By Britney Bailey, For the Tribune
CLAY-CHALKVILLE – The Cougars produced yet another dominant performance Friday night, this time chalking up a 62-7 win over Shades Valley at home.
It was senior night for a plethora of notable Cougars, including Jaylen Mbakwe, Mario Craver, Rod and Carlos Ivy, DJ Barber, and Taurus Chambers.
The seniors took the field on their last game at Cougar Stadium and did what they do best, win big. The Cougar defense picked up the first points of the night early in the first quarter on a Shades Valley turnover, a blocked PAT stalled the score at 6-0.
Mbakwe and Craver dealt the Mounties another blow with a 24-yard touchdown later in the first. The PAT from Antoine Ellison upped the Cougar lead to 13-0.
Shades Valley responded shortly after with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Mountie quarterback Steve Brown to wide receiver Ji’Quez Daniels.
The second quarter belonged to the Cougars. Chambers started off the second, pushing through Mountie defenders for a 1-yard touchdown run, tacking on 6 more for the Cougars. Another successful PAT from Ellison put the Cougars up 20-7 just two minutes in.
Aaron Osley answered the call two minutes later with a 53-yard touchdown run to increase the Cougar lead to 27-7 after the PAT.
Just three minutes later, Osley slipped through the middle for another 5-yard touchdown run for the Cougars for a 34-7 lead. Mbakwe found the endzone with just over 30 seconds to go in the half, sending the Cougars to the locker room with a 34 point lead.
The Cougars kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the game, with Mbakwe finding Craver for a 27-yard touchdown pass to start the third.
Quarterback Kamari McClellan entered in for the Cougars and hit wide receiver Jabari Staples for a 52-yarder and a touchdown. A third down handoff to Isaiah Miles iced the game for the Cougars, giving the final score of 62-7.
The Cougars are secured for their spot in the playoffs, but this win granted Head Coach Drew Gilmer his 100th win and his place as the winningest coach in Clay-Chalkville history. “It was a great win,” says Gilmer of his 100th victory.
Quarterback Jaylen Mbakwe said the Cougars are pushing forward and staying focused, “That’s the plan. Keep our head on the main goal, and just lock in for the playoffs.”
The Cougars will face Cullman November 10th in the first round of playoffs, while Shades Valley ends the season with a 4-5 record.