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For the Clarksburg football team, the only thing tougher than a hard-fought 22-9 win over a scrappy Wootton squad Friday is not having control of its playoff fate.

"It's tough when your destiny is controlled by another team," said head coach Larry Hurd. "It was difficult, and we were able to gut this one out, and it was a good win."

The Coyotes' playoff hopes later evaporated when news filtered down from Frederick County that Tuscarora beat Riverdale Baptist, 28-0. The Titans snatched the fourth and final seed in the 3A West Region.

A tough midseason schedule consisting of games against Quince Orchard, Paint Branch and Damascus proved Clarksburg (7-3 overall, 5-2 Montgomery 3A Division) could play with the strongest programs in the county. But its inability to win close games against those three teams cost it a postseason berth after a 5-0 start.

Early Friday, Wootton (2-8, 1-5 4A West) quarterback Jeff Porter picked apart Clarksburg's vaunted secondary. The Patriots' intermediate passing game marched them down the field on their first two drives.

A high snap on third down cost the Patriots points on the first drive, while the Coyotes' defense stiffened on the second, leading to a 34-yard field goal from Scott Ayers to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.

Clarksburg senior quarterback Andrew Veith got off to a rough strat, throwing an interception to spoil great field position. The Coyotes then drove to the 1-yard line to answer Wootton's first score, but Veith fumbled before reaching the end zone, and Wootton recovered.

"I never quit on any play," said Veith. "I just try and make every play to a big play, and I don't quit."

After forcing a three-and-out, Clarksburg took over on the short field and Mike Dixon scampered in from 10 yards out to put the Coyotes on the board late in the second quarter, 6-3.

"I think that [touchdown] turned the game around," Dixon said.

Wootton took the ensuing kickoff and efficiently drove into Coyote territory, but a 37-yard field goal attempt by Ayers was blocked.

In the second half, Dixon's 3-yard touchdown run was set up by another drive that started in Wootton territory, making it 14-3. The Patriots came right back after a nice kickoff return from Mark Kennedy put them deep in Clarksburg territory. Harrison Bridge punched it in to close the gap to 14-9, but Wootton got no closer.

Veith capped a lengthy drive by taking a broken play on fourth down, eluding pressure and bolting down the sideline for a score; a beautiful diving interception of Porter was the dagger.

Veith gave the crowd a scare just before halftime after twisting his ankle and coming out for a few plays, but he returned.

"I knew this was my senior game," he said, "and I don't care if it was sprained or broken, I wasn't coming out of this game."