yard run (kick good), CAC 28, Clinton 7. 10:18.

Central Arkansas Christian — Jackson Plumlee 29-yard run (kick good), CAC 35, Clinton 7. 6:00.

Central Arkansas Christian — Brody Vantilborg 34-yard pass from Jackson Plumlee (kick good), CAC 42, Clinton 7. 5:40.

Central Arkansas Christian — Brody Vantilborg 38-yard run (kick good), CAC 49, Clinton 7. 1:16.

3rd Quarter

Clinton — Hayden Jones run (Dereck Infante kick), CAC 49, Clinton 14. 7:30.

Players Who Stood Out

Jackson Plumlee, Central Arkansas Christian — Broadcast credits four rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes. His 52-yard keeper restored CAC’s lead, and his 47-yard scramble extended it early in the second quarter.

Brody Vantilborg, Central Arkansas Christian — Caught a 34-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 38-yard direct-snap run in the final six minutes of the first half.

Hoover Brogdon, Central Arkansas Christian — Turned a short completion into a 42-yard touchdown by escaping a tackle and staying along the sideline.

Hayden Jones, Clinton — 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns, according to the broadcast. Converted an early fourth down, added a 12-yard run on the second touchdown drive and broke up a second-half pass.

Keegan Rose, Clinton — Recovered a first-quarter fumble at the CAC 15 to set up the tying touchdown and made a late tackle for no gain.

Manny Lopez, Clinton — Counter run from outside the 30 to inside the 10 set up Jones’ second touchdown.

Dereck Infante, Clinton — Converted both extra points.