The Gaithersburg Trojans stumbled to their second straight loss despite having the ball and the lead with less than three minutes left in their 4A West showdown against Clarksburg on Thursday night. 

Turnovers proved to be the difference in the Coyote's 26-21 win: Clarksburg scored the game's first points off an interception, punched in the game-winning touchdown after Gaithersburg fumbled the ball trying to run out the clock, then picked off Gaithersburg's bid for a last-second comeback.

Clarksburg's Stefan Houston -- a verbal commit for the University of Maryland -- had a hand in 20 of the Coyotes' 26 points. Near the end of the 1st quarter, he intercepted Trojans QB Lincoln Reyes and returned it 22 yards for the touchdown. He put Clarksburg ahead 20-14 early in the 4th quarter on a 12-yard run and two-point conversion catch. Then he ran in the game winner from three yards out with 1:05 left to play.

With time running out, Reyes -- who ran for two touchdowns and threw another -- drove the Trojans back downfield and had two shots into the end zone. WR Billy Brown couldn't come down with the first try; Clarksburg intercepted the second try as time expired.

Clarksburg improves to 4-2, while Gaithersburg falls to 4-2. The Coyotes face Magruder on Oct. 14 and the Trojans head to Northwest.