DEERFIELD – Postgrad JC Clerveaux showed off his full range of abilities for the Williston Northampton football team on Saturday.
The 5-foot-10 running back from Everett bulldozed his way to 112 yards and one touchdown on the ground. He floated out of the backfield, caught two Drew Renzella screen passes then raced past the defense for another 112 yards and two scores.
His effort, along with a couple late stops by the Wildcat defense, gave Williston a wild 49-41 victory over Deerfield Academy.
“Our defense got an amazing stop last minute and our offense was pounding the rock; doing what we do best,” Clerveaux said. “Coach believed in us and we believed in ourselves and won the game.”
Williston (2-0 overall) stayed perfect in the Northeast Prep Conference at 2-0. Deerfield (0-2) fell to 0-1 in the league.
“They battled,” Williston coach Tom Beaton said. “Last week we were down 8 going into the fourth quarter and we came out with the ‘W.’ A lot of it is our senior leadership. Great group of guys; great football players, better people. That’s what helped us back-to-back games.”
The Big Green had a tough time stopping Clerveaux, who was a workhorse for the Wildcats. Clerveaux spent most of the beautiful fall afternoon plowing through the Deerfield line.
“Through practice we were grinding, grinding, conditioning, grinding,” Clerveaux said. “It showed on the field today.”
The first defensive stop by the Wildcats came with 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Owen Haight backed his way in for a touchdown to pull Deerfield within 42-41. The Big Green went for the conversion, but linebacker Paris Lenon dragged down DA quarterback Cole Geer from behind.
The Wildcats, who recovered the ensuing onside kick, answered on the next drive. Facing third-and-7 from the 46-yard line, Renzella (14-for-23, 231 yards) found Clerveaux on a screen pass. Clerveaux stiff- armed a defender along the sideline and scored with 1:58 left. A 35-yard extra-point attempt by lefty Hudson Fulcher-Melendy (Easthampton) made it 49-41.
“I don’t know if there is a better running back in New England,” Beaton said. “The thing I’ll say about JC is… great player, better kid. He’s physical, but he’s also fast. Whatever we got to do to get him the ball, that’s what we got to do.”
Deerfield rallied behind the arm of Geer (17-for-35, 260 yards). Following a 41-yard kickoff return by Triston Ward, Geer hit Ty Curran (twice for a combined 22 yards), Riley McDonald (11 yards) and Ward (9 yards) on four consecutive plays as the Big Green moved within striking distance at the 13. However, two flags set them back and the drive ended at the 26 as a Geer pass to Curran landed harmlessly in the end zone.
“It was frustrating from our standpoint because I think we had an opportunity,” Deerfield coach Brian Barbato said. “We made some mistakes and they capitalized. They’re a well-coached team. I thought the effort was there on our part, but we made some young mistakes.”
Deerfield opened the scoring when Brady Stahelski (Palmer) returned an interception 95 yards midway through the first quarter. The Big Green capitalized on a fumbled punt on the next drive to take a 14-0 lead. Geer capped the four-play drive with a 23-yard rushing touchdown.
Williston recovered. Clerveaux capped a 10-play drive with a 5-yard score on the ground. Williston held Deerfield and a bad punt gave the Wildcats good field position to start the second. Renzella later found tight end John Ogletree from 4-yards out and Colin Larson (Easthampton) made a leaping, twisting catch for the conversion as Williston tied the game.
Clerveaux (66-yard TD reception) gave Williston a 21-14 lead midway through the second, but Deerfield tied it just before halftime. From the Williston 45, Stahelski (five catches, 90 yards) caught a deep Geer pass, falling backward into the end zone with 15 seconds left.
Williston took a two-score lead in the third. Larson scored on the ground from 16 yards out and MJ Charles (Pittsfield) returned a fumble 40 yards to give Williston a 35-21 lead.
Deerfield answered. Geer hit Ward (three catches, 71 yards), who broke a tackle for a 24-yard score. Geer then hit Curran (seven catches, 70 yards), who broke two tackles for a 10-yard score. Geer kept it himself for the conversion as Deerfield tied the game at 35.
Jack Morrison punched it in from 2 yards out to give Williston a 42-35 lead with 9:11 left in the fourth. Renzella found eight different receivers. James Elliott (Leeds) had four catches for 39 yards.
Williston hosts Hotchkiss School at 6 p.m. Saturday. Deerfield visits Suffield Academy at 4 p.m.