Editor’s note: This is an opinion column.
By Bobby Mathews, sports editor
What Clay-Chalkville has done this season is absolutely remarkable.
Last night the No. 1-ranked Cougars completed an undefeated regular season, and they did it in style by defeating 7A playoff team Oak Mountain, 48-0. Clay-Chalkville has played lights out all season, and they’ll host Decatur in the first round of the 6A playoffs on November 5.
It hasn’t always been easy, either. Clay-Chalkville beat several really good squads this season, including a tough 57-40 victory over Hueytown in the second week.
Hueytown accomplished a heck of a lot this season, going 9-1 and winning a Class 6A Region 4 title.
The Cougars also handed a very good Jackson-Olin team its first loss of the year, beating the Mustangs 46-14. Jackson-Olin went on to go 4-2 in Region 6, secure a playoff spot, and defeated defending state champions Pinson Valley as well.
Clay-Chalkville motored past a talented Gardendale team that finished 8-2 and is also headed to the playoffs, beating the Rockets 46-0.
And what about Pinson Valley? Well, the Cougars walked onto the Indians’ home field and punched them out, too, taking a 42-23 win and forcing six turnovers.
This is a team that is, top to bottom, filled with athletes who can change the game in an instant.
Last night against the Eagles, Khalib Johnson went 9-for-17 passing, with three touchdowns. Ed Osley didn’t break the century mark for one of the few times this season, but he didn’t need to. The senior running back went for 86 yards and a score on nine carries, and he also converted a two-point conversion. Rodreckus Johnson carried 7 times for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Marquarius “Squirrel” White caught three balls for 103 yards and a score, averaging just over 34 yards a catch. White, who is committed to play at Tennessee next season, is probably the best athlete on the field for the Cougars.
Against Pinson Valley, White started as a defensive back and nabbed two of the four interceptions the Indians’ Zach Pyron threw.
Sophomore Mario Craver continued his breakout year by catching only two passes against the Eagles, but they were both scores.
Matthew Yafondo got in on the scoring against Oak Mountain with a pick-six, and so did Devin Finley.
The Cougars have outscored their opponents 509-114 this season and pitched four shutouts.
But maybe the best thing about the team is that they know they’re not perfect. Special teams has been a concern all season. The Cougars don’t kick field goals. Instead, they go for two after every touchdown. That’s not trying to run up the score, either; those two-point conversions are tough to get.
They’ve also been strangely vulnerable on kickoff returns as well. Minor’s only score against the Cougars came on a kickoff return, or Clay-Chalkville would have five shutouts on their regular season.
The Cougars are a team that is loaded with talent and potential, and an undefeated regular season is definitely a huge accomplishment.
However, it’s not the goal that Clay-Chalkville’s players and coaches are looking for. For them, the season begins again on November 5 and ends — hopefully — at Protective Stadium in Birmingham with a 6A state title.
Bobby Mathews is sports editor at The Trussville Tribune. Reach him @bobbymathews on Twitter or at bobby.mathews@trussvilletribune.com