Clear Creek whipped Pickens.
The CCMS Bobcats made the short trip south last Tuesday to take on their archrival, and the Dragons had no answer in either game. Eighth graders were up first, and there was no stopping the Bobcat rushing attack in a 32-6 win.
CCMS seventh graders forced four Dragon turnovers in the first half, which it converted into touchdowns. The game was over shortly after the opening kickoff as the Bobcats strolled to a 42-0 victory.
“I was excited that we came out strong in both games,” said head coach Willie Dodaro. “They came out ready to play, and that’s what we’ve been hoping for over our last few games. We went right to work and we were very pleased with that.
“In that situation, if you give anyone a little bit of room, then they can gain some confidence and be in the game. We came out and set the tone.”
Eighth grade
Clear Creek eighth graders scored on lightning-quick touchdowns all evening as its running game could not be contained. CCMS backs ran around and over Dragon defenders nonstop, and it got going on the Cats’ first drive.
The one-play, 46-yard possession saw halfback Mason West take a hand-off through the right side of the line to pay dirt. He added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
The Cats’ next series needed two plays and spanned 55 yards. After halfback Douglas Callihan ran for 22 yards on first down, quarterback Jase McCollum passed to fullback Peyton Chancey. The 33-yard completion resulted in broken tackles and a 16-0 CCMS lead.
The final drive of the half was Clear Creek’s longest of the game. The five play, 79-yard possession came to an end when Chancey tested the right side of the line for a 22-yard romp to the end zone. Following his conversion, CCMS led, 24-0.
Pickens’ first half possessions resulted in two punts and a turnover on downs. The Dragons managed just two first downs and soon found themselves in a deeper hole.
CCMS recovered the second half onside kick. From its 48, Callihan had runs of 18 and 21 yards. West took the third run of the drive across the goal line from 13 yards out. He added the conversion for a 32-0 Bobcat lead.
A running clock was put into action, and West was there once again. This time he intercepted a pass and returned it to the Dragons’ 36.
Pickens received a final possession and scored a touchdown against CCMS reserves.
Seventh grade
All three of Clear Creek’s possessions to begin the game needed just one play.
CCMS took over at its 45 after Pickens fumbled and the Bobcats recovered. On first down, Ryan Rellinger took the hand-off across the left side of the line and weaved his way through traffic for a touchdown and 6-0 lead.
Clear Creek’s Jaime Bautista recovered Pickens’ next fumble. On the ensuing first down, fullback Madden Hopkins ran 38 yards untouched through the middle of the Dragons’ defense. McCoy Sutton added the conversion to extend the lead to 14-0.
Pickens punted on its third possession. On first down, Rellinger hit the right side this time. His 73-yard jaunt ended with another touchdown. He hauled in the conversion pass from A.J. Callihan, and CCMS led 22-0 late in the first quarter.
Rellinger then forced a fumble on a Dragon completed pass, and Hopkins recovered at Pickens’ 48. CCMS got some of its reserve running backs some carries and turned the ball over on downs.
Pickens did the same, and the CCMS offense took over at the Dragons’ 48. On the drive’s third play, Hopkins once again ran through Pickens’ defense for a 42-yard touchdown to move CCMS ahead, 28-0.
The Dragons’ final series of the half came to an end with a Rellinger interception. He then returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown while breaking three tackles along the way.
CCMS led 34-0 at the half, and a running clock was used in the third and fourth quarters. CCMS needed four plays when it got the ball to start the second half. Jeremiah Patterson got the hand-off, fumbled, recovered, then broke a tackle before racing for a 49-yard touchdown to cap the 65-yard drive.
Trevon Brown added the conversion for the final points of the game to push the Cats’ lead to 42-0.
The seventh-grade Bobcats ended the season undefeated at 5-0 and hosted Dawson County at press deadline to begin the playoffs. The eighth graders finished 6-1 and hosted Union County.
“Our seventh and eighth graders are facing good teams who are well coached,” Dodaro said. “They both have players on each team who can break long plays. It’s the playoffs, and we’ll have our hands full. We’ve had some good days of practice and need to come out ready to play.”