Clay Opens District Play With Win

Clay High (2-1, 1-0) started its district 4-3A schedule with a, 35-14, home win over Atlantic High from Port Orange (0-3, 0-1) on Friday night. The score was tied, 14-14, at halftime before Clay scored 21 unanswered points and shutout the Sharks in the second half.

The Blue Devil defense and special teams set up the offense in good field position several times in the final two quarters. Clay special teams blocked two punts in the second half. The first blocked punt led to the go-ahead touchdown for the Blue Devils. Atlantic senior running back Rob Brown who ran for 110 yards in the first half was limited to only 41 yards in the second half.

Clay Coach James Reape said a change in defense formation in the second half held Brown in check after he ran wild in the first two quarters. Reape was also extremely happy to notch the team's first district win.

"It's huge to be 1-0 in the district," Reape said.

Early in the first quarter the game was delayed by lightening for 20 minutes. Atlantic scored first with 2:28 left in the first quarter on a Brown 1-yard run that ended a 51-yard drive. Sharks kicker Jeremy Llerena kicked the extra point to put Atlantic ahead, 7-0. Clay tied the game on its next possession when freshman running back Teddy Monroe scampered 40 yards. Luke Rizzo kicked the extra point and the score was knotted up, 7-7 with 1:00 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Clay scored its second touchdown on a 68-yard drive. During the drive, Blue Devil tailbacks Rodney Perry and Quinton Battle had consecutive 21-yard runs. Gabe Burden capped the drive with an 18- yard touchdown run. Rizzo's kick put the Blue Devils up, 14-7, with 6:04 left before halftime.

The Sharks scored their final touchdown of the game after a poor Clay punt set them up at the Blue Devil 40- yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Anthony Pinckney scored from 22 yards out. Llerena's extra point tied the score at, 14-14, with :31 seconds left in the first half.

Atlantic received the opening kickoff of the second half and started a promising drive that fizzled at the Clay 34- yard line. The Sharks tried to punt on fourth down, but Clay lineman Lamon Howard blocked the punt and the Blue Devils were in business at their own 44- yard line. It didn't take Clay long to take advantage of the turnover. On third- and- 11 from their own 43, Burden took the shotgun snap from center and ran 42 yards to the Atlantic 15- yard line. One play later, Perry scored from 15 yards out and Clay led, 21-14, after the Rizzo extra point.

Reape said Howard's blocked punt turned the game around. He also said Burden's run a few mintues later "took the wind out of their sails."

The Sharks moved the ball to their own 45- yard line on their next series before they were forced to punt. Clay's Howard blocked his second punt of the game to set Clay up at the Atlantic 41- yard line, but the Shark defense stiffened when Clay attempted a pass on fourth down that fell short of the first down marker.

The third quarter ended with Clay ahead, 21-14.

 Atlantic's punt team let them down for the third time in the second half when on fourth- and- 15 from its own 35- yard line, the Sharks punter threw a pass that fell incomplete. Clay took over and it took Battle only two plays to get the ball in the end zone. After a 19- yard run, he finished the drive with an 18- yard run to increase the Blue Devil lead to, 27-14 with 10:56 left in the game. Rizzo added the extra point to put Clay's up by 14 points.

Clay's final touchdown drive was aided by two Atlantic 15-yard penalties (personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct) on the same play. Battle scored from five yards out and Rizzo nailed the PAT to give Clay its final margin of, 35-14, with :40 seconds left in the game.   

Both teams finished with 16 first downs. Clay won the rushing battle gaining 300 yards on 37 attempts while the Sharks had 43 runs for 235 yards. Battle led Clay in rushing with 92 yards on 11 carries. Burden added 87 on six carries and Perry had five carries for 46 yards.

Reape was also complimentary of the play of linemen Lance Williams, Kenny Beecher, Howard and Ross Fenn, and defensive backs Davin Britt and Roosevelt Williams.

Clay plays at home next Friday night in a non-district game against North Marion.

Clay 7-7-7-14-35

Atlantic-7-7-0-0-14

1st quarter

Atlantic- Brown 1-yard run; Llerena kick

Clay-Munroe 40-yard run; Rizzo kick

2nd quarter

Clay- Burden 10-yard run

Atlantic-Pinckney 22- yard run; Llerena kick

3rd quarter

Clay-Perry 15-yard run; Rizzo kick

4th quarter

Clay-Battle 18- yard run; Rizzon kick

Clay-Battle 5-yard run; Rizzo kick