11/28/2008

WEBSTER GROVES — The Frisco Bell was taken from Moss Field and locked up at Webster Groves High School on Thursday afternoon. The award for the winner of the annual Turkey Day Game might just stay there for a while.

Sophomore Marquis Clemons led a young and talented Webster Groves squad to an impressive 35-14 victory over rival Kirkwood before an estimated crowd of 7,500 fans at sun-splashed Moss Field.

"We needed this one, so we have a good start on next year," Clemons said. "We're young. We've got a lot of talent. The (offensive) line is looking nice. It's on next year. I think we're going to be able to go to state."

Clemons, a quarterback and defensive back, had a breakout performance.

He rushed seven times for 107 yards and three touchdowns, blocked a punt and an extra-point attempt and also intercepted a pass.

He had struggled in his last game, a 21-13 loss at Chaminade in districts. Pressed into action when starting quarterback Derrick Dilworth suffered an injury, Clemons fumbled a ball away on the 1-yard line in the second half.

"I was anxious to get back on the field," he said. "I felt I had to redeem myself for Chaminade. I give all the credit to the line. We came together, had a lot of heart and we wanted to win this."

Clemons got Webster Groves (6-4) going. After snaring his interception in the second quarter, he had a 33-yard touchdown run on a fake punt on the ensuing possession. The Statesmen scored on their next two series — Dilworth threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to freshman Demetrius Robinson and had a 2-yard touchdown run — to take a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Dilworth, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in that game, played well in his return to action. The junior completed 12 of 16 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score.

Robinson's touchdown was one of the highlights. He made a one-handed catch for the touchdown, which was his first varsity reception. "We've got a good junior class, good sophomore class and freshmen," Dilworth said. "They are going to be real good for the next couple years."

Kirkwood (6-6) got a 17-yard touchdown pass from Allen Eberhart to Kimuel Keller in the third quarter and a 2-yard touchdown run by DeAndre Buckner in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough. Buckner finished with 103 yards rushing and his 1,564 rushing yards this fall broke the school's single-season rushing record.