High school football: Clippers aim to ground Eagles

The Clippers are boning up for a Class 2A quarterfinal against Mercer County on Saturday at the Harbor. In the opening round of the playoffs, the seventh-seeded Mustangs took the second-seeded Golden Eagles down to the wire in a 25-14 loss.

They did so by forcing Mercer County quarterback Tanner Matlick to throw his second and third picks of the season.

“Turnovers can rule the ballgame. They can swing the game,” Quest, a junior safety and split end said Wednesday evening.

Thanks to Matlick’s 1,478 yards passing and 19 touchdowns, the Eagles (11-0) have been perched atop the 2A rankings since Morrison fell from the No. 1 spot following a 13-7 loss to Newman in Week 2 of the regular season.

Saturday’s throwdown might not be a title bout. But for the Clippers (9-2), coming off convincing victories over North Shore Country Day (36-12) and Orion (43-18), it has the makings. 

“This is a big game,” Amboy senior inside linebacker Taylor Ikens understated. “Our teammates are talking about how there’s no room for letdowns. If we beat them … you just never know.”

Matlick checks in at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, allowing him to easily survey the field. That is, unless he’s on his back. The Clippers’ front four of Jordan Ernst, Drew Fordham, Tanner Behrends and Emmitt Hicks didn’t exactly pin their ears back last week against Orion, because of the Chargers’ penchant for jet screens. This week, Amboy coach Gary “Tank” Jones says he’ll unleash the hounds.

“This week, we’ve gotta get pressure on the quarterback,” he said. “We can’t let him sit back there and give him a chance to pick us apart.”

“Hopefully we can force some mistakes,” said Amboy senior safety Austin Cover, who hopes he doesn’t have to spend too much time living up to his last name. “They’ve got some very good receivers, and the longer they’re able to run, the more chances they’ll have to make plays.”

Senior Payton Holmes and junior Tyson Nylon both have at least 20 receptions and 400 yards for the Eagles, Holmes with 27 grabs, 459 yards and nine TDs. Nylon’s caught 21 balls for 424 yards and six scores.