By Johnny Sanders
CENTER POINT — “Get Your Popcorn Ready, We Are About to Put On A Show.”
That’s what the run-through sign for the Clay-Chalkville Cougars read as they entered the field of play Friday night, and the Cougars did not disappoint with a 56-0 win.
By the time the first quarter was over, the score was a lopsided 28-0, and the “All Gas, No Brakes” slogan was evident to anyone who was at Center Point’s Eagles Stadium. The Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Class 6A, Region 6) got started on defense, holding Center Point to a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. Then a potent Cougar offense took over. A four-play, 47-yard drive ended with Quintin Young punching it in from three yards out, into the end zone for the first of eight touchdowns for the Cougars on the night. Clay-Chalkville scored five times rushing and another three through the air.
After punting the ball to Clay-Chalkville, Center Point (1-5, 1-3 Class 6A, Region 6) gave up a 35-yard touchdown run by A.J. Walker. With 6:34 left in the first quarter, the gas pedal was to the floor. The Cougars would score two more touchdowns in the next six-and-a-half minutes, including a beautiful bullet pass from Ty Pigrome to Dez Williams for a nine-yard score.
The second quarter was not much different, other than the players on the field for Clay-Chalkville. The defense continued to dominate the Eagles and the offense did not let up. Center Point had zero first downs in the first half. Not only did they fail to gain a first down, but the Eagles did not cross their own 40-yard-line.
At the half, the Cougars had amassed 291 yards of total offense, compared to Center Point’s 21 total yards. The one bright spot for the Eagles at halftime was the punting of Jaelen Burroughs. He had a total of four punts for 203 total yards, including one in the second quarter for 66 yards.
After halftime, the Cougars may not have put on the breaks, but they did take their foot off of the gas a little bit. With 11 minutes left in the third quarter, Clay-Chalkville scored the final points of the game on a nine-yard pass from Darryien Wilson to Marquis Drake.
The defense, though they eventually gave up five first downs, completed the shutout and only allowed Center Point to cross the 50-yard-line once.
On the night, The Cougars were perfect in the passing game as a team, going 11-for-11 for 138 yards and three touchdowns, all while churning up 276 yards on the ground, spread out among 12 different runners.
Center Point travels to Huffman next week, while Clay Chalkville welcomes in Shades Valley.