2016 South Johnston Trojans 25 @ Clayton Comets 26 football game
Channel: Clayton Sports Fan Page
Date: 03/01/2017

2016 South Johnston Trojans 25 @ Clayton Comets 26 football game

BY MICHAEL HELD
Correspondent

FOUR OAKS 
Eight turnovers is usually not a recipe for success but for the Clayton offense, it proved to be good enough to overcome a shaky night.

Landen Leiser found Connor Shank in the corner of the end zone with 11 seconds left to give the Comets a come-from-behind 26-25 win.

Lesier channeled his inner Eli Manning, shook off a tackle, broke containment and let fly down the field to Shank, who had snuck behind the defense.

The Trojans held took a 25-14 lead in the third quarter on a Javonte Smith 55-yard fumble return for a score but Leiser proved to be too much for South Johnston down the stretch.

TURNING POINT

The game-winning drive began all the way back at the 19-yard line. Lesier found Devin Carter for a couple first downs and the Comets were helped by a pair of South Johnston penalties.

On the game-winning throw, Lesier escaped pressure on a South Johnston blitz, and rolled out to his left before lofting a perfectly placed pass to Shank.

It was Shank’s only reception of the night.

THREE TO KNOW

Devin Carter, Clayton: Carter was once again one of the Comets’ most dangerous weapons on the field as the junior caught 13 passes for 157 yards. Carter hauled in touchdown passes of seven and two yards in the second quarter.

Defensive Unit, South Johnston: The Trojans forced eight turnovers, held the Comets to 11 yards rushing and scored twice, once on a Heze Bailey interception 35-yard return and then on a 55-yard fumble recovery and return from Javonte Smith.

Landen Leiser, Clayton: It won’t go down as Leiser’s best game, but his perseverance when the game was on the line was amazing. Despite six interceptions on the night, Leiser led the Comets down the field for the game-winning score in the final seconds.

BY THE NUMBERS

5: Interceptions the South Johnston secondary came up for the game. Heze Bailey, Markayle McClain and Lawrence Reddick ended three of the Comets’ drive in the first two quarters.

8: Touchdown receptions Devin Carter has hauled in over the first three games of the season.

minus-6: Yards rushing for Clayton in the first half.

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Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/high-school/article100103437.html#storylink=cpy

Junior Quarterback Landen Leiser is wearing the #12 on Varsity in a royal blue and/or white jersey.  In 2015 he passed for 21 TD's and rushed for 1 TD.  The Clayton Comets compete in the NC 4-A Greater Neuse Conference.  Landen stands about 6'3 & weighs 190 pounds for the high school football team based in Clayton, North Carolina.  The Comets are coached by Hunter Jenks, Steve Moats, Ricky Bucklin, Darren Banks, Marc Lakey, Brent Bailey, Aaron Fite, Adam Wall & Corey Blackmon.  

Catch videos of Landen's top plays on this channel throughout the season.  View his game highlights at http://www.hudl.com/athlete/6010478/landen-leiser or his Facebook & Twitter pages as well for more information.