By Erik Harris
GARDENDALE – In a crucial league contest at Bragg (5-0, 3-0), the Clay-Chalkville eighth graders came up just short on Thursday night.
“Between us and Bragg, I think we’re the top two in the area, so it’s tough loosing this one,” said Clay-Chalkville Middle School coach Matt Taylor. “But, our goal is still in hand. We’ve still got to go do our job and win the next two games, and who knows what happens after that?”
Clay-Chalkville Middle School coach Matt Taylor talks with running back Kelvin Slaughter (5) prior to a game in Gardendale last Thursday. photo by Erik Harris
Despite falling into a 14-0 hole early, the Cougars (2-3, 2-1) fought their way back with a chance to force overtime with two minutes remaining. The two-minute offense made things interesting, but a pair of sacks proved to be too much to overcome in a 14-7 defeat.
Clay-Chalkville Middle School struggled defensively on the first two drives of the contest, allowing the Rockets to march into the end zone on consecutive series. Fourth down conversions served as the launching pad to both Bragg touchdowns.
The Rockets converted a fourth-and-11 scenario with a perfectly timed hook and ladder play to set the table for the opening score of the night – a six-yard pitch and catch with 2:39 remaining in the opening frame.
Following a Cougar punt, the host’s offense was on the move again, converting a third-and-six followed by a fourth down to allow another score. The Rockets’ time-consuming drive ended with a five-yard quarterback keeper to build a two-touchdown lead with 4:41 remaining in the half.
At that point, it would’ve been easy for Taylor’s team to accept defeat and coast through the remaining snaps, but that’s not the way it was. Instead, Taylor got fight on both sides of the ball.
“I’m so proud of the boys,” Taylor said. “The boys fight back all the time. They have come around since their seventh grade year and this group is so good and they’re getting so much better (every week), and I can’t be more proud of them.”
It all started when his defense got its first stop of the night, forcing a fumble and covering it up to shift momentum. The Clay-Chalkville Middle School offense, led by quarterback Damion Ward, took that momentum and turned it into a quick seven points to pull to within a touchdown heading into the break.
Ward showed poise as he delivered a pair of third down conversions on the scoring drive. First, he threw well on a third-and-eight before converting a third-and-five with a 44-yard pitch and catch to Josh Austin, who turned a short reception into a long sprint to the end zone.
Ward and the offense just couldn’t get that momentum back in the second half. The Cougars first three drives of the second half ended abruptly by way of turnovers (one fumble and two interceptions).
The defense stayed stout despite the quick turnarounds. Three consecutive times the defense was asked to stand tall following a Clay-Chalkville turnover, and three consecutive times they found stops on fourth down.
After the first two Bragg drive of the night, which ended in the end zone, the Cougars forced four turnovers and a three and out.
“We came out slow, but we didn’t make any adjustments,” Taylor said. “We just told them, ‘You just have to do your job. We have to come out here and hit them in the mouth, because they came out here and they hit us in the mouth, so we have to return the favor.’”
Cougars’ quarterback Damion Ward (11) threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Josh Austin last week against Bragg. photo by Erik Harris
They held their hosts to two-of-nine on third downs. On the other side, Clay-Chalkville converted seven of their 13 third down opportunities. Some of those conversions came thanks to Kelvin Anderson and Kelvin Slaughter.
Slaughter, a bruising ball carrier, got some high praise from his head coach following the game.
“He’s our workhorse, he’s the person in the back that we always want carrying the ball,” Taylor said. “I appreciate his hard work. He’s a leader on this team, so it’s always good when he’s doing something well.”
The Cougars will now look to rebound from their first league loss of the season, as Pizitz (4-1) is next up on the schedule.
Follow Erik Harris on Twitter @jeharris2.
