By David Knox
Sports Editor
CLAY – Clay-Chalkville played perhaps its best all-around game of the season Friday night, knocking off Walker 36-14 at Cougar Stadium.
Top-ranked Clay-Chalkville improved to 3-0, 1-0 in Class 6A, Region 6. Walker fell to 1-2, 0-1.
The defense was aggressive and set the tone early but shutting down the Vikings’ running game. The Cougars forced three turnovers, including an interception by JaMarlin Sewell on the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage, and added a safety on a bad punt snap.
“We all came together real well,” said senior defensive lineman Keilend Clayton. “We’ve been having a tough time, getting a good lead in the first half and the young guys start to slack off a little bit. I think they’re finally getting it in their head that we’ve got to keep on applying the pressure.”
Coach Jerry Hood said it was the “most solid” game the Cougars have played so far. The defense did a better job of playing assignment football.
“What we did better was we stayed in position,” Hood said. “That was the key. We stayed on our feet, made good tackles.
“I was very proud of our defense. I thought they improved last week and certainly this week.”
Drew Heller added an interception and Derrick Bean recovered a fumble on a kickoff. All three turnovers led to touchdowns on the following drives.
The offense was solid, but Hood lamented “silly” penalties that probably cost the Cougars a couple of scores. They also missed a pair of field goals. But overall, it was an impressive performance.
“I thought we dominated the line of scrimmage,” Hood said. “I thought our running backs ran hard. Quentin (Young) and Nick Jones, especially.”
Young rushed for 160 yards and two scores, a 38-yard burst that opened the scoring and finished an 89-yard drive in seven plays. Drennon Mayhew added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 7:27 left. The drive started on the 11 when Sewell picked off a deep ball by Walker quarterback Michael Crear.
Clay added to its lead on a 66-yard, six-play drive, culminating with a pretty 20-yard pass from Willie Miller to Nico Collins. Mayhew’s kick made it 14-0.
Heller’s pick set up another score. He snagged a Crear pass near midfield and took it down to the Walker 23. A run by Miller on third-and-6 at the 19 converted the first down, and Jones sprinted around the left side for 10 yards and a touchdown with 6:52 left in the half. The PAT failed, and Clay led 20-0.
Walker managed its only first-half points on a 56-yard drive that was aided by a roughing the passer call on third-and-goal from the 15. On third-and-goal again, Crear hit Isiah Cox for 6 yards and the score with 1:02 left in the half. Christopher McKellar added the PAT and it was 20-7, Cougars at halftime.
After the break, Walker handed the Cougars two points when a punt snap sailed high and the punter kicked the ball out of the end zone.
After the free kick, Clay went 58 yards in 13 plays. Collins had a crucial reception on fourth-and-7 for 8 yards. But the rest of the drive was mostly Young’s. He carried the ball eight times on the drive for 37 yards, finishing it off with a 1-yard run. The Mayhew kick made it 29-7 with1:28 left in the third quarter.
The Cougars’ Derrick Bean recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and on the next play, Miller found Roderick McCloud open deep for a 29-yard score. Mayhew added the PAT and the Cougars led 36-7 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
Clay did not score in the fourth quarter, although a promising drive that started at its own 4 was hamstrung by a pair of delay-of-game penalties. Mayhew attempted a 34-yard field goal, but it was wide left.
Walker then drove 74 yards for a consolation score. Kendall Holiday was the workhorse, carrying the ball nine times for 61 yards. Crear finished it off with a 1-yard run up the middle. McKellar’s extra point made it 36-14 with 52 seconds left, and the Cougars ran out the clock.
The Cougars travel to Pinson Valley for another region game on Friday.
5 Comments
Neal Dameron
It’s a real shame there is not going to be a paws N claws this year. Could be a good one.
William Kennedy
It they played today, HT would win. Clay’s super talented as always, but they’ve got some growing up to do.
Kevin Small
It’s gonna be awesome when Clay and Trussville play at the end of the year…oh wait…someone got tired of losing and quit. Oops.
Jessie Jay Phillips-Chaney
Lol
Joey Blalock
I don’t know about that! I will say it would be high scoring