By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — Junior quarterback Tyrell Pigrome kept his hot streak going against Hillcrest on Friday night at Cougar Stadium, accounting for six of Clay-Chalkville’s seven touchdowns in a 48-26 win.
VIDEO: Game highlights, reaction from Coach Hood, Tyrell Pigrome, and T.J. Simmons
Pigrome wasted little time in putting the No. 2 Cougars on the board, finding sophomore wide receiver Nico Collins for a 31-yard strike just a minute and a half into the game. Just a minute into the second quarter, Pigrome scampered 32 yards for a touchdown. The Cougars (3-0) led 13-0 after a missed extra point attempt.
Hillcrest quarterback Chad Hunter Wyatt plunged for a one-yard touchdown run with 1:35 left in the first half, making it a 13-6 game after Terry Brown blocked the extra point attempt.
Clay-Chalkville junior quarterback Tyrell Pigrome runs against Hillcrest on Friday night.
photo by Ron Burkett
The Cougars responded with its two-minute offense, and Pigrome found junior wide receiver T.J. Simmons for a six-yard score to make it a 20-6 game at halftime. Simmons had a three-yard reception earlier in the game, his only touch this season that hasn’t gone for a score. He’s now scored on six of his seven touches.
“Just a new start, a new beginning,” Pigrome said of Simmons.
Senior defensive back Jalen Dawson picked off a pass three plays into the second half, and Pigrome raced 19 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing drive to put Clay-Chalkville on top 27-6.
Hillcrest (0-2) responded with a 19-yard score of its own when Wyatt connected with Cahlil Ellis with 5:33 to play in the third. Pigrome answered two minutes later when he weaved 53 yards for a touchdown.
With 7:24 left in the game, Ellis scored from a yard out, cutting the Cougars’ advantage to 34-19 after another blocked extra point attempt. Clay-Chalkville, yet again, responded, this time when Pigrome found the 6-foot-4 Collins for a seven-yard TD with 4:32 to play. It put Clay-Chalkville up 41-19.
“I knew Nico was going to be something great,” Simmons said of Collins.
Clay-Chalkville sophomore wide receiver Nico Collins grabs a touchdown reception against Hillcrest.
photo by Ron Burkett
Hillcrest marched down the field in six plays, with Wyatt capping the drive with another one-yard plunge to cut the deficit to 41-26.
Clay-Chalkville senior running back Terrelle West then took over the final drive, rushing for 56 yards on three carries, including a five-yard touchdown, to ice the game.
Penalties and mental errors were problems for Clay-Chalkville throughout.
“It wasn’t our best performance at all,” said Clay-Chalkville head coach Jerry Hood. “Give Hillcrest credit. They made us play harder than we’ve had to play.”
Simmons said the Clay-Chalkville offense is all about pace.
“I think we started off a little slow again,” he said. “As the game went on, we picked it up.”
West finished with 131 yards on 16 carries. Collins caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
The story, however, was about Pigrome, who completed 11-of-15 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 129 yards and three more scores.
“Just trying to get better and better and get a tempo going,” Pigrome said.
Simmons’ confidence is building with Pigrome.
“The defense never knows what’s coming at them,” Simmons said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
