By Ben Hubbard
The Clinton Maroons opened the 2026 football season with a tough 34-14 loss to the Dakota Indians on Friday night in a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms.
Dakota wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Quarterback Coy Chriss connected with Raylon Suess on a 35-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The Indians missed the two-point conversion, making it 6-0.
Dakota extended its lead midway through the opening quarter when running back Zeke Wales punched in a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion pushed the Indians ahead 14-0.
Clinton answered with one of the game’s biggest plays. Cash Tanner broke through contact at the line of scrimmage and raced 67 yards for a touchdown. The Maroons converted the two-point attempt to cut the deficit to 14-8.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Dakota regained control early in the fourth. Chriss found Luke Watson for a touchdown to make it 20-8 before Cannon Cahoon added a pick-six to stretch the lead to 28-8.
The Maroons refused to go quietly. Clinton quarterback Cole Thomas connected with Lucas Baker for a 60-yard touchdown, bringing Clinton back within two scores.
Dakota answered with two more touchdown receptions, one from Suess and another from Cahoon, to put the game away at 34-14.
Thomas finished with 158 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 35 rushing yards. Tanner rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, while Baker recorded 78 receiving yards and a score. Owen Miller added 71 receiving yards.
For Dakota, Chriss threw for 155 yards and three touchdowns while adding 27 yards rushing. Wales finished with 51 rushing yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Suess caught three passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Cahoon had 42 receiving yards and an offensive touchdown to go along with his 42-yard interception return for a score. Watson added 57 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The loss drops Clinton to 0-1 to begin the season, while Dakota improves to 1-0.
The Maroons will hit the road again next Friday when they travel north on US-51 to take on the Heyworth Hornets. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Fans can hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms.
