GREENWOOD — “One Yard Short.”
That was what the play became known as when the Tennessee Titans fell one yard shy of the end zone and from tying the game against the St. Louis Rams in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXIV.
The Clarksdale Wildcats (6-4, 3-1) found themselves the same one yard short of a Region 3-4A championship on Friday night with a 21-14 overtime loss at Greenwood.
Senior Wildcats quarterback Cameron Matthews ran the ball toward the end zone from the 3-yard-line in overtime, fumbled at the 1, and Bulldogs (8-2, 4-0) senior strong safety Maurice Leflore made the recovery to end the game.
“That was just the heart of God. God put us in that position,” said Bulldogs coach Clinton Gatewood.
Matthews’ fumble came after Greenwood senior running back Walter Ivory ran in a 10-yard touchdown on a Wildcat play to open overtime and give the Bulldogs the lead. Ivory had 31 carries for 200 yards and two touchdowns and two receptions for 32 yards.
“Walter Ivory, one of the best backs in the state, the best back in the state,” Gatewood said. “He didn’t get picked for all-star, but we aren’t mad. We’ll do our thing and play in the playoffs.”
With the district championship, Greenwood will open the playoffs against the No. 4 team from Region 2-4A next week, Amory (5-6, 2-3). As the No. 2 team in Region 3-4A, Clarksdale still gets a first-round home game against the No. 3 team from Region 2-4A next week, Itawamba Agricultural (7-4, 3-2).
Both games begin at 7 p.m. Friday.
Clarksdale led Greenwood 14-7 after three quarters and could not secure the victory.
“Yep, right there. Yep, right there,” a disappointed Clarksdale coach Henry Johnson said. “It just didn’t feel like we capitalized.”
Gatewood praised his defense for shutting out the Wildcats in the second half. He said he told them to play Bulldog football at halftime.
“We just went and started playing Bulldog football,” he said. “We were out of assignment the first half. We came back, adjusted, and the team, we went and talked and we made an adjustment. Our adjustment was to stop 5 and 4. We know 5 likes to run and throw the ball. That was killing us the first half.”
Matthews is No. 5 and finished with 17 rushes for 93 yards and two touchdowns for Clarksdale, while No. 4 is senior running back Antwan Wheeler, who finished with 20 carries for 71 yards in the loss.
Clarksdale had several missed opportunities during the first half.
On the third play from scrimmage in the first quarter, freshman Bulldogs quarterback Deandre Smith threw a pass that bounced off of Wildcats senior linebacker Trejan Latham into the arms of Greenwood junior receiver Kobe Chamber for a 70-yard touchdown pass. That gave Greenwood a 7-0 lead.
With Clarksdale ahead 14-7 during the second quarter, Wildcats sophomore defensive end Joshua Hollins sacked Smith on two of three plays to force a punt.
Matthews attempted a pass for senior receiver Lorenzo Perez the first play of the ensuing drive, but Bulldogs junior free safety Travor Randle made the interception.
Hollins forced a Smith fumble on the ensuing drive that Wildcats senior strong safety Marquavius Williams recovered. Williams ran with the ball down field looking to score on the play and extend Clarksdale’s lead to two touchdowns with less than a minute remaining in the first half. However, the whistle blew ending the play after Williams’ recovery.
Several Wildcats players and coaches expressed disagreement with the call on the sideline.
Johnson also disagreed with a ruling in the fourth quarter that there was 11 seconds on the clock when Greenwood had possession. He felt there should have been three seconds on the clock, but the Bulldogs did not score and the game went into overtime.
In spite of disagreements with several calls, Johnson felt the Wildcats were responsible for their own loss.
“I don’t think they determined the game,” Johnson said of the officials. “We just didn’t capitalize what we needed to capitalize on.”
Hollins also intercepted a Smith pass with 10:02 remaining in the fourth quarter on a screen attempt, but the Bulldogs went three and out.
Hollins, also the punter, kicked the ball to Greenwood sophomore Daylin Metcalf, who returned it to the Clarksdale 17. That set up an Ivory 8-yard touchdown run with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie things up at 14-14.
Clarksdale did manage to create opportunities on its two touchdowns.
Following a 6-yard run from junior running back Queston Skipper, the Wildcats were in a fourth down and two situation at the Greenwood 32 on their opening drive. The Wildcats drew the Bulldogs offsides for a first down.
Matthews capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to cut Greenwood’s lead to 7-6 with 6:28 to play in the first quarter.
A 17-yard pass from Matthews to Perez and a Skipper 17-yard run set up a Matthews 3-yard touchdown run with 6:54 to play in the first half. That put Clarksdale ahead 14-7 and the score would remain just that until the fourth quarter.
Perez and junior center and lineman Kaleb Brown of the Wildcats both came out of the game with injuries, but returned to the lineup.
The two teams played for the 2017 district championship at Clarksdale with Greenwood winning 26-13.
Johnson was unimpressed by how much closer his athletes played the Bulldogs in 2018.
“That ain’t worth a crap. That ain’t worth a crap, man,” he said.
Gatewood said Greenwood’s youth was part of the reason for the closer game.
“We’re real young,” he said. “People don’t understand how young we really are. When you look at my quarterback, he’s just ninth grade. He made some mistakes, but all the receivers will be back. Every last one of the receivers will be back. All the linemen will be back. So they’ve got a lot they’re going to lean on.”
Regardless, Gatewood knew his team would find a way to win its sixth consecutive district championship.
“Nobody come and take nothing this year,” he said. “I can promise you that. Nobody is going to take nothing this year. They thought they was.”
Both coaches are looking ahead to their home playoff game next week.
“It’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to put it behind us,” Johnson said.
Johnson did not give any big speeches after the loss Friday night.
“We’ve just got to go back to work Monday,” he said. “We’ve got to bounce back. We’ve just got to bounce back. What can I say? Tough loss.”
Clarksdale was eliminated at home in the first round of the playoffs last season.
The Bulldogs won two playoff games in 2017 and are ready to take the next step.
“We’ve got to put this one behind us,” Gatewood said. “We’re going to get ready for the first round. We’re going to take this one and cherish this. We won the district. That’s what it’s all about.”
Scoring summary
Clarksdale 6 8 0 0 0-14
at Greenwood 7 0 0 7 7-21
First Quarter
G – Kobe Chamber, 70-yard pass from Deandre Smith (Lavell Nelson kick), 10:47, Bulldogs 7-0
C – Cameron Matthews, 1-yard run (Kylon Lampkin kick fails), 6:28, Bulldogs 7-6
Second Quarter
C – Cameron Matthews, 3-yard run (2-point conversion Cameron Matthews), 6:54, Wildcats 14-7
Fourth Quarter
G – Walter Ivory, 8-yard run (Lavell Nelson kick), 7:57, 14-14
Overtime
G – Walter Ivory, 10-yard run (Lavell Nelson kick), 0:00, Bulldogs 21-14
