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ADDISON
Clay County rode three big-play touchdowns to a solid halftime lead then added a pair of scores in the second to defeat the Addison Bulldogs 33-0 in the quagmire that was A.G. Hicks Stadium here Friday night. The second round playoff victory advances the Panthers, now 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 1A in the final ASWA high school poll, to a quarterfinal showdown against No. 7 Cedar Bluff (11-1) next Friday in Ashland.
Clay County coach Danny Horn may not know a lot about Cedar Bluff but he knows enough to be worried.
Theyve got a great offense, said Horn of Cedar Bluffs threats on the ground and through the air. The big play potential is there every time.
Senior J.R. Hess, normally a halfback but moved to fullback against Addison, set the tone against the Bulldogs on the first snap. After Dewayne Duncan returned the opening kickoff to the Clay County 32, Hess slid through the line at left guard and outran the field for a 68-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was wide left but Clay County led 6-0 with only 18 seconds missing from the clock.
With Hess at fullback, Brian Glenn moved to halfback in the wishbone set which the Panthers favored in the muck.
We were trying to do two things, said Horn of the adjustments on offense. One, to get a little quicker at fullback and two, to get Brian in for a little more speed. It worked on the first play.
It worked on the second play, too.
Eric Thomas ended Addisons initial possession with an interception which he returned some 15 yards to the Clay County 47. On the first play, Glenn got to the corner at left end and raced 53 yards down the home sideline. Duncan ran in the two-point conversion and the Panthers had a 14-0 lead with only 31 seconds of possession time.
Meanwhile, another Clay County adjustment moving linebacker Michael Bass back to defensive end, his natural position was paying dividends and giving Addisons run oriented attack fits.
Theyre defensive ends, replied Bulldogs coach Phil Wilson when asked what hampered his game plan most. We had them sealed off inside at times but we werent big enough to block the defensive ends (Bass and Travis Zackery). They were a good solid ball team all the way across the front.
Neither senior Rod Taylor nor freshman Caleb Parker, who had a seven touchdown performance three games ago in his first varsity start, ever got momentum. Taylor ended with 44 yards on 12 carries. Parker rushed 14 times and gained 34 yards.
With 3:19 left in the second quarter Duncan completed the big-play scoring trifecta with a 63-yard jaunt around left end, outsprinting both the cornerback and safety. Jose Bermudez kicked the extra point to close the first half scoring.
Addison got its best field position of the night early in the third quarter when Hess, unable to field the snap on a punt attempt, was downed at the Clay County 31. Four plays later Bulldogs quarterback Cody Hall bobbled the snap at center and Panther Chris Burkhalter came out of the mud with the ball at the 19-yard line.
Clay County converted that turnover into points, too. Zackery scored from one yard away for a 27-0 lead with 2:01 remaining in the third. He had runs of 13 and 36 yards in the drive. He scored the final points of the night on a second effort 2-yard run with eight minutes to play.
The Panthers attempted only one pass but were potent on the ground. Hess led with 130 yards on eight carries. Glenn ended with 103 yards on seven attempts. Duncan carried 13 times for 99 yards and Zackery netted 58 yards on six runs, all in the second half.
The shutout was the seventh of the season for the Panthers.
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