Late score lifts Richards

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:14PM

This was a black and blue game for the South Suburban Red conference game as Richards defeated Shepard 13-12 Friday night in Oak Lawn.

Cedric Clemons, who stepped in for the injured Tommy Makuch, hit a fully-extended diving Andre Gallion for 16 yards and a touchdown with 1:12 left in the game to cap the come-from-behind win.

"I was just trying to catch it for the team," said Gallion (five receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown). "I dropped a couple of passes before that but my teammates kept me up. When the time came up I made a big play."

Early in the first quarter, Makuch (seven carries for 37 yards) had an apparent touchdown on dazzling 58-yard run, but the play was called back for "blocking in the back."

With the Astros (2-2) in the lead 9-0 going into the fourth quarter, Clemons (9-for-19 and 120 yards and two touchdowns) brought the Bulldogs (2-2) back. He hit Northwestern–bound Jarrell Williams (six catches for 61 yards and one touchdown) for a 35-yard strike to close the gap to 9-6 with 3:44 left in the game. Tommy Eyer kicked a 48-yard field goal to put the Astros in the lead 12-6 with 1:56 remaining.

This set the stage for Gallion's winning score.

Both teams hit hard throughout the game. The Astros' defense had four sacks and the Bulldogs had three.

"These kids are battlers," said Bulldogs head Coach Tommy Sheehan. "Clemons showed great composure coming in the game.

Julian Venerable had five carries for 40 yards for the Bulldogs.

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