SPARTA — Clear Fork’s clash with backyard rival Highland became more uncomfortable as the night unfolded.
It reached a near fever pitch until the final 61 seconds, when Nash Evans burst through on an 8-yard bolt to finally put the Colts in front for good in a 20-14 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference win.
That touchdown offset a fine performance by the Scots’ Kane Stover. The senior standout, and cousin to former Lexington Mr. Football Cade Stover, ran for 132 yards and all 14 points.
Clear Fork drew first blood in the see-saw affair when Alex Schlosser plowed in on a 6-yard romp with 2:16 showing in the first quarter. The PAT made it 7-0.
But Stover answered with a 3-yard blast and the ensuing two-point conversion run pushed the hosts on top 8-7 with 8:17 showing in the half.
Stover struck again moments later on another 3-yard plunge. This time the conversion failed, but it still left the Scots with a 14-7 edge at intermission.
It stayed that way through the third period.
Clear Fork finally knotted the affair in the fourth quarter when Marcus Hoeflich connected with Quentin Rinehart on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Evans drilled the game-tying PAT with 9:38 remaining.
Evans’ TD finally turned back the Scots for good.
Clear Fork improves to 6-2 overall, 3-2 in the MOAC. The Colts host River Valley next week.
Highland falls to 3-5, 2-3 and will travel to Ontario on Friday night.