Class 4A football: Clinton’s Caden Powell powers Red Tornadoes to first state championship since 2012
EDMOND — Caden Powell refused to go down.
Two Tuttle defenders seemed to have the Clinton quarterback stopped in the back field. The third-down play looked as if it was stuffed, meaning Clinton was likely going to attempt a field goal.
Powell had other plans.
He sprung free from the defenders and bounced to his left. He cut up field, stretched the ball out with his right arm and pranced across the goal line for yet another touchdown. It was Clinton’s first score of the second half, but it was a dagger.
Powell was spectacular in third-ranked Clinton’s 35-0 win against No. 1 Tuttle on Friday night in the Class 4A state championship game at UCO’s Chad Richison Stadium. Offensively, he scored three touchdowns. On defense, he had nine tackles. He was dominant, and Clinton was near perfect, capturing its 17th state championship in school history, which ties Jenks for second most in state history.
"(Caden) is an animal, isn't he?" Clinton coach John Higbee said.
The title is Clinton's first since 2012. Clinton also became the first team to win a title in seven straight decades, starting in the 60s.
Powell finished with 134 rushing yards on 26 carries with 43 passing yards. He also led Clinton in tackles and recorded 1.5 tackles for loss.
"No better feeling," Powell said. "Where we come from, we went through a little drought. Our fans deserve it, our town deserves it. To bring one back, finally, it feels right. It feels right to go out like this."
Clinton (12-1 overall) was dominant in the first half and seemingly put the game out of reach before halftime.
The Red Tornadoes drove down the field on their first two drives, but Tuttle's defense was able to come up with stops to force field goals.
On Tuttle's first offensive possession, Clinton's Nate Jones intercepted the first of two passes he would pick off. That helped spark a dominant defensive first half for the Red Tornadoes, which held the Tigers (13-1) to only 11 first-half yards.
Powell scored twice in the second quarter on runs of 3 and 1 yard, and he added a two-point conversion on the second touchdown to make it 21-0 at halftime.
"Our coaches preach that we were going to get hit in the mouth, but it's how you respond," Powell said. "If you hit them first, some teams lay down.
"And that's what they did."
Powell's third rushing touchdown came on Clinton's first drive of the second half. Jones then nabbed his second interception and returned it to the 6 before Caleb Edwards scored the game's final touchdown.
Both Higbee and Powell mentioned how last season's 42-13 loss against Wagoner in the state championship game motivated Clinton to come back and be better this year.
It was clear from the start. Clinton wanted it more. And it showed.
"I can't describe it," Higbee said. "I've got no words for it. I'm extremely happy for the town of Clinton."
Cameron Jourdan covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSSAA football: Clinton beats Tuttle for Class 4A state championship
