The 2021 all-state players, who wore No. 6 and No. 22, respectively, had to be impressed with their alma mater.

Senior quarterback Trey Drake passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more; junior Carsen Bane rushed for 130 yards and two scores; and the defense did the rest as Jamestown routed Clarence 55-14 and, most importantly, clinched the Division A1 title.

The win, their sixth in a row, vaults the Red Raiders (6-2, 5-0) into the first round of the Section VI Class A playoffs, which will be played back at Strider next week against a team to be determined.

The way Jamestown has performed since suffering nonleague losses to Class AA Lancaster and Orchard Park to start the season will make it tough for any team to knock off Coach Tom Langworthy’s club.

Former Red Raiders Ben Anderson (22) and Jaylen Butera (6) are pictured with their jerseys after having their numbers retired at halftime. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“I’m really proud of our guys for continuing to improve each week,” he said. “We were at OP postgame (in Week 2). Right there we said we’re not losing again. In six weeks, we’re going to be 6-2 and win the division.”

Prophetic words.

Consider: During their six-game winning streak, the Red Raiders are averaging a little more than 50 points per game. The man in control on the offensive side of the ball has been Drake.

Last night, the North Dakota State University verbal commit completed 14-of-21 passes and touchdown strikes of 15 and 22 yards to senior Darius Freeney and sophomore Carson Panebianco, respectively. Drake also ran eight times for 38 yards, scoring on runs of 3 and 15 yards.

Tack on Bane’s TD bursts from 8 and 10 yards; a 1-yard touchdown plunge by senior Sean O’Brien; a 26-yard scamper to paydirt by junior Aiden Senear; and seven successful point-after tries by junior Ella Propheter and Jamestown left little doubt that it’s playing its best football at just the right time.

Jamestown’s Trey Drake scores one of his two rushing touchdowns during Friday’s Class A1 football game against Clarence at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“I came in as a freshman and all four years we’ve won the league title,” Drake said. “That’s something that is a real honor, but you also don’t see the hard work that was put into that. … We’ve come a long way. … It gives us great momentum going into the postseason.”

The Red Devils (5-2, 3-2), who have lost their last two games, opened the scoring on their first possession, taking advantage of a long kickoff return by senior Gavin Sutton, setting them up at Jamestown’s 25. Four plays later, senior Gavin Culhane found the end zone from 5 yards and, when Zach Campana booted the extra point, Clarence led 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.

After that, though, it was all Jamestown.

In fact, the Red Raiders — behind strong play from its offensive line which opened holes that led to 272 yards on the ground — scored on their next eight possessions, while their defense yielded only one more touchdown, a 4-yard run by Culhane in the second quarter.

“We’re really playing well as a team and everybody is able to make a play and everyone is doing their part,” Langworthy said. ” … In a competitive environment, to stay the same is regressing, so every day it’s just about finding an edge and having that mindset to be better every day.”

Red Raiders’ Michael Boron intercepts a pass. P-J photo by Tim Frank

NOTES: O’Brien led the way defensively for Jamestown with 17 total tackles. Radon Wright and Mason McVinney each had nine and John Torres added eight. … Michael Boron picked off a pass. … Panebianco caught seven passes for 109 yards and O’Brien added five catches for 58 yards. … Wright (56 yards), Drake (38) and Senear (37) found plenty of room to run. … North Dakota State University associate head coach Randy Hedberg was in attendance to watch Drake, who made his verbal commitment to the Division I FBS school over the summer.

Clarence 7 7 0 0 — 14

Jamestown 13 21 7 14 — 55

Clar–Rifenburg 5 run (Campano kick)

Jam–O’Brien 1 run (Propheter kick)

Jam–Bane 8 run (kick failed)

Jam–Freeney 15 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

Clar–Culhane 4 run (Campano kick)

Jam–Drake 3 run (Propheter kick)

Jam–Panebianco 22 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

Jam–Drake 15 run (Propheter kick)

Jam–Bane 10 run (Propheter kick)

Jam–Senear 26 run (Propheter kick)