By Robbie Bills
Times-Courier
Clear Creek ended the regular season with two football wins over rival Pickens.
The CCMS Bobcats hosted the Dragons last Wednesday. Neither Pickens squad could slow the Bobcats’ ground game, and CCMS eighth graders scored on every possession for a 38-14 victory.
The seventh-grade Cats kept the touchdown parade going. Clear Creek’s lone possession that did not result in a touchdown was because of a fumble. The teams traded scores in the second half, but it was too late for the Dragons and CCMS won, 26-22.
Eighth grade
“Our eighth grade responded really well, and I’m proud of them,” said head coach Willie Dodaro. “We controlled the line of scrimmage and did really well on defense to shut them down.”
CCMS was in the end zone on all three first half drives. However, it was Pickens who scored first with a 44-yard play action pass.
The Cats responded with an 8 play, 64-yard series. Halfbacks Michael Sapp and Reece Bramlett attacked the edges while fullbacks Parker Chancey and Christian Blakely focused their efforts inside. Sapp took a sweep to the right for a 13-yard touchdown and added the conversion for an 8-6 lead.
Pickens punted and CCMS was back in business at the Dragons’ 44. The Cats needed six plays this time, and Chancey reached pay dirt on a 6-yard dive and Blakely scored the conversion. CCMS led 16-6 with 3:08 before the half.
Pickens’ next drive was kept alive by a 41-yard reverse pass on fourth down and 8. The 63-yard drive ended with a 4-yard quarterback scramble and conversion.
Still ahead 16-14, CCMS got the ball back with 20 seconds left in the half. On second down, Sapp hit the left corner and tightroped down the sideline. He strolled into the end zone for a 68-yard touchdown as the half expired for a 22-14 lead.
CCMS kept the points coming in the second half. Its opening eight-play, 60-yard drive ended with a 4-yard Chancey score and conversion. The next series covered 80 yards on 13 plays. Chancey scored from 2 yards out and his conversion gave CCMS 38 points.
Meanwhile, the Bobcat defense bent but did not break. Pickens started the third quarter with a long drive, but it ended with an interception by Sean Paris in the end zone. Sapp was there on the Dragons’ next series when he took the ball away from a running back. The takeaway cemented the Cats’ 38-14 win.
The game was the Bobcats’ final of the season and they posted a 2-3 record.
Seventh grade
The seventh-grade Cats fed the ball to fullback Jaxon Garland and halfback Joshua Wooten. Quarterback Bennett Brewer was there for sneaks and tough yardage up the middle.
“We established things early and were able to capitalize on it,” said Dodaro. “When teams play everyone up in the box, things get a little messy when they have no secondary help. That was our goal, to crack that seam and find room to run. After halftime, we responded to that even better.”
CCMS got the game going with a 42-yard drive that culminated with Garland’s 1-yard touchdown.
Pickens fumbled on its drive and the ball was recovered by Ryder Johnstone. From its 25, CCMS used 18 plays and took 8:45 off the clock. The Cats pulled ahead 12-0 with Brewer’s 1-yard touchdown with 3:14 left in the half.
The Dragons responded quickly with a 54-yard drive. On the third play, they scored on a 19-yard pass to trail 12-8 at the half.
The teams traded fumbles to begin the third quarter, and Jordan Wheeler was there for the recovery for CCMS. The Cats drove 86 yards, and Wooten flew around the right edge on the series’s third play for a 74-yard touchdown run. Wooten added the conversion for a 20-8 advantage with 4:04 left in the third.
Pickens covered 48 yards on four plays to trim the Cats’ lead to 20-16. CCMS responded with a 10-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Garland’s 11-yard touchdown up the middle.
Down 26-16 with 5:29 to play, Pickens went down the field on seven plays, and the 56-yard drive concluded with a 2-yard touchdown pass. Easton Adams broke up the conversion attempt.
The Cats recovered the onside kick and drained the remaining 3:15 off the clock.
CCMS ended the regular season with a 3-0 league record and hosted a semifinal at press deadline.