By David DeKunder
Staff Writer
 
Coming up with a dominating defensive performance, the Clemens Buffaloes overcame sloppy offensive play and injuries to beat the Fox Tech Buffaloes, 42-12, in the first round of the Class 4A Division II playoffs last Friday at SCUCISD Stadium.

Clemens held Fox Tech to 85 total yards and five first downs, including one in the first half, and Clemens quarterback Mark Leal passed for three touchdowns as the home team Buffaloes will meet the Pflugerville Hendrickson Hawks in the area round of the playoffs this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Bob Shelton Stadium, Hays High School, in Buda.

Clemens’ defense so dominated the game that Fox Tech only crossed midfield once, late in the fourth quarter against Clemens’ second- and third-stringers. The host Buffaloes stifled Fox Tech’s running game, holding the visiting Buffaloes to 47 yards on 25 carries, a 1.8-yard average per carry. Fox Tech did not have much success in the air either, as Clemens allowed only 38 yards passing while intercepting three passes.

Clemens totaled 385 yards of offense as they scored on their first two possessions of the game, but then sputtered after running back Charles Ross went out with an ankle injury in the first quarter on a late hit by a Fox Tech defender. Clemens fumbled the ball away twice on consecutive possessions inside the Fox Tech 10-yard line and Buffalo receivers dropped numerous balls in the gusty, windy conditions.

Clemens coach Greg Ferrara said Ross tweaked his ankle and that he held out his star running back as a precautionary measure so that he would be ready and healed up for this week’s playoff game against Hendrickson, which rolled up 336 rushing yards in its 42-7 first-round win over Austin McCallum last Friday.

Clemens was also without the services of its second-string tailback Stanley Harris, who also plays in the secondary, because of a sprained ankle. Ferrara wanted to rest Harris so he will be ready to play this Friday.

“It wasn’t pretty, but I will take the win,” Ferrara said. “Our defense played well. I was happy with our secondary.”

Since Ross and Harris were out of action, Clemens had to rely on third- and fourth-string running backs to carry the ball. One of those runners, Derrick Reeves, came through with 126 yards on 15 carries.