Wells running back Jake Spofford picks up some yards during Friday night’s game at Yarmouth.

Wells running back Jake Spofford picks up some yards during Friday night’s game at Yarmouth.

YARMOUTH — John Thoma threw a 4- yard touchdown pass with three minutes to play as Yarmouth came from behind to defeat Wells 16- 15 Friday night in Yarmouth and remain undefeated .

The Clippers (5- 0) recovered a late Wells fumble inside its own 20- yard line and converted a fourth- and- goal for its first offensive touchdown of the game. Yarmouth’s only other score came on a first- quarter interception return. Yarmouth came into the game averaging 42 points per game, but never got into a rhythm offensively. Thoma completed 9- of- 13 passes for 102 yards. Cody Cook led the Clippers with 14 carries for 47 yards. Clippers coach Jason Veilleux credited the Warriors for playing a solid game. “They are just a really good team, and we knew that coming in,” he said. “They always play us tough, but our kids responded.” Wells (3- 2) wore down the Clippers defense on the ground, rushing for 239 yards on 45 carries. Conversely, quarterback Owen Berry completed just three passes, including a two- point conversion. “Those kids have probably been running the Wing- T system since pee wee football,” Veilleux said. “They are a prime example of what we hope to be someday and getting our younger kids to run the same system all through the years. We did all we could to prepare, and they still have their best football ahead of them.”

The Clippers came into the game averaging 42 points per game and had yet to score less than 31 on the season. Wells’ defense continued its dominating play, having pitched a shutout last week at Mountain Valley. The Warriors held Yarmouth to just 192 total yards.

“I thought our defense played outstanding,” said Wells coach Tim Roche. “That is something we build on, the fact that they score like crazy and we did a good job stopping them.”

Field position was a factor throughout the game as Yarmouth kicker Andrew Beatty forced Wells to start possessions from deep in its own end. But Roche was pleased with the way his team moved the ball when field position wasn’t in its favor.

“We were pinned deep and had to have long drives, and we moved the ball well. Every time we had to do it, we drove it. But a pick-six and a fumble deep in our own end, and if we don’t do those two things, we win a football game.”

Wells took its second lead of the game late in the third quarter with a 65-yard drive, all on the ground, including a 33- yard run by Evan Whitten. Riley Dempsey scored from four yards out on a first-down play with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Warriors led 15-6 after the two-point conversion.

Yarmouth attempted its first pass with less than 90 seconds remaining in the first half. Thoma threw for 50 yards but the drive ended with a missed 43-yard field goal. The half ended on the next play.

After its defense held Yarmouth to start the second quarter, Wells got back to its ground attack and gained 63 yards, capped off by a 2-yard scoring run by Whitten. The extra-point marked the first time Yarmouth had trailed all season.

Wells moved the ball on the ground on its second possession of the game led by running back Whitten, who carried twice for 35 yards on the drive. After a penalty put the ball at Yarmouth’s 39, Berry bumped into a teammate in the backfield and was intercepted by Cody Cook, who ran right and then cut back across the field and up the near sideline for a 64-yard touchdown return.


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