EVANSVILLE — TJ Klement was in the right place at the right time — but it took a timeout to get him there.

Klement, a senior on the McFarland prep football team, was moved from the "x" receiver spot to the "y" receiver spot and the result was a 66-yard touchdown strike from senior quarterback Casey Hagerty as the Spartans remained undefeated with an 8-2 Northern Rock Valley Conference victory Friday night over previously unbeaten Evansville.

"I don't normally line up in that position," Klement said of the touchdown play. "The coaches saw something and they drew up a play at the end."

The touchdown came with 1 minute, 18 seconds remaining of what was a defensive battle.

"My coaches told me that the play was there, but we had the wrong personnel on the field so we took the timeout," said Spartans coach Paul Ackley, whose team
improved to 5-0 in conference and 7-0 overall. "Casey came through when we needed him and he put the ball right where it needed to be."

Klement streaked down the right sideline untouched on what was a third-and-eight play.

Until then, it looked as if a second-quarter sack of Hagerty by the Blue Devils' Eddie Schmoldt for a second-quarter safety was going to be the difference.

"I made a dumb play and I just didn't get rid of the ball," said Hagerty. "As the game went on, it was kind of scaring me and I thought that the safety might be the deciding factor."

It was, until Hagerty hooked up with Klement.

"It was a heck of a defensive battle and both defenses really showed up ready to play," said Evansville coach Ron Grovesteen. "In a game like this, you have to find a play that works and they found one at the end. ... It was one heck of a play."

The Spartans' defense didn't allow Evansville the same luxury, holding the Blue Devils (4-1, 6-1) to 132 yards of offense.

McFarland's starting defense has yet to allow a point in conference play this season — Clinton scored a late TD against reserves. Over the past 23 quarters, the Spartans have allowed just eight points.

"Our defense has been pretty good," Hagerty said. "But this was the best I have seen them play."

Ackley is running out of words to describe his defense.

"I don't really know what I can say about our defense," Ackley said. "I'm just extremely pleased with the effort they gave. Evansville is a very good football team and our defense hung in there and hung tough."