|
ASHLAND
Five players scored touchdowns for Clay County Friday night as the Panthers dominated Class 1A, Region 5 foe Loachapoka 44-0.
It was apparent from the outset that the home team came ready for action. Loachapoka opened with three running plays and a punt. Panther Brian Glenn promptly scored on a 56-yard return.
''Coach (Danny) Horn told us that we needed a kickoff return or a punt return for a touchdown,'' Glenn said afterwards. ''He said that all week. I saw my blocking. I just ran behind them.''
It might not have been quite that simple. Glenn zigged and zagged his way down the home sideline. Later in the first quarter he returned a second punt 50 yards, to the Loachapoka 18, before the Indians began to punt short to avoid him.
''Brian had some big runs on punt returns. That kind of got us going,'' Horn said.
''We came out and established the game plan early,'' continued Horn. ''This team came out and did exactly what we needed to do.''
On offense the Panthers scored on five of their first six possessions to claim a 30-0 halftime lead.
The Clay County defense was even better. In the opening half Loachapoka managed one first down, netted 22 yards rushing and had four yards passing. The Panthers recovered a fumble to end one Indians' possession and forced six first-half punts.
Clay County's first offense took the opening possession of the second half 64 yards in six plays, capped by a 13-yard scoring run by senior J.R. Hess, who then retired for the evening with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
In less than 30 minutes of playing time fullback Travis Zackery gained 75 yards on eight carries to lead Clay County. Junior quarterback Kevin Pitts ran three times the first three Clay County plays from scrimmage and gained 67 yards then never called his own number. Pitts scored the second Panther touchdown on a 20-yard run.
''I thought Kevin ran the option well,'' Horn said. Pitts also completed two of his three pass attempts for 27 yards.
Hess scored twice and gained 54 yards on four carries. Halfback Dewayne Duncan scored the touchdown which put Clay County up 20-0 with just under a minute left in the first quarter. Duncan ended with six carries for 32 yards.
Duncan added a pass reception of 11 yards in the second quarter. The catch opened a five-play, 53-yard drive which saw the Panthers gain first downs on four consecutive plays before Hess' four-yard run gave Clay County its fourth touchdown of the first half and a 27-0 lead.
Jose Bermudez booted a 30-yard field goal the first of his two-game career in American football with 3:19 left in the first half for the 30-0 advantage. Bermudez also kicked five of six extra point attempts on the night.
Six backs ran the ball for the Panthers in the first half. Six others got carries in the second. Second team halfback Corey McLemore gained 56 yards on seven runs and scored the final touchdown from eight yards out with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
Glenn, also the No. 2 quarterback, completed his only pass attempt which was good for 17 yards to Tommy Hunter.
''I'm proud of the second team,'' added Horn. ''They came in and moved the ball. That's only going to help us later.''
Clay County improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in region play. The Panthers continue Region play Friday in Anniston against Donoho. Loachapoka falls to 0-3, 0-2. The Indians have now been outscored by margins of 32, 38 and 44 points. | 