AMBOY – Usually in the second round of a 16-team bracket, the game between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the second round is a close, tough game.

The No. 4 Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio and No. 5 Martinsville football teams didn’t oppose the stereotype in an Illinois 8-Man Football Association quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 9 at The Harbor.

After a close second half, the Clippers pulled away with a 32-20 victory.

“It’s just an entire group effort. The coaches talk about it every single day at practice. It’s not just one player,” senior full back and defensive end Quinn Leffelman said. “Yeah, players have to step up and make big plays, but defense is a whole unit. We learned from our first half mistakes and regrouped at halftime. We didn’t let them score in the second half. We held our water.

“I’ve been hurt all season on and off. Every game I’ve been nicked up here and there. This game, I knew they were a good team and (Martinsville running back) Adam Parcel had a good game last week (over 200 yards on the ground). I probably watched more film for this game than I have for other games. I was trying to prepare for them. I keyed in on him and just tried to wreak havoc.”

The defense wasn’t the normal Clipper defense to start the game.

After the Clippers scored first on an 11-yard pass and catch between senior quarterback Eddie Jones and senior tight end Caleb Yanos to gain a 6-6 lead with 7:07 left in the first quarter, Martinsville answered with a 58-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Kaiden Simmons on the first play of the Bluestreak’s first possession.

Martinsville scored on their second drive with a 6-yard Simmons QB keeper to take a 12-6 lead with 1:05 left in the first stanza.

Not happy they went three-and-out during their last possession, Amboy scored on a 3-yard run from Leffelman up the middle to take a 14-12 lead with 10:48 on the second-quarter clock.

“It was a great football game. Martinsville plays very hard,” Clippers coach Scott Payne said. “We told the kids all week, ‘They’re a good football team.’ They play hard every down. It was just a really good game between two good teams.

“All the backs did a great job running the ball and the offensive line did a great job of getting off of the ball. The running game was key for us in winning this game. I’m happy for the boys that we’re moving on.”

In under three minutes left in the second quarter, three touchdowns were scored as Jones ran in a 5-yard keeper (2:28), Martinsville returned the ensuing kickoff to the end zone to tie the game 20-20 (2:13), and Jones found Yanos for their second scoring connection of the game with a 65-yard effort (1:59).

The Clippers held a 26-20 lead at halftime.

“Our passes really opened the field for our running game and the running game did the same for the passes,” said Jones, who completed 3-of-8 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for nine yards and a TD. “They were biting on the run, and we were able to execute the plays for touchdowns.

“Yanos and I are always connected. I always know where he is going to be and he is always there. I have full faith in him. My mindset was to get the job done. We have to keep moving on. I don’t want my season to be over.”

Although the Clippers didn’t know it at the time, they sealed the game with 5:05 remaining in the third when senior running back Brayden Klein broke away for a 50-yard touchdown to finalize the scoring.

Klein finished with 111 yards and the score on 12 carries, senior Josh McKendry had nine attempts for 100 yards, senior Ed Fry ran for 63 yards on five touches, and Leffelman had a TD and 54 yards on nine carries.

“We’re a family. The other backs are my brothers and we always pick each other up. There isn’t a selfish player in the backfield. We don’t care about the stats or the awards. We want to win. A state championship is the main goal.”