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| Clay Countys Travis Zachary (44) looks for running room against Lineville Friday night in the annual Clay Bowl. Photo: Bill Wilson. |
LINEVILLE
Those who braved Friday nights plunging temperatures to fill every seat at Upchurch Field and most of the standing-room-only crowd were treated to a piece of Clay Bowl history Friday. Clay Countys defense set the tone early and the Panthers scored a 21-7 victory over neighbor and arch-rival Lineville.
The win was the 11th for a Clay County team coached by Danny Horn, giving Horn the most coaching victories in the series which dates to 1922. The 2002 Panthers became Horns fourth team, and the fifth in Clay County football history, to complete a 10-0 regular season.
Lineville managed only 41 yards of total offense in the first half all on the ground and trailed 14-0 at the half.
Up front they were controlling the line of scrimmage, said Aggies coach Steve Giddens. We werent blocking their linebackers because we were having so much trouble with the front. Where they won the game was up front.
With nose guard Alfred Simmons, tackles Tyler Smith and Jeremy East, and ends Travis Zackery and Chris Burk-halter dealing Linevilles offensive line misery, linebackers Michael Bass and J.R. Hess flew to the ball.
The Panthers keyed on elusive Lineville quarterback LaDaniel Thomas, who netted only 10 yards rushing in the first half.
Brian Glenn led the Panthers and the game in rushing with 97 yards on 11 carries and three players scored for Clay County.
Sometimes Glenn lined up at wide receiver, sometimes at quarterback and sometimes at running back. Wherever he was he, was the most dangerous player on the field. Dewayne Duncan also had 72 yards on 16 trips and Hess 10 car-ries good for 54 yards.
Clay County held the games opening possession for almost eight minutes. The Panthers moved 80 yards in 13 plays, overcoming an illegal procedure call along the way and Duncan capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run. Jose Bermudez booted home the first of his three extra points for a 7-0 advantage.
Duncan sparked the drive with a 27-yard gain on third-and-five at the Clay County 48 and Hess followed immedi-ately with a 13-yard effort.
On their third possession, the Panthers drove 60 yards and fullback Zackery scored on a 1-yard blast up the middle with 3:44 to go before halftime. Glenns 21-yard carry had placed the ball at the Lineville 6. The half ended 14-0 as Clay County rushed for 151 yards.
After forcing Linevilles fourth consecutive punt to open the second half, Clay County drove 64 yards to its final touchdown. Hess did the honors from 5 yards away and with 5:04 remaining in the third quarter there was little doubt as to the outcome.
Any time you can come over here and beat them 21-7, I think youve done something, said Horn. Linevilles got a good football team. Theyre well coached. I look for them to do well in the playoffs.
Lineville (7-3) finally found a spark after abandoning the I for a wishbone attack. The Aggies reeled off three con-secutive first downs before Thomas scrambled 32 yards to the Clay County 15 before fumbling.
One play later, Clay County returned the favor and the ball to Lineville at the Panther 14.
Running back Marty Thomas got the Aggies on the scoreboard on a 12-yard run with 5:06 to play. Josh Giddens kicked the extra point but Clay Countys Franklin Few recovered Giddens onside kick on the ensuing kickoff.
The Panthers used 4 1/2 precious minutes before turning the ball over on downs at the Lineville 26 with 33 seconds to play.
Now the playoffs begin for both teams, both region champions and undefeated in region play.
Offensively, weve got to be able to throw the ball a little bit more and run the option a little bit better, concluded Horn.
I dont think its going to be very hard to get our guys up and ready to play next week, Giddens said. Like I told them after the game, If your not ready to play next week and get beat, youll feel a whole lot worse next Friday night than you do right now. | 