University City fought the good fight in their overtime matchup against Clairemont on Tuesday but came up just short, falling 20-19 in a nail-biter. The Centurions and Chieftains were evenly matched throughout, trading big plays and defensive stands before the extra period decided the outcome.

UC started off strong, striking first with a 6-0 lead after the opening quarter. Quarterback Kianna Lefear put together another strong outing, throwing for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Courtlyn Mitchell was a standout on both sides of the ball, hauling in 39 receiving yards and a touchdown on offense while anchoring the defense with six tackles, two passes defended, and an interception.

The Centurions’ defense was active all night, forcing two interceptions—one from Mitchell and another from Hayden Goldstein, to keep the team in striking distance.

Despite the effort, UC’s record slipped to 4-3 on the season, while Clairemont improved to 6-2 with their third straight win.

Coach Peters praised his team’s fight, saying, “Our players left it all on the field tonight. We competed with toughness and resilience, and even though the result didn’t go our way, the heart and determination they showed makes me proud to coach this group.”

Looking ahead, University City will hit the road to face Morse on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. Both teams have been stingy on defense this season—the Centurions are allowing just 9.6 points per game, while the Tigers give up 11.4—so fans can expect another hard-fought, low-scoring battle.