By Joey Chandler/The Tuscaloosa News
TUSCALOOSA — Top-ranked Clay-Chalkville kept its win streak intact by holding off No. 10 Hillcrest, 41-40.
Patriots running back Brian Robinson proved difficult to stop, rushing for 447 yards on 29 carries and four touchdowns to set a Class 6A single game rushing record. The previous record was set in 2013 by Roc Thomas (424 yards).
Robinson also had a 23-yard touchdown reception, and is now fifth overall on the all-time AHSAA list for rushing yards in a single game.
“Defensively we didn’t play well tonight,” Cougars coach Jerry Hood said. “We tackled terrible and probably some of that is because No. 4 (Robinson) is such a great player. In the first half we got him hemmed up and was going to make it third and five, and we let him out of it, so we’ll learn from this.”
With 2:39 remaining, Robinson scored on a 3-yard run, to pull Hillcrest within a point at 41-40. Adams made the decision to go for the win, but the conversion fell short. Clay-Chalkville then held on for the victory.
“We fought through some adversity and had a shot there to go for two and win the game, and we told them all week, when we get in that situation at the end of the game, we are going to go for two to win it and it just came up a little short,” Adams said. “We are aggressive in most every situation anyway, so I would say in most situations we would go for two and try to win the game, and in that case we try to get the ball to Brian again, and we just came up a little short.”
Hood said playing against a tough Hillcrest team was good experience for his players this season.
“Every championship team needs this fight,” he said.
Clay-Chalkville quarterback Ty Pigrome was ejected from the game at the end of the third quarter, and Darryien Wilson stepped in to lead the Cougars. Before he was ejected, Pigrome completed 15 of 18 passes for 207 yards.
“Darryien has been in this situation before. I thought it was awful selfish of Ty,” Hood said. “I saw what happened, and he was getting some business over there, but he didn’t hold his composure.”
Hillcrest (1-2) opens up region play next week at home against Selma.
Reach Joey Chandler at joey.chandler@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.