Clarksdale dominated all aspects of their game against Greenville and rolled on to a 33-0 victory against the visiting Hornets.
The Wildcats offense scored a quick 26 points in the first half and put the second team in after intermission. The defense was stifling and hit Greenville running backs and pressured passers to tag the visitors with a big fat zero.
“We had a great night tonight and a lot of you got to play,” said coach Henry Johnson. “But don’t stop here. We all know what is coming up and we all know where we want to go. We take them one at a time.”
Johnson was alluding to the Trinity Christian game and a visit by Deion Sanders and his son who quarterbacks the Tigers for homecoming Friday night. Johnson told his team to have their fun after the game, but come back Monday ready to work.
“We’re looking at further down the road than Deion,” he added. “We are looking at the playoffs and we aren’t there yet.
“You were loose tonight and played well,” he added. “We need that next week. Be loose but be focused on getting the job done.”
Clarksdale jumped on the Hornets from the beginning. Their first play from scrimmage saw Wildcat running back Sammie Ray run to the right, break into the secondary and race 48 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was no good, but Clarksdale led 6-0.
It was four and out for Greenville as the defense pressured the Hornets’ quarterback on every play.
Clarksdale scored on the first play of their second possession, too.
This time Wildcat quarterback Tamera Allen found wide receiver Joshua Hollins in a crease in the defense and tossed him the ball. Allen raced to 66-yards, juking a defender at the 10-yard line to score.
The two point conversion was no good, but Clarksdale was in control and held a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
A second quarter touchdown was set up by Wildcat Milton James who intercepted a Greenville pass the 12.
Clarksdale drove 88-yards with The Wildcat’s second quarter with Ray again running right from six-yard out for the score. Hollins PAT was good and Clarkdale extended the lead to 18-0.
The Wildcats scored again on a 57-yard, five play drive late in the second quarter. Running back Solomon Kemp ran straight up the middle from the five to score. Hollins PAT was good and Clarksdale carried a 26-0 lead into the lock room.
The Wildcats got their final touchdown from Di’Kyrus Bays who capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive to open the third quarter. Bays got the ball at the 13, a block at the 10 from Hollins for the score.
“The backs ran hard, the line blocked, our quarterback made good decisions and what else can I say about our defense,” said Johnson. “We played to the level I want them to play.”
“But it’s going to be different this week,” said Johnson. “Trinity Christian is coming to play and we better come to play.”
Four-star QB Shedeur Sanders has already played eight games this season and the Tigers had an open date this week. The Florida Atlantic University commit got 380-yards earlier this season against Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic where the 6-foot-1, 198-pounder ran for two scores and passed for a third TD. His most recent game, a loss to DeSoto (Texas), saw him complete 22-of-37 pass for 232 yards, two TD’s and no interceptions.
But Clarksdale (5-1, 1-0) is motivated to win and has clinched the district in the COVID-19 season. The Wildcats will open the playoffs on Nov. 6 at home regardless of the outcome of Friday’s game.
