The Cardinals fell behind 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and then 10-0 early in the second before Markus Oliver put Clinton on the board with a 21-yard touchdown run. Camden Westendorff came on to hit the PAT and the home team trailed just 10-7.
Summit Christian's Bajj Walker scored on an 11-yard run on the ensuing drive to stretch the lead back to double-digits at 17-7, but the Cardinals answered with a touchdown run by Kanden Lafarge to keep things close at 17-14.
Another Walker touchdown for SCA made it 24-14 at the break.
Offense was at a premium in the second half, for both sides, but the Cardinals made it interesting in the fourth when Lafarge connected with Brody Barnhart on a 12-yard touchdown pass to tighten things up at 24-21.
But that was as close as Clinton would get to a win in the 2024 season as Summit Christian held on to escape town with the 24-21 win, sending the Cards reeling into week 4 at 0-3.
Oliver led the rushing attack for Clinton with 104 yards on 21 carries with 1 touchdown. Lafarge added 10 yards on 11 attempts but also accounted for a rushing TD.
Lafarge finished 8 of 12 passing for 119 yards and 1 passing touchdown in the loss.
Barnhart hauled in 5 passes for 60 yards and recorded the only touchdown through the air for the Cardinals.
Connor Bramell led the Clinton defense with 9 tackles. Payton Goth and Landon Stamper both tallied 7 while Will Golder added 6.
The Cardinals continue to battle through the injury bug that has bit them early on in the season but are hopeful that some of those players return to the field sooner than later.
Clinton has tough road dates with Pleasant Hill and Oak Grove in the next two weeks and then travels to Versailles.
