Clement and Rancocas push back Hopewell
HOPEWELL TWP. » It took a possession or two, but the Iverson Clement show arrived at Ackerson Field on Friday night.
The Florida-bound Rancocas Valley running back lived up to the hype, leading the Red Devils past Hopewell Valley, 47-14, in the season opener for both teams on a balmy night in Hopewell.
The ’Dawgs (0-1) drew first blood with an impressive 99yard drive after they stopped Rancocas Valley on fourth-andone at the one.
Clement finished with four touchdowns, three rushing and one on a punt return. He finished with 55 yards rushing.
Hopewell Valley got a gutsy game from Elijah-Blub Wilmont, quarterback Jack Demareski, David Mezynski and Steven Doldy played well on defense.
Behind the passing of Demareski and the running of Wilmont, HV moved the ball to the 47 before they had to punt. An RV player touched the punt, and Spencer Woods controlled it for the ’Dawgs at the RV 27yard line.
Two plays later, Demareski found Dan Gewecke for a 28yard scoring play, and Rob Cacciabaudo’s extra point made it, 7-0, with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, the rest of the first-half highlights belonged to Clement and the Red Devils (10).
After a poor punt, Rancocas Valley got the ball on the Hopewell 31. They moved the ball to the 11-yard line, and Clement finished it off for his first score of the season.
RV was again blessed with great field position at the HV 26, and, this time, it only took two plays with quarterback Bryce Mangene going 11 yards for a 13-7 lead with 9:07 left in the first half.
Forced to punt again, Clement took the punt at the 18 and showed the poise that made him a Division I recruit as he sized up the opposition and weaved his way to the end zone for an 82-yard punt return.
The touchdown made it, 19-7, with 7:26 left in the half.
Clement had one more firsthalf score, going 29 yards to paydirt for a 26-7 halftime lead.
RV’s Mangene scored on a sixyard run in the third for a 33-7 lead, and Clement added one in the fourth on a five-yard run to make it, 40-7.
Hopewell Valley took advantage of some poor clock management and a bad snap to have Demareski score from the one with 4:37 left in the game.
Anthony Moses capped the scoring with a 15-yard run for RV.
Rancocas (1-0) Hopewell (0-1) First Quarter HV—
Gewecke 28 pass from Demareski (Cacciabaudo kick)
Clement 11 run (kick good)
RV— Second Quarter RV— RV— RV— Third Quarter RV— Fourth Quarter RV— HV— RV— 7 7 19 0 7 0 14 — 7 —
Mangene 11 run (kick failed) Clement 82 punt return (kick failed) Clement 29 run (kick good)
Mangen 6 run (kick good)
47 14
Clement 5 run (kick good) Demarski 1 run (Cacciabaudo kick) Moses 15 run (kick good)