Clay High School is returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Blue Devils beat Pedro Menendez, 35-21, at home Friday night to earn the 4-3A district runner up slot.

Blue Devil running back Quinton Battle, one of the stars for Clay, rushed for 163 yards on 26 carries and scored four touchdowns. Blue Devil quarterback Stephen Hearons completed all four of his passes for 103 yards.

Stacey Burney, who had four sacks in the game at rush end, said he and his teammates were ready for redemption after being eliminated from the playoffs by Palatka last year.

"It feels good," Burney said. "All we did was prepare for this moment all year long. I didn't want this game to get away. Last year, we were in the same spot with Palatka and i gave up the big play and i just had to remember that moment the rest of my life, but tonight i came through for us."

Clay Coach James Reape said his program is on the way back after a short playoff drought.

"Tonight getting back in the playoffs, I feel for the kids who didn't get there in '05 and '06," Reape said. "Our numbers got small last year, but I feel we are on our way back. There are a lot of postives there. The program is getting back. We are doing things we did during the earlier playoff runs of a few years back-pounding the ball, flying around on defense and a big leg kicker."

Clay got on the scoreboard on the second play from scrimmage when Battle ran 61 yards for a touchdown with 11:13 left in the first quarter. Luke Rizzo kicked the extra point to give Clay an early, 7-0, lead.

Menendez punted to Clay after their first possession faltered despite two first downs. Clay drove from its own 43- yard line to the Falcon 24 where Blue Devil tailback Kris Mena ran 23 yards for a touchdown with 2:09 left in the first quarter. Rizzo's kick extended Clay's lead to 14-0.

Clay led by the same score at the end of the first quarter.

The Falcons second drive ended when Clay defensive back Roosevelt Williams intercepted quarterback Kendrick Smith's pass at midfield. Hearons threw to wingback Gabe Burden for 35 yards down to the Menendez 15- yard line. Just when Clay seemed to be on the verge of taking a three-touchdown lead, Hearons fumbled the center snap at the one-yard line and Menendez recovered at the three.

The Falcons drove 97 yards to pull within a touchdown when tailback Dustin Bryant scored from three yards out with 4:07 left in the first half.  Bryant also had the big play on the drive when he ran 61 yards to the Clay 33- yard line. Brett Eddins kicked the extra point to reduce Clay's lead to 14-7.

Clay wasted little time getting its third touchdown of the first half after the Blue Devils started the drive on its own 45-yard line. Tailback Charlie Fleming had runs of 25, 11 and 4 yards on the drive. Battle scored from six yards with 1:21 left in the first half to cap the drive. Rizzo's kick put Clay up, 21-7 at halftime.

Reape said the most decisive part of the game was after the Falcons closed the gap to seven then his team came right back and scored.

"That score maintained our two touchdown distance," Reape said.

Menendez did nothing with the ball on its first possession of the second half. Clay took over on its 43- yard line. Hearons immediately got his team moving with a 25- yard pass to tight end Austin Haymond. The two hooked up again later in the drive on a 16 yard pass. Battle scored again from two yards out to cap the drive. Rizzo's kick put Clay up, 28-7, with 5:59 left in the third quarter.

 Later in the quarter, Clay appeared to be driving for another touchdown, but on first- and- ten from the Menendez 29- yard line, Burney fumbled the ball and the Falcons recovered. This time Menendez converted the turnover into points. A 43 yard run by Bryant put the Falcons in position at the Clay 16- yard line. Bryant scored two plays later from five yards out. Eddins kicked the extra point to trim Clay's lead to, 28-14, with 7:44 left in the game.

On the next play, the Falcons recovered an onside kick on the Clay 47- yard line but the drive went for naught after Burney sacked quarterback Jon Carter on fourth down back on the Falcon 43- yard line. Clay took eight snaps to score again. Perry found the end zone on a 23-yard run with 2:07 left in the game. Rizzo's kick extended Clay's lead to, 35-14.

The Falcons took the ensuing kickoff and scored their last touchdown of the game when Carter hit receiver Mike Ortiz who then lateraled to Bryant for a 41-yard scoring play. Eddins kick cut Clay's lead to, 35-21.

Menendez once again recovered an onside kick, but could not score. Clay defensive lineman Ross Fenn sacked Carter to end the final Falcon threat.

Fenn said the Clay defense contained the Falcons throughout the game.

"I thought we did pretty well," Fenn said. "The feeling is crazy. I love it. i couldn't ask for any more. We got some things to work on. i hope we can tighten it up and get it against Baker County."

The Blue Devils rushed for 289 yards and threw for 103. They did not punt during the game. Clay fumbled five times and lost four.

Menendez ran for 136 yards and threw for 126. Bryant ran 23 times for 136 yards. 

Reape said he thought Hearons played his best game of the season. He was pleased with the play of the running backs except for too many fumbles. Reape lavished praise on Burney and Battle, who he said were the players of the game defensively and offensively. He also said linebacker Antwan Smiley played one of his better games.

Clay ends the regular season at 7 pm next Friday night at home against county rival Middleburg. They will play at Baker County in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring by Quarters

Clay-14-7-7-7-35 

Menendez-0-7-0-14-21

1st Quarter

Clay-Battle 61 yard run; Rizzon kick

Clay-Mena 23 yard run; Rizzo kick

2nd Quarter

Menendez-Bryant 4-yard run; Eddins kick

Clay-Battle 5-yard run; Rizzo kick

3rd Quarter

Battle two-yard run; Rizzo kick

4th Quarter

 Menendez-Bryant 5-yard run: Eddins kick

Clay-Perry 23-yard run; Rizzo kick

Menendez-Carter to Ortiz then lateral to Bryant 41-yard touchdown play; Eddins kick