OAKLAND— The McClymonds defense found its back against the wall Friday, 13 yards from heartbreak as Saint Francis knocked on the door of a game-winning touchdown. Sophomore defensive tackle Koi Taiese would save the host Warriors.
On 2nd-and-10 with 1:20 remaining, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound tackle somehow got a free shot at Saint Francis’ backup quarterback, Andrew Franzino, dropping him for a 12-yard sack. Then on third down, the visiting Lancers reinserted the starter, Drew Cumby, with hopes of completing another big completion.
But Taiese wouldn’t be denied. Not this night.
As Cumby tried to escape the collapsing pocket to make a play, he landed in the clutches of Taiese. His second consecutive sack put the end zone out of reach.
When St. Francis’ miracle heave on 4th-and-33 fell harmlessly to the turf, McClymonds had a 14-10 win in what proved to be a thrilling affair.
“I was on the field the whole game,” Taiese said. “I already knew coming out on the field that the game was on the line … I had to stop being selfish and do it for my team. I can’t say I’m surprised. I work for this.”
Two early touchdowns from Warriors quarterback Berell Staples and a relentless effort from the defense got McClymonds its first win of the early season. The feisty Lancers fell to 0-2.
“They did a good job, just sticking to what they did well,” Saint Francis head coach Greg Calcagno said. “We just couldn’t really get anything going. We had a couple penalties that hurt us. They’re a tough physical football team, just like we think we are, too.”
Staples frustrated Saint Francis all night long. On the Warriors’ opening drive of the game, he dropped a perfectly placed 47-yard bomb for a touchdown to put the Warriors up 6-0. The Lancers responded with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Franzino to Isaia Porter and took a one-point lead.
Midway through the second quarter, Staples found Washington University commit Rahsjon Duncan — playing with a cast on his hand — for his second touchdown pass of the night, a 17-yard score that put McClymonds ahead 14-7— which would be the score at halftime
But as well as Staples threw the football, it was his legs that caused the most problems for the Lancers. Third down after third down, he used his speed and scrambling ability to stress Saint Francis’ defense and keep the Warriors on the field. The clock burned in what would be a battle of possession.
Still, McClymonds couldn’t slam the door shut on the Lancers. The Warriors couldn’t score again, but their defense held the visitors to just a field goal in the second half. McClymonds had an opportunity to run out the clock with the two-and-a-half minutes remaining.
A first down would have sealed the victory, but the snap was mishandled. McClymonds was able to recover the ball, a Warrior was hit by Saint Francis sophomore defensive tackle Tevita Vea. The ball came loose, and Lancers junior cornerback Jailyn Swayzer recovered the fumble on the McClymonds’ 13-yard line.
Disaster brewed for the Warriors. The intensity of the moment reverberated through the engaged crowd as both teams looked to change the course of their season. Either the Lancers would walk away with a dramatic come-from-behind win, or McClymonds would have a defensive stand.
Taiese made sure it was the latter.
“We knew that we couldn’t let them score because we were only up four,” Taiese said. “If we gave up six, the game was sealed. I was getting on (my teammates) and it was only right for me to step my game up, too.”
McClymonds improved to 1-1, and will enjoy a bye week before playing at Santa Cruz. Meanwhile, St. Francis, now 0-2, will face the ultimate test on Friday. The Lancers will have to play host to De La Salle.