The Hive Sports

by James Tate

In a dramatic conclusion to the regular season, the Northridge Knights rallied late to defeat the Clearfield Falcons 24–20, capping off a game filled with momentum swings and standout performances.

Trailing 20–17 in the final minutes, Knights quarterback Grant Slater orchestrated a clutch drive that ended with a touchdown pass to tight end Rylen Rule, sealing the victory. Slater finished the night with 158 passing yards and two touchdowns, anchoring the Knights’ offense in a game that tested both teams’ resilience.

Northridge entered the fourth quarter with a 17–7 lead, appearing in control. But Clearfield refused to fold. Senior receiver Landon Hittle ignited the Falcons’ comeback, throwing for a touchdown and hauling in another, while making several key catches to keep drives alive against a tough Knights defense.

The Knights’ defense made its mark early, with Israel Arocha grabbing a pivotal interception that halted a promising Falcons drive. On special teams, senior kicker Ryker Horne was flawless, converting all three extra points and nailing his lone field goal attempt.

Makai So’o

Field position and big plays define the first half

The Knights struck first, capitalizing on favorable field position after a short Falcons punt. Horne drilled a 31-yard field goal with 3:30 remaining in the opening quarter, giving the Knights an early 3–0 lead.

Clearfield responded swiftly. Senior running back Sean Brant broke free for a stunning 72-yard run, setting up the Falcons deep in Knights territory. Just moments later, Hittle connected with Alyric Kelley on a 2-yard touchdown pass. With just 10 seconds left in the quarter, the Falcons surged ahead 7–3.

The Knights found their rhythm early in the second quarter, leaning on a balanced attack to retake the lead. Senior running back Andrew Ortiz capped off a methodical drive with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 8:52 mark, putting Northridge ahead 10–7.

Ortiz and Slater combined for tough yardage on the ground, while Slater’s short passes kept the chains moving and the Falcons’ defense off balance. The Knights controlled possession for much of the quarter and carried their 10–7 advantage into halftime.

Zack Clow (l) Landon Hittle (r)

Second half: From comeback to heartbreak in the final minutes

The Knights set the tone early in the second half with a stifling defensive effort, consistently pressuring Falcons quarterback Brik Barlow and disrupting Clearfield’s passing rhythm. The relentless front of Sefita Koloi, Aisea Koloi, Kyler Stoker, Rule, Gatlyn Collier, Sione Mafi, and Cooper Tubbs forced a string of incompletions, keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard throughout the third quarter.

Capitalizing on their defensive momentum, Northridge extended its lead when Slater connected with receiver Dontae Dyson on a 25-yard touchdown strike with 3:27 remaining in the third. Dyson was a reliable target all night, finishing with 10 receptions for 69 yards and the score, helping the Knights build a 17–7 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The Falcons’ offense roared to life early in the final quarter. Barlow found Hittle wide open for a 17-yard touchdown pass, trimming the Knights’ lead to 17–13 with 11:11 remaining. The score energized the Falcons, and their defense responded with intensity. Led by senior Cooper Kirkman, the unit forced a turnover on downs, swinging momentum firmly in the Falcons’ favor.

On the ensuing drive, the Falcons’ offensive line, Cannon Strickling, Kadyn Irish, Rhett Ogden, Marley Toafe, and Dax Taylor, provided Barlow with the protection he needed to move the ball downfield methodically. Their efforts culminated in a 12-yard touchdown run by Brant, giving Clearfield its first lead of the second half at 20–17 with just 4:36 left to play.

With the game on the line and just over four minutes remaining, Slater seized the moment. Mixing mobility with precision passing, Slater led the Knights on a determined final drive. He kept the chains moving with key completions to Dyson and Bannon Green, while Ortiz powered through defenders for tough yardage between the tackles.

As the clock ticked under a minute, Slater delivered the decisive blow, a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rule in the back of the end zone. The score gave the Knights a 24–20 lead with just 55 seconds left, capping a resilient comeback and securing a dramatic road victory.

Slater acknowledged the team’s uneven performance but emphasized the importance of finishing strong.

“We definitely didn’t play our best football out there,” Slater said. “We had a lot of missed opportunities, but we came out with a win, which is all that matters. The final drive felt good. I was taking what the defense gave me and running our offense. Andrew (Ortiz) has been running really well lately, it’s nice to have him. Our mindset heading into playoffs is to take it one game at a time and control what we can control.”

photos courtesy of James Tate