By Erik Harris
PINSON — For the big-play weapons residing on the Clay-Chalkville offense, this Friday night was a little different than usual. Not because of a poor showing, the Cougars put 48 points on the board. Not because of a lack of big gainers, running back Terrelle West struck from 76 yards out in the first quarter.
The odd sight at Willie Adams Stadium was seeing Clay-Chalkville starters like West playing late in the fourth quarter. Head coach Jerry Hood needed every bit of juice in his starters’ legs to take a 45-35 contest at Pinson Valley.
“They play the best game of the year against us every year,” Hood said of Pinson Valley. “They get fired up to play Clay-Chalkville.”
Cougars junior quarterback Tyrell Pigrome, who typically removes his helmet for the night early in the final quarter, came up big on the last Clay-Chalkville drive of the night.
Shortly after converting a third-and-nine to West on a 30-yard screen pass, Pigrome blasted through the heart of the Indians’ defense for an 18-yard haymaker that put his team up 45-35 with 1:25 remaining.
“The line just opened up for me, I saw it and just hit it,“ Pigrome said.
That scamper finally finished a scrappy Pinson Valley team that just wouldn’t go away. The Indians trailed 27-14 midway through the second quarter and could have easily done what most Clay-Chalkville opponents do — quit.
“I told our kids that they’re bigger than us, they’re faster than us, but it doesn’t really matter,” Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover said. “It just matters that you believe.”
There was certainly no quit in Pinson Valley senior running back Nick Gibson, as he sliced, diced and powered his way through the Cougars’ defense on his way to a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen one better than that one,” Glover said. “If there’s a better running back in the state, I want to see him.”
The jaw-dropping rush narrowed the Clay-Chalkville lead to 30-28 with 5:18 remaining in the third. Gibson, a Mississippi State pledge, had one of his more impressive outings. The senior totaled 168 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown.
West didn’t exactly slack from the other sideline. The Cougars do-it-all back broke loose for 158 yards on 15 carries and a pair of touchdown rushes, which put the first 13 points up for the visitors.
The senior would later reel in a 14-yard pass from Pigrome that put Clay-Chalkville up 38-28 late in the third.
But the home team didn’t flinch. Instead, it put together a 12-play drive that ended with junior quarterback Errius Collins connecting with Gibson from 10 yards out to draw the Indians closer at 38-35 with eight minutes remaining.
Collins showed some poise on the lengthy drive, delivering a 32-yard strike to Trey Underwood on fourth-and-six.
Collins bounced back strong after a shaky performance at Gardendale last week. The junior went 10-for-16 for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
Pigrome completed 15 of his 21 attempts for 210 yards and two scores. He ran the ball 12 times for another 87 yards and a score.